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Joe Pickett #13
Breaking Point
It was always good to see Butch Roberson, Joe thought—a hard-working, upright local business owner whose daughter was friends with his own. Little did he know that when he talked to Butch that day, the man was about to disappear. He was heading into the mountains to hunt, he said, but instead he was running. Two EPA employees had just been murdered, and all signs pointed to him as the killer.
As the manhunt organized itself, Joe heard more of the story—about the tract of land Butch and his wife had bought to build their retirement home on, until the EPA declared it a wetland. About the penalties they charged him when he balked, new ones piling up every day, until the family was torn apart by debt . . . and finally, it seems, the man just cracked.
It was an awful story. But was it the whole story? The more Joe looks into it, the more he begins to wonder—and the more he finds himself in the middle of a war he never expected and never wanted. Powerful forces want Butch not just caught, but dead . . . and the same goes for anyone who stands in their way.
As the manhunt organized itself, Joe heard more of the story—about the tract of land Butch and his wife had bought to build their retirement home on, until the EPA declared it a wetland. About the penalties they charged him when he balked, new ones piling up every day, until the family was torn apart by debt . . . and finally, it seems, the man just cracked.
It was an awful story. But was it the whole story? The more Joe looks into it, the more he begins to wonder—and the more he finds himself in the middle of a war he never expected and never wanted. Powerful forces want Butch not just caught, but dead . . . and the same goes for anyone who stands in their way.
367 pages, Hardcover
First published March 12, 2013
2890 people are currently reading
4800 people want to read
About the author
C.J. Box
111 books7,232 followersC. J. Box is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of 24 novels including the Joe Pickett series. He won the Edgar Alan Poe Award for Best Novel (Blue Heaven, 2009) as well as the Anthony Award, Prix Calibre 38 (France), the Macavity Award, the Gumshoe Award, two Barry Awards, and the 2010 Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association Award for fiction. He was recently awarded the 2016 Western Heritage Award for Literature by the National Cowboy Museum as well as the Spur Award for Best Contemporary Novel by the Western Writers of America in 2017. The novels have been translated into 27 languages.
Box is a Wyoming native and has worked as a ranch hand, surveyor, fishing guide, a small town newspaper reporter and editor, and he co-owns an international tourism marketing firm with his wife Laurie. They have three daughters. An avid outdoorsman, Box has hunted, fished, hiked, ridden, and skied throughout Wyoming and the Mountain West. He served on the Board of Directors for the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. Box lives in Wyoming.
--from the author's website
Series:
* Joe Pickett
http://us.macmillan.com/author/cjbox
Box is a Wyoming native and has worked as a ranch hand, surveyor, fishing guide, a small town newspaper reporter and editor, and he co-owns an international tourism marketing firm with his wife Laurie. They have three daughters. An avid outdoorsman, Box has hunted, fished, hiked, ridden, and skied throughout Wyoming and the Mountain West. He served on the Board of Directors for the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. Box lives in Wyoming.
--from the author's website
Series:
* Joe Pickett
http://us.macmillan.com/author/cjbox
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,345 reviews
May 16, 2013
A thrilling delight, as usual, following the trail of tough sweetheart Joe Pickett who as a Wyoming game warden gets involved with solving some serious crime out in the boonies. I eagerly look forward to the new book in the series each year and devour it I eagerly look forward to the new book in this series each year and devour it when it hits my library. Like Tom Sawyer, who felt good from Sunday school almost until Tuesday, I have to live with inhuman urges again soon.
In this one, a landowner gets pushed too far by the Environmental Protection Ageny and is believed to be guilty of killing two staff serving him papers. Pickett, who knows him as the father of his daughter’s best friend, wangles it so he is on the team trying to find him in a remote wilderness in the Bighorn Mountains, thus giving him a chance to protect him from getting blown away by the trigger-happy forces marshaled against him. Problems escalate from the mistakes of putting a bounty on the man, sending unprepared people after him, and inappropriate use of drones. Soon there is a hostage situation. Joe doesn’t have the help of his ex-Special Forces friend Nate in this tale. But his business-savvy wife, Marybeth, lends a hand with research to get to the bottom of why a particular EPA administrator was so gung-ho in this case in the first place.
I enjoy rooting for Pickett in his Dudley Do-Right roles which have him courageously outfoxing the forces of corruption or greed that lie behind conflicts over the environment or resource management in the mountain West. He is not a total Boy Scout, as he’s not above bending the law on small things to bag big game of the rogue human type. His righteous anger, once engaged, is always getting him in hot water with the powers that be, often at the cost of putting his job on the line or his family at risk. I like how his typical day calls for work on horseback and appreciate his laconic humor, his devotion for his wife and three daughters, and his stubborn persistence for justice.
The theme in this one is on abuses of power by the Environmental Protection Agency does not indict the whole organization, but the deficiencies in the system that allow Compliance Orders of cease-and-desist, remediation, and huge fines with no legal recourse of judicial review by the accused offender. Such a right of judicial review was restored by a Supreme Court ruling in 2012 in the case of Sackett v. EPA, a case from Idaho which Box models his tale on to some extent. Likely other interventions by federal agencies will be affected by the precedent of this ruling (article on case
).
It seems several of my Goodreads friends tried the first or second in the Joe Pickett series, rendered 3 star reviews, and didn’t try any more. As one who has read 11 of 13 volumes, I think Box’s skills improved over time. I encourage everyone to try him at his peak—the order of reading them matters little.
