Open Season

A Joe Pickett Novel

By: C. J. Box

Narrated by: David Chandler

Length: 7 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

Joe Pickett is the new game warden in Twelve Sleep, Wyoming, a town where nearly everyone hunts and the game warden—especially one like Joe who won't take bribes or look the other way—is far from popular. When he finds a local hunting outfitter dead, splayed out on the woodpile behind his state-owned home, he takes it personally. There had to be a reason that the outfitter, with whom he's had run-ins before, chose his backyard, his woodpile to die in. Even after the "outfitter murders," as they have been dubbed by the local press after the discovery of the two more bodies, are solved, Joe continues to investigate, uneasy with the easy explanation offered by the local police.

As Joe digs deeper into the murders, he soon discovers that the outfitter brought more than death to his backdoor: he brought Joe an endangered species, thought to be extinct, which is now living in his woodpile. But if word of the existence of this endangered species gets out, it will destroy any chance of InterWest, a multi-national natural gas company, building an oil pipeline that would bring the company billions of dollars across Wyoming, through the mountains and forests of Twelve Sleep. The closer Joe comes to the truth behind the outfitter murders, the endangered species and InterWest, the closer he comes to losing everything he holds dear.

©2001 C.J. Box (P)2010 Recorded Books, LLC

Right up there with the Longmire mystery Series

Game warden not sheriff. WY the only similarity. Content story FANTASTIC. Have to read the entire series.

the ramifications just keep going

Who knew there was so much violence in such a rural place!

New guy in town. New family. New friends and school. Hard to fit in.

The new game warden gets caught up in an intrigue of EPA, animal protection, development, progress and prospects of better than subsistence living for some in the town. He is just trying to do his job, to do the right thing. When he is told to forget about it, and just move on, he knows something isn't right, but then he has to buck all the old hands and the cliques they are in.

This is an enjoyable story and the start of long series that will see the warden's children grow up, the warden's position in town improve, and the town change. It is well-written and realistic.

I was confused at one point since many efforts were made to point out how the warden was such a lousy shot, but at the end he saves the day by actually being a crack shot. Maybe it was a hand gun/ shotgun difference, but I thought it didn't work.

That said, I will still read the rest of the series. The people are real and authentic, and I like the warden, and I like his family. The town has honest folk as well as trash, and the situations are real, although you can see the political timeliness of the plots.

Good Book

this is the second book I've listened to from this author. His characters are not as deeply developed as I like. I would prefer that he spent a little bit more time developing the main characters than he does. the plot is good the mystery is good. if I wish I could rate it 3.5 stars ,. Maybe one reason I'm a little disappointed in this story is because I just got through listening to a Harry Bosch series from Michael Connelly. his writing is quite a bit better than this writer but he also has been at it a lot longer and this is the only second book of this author, I understand . If you like a whodunit and a cop and bad guy book you probably will like this book.

Just not for me

I read/listen to lots of mysteries and police procedurals, so I am always looking for new authors. A huge bonus is if these authors have series books. Whenever I look at authors such as Lee Child or Robert Crais, I always get results that say I'll like the Box books, So I thought I'd give him a try.

The book is good and well written. But it was too slow moving and I just couldn't get invested in the characters. I normally listen during my 30 minute commute and lunch. With most books I find myself dreading having to stop or taking the long way home.

With Open Season, I found myself having to backtrack because I zoned out. The last third of the book was by far the best part, but it came too late for me to really care.

Good listen but not much of a mystery

I enjoyed the story but not enough to want to keep listening to the series.

Enjoyed it

What did you love best about Open Season?

I downloaded this one for a long trip, because I like something on the lighter side when I travel. This was a good choice. I couldn't give it 5 stars because it's not a brilliant book that will stay with me forever, but character development is always the most important part of a book for me, and I enjoyed Joe and his family very much. The plot took a while to get started, but before long it got interesting. It was also not too long and drawn out, and the reader was excellent.

Another great story about Joe Pickett

This was a great story, well told. My Granddaughter and I listened to this as we cleaned house today and we both were impressed with the secrets and surprises throughout the tale.

rough start, awesome ending.

Stuggled to finish but worth it in the end. Definitely worth checking out the sequels.

Great story, great performance! I

I can't wait to listen to the next book. Mr. Box makes the listener feel like your there in the story.

Gifted story teller

After reading this first book, I had to read them all. Great characters, amazing setting. Makes me want to move !