Free Fire

Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett is at an interesting juncture in his career. The governor offers him a position, but it's off the record. Joe is to go to Yellowstone National Park to investigate the circumstances surrounding four murders in an area called the Zone of Death – a remote corner of the park where, because of loopholes in the law, it's almost impossible to convict anyone of a crime committed there. The body count continues to mount after Joe's arrival. As Joe pieces together the information he gathers, he realizes that the murders are connected to a conspiracy, and that there could be someone on the inside who is trying to make sure that Joe doesn't uncover it. As if that isn't enough, Joe also has to confront painful show more memories from his past connected to the park.

As usual for this series, this was a page-turner. Who knew that being a game warden could be this dangerous? I was most drawn to the Yellowstone setting. Joe is there during the off-season, and the lack of tourist traffic gives the park an ominous aura. The natural features of the park like its geysers and hot springs are used to good effect, as is the Old Faithful Inn. After reading Box's description of the inn, I'd love to go to Yellowstone just to see it. This is becoming one of my favorite series when I'm in the mood for adventure. show less

★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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WHAT'S FREE FIRE ABOUT?
As it appeared certain at the end of In Plain Sight, Joe was fired as a Game Warden. He's working on his father-in-law's ranch, trying to make it by (his family no longer lives in state property, either). Sure, Marybeth's business is doing pretty well, but it's not the same.

Then Governor Rulon comes calling. He liked Joe the first time they met, and he's pretty sure that Joe is the kind of straight-arrow he can count on. Someone figured out a weird loophole in the overlapping state and federal laws that govern the area of Yellowstone National Forest, and shot and killed several people and was unable to be prosecuted for it. show more Rulon's hands have been tied and he can't do anything about it. But he'd like Joe to go down and take a look, reporting to him, so Rulon can tell voters he looked into it.

Joe's a Game Warden again, but one at large. No one at Yellowstone is happy to have yet one more person poking around there. But Joe has a job and he's doing to do it right, no matter what feathers he ruffles.

FAMILY DRAMA
We don't get nearly enough time with the Pickett clan. Despite his hardships, things are good with Joe and Marybeth. Things could be better for the kids—because of their ages, and Joe's very public lack of a job.

Joe and the family are living in a house on Marybeth's Father-in-Law's ranch—where Joe is working. The relationship between the Father-in-Law and the Picketts is pretty strong. Maybe even stronger than the relationship between Marybeth's mother and the Picketts (the fact that Joe likes him probably accounts for a lot of that).

But it looks like things aren't all happy on the ranch—there's a lot of problems and who knows how long that'll work for everyone.

COMPETITION FOR STEPHANIE PLUM?
Not in a million years, did I think I'd compare Joe Pickett to Stephanie Plum. But this Wyoming Game Warden might be as hard on vehicles as that New Jersey bounty hunter. It's not as laughable yet, but it's getting there.

I actually enjoy it more than I'd think I would.

I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING
Now that I get to this point in the outline, I realize that there are two things I didn't see coming. The first is that here in book seven, we get a lot of Joe Pickett backstory. If you've ever wondered what Joe's childhood was like—or why we only hear about Marybeth's family, this book will tell you.

But what I meant to talk about when I wrote the headings was this: Nate Romanowski shocked me. I've talked before about Nate serving as Joe's Hawk/Joe Pike/Bubba Rogowski/Henry Standing Bear figure. We know what to expect from these figures—they're the heavies. They do the morally/legally questionable things. They're more likely to be the violent type (and more effective at the violent things anyway). But what Nate does here made me audibly gasp. I'm not saying he was wrong I just didn't expect it.

At the same time, there are things that happen to him at the beginning and end of the novel that were surprising, but they rank among the "huh, that's interesting," kind of thing, not a "what did I hear?" kind of thing.

A WORD ABOUT THE NARRATION
Actually, I don't really have anything to say here, Chandler delivers another solid job. He is the voice of Joe Pickett to me at this point. The two go together now.

SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT FREE FIRE?
I thought Box did a great job of coming up with a way to keep Pickett as a Game Warden and at the same time not making Twelve Sleep, WY to have a murder-rate that rivals Cabot Cove, ME.

Putting him in Yellowstone was just icing on the cake, and the angle of this prosecution-free zone in the Park is brilliant. At this point in the series, readers know the regular cast of characters and this world—Box can lean into them—or start defying expectations—as he needs to. This is a comfortable place for fans to spend time, and judging by the number of times Pickett comes back? It stays that way. I get that and am already eager to get back to spending time with the Pickett clan. show less

Another great entry in the series. The plot was a bit more complicated. Joe has some serious ego problems and needs to stand up for his abilities more. He's inconvenient for corrupt people, not incompetent for his job. However, Box gets to foreshadow later books through Joe's insecurities, so okay, I'll go with it.

I seriously want to visit Yellowstone.

