Free Fire (A Joe Pickett Novel)

I like the series, the only fault I can see is that I would like more of the family involvement as Mr. Box did in earlier books.That is one of the things I thought made his stories different from the run of the mill.

I'm still in the process of reading the latest Joe Pickett novel by C. J. Box. As of page 170, it's a great read so far. What a surprise for Joe to discover a long lost relative at the staff bar at Yellowstone. I rememberr visiting the park about 26 years ago. C. J. Brought it all back to me, esp the hotel at Old Faithful.

As always, Mr. Box produces a great story.

I started reading his books for no reason except they take place in the West, and I am , as always, homesick for the West. (I live in Georgia, now)

Start with the first one, of course, and you will come to enjoy the books.

If you are following Joe Pickett you will have to read this book but I think Mr.Box may have been a little distracted on this one. However, there are a couple of really funny scenes which were unexpected in a 'murder mystery'... I like Joe Pickett & his family so I forgave Mr Box on this slow book & I fully expect the next one to be better...Sincerely

Bernie K. in Fl.

I just hope Box doesns't run out of ideas for Joe Pickett. I just wish my Mom could have lived to read the last couple. The one Box autographed in Billing for her I had to read to her. She dearly liked the Pickett Novels.

This was the first C.J. Box book that I had read, initially purchased because I love Yellowstone Park, as well as the fact that the author painted a picture in my mind that was one of reality, scenic splendor, humor, with a fair share of good ol mystery.

The author nailed down details that many would over look, however as a Montana native and someone who lives and breaths the outdoors and Yellowstone, it was a novelty to read a a story that was realistic. Box shares details of the park, Fish, Wildlife and Parks and local color all mixed into a story that holds your attention from the first page.

Joe Picket takes a job for the Governor, investigating a group of murders committed by a local lawyer in a section of the park that is not governed by normal laws. Joe, as usual, gets sucked into the murder and mayhem. Soon his friend Nate is on the scene to provide backup, humor, and the occasional violent out burst, such as removing ears! Armed with his enormous gun, Nate and Joe set out to make everything right again. Only first, Joe must deal with finding his father there, someone who he has not scene or spoken to in decades. It all comes to a climax at the amazing Old Faithful Lodge, were the author captures the lodges beauty and presence.

A must read! Even if you have never read another Joe Picket novel from C.J. Box. You will be hooked and find yourself online ordering the entire series. Having said that, I have purchased and read them all several times. This author writes in a timeless and flawless manor, you will find yourself right next to the hero, experiencing and seeing what he does.

I rate this book and all of C J Box books a 5 star rating I can not put his books down once I start to read them.. I am on my fourteenth book and I intend to read them all. Books like these would make great movies or TV series . I will keep watching for any new books in the future.

I rate this book and all of C J Box books a 5 star rating I can not put his books down once I start to read them.. I am on my fourteenth book and I intend to read them all. Books like these would make great movies or TV series . I will keep watching for any new books in the future.

I read the previous book in this series several weeks ago and the ending left me hanging, wondering how the main character, Joe Pickett, would respond to the changes in his life. He had just been fired from his job as a game warden for the state of Wyoming. He had finally run afoul of bureaucratic politics once too often.

The job had defined who he was as a person. What would he do now?

The answer was that he would become a ranch foreman for his wealthy father-in-law. But, of course, that didn't last long.

Soon, the governor of Wyoming came calling with a proposition for Joe. There had been a spot of trouble in Yellowstone National Park. A lawyer had shot and killed four people, environmental activists who worked for the company that had the contract to provide visitor services at the park. He admitted to the killing, turned himself in to the rangers, and said that he had shot the people because they had insulted him.

When the justice system attempted to prosecute the man, he pointed out that the killings had taken place in a small fifty-square-mile area of the park where there is no legal jurisdiction - a "free-fire" zone where it is possible to actually get away with murder. And he did. He walked free, much to the anger and frustration of all the authorities and the community.

The governor is outraged, but he also suspects that there is something more going on in Yellowstone, something that precipitated the murders, rather than the alleged insult. He wants Joe Pickett to go there as his representative (unofficial) and investigate. He'll be back on the state payroll as a game warden, with an increase in pay, and he'll have a free hand to handle the investigation however he sees fit. Which, to Joe, means that he can get his friend, Nate Romanowski, to help.

Joe doesn't have to think about the offer for long. He accepts and heads out to Yellowstone, with Nate to follow.

The story line details how Joe proceeds with his investigation in his usual bumbling way and it emphasizes the continued tensions between federal employees at the park and state employees, with, as usual, the feds (most of them, anyway) playing the role of bad guy. Joe does find allies among the federal employees and they slowly piece together the story behind the killings in the "Zone of Death".

The governor's instinct was right. There is something very rotten in the state of Wyoming.

Box moves his plot along toward an inexorable conclusion and in the process provides a lot of information about the history and the geology of Yellowstone and the laws governing the area. It turns out that the "Zone of Death," the free-fire zone, really did exist.

Some of the most interesting parts of the book involve the explication of the geology of the place. Having just this past week been reading about the caldera and the super volcano that underlies Yellowstone and that will one day erupt once again, my reading of this book seemed fortuitous and reinforced some of the information I had learned.

Yellowstone is truly a fantastical place and this book, while fiction, gives a good sense of that, as well as furthering the saga of Joe Pickett and his family.

The enjoyable Joe Pickett series continues.

This time it centers on a 50 square mile "Free Fire" zone within the confines of Yellowstone National Park. This most southwestern corner of the park has no state or federal laws, (a litigious oversight), thus becoming a haven for the criminal element. Literally anyone can get away with murder.

