Breaking Point (A Joe Pickett Novel)

As every lover of good fiction knows, "suspension of disbelief" is necessary for a successful reading experience. Novels and short stories entice readers to achieve suspension of disbelief with different degrees of intensity. C. J. Box inevitably takes me there by the end of the first page in every book he's written, and I stay there until the last sentence. BREAKING POINT lured me into its grip immediately, and I have rarely come up for air for most of the last two evenings. This is storytelling at its best! The clarity and plotting of Box's writing is unsurpassed. Everything he writes is a critical part of the story. His subtle and well-placed foreshadowing, which seems so innocent at first glance, always prepares readers for surprises that show up later. Furthermore, whatever readers may think of the politics of Box's stories, we are always within "earshot" of the wise counsel of steadfast game warden Joe Pickett, who has an equally calming effect upon both his fellow characters and the readers of C. J. Box mysteries. It's hard to write about this book in more specific terms because it is best approached without prior knowledge, although, nothing is spoiled by revealing that certain conundrums which appear at the beginning of BREAKING POINT and which are sustained until the bitter end are explained by breath-taking revelations within the last ten pages of the novel. And as always, everything makes perfect sense.

I think this is the best Joe Pickett, so far in the series. Most of the story is focused on Joe while in the Wyoming mountains.

The fact that I'm still giving this 4 of 5 stars, despite STRONG personal issues with its politics, tells you just how good the mystery and the adventure parts of this story are. If you like the Joe Pickett series, you'll probably love this one. I did not figure this mystery out until the end. The entire last third of the book was a symphony of suspense and imagery that takes you right into the Bighorn Mountains with all nature's amoral beauty. The Pickett family remains a strong anchor for the adventure, and several enjoyable characters return. Just be forewarned, if you've been uncomfortable with bits of anti-government subtext in the series--this book takes those politics from subtext to full out text. All government employees (except game wardens and one FBI guy) don't understand real America, earn incredible money, don't much care about the world and have a guaranteed job for life. In the CJ Box world, Feds are as immoral as the fat characters tend to be. There's a lot of hyperbole about people's lives being "destroyed" not by illness or homelessness or natural disaster or losing a loved one to murder, but by being told they will owe government fines they can't possibly pay (and it is not the system, but blatant MISUSE of the system, the kind that in real life goes to court). Reading on Kindle, I ended up using the "Note" feature just to argue back. A lot. (Such as: One could argue that the government doesn't destroy lives, but only certain bad actors WITHIN the government destroy lives.) Still, I'm going to try the next book in the series to see if the brilliance of the story, as with this one, washes away the bitter taste of the politics.

Another great Joe Pickett story. C.J. Box keeps delivering great writing, intriguing stories, and wonderful descriptions.

This, I thought, was one of the best so far in the series it had a lot of action. There were some parts that stirred some emotions anger and sympathy for the characters. I highly recommend it

I sure wish that C. J. Box could churn out the Joe Pickett books a lot faster. This was a marvelous story with the convoluted twists and turns that I have come to expect in this series. I hope we get to see more of Nate in future books and that eventually he can find some peace and happiness in his life, like he had with his Native girlfriend a few books back. I am glad that he and Joe continue to be friends despite all the ups and downs life throws at them. I am very, very anxious to see where Rulon's job offer is going to take Joe, but hopefully it won't be very far from the life he so loves and that makes these books such enjoyable reads. I am very fond of Joe's wife Marybeth and so proud of her for not following in her nasty mother's footsteps. It would be divine justice if some of Missy's ill-gotten gains were to finally find their way to the Pickett family!! This book is fast paced, almost impossible to put down, the characters stay true to their established beliefs and moral codes, and I am most pleased to see the positive change developing in the "adoptive" daughter! I know this is a newly published book as it just arrived on my Kindle this week, but I'm ready for the next one, sigh, I hate having to wait on the next book is such a GREAT series!! I started reading this series for it's setting, as I absolutely LOVE Wyoming, but have stayed with it due to the superb writing and great story lines. Keep up the great work Mr. Box.

The characters are well fleshed out. I feel like I know them. I appreciate the returning character of Nate, I'm hoping there will be another book with him.

A great story about big government out of control with no personal consequences. Also how our hero attains some level of justice for those affected.

C J Box nous livre une nouvelle aventure de son héros préféré Joe Pickett et c'est encore une réussite. L'ensemble est en progrès à chaque nouvel épisode. On regrettera l'apparition soudaine et très brève d'un vieil ami de Joe Pickett, Nate Romanovski, surgit de nulle part pour qq pages seulement, et le sale boulot comme trop souvent dans la série.

The damaged book was delivered. Very old book

I have read all of the Joe Pickett books one after the other in order and am so sad I have now to wait until next year for no 14! This last one was a really good read, as they have all been, and the twist at the end was a complete surprise. The descriptions of the wildlife, the land makes one wish to be there. The people who live in these states are rightly proud of their land, and Joe is such a great find in a hero, who is never meant to be one. The interaction with family and locals make for brilliant reading, and the bureaucrats who spoil life for many, we all know someone like that!. Carry on Joe, we are all behind you for the next chapter in your life.

Joe Picket and his family became my friends. I began with the first crime novel and bought one after one, until I finished the last one in the series. I hope, there will still be an other one to follow! I can only recommend them as very well written, page turning adventures/crimes, where you in the same time learn a lot about the beautiful nature of the Big Horn Mountains and the animals living there!

Once I started reading "Breaking Point" from author C.J. Box, I couldn't put it down and kept reading until I turned the final page. The flow of the writing, the vivid descriptions of the setting, and the terrific lead character, Joe Pickett, kept me entangled in the suspenseful story line until the very end. This is the first book I've read from this author, as I trialled it as a Kindle Daily Deal and I'm so glad I did. Apparently it's the 13th Joe Pickett novel, Breaking Point does mention a few bits of the plots from previous adventures, but you certainly do not need to have read them to enjoy this as a standalone read. This adventure is quite a fun one, being it is mostly set in the mountains, including at times "city boys" federal agents forced out of their comfort zone riding on horseback for their first time into the unknown in pursuit of a suspect. A long time Wyoming game warden, Pickett is a man who loves his family, loves the land, and has a job which he loves and is a western man through and through. Riding the perimeters of his assigned district on his horse, he comes across Butch Roberson, the father of Pickett's youngest daughter's best friend. Something about Butch and his claim that he is scouting elk doesn't seem right, but there is nothing that Pickett can pinpoint, so he and Butch go their separate ways. Just a short while later, Pickett learns that Butch is wanted for questioning in the disappearance of two EPA agents who had travelled to the area to speak with Butch. When the murdered agents are found buried on Butch's property, the manhunt escalates and involves high-level government officials acting out their own agenda. Pickett and his family are caught in the middle, and the line between right and wrong skews greatly. Overall though, Breaking Point delivers what you want from an author, a fun story with a reoccurring main character that paints a vivid and descriptive picture of the landscape and wilderness letting you imagine you were there. A suspenseful and surprising thriller you won't want to miss.