In this one, a landowner gets pushed too far by the Environmental Protection Ageny and is believed to be guilty of killing two staff serving him papers. Pickett, who knows him as the father of his daughter’s best friend, wangles it so he is on the team trying to find him in a remote wilderness in the Bighorn Mountains, thus giving him a chance to protect him from getting blown away by the trigger-happy forces marshaled against him. Problems escalate from the mistakes of putting a bounty on the man, sending unprepared people after him, and inappropriate use of drones. Soon there is a hostage situation. Joe doesn’t have the help of his ex-Special Forces friend Nate in this tale. But his business-savvy wife, Marybeth, lends a hand with research to get to the bottom of why a particular EPA administrator was so gung-ho in this case in the first place.
I enjoy rooting for Pickett in his Dudley Do-Right roles which have him courageously outfoxing the forces of corruption or greed that lie behind conflicts over the environment or resource management in the mountain West. He is not a total Boy Scout, as he’s not above bending the law on small things to bag big game of the rogue human type. His righteous anger, once engaged, is always getting him in hot water with the powers that be, often at the cost of putting his job on the line or his family at risk. I like how his typical day calls for work on horseback and appreciate his laconic humor, his devotion for his wife and three daughters, and his stubborn persistence for justice.
The theme in this one is on abuses of power by the Environmental Protection Agency does not indict the whole organization, but the deficiencies in the system that allow Compliance Orders of cease-and-desist, remediation, and huge fines with no legal recourse of judicial review by the accused offender. Such a right of judicial review was restored by a Supreme Court ruling in 2012 in the case of Sackett v. EPA, a case from Idaho which Box models his tale on to some extent. Likely other interventions by federal agencies will be affected by the precedent of this ruling (article on case
).
It seems several of my Goodreads friends tried the first or second in the Joe Pickett series, rendered 3 star reviews, and didn’t try any more. As one who has read 11 of 13 volumes, I think Box’s skills improved over time. I encourage everyone to try him at his peak—the order of reading them matters little.
March 22, 2013
If you like plain-spoken rural people, despise bureaucrats, love justice, disdain pretension, respect integrity, long for comeuppance to the prideful...well, the point is made, you will truly enjoy just about every page. As you can tell, I did.
This is my first one by Box and it sure won't be the last.
This is my first one by Box and it sure won't be the last.
March 2, 2024
5 Stars for Breaking Point: Joe Pickett, Book 13 (audiobook) by C. J. Box read by David Chandler.
Two EPA officials turn up dead and a local man is on the run in this small Wyoming town. Joe Pickett is pulled into the man hunt as he learns just how corrupt and powerful the feds are.
Two EPA officials turn up dead and a local man is on the run in this small Wyoming town. Joe Pickett is pulled into the man hunt as he learns just how corrupt and powerful the feds are.
January 30, 2022
Usually in these stories it is Joe Pickett vs some government agency. In this story it is the EPA and it is based on an actual incident. See https://pacificlegal.org/case/sackett.... I had never heard about this and it is scary to read about.
Joe is out making his rounds when he encounters a fence that has been cut and beyond it Butch Roberson. Joe likes and respects Butch. He is a local business owner and hardworking. Their daughters are friends. Butch tells Joe he is heading into the mountains to scout elk. Joe senses something is off with Butch but can't put his finger on it. When he gets back to his truck he hears a lot of chatter on the radio. Never a good sign.
Two EPA employees have been murdered. Their bodies found on the property where Butch and his wife had been building their retirement home. Butch is the suspect and he is on the run. The EPA told Butch and his wife that thier property was a wetland and they had to restore it to it's original condition. There were daily fines until this was done. The family was deeply in debt and it was getting worse. It appears that Butch just snapped.
This sets up a showdown between local and government agencies. The new sheriff, Mike Reed, believes it is a local matter and they should handle it. The EPA believes since this involves the murder of federal agents it is their case. They believe the locals are a bunch of yokels and Reed is a Barney Fife. They descend in force and bring their troops and equipment and set up camp.
Also making an appearance is the governor with Joe's new boss ... Lisa Greene-Dempsey (a.k.a LGD). LGD has a job offer for Joe that would put him behind a desk in Cheyenne but first she tells him to work with the EPA and he is to act as a guide. Take them to where he encountered Butch and "let him get away".
Mike Reed is a friend and Joe would prefer that Mike and his deputies handle this but he has no choice in the matter. Besides he thinks it may be the only chance of bringing back Butch alive. The head of the EPA district appears to be gung-ho on getting Butch and not necessarily alive. To make things worse ex-Sheriff McLanahan, still sore about losing the election, decides if he can bring back Butch he can get his job back.
Towards the end they are all caught in a forest fire and no body may make it out alive. It all depends on Joe remembering, and finding, a trail that he used ten years ago (Savage Run). The EPA and it's district commander is an obvious "bad guy" but who killed the EPA agents? If it wasn't Butch then what happened that day and why is Butch on the run?
Joe is out making his rounds when he encounters a fence that has been cut and beyond it Butch Roberson. Joe likes and respects Butch. He is a local business owner and hardworking. Their daughters are friends. Butch tells Joe he is heading into the mountains to scout elk. Joe senses something is off with Butch but can't put his finger on it. When he gets back to his truck he hears a lot of chatter on the radio. Never a good sign.
Two EPA employees have been murdered. Their bodies found on the property where Butch and his wife had been building their retirement home. Butch is the suspect and he is on the run. The EPA told Butch and his wife that thier property was a wetland and they had to restore it to it's original condition. There were daily fines until this was done. The family was deeply in debt and it was getting worse. It appears that Butch just snapped.
This sets up a showdown between local and government agencies. The new sheriff, Mike Reed, believes it is a local matter and they should handle it. The EPA believes since this involves the murder of federal agents it is their case. They believe the locals are a bunch of yokels and Reed is a Barney Fife. They descend in force and bring their troops and equipment and set up camp.