The story opens up in this 'no man's land' with four of the "Gopher 5" party being brutally murdered. Joe Pickett, who in the last book lost his job as the Game and Fish Warden of Saddlestring Wyoming, is reinstated by the newly elected Governor of Wyoming. His job as "special projects manager" is to covertly work behind the scenes and secretly report back to the Governor on any and all findings concerning the killings. So Joe's relegated to working in the shadows in order to bridge the gap between the state and federal governments.

So that's the premise of this novel. At least that's what I thought! The constellation of events stemming from the first four murders is numbing and mind-blowing. C.J. Box paints a littoral masterpiece on the inner workings of a large scale federal corruption ring. Woven into this mystery are Mr. Box's views on the natural beauty and splendor of Americas First National Park. To include the geological mysteries of Yellowstone's caldera, (this pretty much encompasses the entire 2.2 million acre park). We learn that hundreds of daily seismic tremors leave their own impact on the numerous hot springs and geysers, harboring their own hidden secrets. For eons the 200 degree Fahrenheit hot springs have boiled away the flesh of countless bison who blindly stumble into natures liquid inferno... leaving only their polished bones behind. Think what that might possibly do to a human! So strap yourself in for a tumultuous murder/mystery.

Free Fire comes at you gripping you so hard by the throat that you can't catch your breath till you turn the last page. First of all down on his luck main character Joe Pickett who has become one of my personal favorites series, is asked a favor by Wyomings Governor. By doing so he has everything to lose, but also everything to gain, which is mainly getting his life back including his job as a game warden that he so loved. Sometimes you have to take that chance/bait as there is no other way even though the cost can be greater than the reward! When 4 people are murdered by lawyer Clay McCann in Yellowstone National Park, who found a loophole in the law, was ultimately found innocent and walked free. Enraged by this event Governor Spencer Rulon calls on former Game Warden Joe Pickett for his help-the reward for nailing McCann, his old job with a raise. Joe knowing once the cards are laid out on the table it is going to get ugly, so he calls in his friend Nate Romanowski who is indepted to him for help. Nate who we have come to know in previous outings is a force to be reckoned with to say the least. As with any C.J. Box novel the suspense will haunt you till you yourself are in so deep you can't relent, until like Joe Pickett you find the answers. Along the way the secrets are unleashed and in its path we are let in on a web of ruthless individuals whom are involved and the reason why. This book is special in every way shape and form, I simply couldn't put it down, and I warn you as you turn the first page you better be ready for a thrill ride beyond normal proportions that coupled with some sleepless nights. After this I need to catch my breath as the next in the series I am sure will be more of the same.

Wyoming Game Warden Joe Pickett goes to Yellowstone National Park at the request of the Governor. No other agency wants him there.

Attorney Clay McCann admitted to killing four campers in the back-country of Yellowstone. Does he commit the perfect crime and get away with murder?

I like Joe Pickett as a character and Yellowstone as the setting. Two for one. I've never been to Yellowstone, but one day I'd love to go there. Especially, after reading this story and experiencing the sites. (Box did an excellent job in putting the reader into the story.)

Geysers, magnificent sites, nature at its best. I loved it. Add Nate to the mix, and out comes a great story, bordering on ear-ripping crazy.

Book 7 of the series and has important back story on Joe. Highly recommend you read these in order

This is a well done mystery and the Yellowstone setting is dramatic and fun. I find Joe Pickett to be both believable human, and frustratingly slow to connect the dots sometimes. The traits are probably inseparable, I don't really want him to be brilliant, it wouldn't fit with the rest of his character, but sometimes, and it happens in this book, the plot somewhat depends on Joe missing some clues that were obvious enough to me. A couple of other characters have to do some dumb things...but it all hangs together and is believable enough to make for a fun read.

This was the first C.J. Box book that I had read, initially purchased because I love Yellowstone Park, as well as the fact that the author painted a picture in my mind that was one of reality, scenic splendor, humor, with a fair share of good ol mystery.

The author nailed down details that many would over look, however as a Montana native and someone who lives and breaths the outdoors and Yellowstone, it was a novelty to read a a story that was realistic. Box shares details of the park, Fish, Wildlife and Parks and local color all mixed into a story that holds your attention from the first page.

Joe Picket takes a job for the Governor, investigating a group of murders committed by a local lawyer in a section of the park that is not governed by normal laws. Joe, as usual, gets sucked into the murder and mayhem. Soon his friend Nate is on the scene to provide backup, humor, and the occasional violent out burst, such as removing ears! Armed with his enormous gun, Nate and Joe set out to make everything right again. Only first, Joe must deal with finding his father there, someone who he has not scene or spoken to in decades. It all comes to a climax at the amazing Old Faithful Lodge, were the author captures the lodges beauty and presence.

A must read! Even if you have never read another Joe Picket novel from C.J. Box. You will be hooked and find yourself online ordering the entire series. Having said that, I have purchased and read them all several times. This author writes in a timeless and flawless manor, you will find yourself right next to the hero, experiencing and seeing what he does.

Another great book about Ranger Joe Pickett, a quiet man with keen observation who thinks outside the box. The author does an excellent job at building each character for the reader to immediately hate or love. I enjoy the description of the great outdoors along with detective style plot to solve. This book is a continuation of the Joe’s life with his family and how they have grown through life in both good, but mostly bad times as Joe always seems to find trouble. Each book has new characters and old characters for the readers to learn about which makes the stories interesting. The description of the great outdoors reminds me of the time I lived on a working farm for 3 years. The plot to this story is strange and interesting at the same time and coming from a small mid-west town I understood the politics involved. A must read.

