A review by dgrachel
Winterkill by C.J. Box

adventurous emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Three books into the series and it's starting to get predictable. Joe does something stupid. Joe gets involved in something where he has no jurisdiction. Joe does something else stupid. Joe and/or his family get hurt. Joe does more stupid things (how does this man still have a job?!?). There's a big showdown. Terrible things happen. Joe wins, kind of, but it's overshadowed by the fallout from his stupidity and/or the ineptitude of those around him (that sheriff man...how does HE still have a job). The plot of this one feels ripped from the headlines, as it is supposed to, and it is well constructed. However, the villains are caricatures and some of the bad things that happen feel like they are just thrown in for shock value. I can't take any more of Joe's stupidity, though, and this will be the last book I read of the series.