Also making an appearance is the governor with Joe's new boss ... Lisa Greene-Dempsey (a.k.a LGD). LGD has a job offer for Joe that would put him behind a desk in Cheyenne but first she tells him to work with the EPA and he is to act as a guide. Take them to where he encountered Butch and "let him get away".
Mike Reed is a friend and Joe would prefer that Mike and his deputies handle this but he has no choice in the matter. Besides he thinks it may be the only chance of bringing back Butch alive. The head of the EPA district appears to be gung-ho on getting Butch and not necessarily alive. To make things worse ex-Sheriff McLanahan, still sore about losing the election, decides if he can bring back Butch he can get his job back.
Towards the end they are all caught in a forest fire and no body may make it out alive. It all depends on Joe remembering, and finding, a trail that he used ten years ago (Savage Run). The EPA and it's district commander is an obvious "bad guy" but who killed the EPA agents? If it wasn't Butch then what happened that day and why is Butch on the run?
May 15, 2024
Breaking Point
The author came up with the perfect title for this book, because more than one person to include Joe Pickett had reached their breaking point.
Butch Roberson is a hard working man whose daughter is best friends with Joe’s daughter Lucy. Butch loves the mountains and all the wilderness sports that go with them and he loves his family. Butch waited to have a home in the mountains until his daughter was ready to go off to college because she loved town, but he was building and planning for the future. The Robersons put everything they had into a piece of land and Butch worked extra jobs and planned to do most of the work himself. All the permits were in place and he started leveling by bringing in fill and suddenly gets a letter from the EPA that his property is designated wet lands and he has to put everything back the way it was or be fined $70,000 a day, $10,000 more than he paid for the property. He stopped work and walked away and nothing happed, but the first day he went back to move dirt and order was sent out to have a letter hand delivered by very gung-ho armed EPA men to Butch while on his new land.
Those men did not answer calls from their office and their bodies were found buried on Butch’s property. Naturally, Joe gets right in the middle by having just run into Butch on the day in question and there were things bothering him about that day. Joe being a quiet kind of guy needed some time to ruminate on what it was, but in the meantime he had a new female boss who was almost too nice. She has a “different” idea of the way Game Wardens should work which Joe isn’t thrilled with.
Like all Joe Pickett stories there was a lot of moving pieces to Joe’s life and to what was going on in Twelve Sleep County. We have a bad guy weaponizing an important government agency to destroy a family’s life and it’s easy to see how well intended policies may have gotten out of hand and could be misused. C. J. Box never ceases to amaze with his ability to build stories with something new in every book. All these five star ratings are almost embarrassing!
The author came up with the perfect title for this book, because more than one person to include Joe Pickett had reached their breaking point.
Butch Roberson is a hard working man whose daughter is best friends with Joe’s daughter Lucy. Butch loves the mountains and all the wilderness sports that go with them and he loves his family. Butch waited to have a home in the mountains until his daughter was ready to go off to college because she loved town, but he was building and planning for the future. The Robersons put everything they had into a piece of land and Butch worked extra jobs and planned to do most of the work himself. All the permits were in place and he started leveling by bringing in fill and suddenly gets a letter from the EPA that his property is designated wet lands and he has to put everything back the way it was or be fined $70,000 a day, $10,000 more than he paid for the property. He stopped work and walked away and nothing happed, but the first day he went back to move dirt and order was sent out to have a letter hand delivered by very gung-ho armed EPA men to Butch while on his new land.
Those men did not answer calls from their office and their bodies were found buried on Butch’s property. Naturally, Joe gets right in the middle by having just run into Butch on the day in question and there were things bothering him about that day. Joe being a quiet kind of guy needed some time to ruminate on what it was, but in the meantime he had a new female boss who was almost too nice. She has a “different” idea of the way Game Wardens should work which Joe isn’t thrilled with.
Like all Joe Pickett stories there was a lot of moving pieces to Joe’s life and to what was going on in Twelve Sleep County. We have a bad guy weaponizing an important government agency to destroy a family’s life and it’s easy to see how well intended policies may have gotten out of hand and could be misused. C. J. Box never ceases to amaze with his ability to build stories with something new in every book. All these five star ratings are almost embarrassing!
January 6, 2022
Another great story by Box. Not as good as some but excellent nevertheless. It was interesting to learn at the end that a real situation was it’s basis and that’s frightening.
Joe had a hard time with this one. Was it the end of an era for him? It’s going to be fun finding out. Looking forward to the next one.
Joe had a hard time with this one. Was it the end of an era for him? It’s going to be fun finding out. Looking forward to the next one.
December 4, 2025
We (Simon and I) would wind down each evening by reading this book out loud to each other while travelling in November.
Finally, this afternoon, we sat on our couch at home and read, absolutely enthralled, until we finished the story! Wow! I got to read the final chapters, as it was my turn, Simon had continued to read the previous few chapters while I completed an online jigsaw puzzle.
As I read, I had to take a pause a few times to process my emotions. Throughout our reading experience we had remarked on how close to our current reality in 2025 the story felt - especially the corruption, which enriches the rich while leaving the average person in the dust, or worse - stripped of the little they had strived for.
So, we were not surprised to read in the afterword that "The premise of this book is based on a true story." As an FYI: this book was first published in the UK in 2013.
Quotes that caught my ears:
The Pickett's foster daughter April is now dating. When yet another boy comes to their home to pick her up to take her out, "Joe had taken the boy aside and whispered in his ear, "I have a rifle, a shovel, and ten acres of land, son." The boy had her back by ten."
According to Joe Pickett ex-sheriff McLanahan is “all foam and no beer.”
The forest is on fire. Animals are fleeing. "The wolf hesitated as it loped along, and locked eyes with Joe for a momentary and primal exchange of information - run - before vanishing into the timber."