I loved this story - the twists, the science, the outdoor grandeur, the pacing. It was a really good mystery in the Joe Pickett series. However, I docked a star because of naming. Three characters - all male - have names that start with “La” and end in “n”: Layton, Layborn, and Langston. And they’re all in the big scene toward the end. Why? With all the names in the world to choose from, why do this?! And early on in the book, two different guys sitting in a bar are Toomey and Toomer. Sloppy writing? Sloppy editing? But otherwise a fantastic story.

Free Fire was an earlier CJ Box novel and it was a very fun read. It takes place in Yellowstone Park. Joe ends up working for the guv’nor and it’s a flaky deal right from the start.

Box has a way of making you feel like you’re right in the park and he threw in plenty of history, little known trivia and a few other surprises to add plenty of life to the scenario.

The mystery and plot twists on top of the environmental aspects made this one of the best in the series, at least for me. I couldn’t put it down. This is Box at his best. Highly recommended.

Forced to turn over his gun and badge, disgraced Wyoming Game and Fish warden Joe Pickett accepts a position as foreman on the Longbrake Ranch. The change of scenery gives Joe some financial stability, a more comfortable home and much closer proximity to his social climbing mother-in-law. When Governor Randy Pope offers Pickett an opportunity to get his old job back under far less than ideal circumstances, he still jumps at the chance.
Free Fire is the seventh C.J. Box novel in his award winning Joe Pickett series. Four campers have been brutally murdered in a remote corner of Yellowstone National Park. The killer, a local attorney, finds a legal loophole large enough to drive a truck through. The case never comes to trial and he walks away a free man despite increasing public outcry. Already at odds with many law enforcement officials and politicians, Picket is given the unenviable task of investigating the circumstances surrounding the crime. It doesn't take long for him to start rubbing people the wrong way and Joe soon realizes he's in the middle of something far more serious and deadly than he ever imagined. .
I've been posting my Turn the Page book reviews for a few months now. You may have noticed that, until now, I hadn't repeated any authors. That was intentional. I'm a big fan of variety, and there are so many great books to choose from. I'm always on the lookout for something new and different. At rough estimate, I currently have upwards of seventy-five books on my must read list. I average about one book per week and I am of course adding to my list all the time. I have no chance of ever catching up, which I suppose is a good problem to have. I can't imagine getting ready to begin something new and finding the cupboard bare. I'd have to start watching reality television; either that or throw myself under a bus. I think that would be the lesser of two evils. Here's the thing. I can't review a new author every single time, especially when there are some books/authors I've been dying to read.
One of my earliest reviews was of In Plain Sight by C.J. Box. I hope you've read it (the book as well as my review). I've been steadily and rather impatiently working my way through the entire Joe Pickett series. I started with Cold Wind and loved it so much I decided to read the series from the beginning. Even with my favorite authors, of whom C.J. Box is unquestionably one, I try to space out their books as much as I can. I just finished Free Fire, and I have to read three more Joe Pickett novels to get back to where I started, then three more before I'm finally up to date, except I won't be up to date because Box typically releases two books per year. So, by the time I've read Breaking Point, Joe Pickett #13, Box will have added a half a dozen more books to the series. That beats the heck out of a bare cupboard but it still drives me crazy. I want to know what happens to Pickett next and I have to resist the urge to immediately grab Blood Trail, the next book in the series. I'll hold off as long as I can but you should expect a review of that one before too many more months go by.
With so many wonderful books out there, why am I so hung up on these? That's a fair question. I'll explain it as best I can. Dick Francis was one of my first favorite authors. Sadly, he passed away in February of 2010. Francis wrote something like forty novels, all with horse racing, a sport I know or care nothing about, as the backdrop. Where so many literary protagonists, heroes if you will, are just a little too good to be true, most of Francis's heroes were regular guys thrust somewhat reluctantly into irregular situations. I tried to follow that model when I wrote Redemption. I think I've always pulled for the underdog and that's one of the biggest reasons I'm so drawn to Joe Pickett. He isn't really the best at anything, is keenly aware of his many shortcomings but fights for what he believes in and always manages to come out on top. Where a character like Jack Higgins' Sean Dillon can dispatch bad guy after bad guy without so much as dirtying his hands, Pickett takes his lumps and comes out of every confrontation a little the worse for wear. That not only makes him more real but makes his hard fought triumphs that much more satisfying.

Although the beginning is a bit inauspicious, the plot soon kicks in and this became an entertaining novel. As others have said, Free Fire is set a remote part of Yellowstone Park in which there is no law. It is a Free Fire Zone. However, by the end, the reader understands there is a double meaning here.
After finishing the book, the reader thinks, "Well, everything doesn't end up exactly right here!" although most of the plot is resolved agreeably. One begins to think, "Well this isn't just another formula novel: likable main characters are presented with a tough and mysterious problem, main characters solve the mystery and neutralize the problem. All ends well." Then one begins to understand when looking at other Joe Pickett-themed novels that this IS Box's formula: the heroes are almost anti-heroes, they end up suffering unfairly for their actions even though they have capably saved humanity, family, children, pets, and all manner of ecosystems. Well, maybe it will all be resolved in the next novel. Therefore, he's gotcha!

This is the first C. J. Box novel I have read. I have read all of William Kent Krueger's novels about Minnesota and Steve Hamilton's novels about the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Because of this interest, the store recommended I read C.J. Box, the Joe Pickett series. I found "Free Fire" at a book sale and started reading it and was immediately engrossed in the story. I was afraid I would be missing some important details, coming in the middle of the series, but I was able to put all the pieces together and form a picture in my mind.

