The Bitterroots

Taking place during Montana's "Summer of Fire," C.J. Box's The Bitterroots is a story that has the sudden, ferocious power of a sledgehammer. When Cassie Dewell tells someone where she's going, she's told "You have no idea what kind of... snake pit you're going to fall into," and that's the honest truth. The smoke of countless forest fires may obscure the Kleinsassers' sinister grip on the county in which they reside, but the acrid stench of the smoke gives them away. Even the name of their property-- the Iron Cross Ranch-- has an ominous ring to it.

Cassie Dewell faces one challenge of escalating intensity after another, but, folks, she's put down her Denise Mina novel, and she's determined to get to the bottom of things simply because show more the other side is overplaying their hand. These challenges are humiliating, shocking, infuriating... and I would have done exactly what she did. (Some folks don't react well to intimidation.) The only qualm I had was that, for the single mother of a teenage boy, Cassie went much farther out on a limb than she should have.

The Kleinsassers are a family of vipers, and I wanted to see Cassie bring them down. One person remarks, "We seem to be witnessing the Olympics of family dysfunction right here in Montana." Some of the Kleinsasser revelations didn't surprise me one bit, and I cheered Cassie on to the very last page.

As always, the setting has an important role in Box's novels. Readers will experience the Summer of Fire in the steep mountains and deep valleys of northwestern Montana close to the Idaho border, but they will also learn a bit of history. This is the land of the Big Hole Battlefield, where Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce fought for their freedom, and Box's story does justice to the landscape and history of the area.

Now begins the wait for Cassie Dewell's next investigation. show less

While I think Box is at his best with the Joe Pickett series, he creates a completely different and fascinating milieu for Dewell. This story starts a tad slow but picks up nicely, and turns into a fully engaging, highly suspenseful mystery. The strange, twisted family dynamics add both depth and interest. The book is good enough to get 5-stars except for one glaring problem: there is a “coincidence” so bizarrely, so outlandishly unlikely that it pretty much qualifies as a deus ex machina. When you get to the big reveal you’re left shaking your head in disbelief.

Best of the Cassie Dewell series so far. A bit violent, but kept my interest all the way through as she was dealing with a ?sick? family and a corrupt town. Kirkus: The creator of Wyoming Fish and Game Warden Joe Pickett (Wolf Pack, 2019, etc.) launches a new series starring a female private eye who messes with a powerful family and makes everyone involved rue the day.Cassie Dewell?s been taking a monthly retainer from Bozeman attorney Rachel Mitchell for investigations of one sort and another, but she really doesn?t want to look into the case of Rachel?s newest client. That?s partly because Blake Kleinsasser, the fourth-generation firstborn of a well-established ranching family who moved to New York and made his own bundle before show more returning back home, comes across as a repellent jerk and partly because all the evidence indicates that he raped Franny Porch?, his 15-year-old niece. And there?s plenty of evidence, from a rape kit showing his DNA to a lengthy, plausible statement from Franny. But Cassie owes Rachel, and Rachel tells her she doesn?t have to dig up exculpatory evidence, just follow the trail where it leads so that she can close off every other possibility. So Cassie agrees even though there?s an even more compelling reason not to: The Kleinsassers�Horst II and Margaret and their three other children, John Wayne, Rand, and Cheyenne, Franny?s thrice-divorced mother¥are not only toxic, but viperishly dangerous to Blake and now Cassie. Everyone in Lochsa County, from Sheriff Ben Wagy on down, is in their pockets, and everyone Cassie talks to, from the Kleinsassers to the local law, finds new ways to make her life miserable. But Cassie, an ex-cop single mother, isn?t one to back down, especially since she wonders why anyone would take all the trouble to stop an investigation of a case that was as rock-solid as this one?s supposed to be.An appealing new heroine, a fast-moving plot, and a memorably nightmarish family make this one of Box?s best. show less

To find a nastier family than the one Cassie faces; you would have to choose from some of the several in the "Game of Thrones" It is not often that the heroine has to face an 18 wheeler taking out her motel room following a night in the local jail. But Cassie does rise up and smote them down in an apt series of rapid-fire takedowns. Another gritty book from C J Box. One could wonder if there are any nice people in Montana.

We've been in the Bitterroot region of Montana several times. It is quite a lovely spot when there aren't forest fires and smoke. It was interesting that this book was set during a time of forest fires. I get the feeling it is almost a perpetual occurrence which is really a shame.