Joe had "grown attached to the floating log, and thought that he'd like to load it on a trailer and take it home. Then he remembered it was only a tree trunk, although a special and much-loved tree trunk, and that Marybeth would rightly wonder why it was in the garage." I think this might resonate with a lot of wives, myself included.
Finally, this afternoon, we sat on our couch at home and read, absolutely enthralled, until we finished the story! Wow! I got to read the final chapters, as it was my turn, Simon had continued to read the previous few chapters while I completed an online jigsaw puzzle.
As I read, I had to take a pause a few times to process my emotions. Throughout our reading experience we had remarked on how close to our current reality in 2025 the story felt - especially the corruption, which enriches the rich while leaving the average person in the dust, or worse - stripped of the little they had strived for.
So, we were not surprised to read in the afterword that "The premise of this book is based on a true story." As an FYI: this book was first published in the UK in 2013.
Quotes that caught my ears:
The Pickett's foster daughter April is now dating. When yet another boy comes to their home to pick her up to take her out, "Joe had taken the boy aside and whispered in his ear, "I have a rifle, a shovel, and ten acres of land, son." The boy had her back by ten."
According to Joe Pickett ex-sheriff McLanahan is “all foam and no beer.”
The forest is on fire. Animals are fleeing. "The wolf hesitated as it loped along, and locked eyes with Joe for a momentary and primal exchange of information - run - before vanishing into the timber."
Joe had "grown attached to the floating log, and thought that he'd like to load it on a trailer and take it home. Then he remembered it was only a tree trunk, although a special and much-loved tree trunk, and that Marybeth would rightly wonder why it was in the garage." I think this might resonate with a lot of wives, myself included.
January 6, 2024
I've listened to almost all of the Joe Pickett series on audio. I love the narrator (David Chandler -- I listen to him at 1.25X) and I think out of all Box's books, only one or two I didn't love. BREAKING POINT is by far the best in the series. It was Joe Pickett at his best. It was timely, well-paced, suspenseful, and a bit nerve-wracking. I mean I know Joe is going to survive -- otherwise there would never be another book (so this isn't a spoiler!) But this one I was definitely worried for awhile and unsure how he'd get out a very dangerous situation. Nate (Joe's friend) only has a tiny, tiny role in this book, so if you want a good introduction to the series but don't want to start at book one (which is also one of my favorites in the series when Sheridan and Lucy, his daughters, are still little) this is a great place to start.
September 6, 2024
In “Breaking Point” our favorite Game Warden, Joe Picket has got a lot of things going on… All of them bad…
Professionally, he’s getting hit on multiple fronts. A friend of his, Butch Roberson, a local business owner and whose daughter, Hannah, is best friends with Joe’s daughter, Lucy, is in trouble. When Joe just saw him. Butch said he was heading into the mountains to scout elk, but something seemed odd to Joe about their running into each other.
Shortly thereafter, Joe finds out that two EPA representatives have been killed and buried on Butch’s property. Butch’s wife tells Joe and Marybeth the land they had bought to retire on had been declared a protected wetland by the EPA and threatening them. Earlier that day, two representatives had been sent out to deliver final papers requiring them to cease and desist any development work. Everything now points to Butch killing them, and it now appears that Butch is heading up into the mountains to hide.
As the Sherriff’s department investigating the two murders, the EPA regional director, Juan Julio Batista, and his special agent supervisor, Heinz Underwood, arrive on the scene demanding to take over in a federal capacity. Batista clashes with Sherriff Reed and Underwood aggressively clashes with Joe on a level that is extremely unnerving. They want Joe out of their way as they have already decided Butch is guilty and needs to be punished as an example of what happens to someone who kills federal employees.
On top of all that, Joe finds out that he has a new boss. Governor Spencer Rulon shows up in town, introducing Joe to his new Director, Lisa Greene-Dempsey, who likes to be referred to “LGD” and has progressive plans for the game wardens in her state. It starts with wanting to put Joe in an administrative role that will take him out of the field and keep him under her control.
His personal is not any better. Joe has family issues no father wants to deal with. His adopted daughter, April, is growing up way too fast. Not only is her sarcasm overwhelming, but her she is physically developing into a young woman way before he is prepared for, and the increasing number of young men showing up and paying her attention is causing him undue stress.
As Joe tries to investigate the two murders, as well as dealing with a new Director and challenges on the home front, he finds himself being pulled into a dangerous political war that will force him choose sides that could end his career for good…
After finishing the previous two books in this series, I immediately started this one because those two were the best ones in the series so far. Although this one was a good read, it wasn’t as good as those. That’s not meant as a negative comment in any way. This was still a high-quality worthy read just like every other book in the Joe Pickett series has been. It’s just that those two were the two best Pickett books so far, at least in my perspective. They were both built on plotlines and character development that had been developed over several books or more and brought them to stunning climaxes that delivered on the highest level.
In contrast, this book was more of a standalone mystery, full of political machinations, introduction of Joe’s new boss and Reed’s new role as sheriff, and transition into new character arcs. In addition, we didn’t have Nate for the most part (until a timely appearance at the end) because he’s still in hiding from the law. Still, “Breaking Point” is a solid book, and after finishing it, the title has additional personal meaning for our everyman’s hero, Joe. A strong 4-star read and easily devoured by the reader.
Another good thing it had going for it were the characters of Batista and Underwood, both of which were excellent villains, especially Batista. The EPA director was completely unlikeable and wholeheartedly a dastardly person who you wished ill against. I must also add that watching April take every opportunity to do whatever she could to push Joe and Marybeth’s buttons was painfully funny. Having two grown daughters of my own, I was reminded of times when one of them would say and do things just to frustrate or anger me. It must be some kind of test that teenagers are driven to inflict on their parents. Oh, the flashbacks…
Box also dealt with corruption in government and the improper use of those in power (this time within the leadership structure of the EPA) to take advantage of those who cannot defend themselves. This is one of his favorite themes to explore, and its easy to inflame our emotions when seeing dirty and abusive politics taking place. It also raises those issues to the public forefront, provoking thought and maybe even some potential civic or community-oriented actions on our part. Joe is the perfect lightning rod for exploring these types of controversial issues. His desires to always do the right thing certainly helps to amplify and personalize the problems, as well as suggest potential solutions.