The beauty of this book is that it portrays Yellowstone National Park from the insider's point of view. The employees, the park rangers, the locals, the environmentalists, the tourists are equally represented. I loved reading the detailed explanations of the wildlife, the geyser eruptions, the underground mineral beds, the "flamers" and the details of the park itself. I went to Yellowstone Park forty years ago, as a child. My memories of it are mostly from photos that we took and post cards we bought. Reading the story brought back flashes, memories of walking on the wooden plank walkways that surround the hot pools that are so beautiful and deadly at the same time.

"Doomsayer" is an character that opened my eyes to the potential devastation that could be wrought at any time in the park. There really is a "Zone of Death" and that is the crux of the mystery of this novel. A pivotal character, Clay McCann, kills six people in the area and is able to get away with it because the area is outside the jurisdiction of local and federal governments. Learning about why the six were murdered brings you to know about bio-mining and the process of extracting natural gas from coal. Interesting.

I liked the pace of the story and I liked all the characters. Of particular interest is the shady and mysterious Nate Romanowski who meets a strange fate at the end of the novel. The carrot at the end of the stick to get you anxiously awaiting the follow-up novel to learn about how Nate manages to evade the federal prosecutors who warn Joe to never trust them.

I was sorry to see the story end and I thought it ended well. I will read more C. J. Box novels and follow the growth of Joe Pickett and his family as he finds himself and his place in the universe.

Reading this, the seventh Joe Pickett mystery, from Box was a treat- for a variety of reasons. We get to see Box flex his writing muscles and tackle a book with more characters in need of back story, more plot threads to wrap up, and more action, suspense, and murder to dish out appropriately. Box writes well and creates characters who each have a distinct voice and bring their own "style" to the book. What did seem to slow it down a bit was getting all those pieces set up on the playing field...but that is totally forgivable when the action really starts.

Joe is called to Yellowstone National Park to investigate the murder of 4 campers- but this is unlike anything anyone has investigated before. We know who the killer is, we know how he did it, we know he is guilty- but he can't be prosecuted thanks to a (then) real-life legal loophole that creates a "zone of death" within the park. It seems like the perfect crime- but is it?

Half the fun is getting to the bottom of the evil machinations that take place, the other half of the fun is seeing it all play out like a gun-blazing western showdown. The book is a wonderful example of how a writer continues to grow- it has it all- mystery, suspense, shady character, and anti-heroes that you just can't help but root for. And one of the best inclusions? Nate Romanowski. He has to be one of the most mysterious, dangerous, and compelling characters created in recent fiction- Box writes him well and really pulls us into his shady universe, in short- creating the perfect mirror for our almost too good to be true hero, Joe. The two of them work well together and have some of the best scenes in the book- ear ripping good scenes. (read the book to see what I mean)

While this book is one in a series, it could be read as a stand alone- Box does a good job of filling us in on the past and events from previous novels, but be warned- if you pick this one up out of order you will be promptly ordering the others in order to "catch up" with where this series is going. Full of twists, evil characters, gunshots, hot springs, and double crosses- C.J. Box's novels just keep getting better.

This is the seventh in the Joe Pickett series for Box, and I found this installment to be a more enjoyable read than some of the earlier volumes.

First off, its set in Yellowstone National Park, and who doesn't like to read about geysers and hot springs and all the animals that inhabit the park. The Free Fire zone or Zone of Death was a new twist that I had never heard about and provided an interesting and intriguing twist to law enforcement.

Of course, Joe is always on the side of law and order, and wants to do the right thing as well and find the truth and punish the bad guys. Here we are not disappointed.

The excerpts from the Yellowstone Act were of particular interest and I'm sure they were quoted verbatim. The scenario of a serial killer getting away with murder was quite a twist to an old plot. Who doesn't want to commit the perfect crime for which one cannot be held accountable?

But Joe and his friends, especially the elusive Nate Romanowski, do not let little things like threats and conspiracies stop them from taking charge and getting the job done.

There is very little humor in this book, but what there is is dark and fits into the overall storyline. I was pleased to see that Joe had moved on from being the Game Warden in one section of Wyoming, after all, you can only have so many murders and conspiracies in one section of the country, and spread his uncanny abilities to get to the bottom of the problem by moving out from his comfort zone.

All in all a good read. I'm wondering where Joe will go next; will he stay a special investigator or go back to being a Game Warden? We can only hope that Box will keep Joe as he is, an honest man, doing an honest day's work for an organization he believes in. Or, has he seen the cracks in the system, and will he go a different direction for truth and justice?

The seventh novel in C.J. Box's Joe Pickett series takes the reader to a whole new setting (and a setting that will probably interest and attract a new wave of fans) Yellowstone National Park. I must admit I did wonder if Box's next book would be another in this series after Joe Pickett's situation at the end of the previous novel In Plain Sight. To be honest he probably could have written this story with a different main character and we'll never know just how good a writer Box is until he does just that. However fans of Joe Pickett (which I am one of), his family and the other characters in this series will not be disappointed with the fast moving keeping the pages turning adventures in Free Fire.

In Free Fire a Yellowstone Park area local resident lawyer Clay McCann walked into a camp in the narrow isolated Idaho region of the park, blew away four campers then returned to the ranger station where his car was parked earlier that day and confessed to the killings. After a brief stint in jail he is out a free man, not because he is innocent but because of a loophole in the law demanding he be tried by a jury of residents where the crime was committed, only thing is no one lives in this section of the park, which is now world famously known as the Zone of Death. Meanwhile Joe is an unhappy foreman on his father in law's ranch, his dignity and everything else gone when he lost his much loved job as a Wyoming Game warden. With his daughters being teased daily about his predicament and one having to defend his honour with fists in the playground he jumps at a chance offered by the governor to be a game warden once again. Only downside is he is unofficial, the governor will deny any knowledge that he even knows him. Although everyone will know he is a game warden he is under the umbrella of special projects so is really just a guest in the federally run Yellowstone Park where he has been given the task of finding out exactly why the four campers were shot as one had sent an e-mail to the governor informing him of a huge economic windfall that the state of Wyoming may be about to miss out on.

