Title: Back of Beyond
Author: C.J. Box
Review: I have been working through C.J. Box’s backlist the last several months, catching up on Joe Pickett and family as he navigates the violent and highly political world of Wyoming wildlife management. So I was excited to see the author’s latest book, Back of Beyond, was a standalone mystery/thriller that I could read right now without ruining my Pickett timeline.
Now here is the odd thing about this book. Box’s writing is just getting better with every book he writes so this story just flowed beautifully; never a dull moment. It is a good solid read and very enjoyable. Unfortunately the lead character was just to stereotyped and the plot a little to contrived. You have a divorced alcoholic cop who gets in his own way when trying to connect with those that love him; like his son, ex-wife, and coworkers. He is a tenacious and skilled investigator but is a little to willing to go outside the rules to get things done. Not exactly unique.
As to the plot you have got a plane full of drug money crashed out in the wilds of Yellowstone Park. So you have bad guys that just happen to kill our hero’s AA sponsor and want to go after the plane. But hey, coincidences happen all the time. But then the only way to get to the plane is through an annual guided horseback excursion to that part of the park, and our hero’s estranged son just happens to be going on that trip. Then you have another set of bad guys who are also acquainted with our hero who are also willing to kill for the prize. So the coincidences keep building from there, almost as much as the bodies do; and there are a lot of bodies in this book.
It all builds to a Gunfight in the O.K. Coral scenario that plays out like a Hollywood movie ending. At the end of the book all lose ends have been resolved completely, the bad guys are gone and the hero is back on track. Therein lies the problem, Box went with an extremely messy hero but wrote an extremely clean conclusion. Those two just do not match.
Even after all that I like the book. It was well paced and the dialogue was genuine. I guess what I am saying is that while I enjoy complex and developed meals (i.e. the Joe Pickett books), sometimes a well made peanut butter sandwich is just the ticket. Read this book to get a taste of what C.J. Box is capable of, and then go back and read his backlist to savor the delights they contain.
Now here is the odd thing about this book. Box’s writing is just getting better with every book he writes so this story just flowed beautifully; never a dull moment. It is a good solid read and very enjoyable. Unfortunately the lead character was just to stereotyped and the plot a little to contrived. You have a divorced alcoholic cop who gets in his own way when trying to connect with those that love him; like his son, ex-wife, and coworkers. He is a tenacious and skilled investigator but is a little to willing to go outside the rules to get things done. Not exactly unique.
As to the plot you have got a plane full of drug money crashed out in the wilds of Yellowstone Park. So you have bad guys that just happen to kill our hero’s AA sponsor and want to go after the plane. But hey, coincidences happen all the time. But then the only way to get to the plane is through an annual guided horseback excursion to that part of the park, and our hero’s estranged son just happens to be going on that trip. Then you have another set of bad guys who are also acquainted with our hero who are also willing to kill for the prize. So the coincidences keep building from there, almost as much as the bodies do; and there are a lot of bodies in this book.
It all builds to a Gunfight in the O.K. Coral scenario that plays out like a Hollywood movie ending. At the end of the book all lose ends have been resolved completely, the bad guys are gone and the hero is back on track. Therein lies the problem, Box went with an extremely messy hero but wrote an extremely clean conclusion. Those two just do not match.
Even after all that I like the book. It was well paced and the dialogue was genuine. I guess what I am saying is that while I enjoy complex and developed meals (i.e. the Joe Pickett books), sometimes a well made peanut butter sandwich is just the ticket. Read this book to get a taste of what C.J. Box is capable of, and then go back and read his backlist to savor the delights they contain.
Publisher: Minotaur
Copyright: 2011
Pages: 372 pages
ISBN: 978-0-312-36574-5
Quick Review: 3.5 Stars out of 5.
Why I Read it: Love the reboot of James Bond in the movies.
Where I Obtained the Book: At my local library.
Author Biography: Bestselling author C. J. Box writes short stories and novels, including the popular Joe Pickett series. His first stand-alone novel, Blue Heaven, won an Edgar Award for Best Novel of 2008, and his short stories were included in America's Best Mystery Stories of 2006. He has also received the Anthony Award, Prix Calibre 38, Macavity Award, Gumshoe Award, and Barry Award. Box is from Wyoming and co-owns an international tourism marketing firm with his wife.Other Reviews:
Petrona
Yet Another Crime Fiction Blog
Kevin’s Corner
FYI:
Read Chapter 1 here
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