Below Zero

By: C. J. Box

Narrated by: David Chandler

Length: 10 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's Summary

New York Times best-selling author C. J. Box's Below Zero is the 10th novel featuring Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett.

The telephone calls from her stepdaughter April send chills down the spine of Joe's daughter Sherry. Wasn't April murdered six years ago in a bloody massacre? Wondering how this youthful caller knows details only April could know, Sherry becomes confused while Joe grows suspicious. Is the caller April - or are Joe and his family victims of a cruel hoax?

©2009 C.J. Box (P)2009 Recorded Books, LLC

Good plot, good writing, good narration

Once again, C. J. Box has delivered to us a wonderful novel that translates well into audio. "Below Zero" has a daring twist for these environmentally-conscious times: an environmentalist bad guy. I don't know if the conceit works, entirely, since the bad guy is doing all the wrong things for all the right reasons. Plus, he has enlisted his father to help him with his environmental extremist project; convincing his father that doing so will somehow redeem him from past wrongs. (The "Below Zero" of the title refers not to temperature, but to the carbon footprint that humans inflict upon the world.) I don't think that this father-son conceit completely succeeds either. For those two reasons I have docked one star from my rating of "Below Zero." Otherwise, I like this audiobook a lot, as I have liked all of C. J. Box's previous novels. He creates wonderful characters -- especially his main character Joe Pickett, and Joe's best friend Nate Romanowski: two very different men whom we like for very different reasons. As with Nevada Barr's, Tony Hillerman's, and William Kent Krueger's novels, the land itself plays as important a part in the story as any of the human characters. Anyone who loves the North Country will love C. J. Box's novels. David Chandler does a commendable job of narrating the story, providing good vocal distinction between the different characters.

9 of 9 people found this review helpful

First time and I'll Box Again

This was a good listen. The reader was good and the story really fun . Everything kept moving and the characters were good and made sense to the story line.
I will definitely listen and read more books by this author .

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

starting to fray

I've enjoyed this series, but it seems it's time for Mr. Box to move on. It's nice his characters have matured, that their interpersonal relationships have evolved . . . but they're really running out of variations of plotlines. And as with so many books in this genre, the author works too hard to create conflict via unreasonable characters in positions of power. These become cliches of the bad FBI agent, the corrupt local official, unrealistically bent and wrong and self-serving, largely to make the protagonist seem a strong, reluctant, righteous hero.

I do like the landscape in these books, though, which is most likely what brings me back.

8 of 9 people found this review helpful

Interesting twist on environmental responsibility!

What did you love best about Below Zero?

The way the part of the teenage girl was written was excellent. Kept you guessing and wondering. The clues, twists and turns were intriguing.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Joe was my favorite character. He was so tortured by what happened in the past, and determined to make things right. Very nobel.

Which scene was your favorite?

Too many to choose from. One of the top few would have been the helicopter ride.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No extreme reaction, however, it kept me entwined and anxious to get back to listening as soon as I could.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

An ok read

I am a huge C.J.Box fan, and I am grading this book harder because of that. I love his series for it's evolving characters, rugged landscapes, and usually good story lines. To me, this story really wandered. It was a real stretch in believability, and too much time was spent with the bad guys. I wanted to hear more about the main characters lives. If you are a first time reader of Box, don't start here. For fans of the series you won't want to miss it, but it probably won't rank among your favorites. Nevertheless, I'll be eagerly awaiting more installments in this series.

9 of 11 people found this review helpful

Enjoyable

I enjoyed this novel. It was interesting and kept me cheering for the "good guys."

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

Excellent as always

Another great read. More only regret is that C.J. Box doesn't write fast enough.

8 of 10 people found this review helpful

We did not want to put it down pardon the pun. We

we enjoyed listening to the books while driving down the road. makes you not want to stop.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

This is a wonderful series about the Western States

I enjoy the opportunity to spend my time listening to books that detail the life and daily adventures of the people in Montana, Wyoming, and surrounding states. It’s about the life of a strategic game & Fish officer doing what’s right for the preservation of game. Murder. Corrupt government officers. Romance. A strong family Knitted into the fabric of the story. Great series.

Best one yet!

CJ Box does it again. Great writing. Great story!! A true “page turner.” Can’t wait to get the next one.