I can think that’s a good way to describe it, and I’ll leave it at that for now.
The last thing that I will mention is I was pretty sure how this one was going to end and Box had a different twist for us. The surprise ending I thought was coming turned out to be a different outcome than I expected. One that he had set-up very well with the clues laid out before us. But what really got me was how Joe behaved. He had a shift in character that caught me almost completely off-guard. No reveals here, folks. You’ll have to read this for yourself and not have me ruin it. Let’s just say that Joe makes a couple of decisions that you won’t see coming, both of which just felt right for him. It seems that just like Joe has started rubbing off on Nate, the reverse may also be happening. At least selectively.
Overall, a good 4-star out of 5-star rating for me, especially with the ending. I enjoyed the overall mystery and how it unfolded, the introduction of new characters and storylines, and the continued development of Joe and Marybeth’s family.
As I keep saying, this series just keeps on getting better with each book. Maybe if I repeat it enough, you’ll give the series a try yourself…
Professionally, he’s getting hit on multiple fronts. A friend of his, Butch Roberson, a local business owner and whose daughter, Hannah, is best friends with Joe’s daughter, Lucy, is in trouble. When Joe just saw him. Butch said he was heading into the mountains to scout elk, but something seemed odd to Joe about their running into each other.
Shortly thereafter, Joe finds out that two EPA representatives have been killed and buried on Butch’s property. Butch’s wife tells Joe and Marybeth the land they had bought to retire on had been declared a protected wetland by the EPA and threatening them. Earlier that day, two representatives had been sent out to deliver final papers requiring them to cease and desist any development work. Everything now points to Butch killing them, and it now appears that Butch is heading up into the mountains to hide.
As the Sherriff’s department investigating the two murders, the EPA regional director, Juan Julio Batista, and his special agent supervisor, Heinz Underwood, arrive on the scene demanding to take over in a federal capacity. Batista clashes with Sherriff Reed and Underwood aggressively clashes with Joe on a level that is extremely unnerving. They want Joe out of their way as they have already decided Butch is guilty and needs to be punished as an example of what happens to someone who kills federal employees.
On top of all that, Joe finds out that he has a new boss. Governor Spencer Rulon shows up in town, introducing Joe to his new Director, Lisa Greene-Dempsey, who likes to be referred to “LGD” and has progressive plans for the game wardens in her state. It starts with wanting to put Joe in an administrative role that will take him out of the field and keep him under her control.
His personal is not any better. Joe has family issues no father wants to deal with. His adopted daughter, April, is growing up way too fast. Not only is her sarcasm overwhelming, but her she is physically developing into a young woman way before he is prepared for, and the increasing number of young men showing up and paying her attention is causing him undue stress.
As Joe tries to investigate the two murders, as well as dealing with a new Director and challenges on the home front, he finds himself being pulled into a dangerous political war that will force him choose sides that could end his career for good…
After finishing the previous two books in this series, I immediately started this one because those two were the best ones in the series so far. Although this one was a good read, it wasn’t as good as those. That’s not meant as a negative comment in any way. This was still a high-quality worthy read just like every other book in the Joe Pickett series has been. It’s just that those two were the two best Pickett books so far, at least in my perspective. They were both built on plotlines and character development that had been developed over several books or more and brought them to stunning climaxes that delivered on the highest level.
In contrast, this book was more of a standalone mystery, full of political machinations, introduction of Joe’s new boss and Reed’s new role as sheriff, and transition into new character arcs. In addition, we didn’t have Nate for the most part (until a timely appearance at the end) because he’s still in hiding from the law. Still, “Breaking Point” is a solid book, and after finishing it, the title has additional personal meaning for our everyman’s hero, Joe. A strong 4-star read and easily devoured by the reader.
Another good thing it had going for it were the characters of Batista and Underwood, both of which were excellent villains, especially Batista. The EPA director was completely unlikeable and wholeheartedly a dastardly person who you wished ill against. I must also add that watching April take every opportunity to do whatever she could to push Joe and Marybeth’s buttons was painfully funny. Having two grown daughters of my own, I was reminded of times when one of them would say and do things just to frustrate or anger me. It must be some kind of test that teenagers are driven to inflict on their parents. Oh, the flashbacks…
Box also dealt with corruption in government and the improper use of those in power (this time within the leadership structure of the EPA) to take advantage of those who cannot defend themselves. This is one of his favorite themes to explore, and its easy to inflame our emotions when seeing dirty and abusive politics taking place. It also raises those issues to the public forefront, provoking thought and maybe even some potential civic or community-oriented actions on our part. Joe is the perfect lightning rod for exploring these types of controversial issues. His desires to always do the right thing certainly helps to amplify and personalize the problems, as well as suggest potential solutions.
I can think that’s a good way to describe it, and I’ll leave it at that for now.
The last thing that I will mention is I was pretty sure how this one was going to end and Box had a different twist for us. The surprise ending I thought was coming turned out to be a different outcome than I expected. One that he had set-up very well with the clues laid out before us. But what really got me was how Joe behaved. He had a shift in character that caught me almost completely off-guard. No reveals here, folks. You’ll have to read this for yourself and not have me ruin it. Let’s just say that Joe makes a couple of decisions that you won’t see coming, both of which just felt right for him. It seems that just like Joe has started rubbing off on Nate, the reverse may also be happening. At least selectively.