The protagonist is Cassie Dewell, now a private invetigator but formerly a sherriff's investigator. She is on retainer to an attorney, Rachel Mitchell, so when Mitchell asks her to investigate her latest client she is pretty much obligated to do it. She is not sympathetic to Blake Kleinsasser because he is charged with raping his 15-year-old niece, Franny. Blake can't really provide any details about the alleged crime because he was blotto due to consuming show more large amounts of alcohol. The evidence, which includes DNA of Blake's semen on Franny's underwear, seems pretty much ironclad. Nevertheless Rachel wants her to go Lochsa County to interview witnesses and the Sheriff. The Kleinsassers are a major force to be reckoned with in Lochsa. Blake had gotten away from the rest of the family and has been living in New York City for years. He returned home because the family ranch is suffering hard financial times and, as a financial analyst, he believes he can help. Also, as the eldest child he stands to inherit. Cassie goes up to the area, leaving her son with her mother to look after him. She takes a room in the only motel in town and, as luck has it, stays in the same room Blake had rented. Trying to track down all the witnesses as quickly as possible she runs afoul of most of the Kleinsassers but there are a few people who are helpful. But what's with the black semi-trailer that keeps showing up, looking just like the one the serial killer in her last police case drove? Good thing Cassie is not easy to intimidate.

I think I would read another book with Cassie as the protagonist but, overall, I found the level of violence disturbing. show less

Cassie Dewell is now working full time as a private investigator. She reluctantly takes a case from Rachel Mitchell, the defense lawyer from Bozeman that shows up regularly in the The C.J. Box Highway Quartet Collection: Back of Beyond; The Highway; Badlands; Paradise Valley. She should have backed her Jeep out of the driveway and driven back home.

Instead, she travels to a big cattle ranch in the Montana Bitterroot Range in the fictional Lochsa County. She's tasked with double-checking the facts of a sexual assault allegedly committed by Blake Kleinsasser. He's a terrible person. He works on Wall Street in NYC and is “just visiting” his ancestral ranch. That checks out.

Then Cassie meets the rest of his family. Blake seems like a show more well-rounded, fun guy compared to the rest of them. There's a huge fire, intimidating personalities, and another scary big-rig truck (eerily like the one in the last four books!) shows up.

The Bitterroots moves along at a fast-clip with big-skies smokey roads, and a twisty narrative. show less

4.5 stars.

The Bitterroots by C.J. Box is a gritty and suspenseful mystery starring Cassie Dewell.

Cassie and her fourteen year old son Ben now live in Bozeman, Montana. Wanting to spend more time with Ben and set her own hours, Cassie is now a private detective. With her latest case wrapped up, Cassie is about to fulfill a debt she owes to defense attorney Rachel Mitchell. Very uneasy about working for the defense, Cassie reluctantly agrees to go back over all of the evidence for Rachel's client, Blake Kleinsasser. The case is particularly distasteful since Blake has been accused of a particularly horrific crime. With a sworn statement from the victim and a seemingly airtight case, Cassie is certain of Blake's guilt. Heading to Lochsa show more County, she arranges to meet Sheriff Ben Wagy who is very reluctant to co-operate with her. Cassie then requests to talk to the Blake's older brother, John Wayne and his sister, Cheyenne. With her investigation being stonewalled, Cassie cannot help but wonder what everyone is trying to hide.

Cassie is an intelligent, stubborn and highly skilled investigator who refuses to allow anyone to push her around. Despite the obstacles she faces, she does not cut corners or skirt the law as she takes a close look at the evidence against Blake. She does not particularly like Sheriff Wagy but she is respectful even though he is dismissive and rude to her. But the deeper she digs into the case, Cassie becomes troubled by some inconsistencies she uncovers. She is also very disturbed by the Kleinsasser family's reactions to her presence in town. Cassie is determined to discover the truth but will she emerge from this case unscathed?

The Bitterroots is an absorbing mystery with a tautly woven plot and a vibrant setting. Cassie is an excellent investigator with plenty of experience but even she is stunned by depravity and corruption awaiting her in Lochsa County. With some wicked twists and shocking turns, C.J. Box brings this clever mystery to a realistic conclusion. Another brilliant mystery starring Cassie Dewell that old and new fans are sure to enjoy. show less