My only criticism of this novel is that Nate Romanski appeared a little too conveniently at times. I would have rather seen Joe and those he was with handle the situations themselves rather than be saved. Also a whole Nate situation is left open obviously with the intention of making us wait for and purchase Blue Heaven to find out what happens which although a nice cliff hanger for those of us who enjoy the series, those who have bought this a standalone novel may well not be too happy about.

Like all of the books in this series I would strongly suggest reading these books in order, starting with Open Season as parts of previous novels are given away in subsequent ones. If you've read all these adventures I'd also suggest the author Ben Rehder. Buck Fever is book one in a series of adventures set in Blanco County Texas with a very similar character to Joe Pickett in game warden John Marlin who could practically be his twin separated at birth and sent to Texas.

Some writers gradually lead you into a mystery, taking maybe 100 meandering pages to reach a crisis--ah, so there's the crime!--in the classic Context --> Conflict --> Catharsis outline. Box can start with The Conflict and only then build the Context, because he always creates so many suspenseful plots weaving through his stories, and you don't know which conflict actually will be the center. Also, since each book builds on the previous one, you already know much of the backstory and flash points of Joe Pickett--Wyoming Game Warden manqué and trouble-finder par excelence. That is Box's "formula," and I like it. Note that wrecking his official truck has replaced forgetting his gun as Joe's endearing weakness. You really do need to read these stories in order, because they contain "spoilers." Another reason to read in order is that, like Patricia Cornwall's Scarpetta novels, they are becoming more extreme in their behavior as Joe gets farther from his roots.

Joe is doing less nature sleuthing than man-hunting these days. He is increasingly out of control, less and less the law-following lawman than the personal "justice-seeker," particularly with the assistance of his volatile friend, Nate, a survivalist's wet dream. Box seems to be making these stories more about Joe's "me," and less standard wood cop procedurals a la Nevada Barr. Nate has an even more critical role as Joe's Demon Guardian Angel here. Always one to dabble on the edge of politics, Joe finds politicians (in the broad sense, to include "we know what's best for you [and me]" bureaucrats) biting back hard, enmeshing Joe in uncomfortable "gray" areas. Although these are not "psychological" novels, one of their attractions is the insightful attention paid to the psychology of Joe's aging family, always teetering on the edge of anguish.

First Sentence: A half-hour after Clay McCann walked into the backwoods ranger station and turned over his still-warm weapons, after he'd announced to the startled seasonal ranger behind the desk that he'd just slaughtered four campers near Robinson Lake, the nervous ranger said, "Law enforcement will be here any minute. Do you want to call a lawyer?"

Joe Picket has been fired from being a game warden and is chafing at working for his father-in-law. When Wyoming Governor Rulon asks Joe to investigate the murders that took place in Yellowstone's "free-fire zone," he may not trust him but can't refuse the job. A lawyer, Clay McCann, admitted killing four campers but because it was in an area with zero residents, it was impossible to form a jury to hear the case. Joe finds there's more involved than a revenge murder; something lucrative, deadly and bring Joe into contact with his past.

Box is definitely one of my favorite authors and "Free Fire" ranks among his best. Pickett is wonderful character; he's a committed husband, but not infallible, a great dad, loyal friend and has a strong moral belief in what he does. He knows his strengths as a good investigator and weakness as a terrible shot. The sense of place is so strong it made me want to visit Wyoming and Yellowstone again. Box's characters are good but it's best to start with the first book of the series to really get to know them. His dialogue is natural and I liked that Joe had more to say in this book, with the humor that it was an uncomfortable situation for the character. There was excellent suspense balanced with a bit of education and just the right emotional pathos. I highly recommend this book.

With this series being set in Wyoming, I've waited every outing for Joe Pickett to make it back to Yellowstone, despite its sordid history in his personal life. As this book also gets into the lives of the subcontractor employees, I was especially delighted since I was once one of the "savages" having spent a summer working at Old Faithful Inn.

In this volume, I was actually less interested in the story, which was great and up to the standards of of the rest of this series, and more into the setting and character development. As horrible as the lawyer was, he was a great character. As down and out as Joe was, he was brilliant in his high in getting his old job back and the heartbreak of memories about his brother's death and the rage that came with reuniting with his drunk of a father.

I will probably never tire of this series.

To really appreciate this book you have to be a Joe Pickett Novel fan who has read most of the books before this one. I'm new to this series and have read each one on chronological order. This is far and away the best written of the lot up to this point.

The characters are more real, truly multidimensional.
The plot unfolds in a good sequence with minimal tricks and lots of things like the inn at Yellowstone that make me want to go back. And the science is cool and topical.

For mystery buffs who like the natural world this is a great read.

Not your typical Yellowstone Park story. Joe Pickett once again moves into an intriguing mystery, this time set in Yellowstone NP. Lots of twists and turns, some politics, villains, and the interesting landscape and geothermal action woven into the plot.

C.J Box is always up for a challenge, and in “Free Fire,” I thought he had his work cut out for him, especially with his Preston & Child style ending from “In Plain Sight.” We get beautiful descriptions of Yellowstone National Park, and the longing desire to visit there. But unlike most Box I’ve read, I also had the longing desire to put it down more than I cared to pick it up. I suppose that can happen with any author from time to time.