Overall, a good 4-star out of 5-star rating for me, especially with the ending. I enjoyed the overall mystery and how it unfolded, the introduction of new characters and storylines, and the continued development of Joe and Marybeth’s family.
As I keep saying, this series just keeps on getting better with each book. Maybe if I repeat it enough, you’ll give the series a try yourself…
April 27, 2025
OMG! This book is based on an actual case. Not the murder part, although the case makes me mad enough to do bodily harm to the EPA. In the real case Michael and Chantell Sackett just wanted to build a modest home near a lake in Idaho. Then regulators showed up with an absurd reading of the Clean Water Act. It took over 16 years and the Supreme Court decided in their favor in 2023. Our story is very much a David vs. Goliath, but our victims, Pam and Butch Robertson have someone the Sacketts didn't have - Joe Pickett. This plot begs the question "what would you do?" if a government agency came after you and tried to destroy your life. It is a sobering tale of just how corrupt a lifelong government official, who can't be fired, can be. A scary, thought-provoking and twisty scenario unfolds with lots of action and is one of the best books in the series.
Joe Pickett comes across Butch Roberson while out inspection water guzzlers in advance of elk hunting season. Joe knows Butch as the father of his youngest daughter's best friend, likes him, but Butch seems a little off. After greetings and small talk, Joe goes on his way only later discovering that Butch is suspected in the murder of two EPA employees.
Joe had no idea what was happening in the lives of Butch and his family that could have caused Butch to snap and commit murder. When the government descends on Twelve Sleep determined to find and capture Butch, Joe is very concerned that Butch will be killed instead of captured and is determined not to let that happen.
Joe Pickett comes across Butch Roberson while out inspection water guzzlers in advance of elk hunting season. Joe knows Butch as the father of his youngest daughter's best friend, likes him, but Butch seems a little off. After greetings and small talk, Joe goes on his way only later discovering that Butch is suspected in the murder of two EPA employees.
Joe had no idea what was happening in the lives of Butch and his family that could have caused Butch to snap and commit murder. When the government descends on Twelve Sleep determined to find and capture Butch, Joe is very concerned that Butch will be killed instead of captured and is determined not to let that happen.
April 30, 2013
I just can't get enough of C J Box's writing! I've often said that a good book for me, is one with a great story line, or one with great writing, Box's books are always the best of both! Each successive Joe Picket, Wyoming Fish and Game Warden, novel just gets better and better. Characterization, descriptions, conflicts between good and evil, and the pull between legal justice and moral justice are enhanced by stories that connect to headlines of the day. Box mixes each mystery, with a continuing family story, and a fictional accounting of non-fiction reality.
When one of Joe's friends is accused of murder, Joe becomes involved in ways that he'd never imagined. Lyle, and his wife, have finally gotten a piece of land on which to build their own home. Permits in hand, Lyle begins grading the land when EPA employees come and demand that he return the land to exactly as he's found it previously. The fine for not doing so will be $70,000 a day. And why is this happening? Lyle is told it's because his land has been declared 'protected wetlands'. With no water at all on his land, he questions this declaration. But no one at the EPA has any paperwork , nor are they answering his repeated phone calls. So this story begins, and ends in disaster when two EPA agents are murdered, and an all out man hunt is begun by the EPA to "kill the murderer."
This case is based on a real case in North Dakota, that bends credulity. There are other actions , also based on "truth" that just may blow your mind. Joe is caught up in the manhunt, as determined by the Governor, but the more and more that things progress, Joe begins to realize that there is something more that just doesn't make sense. An edge of your seat story keeps the suspense until the very last page!! I think I love you C J Box!!!! Never stop telling stories in books!!
When one of Joe's friends is accused of murder, Joe becomes involved in ways that he'd never imagined. Lyle, and his wife, have finally gotten a piece of land on which to build their own home. Permits in hand, Lyle begins grading the land when EPA employees come and demand that he return the land to exactly as he's found it previously. The fine for not doing so will be $70,000 a day. And why is this happening? Lyle is told it's because his land has been declared 'protected wetlands'. With no water at all on his land, he questions this declaration. But no one at the EPA has any paperwork , nor are they answering his repeated phone calls. So this story begins, and ends in disaster when two EPA agents are murdered, and an all out man hunt is begun by the EPA to "kill the murderer."
This case is based on a real case in North Dakota, that bends credulity. There are other actions , also based on "truth" that just may blow your mind. Joe is caught up in the manhunt, as determined by the Governor, but the more and more that things progress, Joe begins to realize that there is something more that just doesn't make sense. An edge of your seat story keeps the suspense until the very last page!! I think I love you C J Box!!!! Never stop telling stories in books!!
March 24, 2014
I won this book on Good Reads and this is my honest review.
C. J. Box is at his best. This is one of those books you can hardly set down. I read it over a weekend and loved every minute. Joe Picket takes us on a mile a minute, white water, adventure. We see the horror of abuse of power and how close it is to striking anyone. C.J Box opens the beauty and vastness of the Wyoming back country.
C. J. Box is at his best. This is one of those books you can hardly set down. I read it over a weekend and loved every minute. Joe Picket takes us on a mile a minute, white water, adventure. We see the horror of abuse of power and how close it is to striking anyone. C.J Box opens the beauty and vastness of the Wyoming back country.
November 22, 2021
It continues to amaze me that the Joe Pickett novels by C.J. Box keep getting better and better. Highly recommended.
December 6, 2019
The Joe Pickett series combines mystery with amazing descriptions of of the American west. The action is unrelenting and it's hard to turn the page fast enough to keep up. Enjoy!
December 20, 2020
Another good Joe Pickett story, with our Wyoming game warden squaring off against the EPA and some nefarious schemes. He also meets his new boss and juggles home life with wife and three daughters.
