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redheadtreefrog's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
kdowli01's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
cnorbury's review
4.0
Rock-solid mystery/thriller featuring a sympathetic heroine, Cassie Dewell, who fights both resistance in her sheriff's department as a new hire and a female, and cagey, ruthless villains who are hell-bent on keeping their multi-million-dollar methamphetamine business thriving in the 21st-century oil boomtown of Grimstead, North Dakota.
Dewell is a single mom of a young son, with a old-hippie mother who disapproves of most of her decisions. That's stressful enough, but when she starts a new job and runs into resistance from fellow employees, her stress level ratchets up. But she uses her instincts in a unique way to get to the truth and find the key to solving the case--young Kyle Westergard.
Box writes beautiful, tight prose and doesn't waste many words on needless details. I thought she oversold the brutal cold of a North Dakota winter, yet she described it perfectly (says this MN reviewer who has experienced -30 degree winter days many times in the past.
I've read two of the Highwayman Quartet series now. It feels like the last two books will be just as solid as the first two. You can't go wrong reading CJ Box.
Dewell is a single mom of a young son, with a old-hippie mother who disapproves of most of her decisions. That's stressful enough, but when she starts a new job and runs into resistance from fellow employees, her stress level ratchets up. But she uses her instincts in a unique way to get to the truth and find the key to solving the case--young Kyle Westergard.
Box writes beautiful, tight prose and doesn't waste many words on needless details. I thought she oversold the brutal cold of a North Dakota winter, yet she described it perfectly (says this MN reviewer who has experienced -30 degree winter days many times in the past.
I've read two of the Highwayman Quartet series now. It feels like the last two books will be just as solid as the first two. You can't go wrong reading CJ Box.
valkeakuulas's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
C. J. Box has the fantastic talent to create a functioning suspence thriller and sprinkle it with characters that the reader attaches and cares for. The cold, dark North Dakota is just as grim as you can expect, even without the ruthless cartel gangs.
Story flows nicely but full points are not there. There was something odd about the structure this time but only small issues that didn't really stop the enjoyment. As much of enjoyment as a thriller can provide a reader.
Story flows nicely but full points are not there. There was something odd about the structure this time but only small issues that didn't really stop the enjoyment. As much of enjoyment as a thriller can provide a reader.
sssnoo's review against another edition
4.0
The Highway Quartet is another riveting series by CJ Box. It’s set in Montana and N Dakota and gives the reader a strong sense of place. It also addresses some of the issues facing N Dakota in the wake of oil discoveries and the onset of a boom economy. The story is darker and creepier than thr Joe Picket series as it covers the hunt for a seriously deranged serial killer. It has hooked me for sure.
xkay_readsx's review against another edition
5.0
I somehow read all of The Highway Quartet series, but book 3. A pleasant surprise that I get to dive into the hunt for the Lizard King one more time. This book was very good, but the plot deals more with drug distribution and MS13. Very entertaining audio, I love January LaVoy narrating as Cassie. Highly recommend this series to crime-mystery readers.
bethnellvaccaro's review against another edition
3.0
Maybe not the best written book, but this was a fun and quick mystery to read. It was nice to read about a part of the country that I know little about. While I have travelled to the Badlands of North Dakota several times, I know nothing about the oil boom and the effect on the community there. That was the most interesting aspect of the novel.
marysues's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
claudetteb's review against another edition
2.0
I did enjoy the Joe Pickett books by this author, but mostly for the characters. In this series, the characters aren't charismatic enough to overcome the mediocre writing, so I'm done reading Box.
ring01's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5