There is a killer on the loose, and not only is he proud, he’s also a lawyer, and he wants everybody to know that he can kill people, and he can walk free. Stop him if you can. Well, Joe Pickett, Game Warden once fired, gets his job back again, special request from Governor Spencer Rulon. And while being recognized is appreciated, it isn’t long before Pickett smells some kind of rat, knowing all too well that he could be the cheese. On top of all that, Marybeth and the girls have wished to visit Yellowstone for quite some time. Will Joe let them down?

You also have Nate Romanowski along for the trip, and you never know where he’ll show up, so the bad guys had better beware! Also, we actually get a glimpse at Joe’s Dad, who he hasn’t seen in years, and isn’t sure he wants to pursue such a father/son relationship these days.

C.J. Box delivered, yet I felt that “Free Fire” was rather lethargic in the storytelling department. Box has done better, but this is only the middle of the series. He’s got time to further impress me, which I’m sure he will in future Pickett pursuits!

This book has an interesting plot (when it actually advances it), a fascinating setting in Yellowstone Park, some very intriguing characters and a lot of action. Now and then.

Between the sections where the plot actually moves ahead, there is a vast amount of lore about the national park, some fascinating, others very boring and repetitious. This really detracts from the novel, and could easily be cut by 50 percent or so with no adverse affect.

This is bad enough, but truly annoying are the constant references throughout the book to events that must have occurred in earlier Pickett novels. If the author thinks this will motivate readers to go get his earlier books, I believe he is sadly mistaken. This is not uncommon in some books, but never to the extent which I find this to be so in this book.

Finally, there is the abrupt ending, without resolving Joe's status with the state and governor about employment, whether and how his buddy is released from arrest by the FBI, how he would be welcomed back by his family, and whether he has a job or not, etc.

These things really detract from what is a well-written book that would be a lot of fun to read and also educate us (now and then) about the wonders of Yellowstone.

It is still worthy of reading, I'd venture, but it would have been so much better had these major annoyances not bee such a large part of the novel.

Attorney Clay McCann walked into the Bechler River Ranger Station in Yellowstone National Park holding a still warm weapon while informing the ranger that about a half hour ago he killed four campers. A few months later Wyoming Governor Spencer Rulon visits former State Game and Fish Department Game Warden Joe Pickett, who was fired by the agency's Director Randy Pope (see IN PLAIN SIGHT), at the ranch of Joe's father-n-law to ask a favor. Though McCann got away with murder on a technicality, Rulon shows him a note from one of the victims just before he was murdered that implies the illegal stealing of resources that could impact the revenues of the state. He wants to look into whatever this "Yellowstone Dick" was alluding to as a state has no jurisdiction in a national park.

Joe begins his quiet investigation with the help of his friend falconer Nate Romanowski. They soon obtain the assistance of park ranger Judy Demming, who like most of her peers remains reeling that the cold blooded killer freely roams Yellowstone while four caring environmentalists are dead. They begin to find a link between the homicides and questionable bio-mining rights that would destroy Yellowstone's famous hot springs, but McCann and his partners do not mind adding three more murders to their count.

In his seventh Joe Pickett mystery, C. J. Box is at his best as he describes the "Stone" with adulation for its exquisiteness while also using a loophole over jurisdiction between the Feds and the state. The story line is fast-paced as Joe and his teammates begin to uncover the contemptuous illegal waste of natural renounces to make a profit without regard by stripping the beauty from the "Stone". Fans and environmentalists (except perhaps the EPA political appointees) will appreciate FREE FIRE as Joe investigates as a private citizen what some amoral avaricious antagonists are doing to make millions.

Harriet Klausner

This is my favorite C.J. Box novel so far. Box is a talented fiction writer and all his books are page-turners. I live in Southwest Montana, so the settings for all his Joe Pickett stories are in my backyard and that makes them really come alive for me. I am a fan. David B. Crawley, M.D., Author of Steep Turn: A Physician's Journey From Clinic to Cockpit and A Mile of String: A Boy's Recollection of His Midwest Childhood

Reviewers often hyperbolically say they couldn't put a book down, it was so exciting. But in this case, I truly couldn't put it down and it's been a long time since that's happened to me. The beginning is a little slow, but at one point it picks up speed and suspense and you're hooked. Box' Joe Pickett is a great character and he weaves this latest tale amid the pine trees and geysers of Yellowstone National Park. The park plays a big role in this book-- it's not just a setting -- providing a nice counterpoint to the characters. Like most of Box' books, the bad guys are truly bad and the good guys, truly good. But this book is much nore nuanced than Box' earlier works, which indicates his growth into being one of the best popular writers out there today. So, with a superb plot, a wonderful setting and realistic, compelling characters, I gotta say: I couldn't put this book down!

Love your story lines and characters.
Started looking up info to vacation in the park soon-made it to inviting. Have 2 more of your books started of the 3 recently purchased. Can I borrow Nate, could keep him busy.

This is my 2nd CJ Box book and I loved it as much if not more than Blue Heaven. This guy Box is a genius. And what a wonderfully fresh take on the mystery genre. Must be all that fresh air up in Wyoming he's getting day in and day out. We don't have that here in Indiana. Least near Indy. Who knows what the heck I am breathing. But Box, pure freshness. I can imagine him spending some time with his horses and pigs, and boom, he's got his inspiration to jump on the computer and toss out another blockbuster of a book. I can't wait for the next one. Looking at it right now. Sitting on my shelf there. Right there. No, over there. There.

I really like the books but at times Joe makes me a little tired with his self-righteous. I really enjoy Nate's character more he seems more human and not as "above the rest" of us mortals. I lost all patience with Joe's attitude and lack of loyalty to Nate's situation when all his troubles came from protecting Joe's family and helping Joe himself. Seems ungrateful to me.