May 11, 2013
First Sentence: On an early morning in mid-August, EPA Special Agents Tim Singewald and Lenox Baker left the Region 8 Environmental Protection Agency building at 1595 Wynkoop Street in downtown Denver in a Chevrolet Malibu SA hybrid sedan they’d checked out from the motor pool.
When Joe finds a cut fence and his neighbor, Butch, on Wilderness land, he doesn’t think too much about it. However, when the EPA and Feds come in and insist on taking over an investigation of two murdered EPA agents found on the neighbor’s land, Joe seriously questions their motives and methods. In order to keep things as controlled as possible, he agrees to lead the agents into the mountains to track Butch down.
Boy, can this man write!! The story is completely engrossing; all the more so as the premise is taken from a true story. If anything, I can’t quite understand why he is not as popular and widely read as other, similar authors. It’s certainly not for lack of storytelling. Perhaps it is because he calls out the wrong-doing of some who work for public agencies and misuse their positions. I appreciate it, as it is one way to keep such agencies in check.
Box’s characters rank among the best. Joe is a man of strong morality and integrity, but knows there are times when justice must prevail over the letter of the law. He’s also not perfect, which makes him even better. His marriage has gone through rough patches, but they’re stronger for it. His daughters are growing up and are written very realistically for their ages. I like that Nate, a favorite character of the series’ fans, makes an appearance, albeit a small one. For those who’ve not yet read the series, there is enough information to jump in and not feel lost. However, do yourselves a favor—start at the beginning and catch up. It’s well worth the reading.
There is incredible sense of place. The tension and suspense are palpable. His ability to convey emotion is tangible. You feel Joe’s anger, fear, jubilation and sorrow.
The sign of a really good book is when you had intended to turn the light out and 10 p.m., but find yourself still reading until 2 a.m. in order to finish, and the ending leaves you a bit stunned. “Breaking Point” is that good.
BREAKING POINT (Lic Invest-Joe Pickett-Wyoming-Contemp)-Ex
Box, C.J. – 13th in series
Putnam, 2013
When Joe finds a cut fence and his neighbor, Butch, on Wilderness land, he doesn’t think too much about it. However, when the EPA and Feds come in and insist on taking over an investigation of two murdered EPA agents found on the neighbor’s land, Joe seriously questions their motives and methods. In order to keep things as controlled as possible, he agrees to lead the agents into the mountains to track Butch down.
Boy, can this man write!! The story is completely engrossing; all the more so as the premise is taken from a true story. If anything, I can’t quite understand why he is not as popular and widely read as other, similar authors. It’s certainly not for lack of storytelling. Perhaps it is because he calls out the wrong-doing of some who work for public agencies and misuse their positions. I appreciate it, as it is one way to keep such agencies in check.
Box’s characters rank among the best. Joe is a man of strong morality and integrity, but knows there are times when justice must prevail over the letter of the law. He’s also not perfect, which makes him even better. His marriage has gone through rough patches, but they’re stronger for it. His daughters are growing up and are written very realistically for their ages. I like that Nate, a favorite character of the series’ fans, makes an appearance, albeit a small one. For those who’ve not yet read the series, there is enough information to jump in and not feel lost. However, do yourselves a favor—start at the beginning and catch up. It’s well worth the reading.
There is incredible sense of place. The tension and suspense are palpable. His ability to convey emotion is tangible. You feel Joe’s anger, fear, jubilation and sorrow.
The sign of a really good book is when you had intended to turn the light out and 10 p.m., but find yourself still reading until 2 a.m. in order to finish, and the ending leaves you a bit stunned. “Breaking Point” is that good.
BREAKING POINT (Lic Invest-Joe Pickett-Wyoming-Contemp)-Ex
Box, C.J. – 13th in series
Putnam, 2013
January 2, 2020
A great story of government run amok and the damage it does. But we also must remember that almost all government employees know they are working to serve the citizens of the United States and are honored to do so and firmly believe in what they are doing. As citizens of the United States (or anywhere for that matter) the moral obligations that we should follow would nullify most of the government regulations that have become necessary and there wouldn't be these types of problems. to begin with.
July 10, 2022
Finally catching up on all of the Joe Pickett series. Glad Nate is back. Odd twists and some violence. A good book in the series. Fighting the bid bad government…and still somehow the good still suffers.
March 14, 2019
When I began reading this novel I was bothered by the way the EPA was depicted. Mr. Box showed them to be as evil as the Devil himself (or herself, just being fair). Then I read a bit on the Sackett vs. EPA case and was shocked at how an organization designed and tasked with protection of the environment could go off of the rails so much.
Much of the motives for what happened to Butch Roberson and his family in this novel is from the active imagination of Mr. Box but what happened to the Sacketts seems to be pure bureaucracy run amok. That is a tragedy that transcends political views, right, left, middle of the road. While I think the Sackett case is an extreme, that it exists at all is a travesty of justice and a mockery of our government and how it does versus how it should operate.
End of rant. . . maybe.
Joe Pickett is forced to cooperate with what turns out to be a rogue operation by the EPA. He is searching for an acquaintance, a man who he has never suspected of any wrong doing, a local business man and an avid and good hunter but now is suspected (and in the minds of many of the EPA, guilty and worthy of summary execution) of murdering two EPA agents (who carry guns? Why would an EPA agent need to carry a gun?) and now the manhunt is on.
How that manhunt came to be is told with Mr. Box's usual flair for the dramatic, the wild and at times, the beautiful. It's a story whose beginnings are based in fact and then Box elaborates on that to present us with a story of greed, hate, arrogance and family devotion. That's a rather mixed bag but you'll have to read the book to find out how that plays out.