Second time through and still my favorite out of the Joe Pickett mysteries I’ve read so far. The plot centers around the ‘Zone of Death’ – a remote corner of Yellowstone where even murder can’t be prosecuted due to a legal loophole – and the exotic thermophiles that thrive in the scalding hot springs located throughout the park. Once again I was completely hooked by the high level of tension and suspense along with the vivid descriptions of the area's natural beauty.

Joe Pickett is asked by the governor to head into Yellowstone and investigate murder. It seems that a man has killed a group of people while they were camping and, weirdly, he was not punished for it.

The premise of this story is completely fascinating. The Sixth Amendment of the Constitution gives accused people the right to a speedy trial by a jury in the State and district where the crime has been committed. (See this explanation of the Vicinage Clause) There is a small section of Yellowstone that creeps over the Wyoming-Idaho border and extends into Idaho, with a population of zero people. The Vicinage Clause creates a strange loophole in this space, allowing perfect crimes to be committed. The area is essentially lawless. (The area show more was called the Zone of Death and it led me on a real-life trail of reading on the internet.)

Anyway, this is the seventh Joe Pickett story. Joe had a change to his job description in the last book, which made me a little nervous where Joe is concerned because I'm so used to how he does things. In Free Fire, he has to leave home again and stay in Yellowstone while he is conducting this investigation, which worried me because of how things went for the Pickett family when he did that in Out of Range (Joe Pickett #5). Thankfully, this time while Joe was away, they didn't fall so far off track as a family.

So there is murder and there are environmental things being investigated here. There is also some corruption in the government. It isn't surprising by now that I loved the role that Joe's friend Nate Romanowski played in the story, because he is one of the best things about the series. I wasn't as enamored with the landscape in this book even though it takes place in Yellowstone, which is super beautiful, because I'm such a huge fan of the scenery when Joe patrols the mountains, and he wasn't really doing that in this story. Still, this series is my favorite series out there and Joe Pickett is my favorite book character, and I'm ready to continue with the next installment of Joe's story.

I'm pretty amazed at how fresh and exciting C.J. Box keeps every installment. I'm not sure I've been able to keep my interest in a series long enough to make it through this many books, but I definitely don't want to stop with Joe Pickett.

Audiobook Notes: This is my favorite audiobook series and as long as David Chandler continues to narrate it, that will probably not change. I love listening to these stories so much. (Lately, since we've been staying at home all the time because of social distancing and Coronavirus, I've loved listening while I put puzzles together.)

Title: Free Fire by C.J. Box
Series: Joe Pickett #7
Narrated by: David Chandler
Publisher: Recorded Books
Length: 11 hours, 5 minutes, Unabridged show less

Book on CD read by David Chandler

Book number seven in the mystery series featuring Wyoming Game Warden Joe Pickett.

Recently fired from his job as a game warden, Joe is working on his father-in-law’s ranch when he’s asked by the Governor to investigate an unusual crime that occurred in Yellowstone National Park. An attorney, Clay McCann confessed to killing four campers, claiming self-defense. But he did so in a tiny corner of the park that is actually in Idaho, and a loophole in the law gets him off completely. The Governor wants to know what’s really going on.

Gosh but I love Joe Pickett. He’s an astute observer, keeps his cards close to the chest, doesn’t take unnecessary changes, but doesn’t hesitate to go into dangerous show more situations when it’s called for. He calls on his friend (and somewhat of an outlaw), Nate Romanowski, for back-up. This is a guy you definitely want to have on YOUR side!

Joe quickly discovers that not everyone comes to Yellowstone for the spectacular natural scenery. There are some hidden agendas regarding ecoterrorism, deals cut with major bioengineering firms, and possible drug dealing. Can he sort it out and discover the “real” culprit before a natural disaster occurs to wipe out all evidence?

I’ve yet to visit Yellowstone, but this book really increases my desire to do so. That’s just a bonus.

David Chandler does a good job of narrating the audiobook. He sets a good pace and I like the way he interprets Joe and Nate. show less

This was worth staying up late to finish! After all the changes Joe experienced in the last installment, In Plain Sight, I knew we were in for a big adventure with Free Fire! The Governor is sending Joe to Yellowstone National Park to investigate the murder of four campers and to "quietly" look into the activities of the confessed killer, a lawyer who weaseled his way out of murder charges. As usual, Joe finds a lot more than he bargains for in a wild country that will not be tamed or controlled by any man.

I enjoyed seeing Joe's confidence again. It was great to see him working with Nate and I particularly liked the moments when Marybeth joined in to help the investigation. Having the three of them working side by side was a rare show more treat! Doomsayer's predictions and the normal level of precautions required around the geysers and hot springs added a unique element of danger that kept me flying through the pages! Yellowstone became more than just a setting. It became a living breathing force that Joe constantly battled, embraced, questioned, and respected. This is a must read for C. J. Box fans! show less