I heard Mr. Box do a radio interview, and I was quite impressed, eager to get started on one of his books. Perhaps I picked poorly, but when the time came to read, I was in a small town at a smaller bookstore and did not have much choice.

While I greatly enjoyed the author's descriptions of winter in Yellowstone with its dangerous and indifferent landscape, I was increasingly put off by his disjointed and wildly implausible plot. The nonchalance and frequency with which his characters shot at each other was a poor excuse for plot manipulation. Their machinations were inscrutable, less believable and less interesting than the array of wildlife that nosed around the edge of the action.

I'm not giving up on Box and Pickett, but if you're looking for an engaging and action-packed read in this particular instance of his work, just know that most all you'll get here is action.

C. J. Box always tells his story from the point of view of Wyoming Game Warden Joe Pickett, who is trying to do the right thing, always ably assisted by his wife MaryBeth (always a 'good guy') and his friend Nate Romanowski (is he a good guy who does bad things? a bad guy who does good things? hard to tell). I read all the Joe Pickett novels, and have enjoyed every one. This one is one of the best written, with strong (and surprising) plot lines, fabulous descriptions of the State of Wyoming, and excellent character descriptions. I enjoyed this book more than any of Box' others.

The reviews of this book are terrific and point out this is well worth reading. I only want to mention here that the Joe Pickett series is one where each book may refer back to previous (usually the most recent) books. To really get the most of this great series start with Open Season and work your way up. Box started doing other books after this. Not bad books but by the time you get to this one you'll wish for more. Open Season (A Joe Pickett Novel)

Joe Pickett is a 21st century cowboy hero in C.J. Box's seven (and counting) book series.

"Free Fire" is an intensely taut tale set in Yellowstone National Park.

Joe signs on to be a special undercover investigator for the Governor.

Working without a net, Joe unearths a wide conspiracy and finds no one to trust with his findings.

It is a nonstop, can't put down, just one more chapter read that has me nominating C.J. Box as one of the mystery/thriller genre's most underappreciated writers.

Although you need to read the Pickett books before this to understand all the whys & what's, this book appears to have Joe finally becoming comfortable in who he is and what he can do. Now, if Joe can find a way to cut his mother-in-law down a notch or six all would be right in Wyoming.

Although no Dorothy Sayers or P.D. James, the author is able to keep our attention without many red herrings. I worked in the Park four of my college summers at Mammoth Hot Springs. If you worked at Old Faithful it's even better. You'll take satisfaction at finding the tiny discrepancies, intentional or not, that the author has made in describing some of the back ground, especially the buildings. I was fortunate enough to work while the original owner, Mrs. Nichols, still rode around in her limo and lived in her house at Mammoth. As all of you know, no matter where you worked, the minute you enter the Park you are "home" again.

Read this to take you back into it. Ignore the vaguely salacious character comments seemingly dropped in 3 or 4 times with regular timing to attribute versimilitude to the characters. Like many of today's mystery's the ending comes with a convoluted interaction of characters that would have been difficult to discern. Who knows, you may enjoy this genre, especially if you are from the West.

This is my 2nd CJ Box book and I loved it as much if not more than Blue Heaven. This guy Box is a genius. And what a wonderfully fresh take on the mystery genre. Must be all that fresh air up in Wyoming he's getting day in and day out. We don't have that here in Indiana. Least near Indy. Who knows what the heck I am breathing. But Box, pure freshness. I can imagine him spending some time with his horses and pigs, and boom, he's got his inspiration to jump on the computer and toss out another blockbuster of a book. I can't wait for the next one. Looking at it right now. Sitting on my shelf there. Right there. No, over there. There.

I really like the books but at times Joe makes me a little tired with his self-righteous. I really enjoy Nate's character more he seems more human and not as "above the rest" of us mortals. I lost all patience with Joe's attitude and lack of loyalty to Nate's situation when all his troubles came from protecting Joe's family and helping Joe himself. Seems ungrateful to me.

I heard Mr. Box do a radio interview, and I was quite impressed, eager to get started on one of his books. Perhaps I picked poorly, but when the time came to read, I was in a small town at a smaller bookstore and did not have much choice.

While I greatly enjoyed the author's descriptions of winter in Yellowstone with its dangerous and indifferent landscape, I was increasingly put off by his disjointed and wildly implausible plot. The nonchalance and frequency with which his characters shot at each other was a poor excuse for plot manipulation. Their machinations were inscrutable, less believable and less interesting than the array of wildlife that nosed around the edge of the action.

I'm not giving up on Box and Pickett, but if you're looking for an engaging and action-packed read in this particular instance of his work, just know that most all you'll get here is action.

C. J. Box always tells his story from the point of view of Wyoming Game Warden Joe Pickett, who is trying to do the right thing, always ably assisted by his wife MaryBeth (always a 'good guy') and his friend Nate Romanowski (is he a good guy who does bad things? a bad guy who does good things? hard to tell). I read all the Joe Pickett novels, and have enjoyed every one. This one is one of the best written, with strong (and surprising) plot lines, fabulous descriptions of the State of Wyoming, and excellent character descriptions. I enjoyed this book more than any of Box' others.

The reviews of this book are terrific and point out this is well worth reading. I only want to mention here that the Joe Pickett series is one where each book may refer back to previous (usually the most recent) books. To really get the most of this great series start with Open Season and work your way up. Box started doing other books after this. Not bad books but by the time you get to this one you'll wish for more. Open Season (A Joe Pickett Novel)

Joe Pickett is a 21st century cowboy hero in C.J. Box's seven (and counting) book series.

"Free Fire" is an intensely taut tale set in Yellowstone National Park.

Joe signs on to be a special undercover investigator for the Governor.

Working without a net, Joe unearths a wide conspiracy and finds no one to trust with his findings.

It is a nonstop, can't put down, just one more chapter read that has me nominating C.J. Box as one of the mystery/thriller genre's most underappreciated writers.

Although you need to read the Pickett books before this to understand all the whys & what's, this book appears to have Joe finally becoming comfortable in who he is and what he can do. Now, if Joe can find a way to cut his mother-in-law down a notch or six all would be right in Wyoming.

Although no Dorothy Sayers or P.D. James, the author is able to keep our attention without many red herrings. I worked in the Park four of my college summers at Mammoth Hot Springs. If you worked at Old Faithful it's even better. You'll take satisfaction at finding the tiny discrepancies, intentional or not, that the author has made in describing some of the back ground, especially the buildings. I was fortunate enough to work while the original owner, Mrs. Nichols, still rode around in her limo and lived in her house at Mammoth. As all of you know, no matter where you worked, the minute you enter the Park you are "home" again.

Read this to take you back into it. Ignore the vaguely salacious character comments seemingly dropped in 3 or 4 times with regular timing to attribute versimilitude to the characters. Like many of today's mystery's the ending comes with a convoluted interaction of characters that would have been difficult to discern. Who knows, you may enjoy this genre, especially if you are from the West.

C. J. Box is one of my favorite writers, and this book was also very good. However, I didn't like the ending, and somehow it just wasn't quite as engrossing as the others I've read. It's still way up there, and I'd recommend it to anyone who likes a good action/mystery book.

Not going into the actual story outline as others have done that. This is another wonderful visit with Joe Pickett via C. J. Box ! Not only suspense but educational too. Always too short a visit as I cannot slow down my reading of the lastest tale. Excited that the next title is something new but ...... what to do about my yearly fix for the Pickett/Box book ???!!! Especially with Nate now hanging in with a crowd he dearly loves to hate. Argh ! Bravo to Mr. Box for another great tale with characters that you feel like you would like to know.

I read this in conjunction with my second trip to Yellowstone. Box makes wonderful use of the setting; it is practically a character. Joe Pickett is in fine form with the complex crimes, and we learn more about his early life. If, like me, you wish Nevada had done a Yellowstone book, take heart, C. J. Box has filled the gap admirably.

The title says it, Joe pickett is hard. Choices that he would like to change have made him that way. He thinks about them daily. But he isn't so tough and mean that he doesn't find time for his loving wife and family. Like so many of our hero's he's smart, tough, and funny. Hard to go wrong with that combination!

My criterion for a good book these days is whether it pulls me into its world, leaving me disappointed to leave when the book is finished. As a writer and reader of many mysteries, it's easy to find things to pick at. But if I get sucked in by the characters anyway, I consider the book a success.

I just finished FREE FIRE by CJ Box last night and was definitely sorry to see the end come. Joe Pickett is such an interesting lead--determined, absolutely dedicated to his work and his family, but by no means a superhero. (His sidekick, Nate, is always concerned that Joe will accidentally shoot him in the back.) The setting for this book was Yellowstone National Park--vividly drawn. I'm putting it on my list of places to see again, only maybe not at night and in winter, and maybe not with Joe.

A wonderful addtion to Box's series!

C.J.Box's books always bring a bit of home with them. I grew up in Wyoming and Colorado and spent plenty of time in national parks. He also tells a pretty good story! I can really get caught up and find it almost impossible to put his books down even though I try to ration them so they last longer. His characters are fully fleshed out humans that I have met through the years with other faces and names. He is able to get to the heart of human nature.

Great read-always some elements of "truth" and history are revealed in the storyline. Characters are easy to identify with from politicians with their agenda to people just trying to live their lives

This is swiss miss
I reiceved an add for C J Box's books from the store,i read the first one and order all
of them. Ilove this stories and the scenery of our parks .Some of the books are to repetitious
explaining the last few books preceding the last one,I suject to read allthe series,it is that good.

I have read many books by CJ Box which I loved, but Free Fire is the best--so far. Of the many I still want to read, this one will be hard to top. It made me want to visit Yellowstone, but a little afraid as well. You can't go wrong with a CJ Box book, but this is a great one!

C.J.Box has become one of my favorite authors, I can't get enough of Joe Pickett, and the setting in Yellowstone is terrific. The politicialns who will do anything to improve revinue, it seems just so real.

This is the best Joe Pickett novel in the great series. The plot is clever, and all too believable. The characters are engaging, empathetic, complex and continue to develop through the series. (If you are new to the series, please do start with the first novel.) The science is real, accurate and up to the minute. I really wish there was an index or references at the end of the book.

C. J. Box has created a flawed hero in Forest Ranger Joe Pickett that reminds us of ouselves. But Joe is maturing, asserting himself, and gets fired for standing up to the self-oriented bureaucrats over him. In Free Fire, the governor gives him another chance to shoot himself in the foot, but he survives by doing the right thing. Joe's family continues to grow, and their closeness is enviable. If you like outdoor adventure, run, do not walk to the nearest bookstore and buy Free Fire and all the other Pickett novels.

The setting of this novel is wonderful. I wish I could say the the same for the plot and characters; I couldn't wait to finish, not to find out what eventually happened, but just to be through with this nonsense. Box has better novels; this one just drags on.

The setting of this novel is wonderful. I wish I could say the the same for the plot and characters; I couldn't wait to finish, not to find out what eventually happened, but just to be through with this nonsense. Box has better novels; this one just drags on.