We have the usual cast of characters with Joe, his family and Nate although he makes a late and rather minor appearance. Mike Reed, the paraplegic sheriff and friend to Joe is becoming a regular member of the group and a good addition at that.
It's hard to say something new about a Joe Pickett novel. That doesn't mean, however; that the novels are repetitious or in the least bit boring. They are not. They are filled with action, drama and certainly love and those are all detailed in the best possible way. It's just that Mr. Box is a prolific author and thank god he is.
If you are a Joe Pickett fan and you haven't read this one you need to correct that oversight soon. If you are a mystery fan who loves complex characters and situations, the great outdoors as well, then you are missing out if you haven't found Pickett novels before now. I urge you to correct that oversight. You'll be glad you did.
Much of the motives for what happened to Butch Roberson and his family in this novel is from the active imagination of Mr. Box but what happened to the Sacketts seems to be pure bureaucracy run amok. That is a tragedy that transcends political views, right, left, middle of the road. While I think the Sackett case is an extreme, that it exists at all is a travesty of justice and a mockery of our government and how it does versus how it should operate.
End of rant. . . maybe.
Joe Pickett is forced to cooperate with what turns out to be a rogue operation by the EPA. He is searching for an acquaintance, a man who he has never suspected of any wrong doing, a local business man and an avid and good hunter but now is suspected (and in the minds of many of the EPA, guilty and worthy of summary execution) of murdering two EPA agents (who carry guns? Why would an EPA agent need to carry a gun?) and now the manhunt is on.
How that manhunt came to be is told with Mr. Box's usual flair for the dramatic, the wild and at times, the beautiful. It's a story whose beginnings are based in fact and then Box elaborates on that to present us with a story of greed, hate, arrogance and family devotion. That's a rather mixed bag but you'll have to read the book to find out how that plays out.
We have the usual cast of characters with Joe, his family and Nate although he makes a late and rather minor appearance. Mike Reed, the paraplegic sheriff and friend to Joe is becoming a regular member of the group and a good addition at that.
It's hard to say something new about a Joe Pickett novel. That doesn't mean, however; that the novels are repetitious or in the least bit boring. They are not. They are filled with action, drama and certainly love and those are all detailed in the best possible way. It's just that Mr. Box is a prolific author and thank god he is.
If you are a Joe Pickett fan and you haven't read this one you need to correct that oversight soon. If you are a mystery fan who loves complex characters and situations, the great outdoors as well, then you are missing out if you haven't found Pickett novels before now. I urge you to correct that oversight. You'll be glad you did.
February 3, 2017
Prior to reading this book, I had just finished a book that was very disappointing so, I looked for an author who had never disappointed me. An author who consistently wrote books that I enjoyed. And I am kind of a picky, pain-in-the-ass type who isn't all that easy to please. Looking through my list of books to read, I came upon Breaking Point by C. J. Box.
I have no idea why I read my first C. J. Box book. I'm not a hunter or fisherman or camper or outdoors-man but, nonetheless, perhaps because I was looking for an author with as few letters in his name as possible, I read one of his books about Joe Pickett, Game Warden in the state of Wyoming. I've been to Wyoming and it is truly a beautiful place and the scenes that Box paints with his words call those images to mind.
Joe Pickett makes very little money as a game warden but he is a really decent man with strong principles, a great family as well as a good horse and dog. His strong determination to enforce game laws and regulations really pisses off some people but some people need to be pissed off or pissed on, for that matter. Joe is a decent, hard working, tough, stubborn, highly principled kinda guy.
The plot, the characters, the pacing and the quality of writing are all first class in Breaking Point. Although it is one of a continuing series, it is not critical that you read it only after the 12 earlier books but, why not start at the beginning. The book is a really good read and perfect if your last book disappointed you.
I have no idea why I read my first C. J. Box book. I'm not a hunter or fisherman or camper or outdoors-man but, nonetheless, perhaps because I was looking for an author with as few letters in his name as possible, I read one of his books about Joe Pickett, Game Warden in the state of Wyoming. I've been to Wyoming and it is truly a beautiful place and the scenes that Box paints with his words call those images to mind.
Joe Pickett makes very little money as a game warden but he is a really decent man with strong principles, a great family as well as a good horse and dog. His strong determination to enforce game laws and regulations really pisses off some people but some people need to be pissed off or pissed on, for that matter. Joe is a decent, hard working, tough, stubborn, highly principled kinda guy.
The plot, the characters, the pacing and the quality of writing are all first class in Breaking Point. Although it is one of a continuing series, it is not critical that you read it only after the 12 earlier books but, why not start at the beginning. The book is a really good read and perfect if your last book disappointed you.
June 21, 2019
Another great one from C J Box
February 1, 2025
I bet CJ Box could tell some interesting, personal stories about his run-ins with the government. In the first 13 novels, he's depicted local law enforcement, the Wyoming governor's office, the US Forestry Service, the National Parks Service, and the FBI (I've definitely forgotten to list more than one) as capital-S Shady.
Now it's the EPA's turn. The Environmental Protection Agency has taken a very focused interest in the recently acquired property of Butch Roberson. The lot, on which he and his wife have just broken ground to build their dream home, is suddenly labeled a wetland by the EPA, with no paperwork and no explanations - just a fine of $70,000 a day until they restore it!
Voice mails to the EPA office simply go unanswered. The fines, which long since racked up to more than the purchase price of the land and projected cost to build the house, have strained the Robersons beyond the breaking point. Butch suddenly moves out, and his wife and daughter are concerned that he was getting desperate when they last saw him...
I loved this book because the plot was so bonkers! There are checks and balances against abuses of power in government agencies, and while I know that corruption absolutely still exists, the level of escalation that occurs in Breaking Point can only be described as "beyond belief." Batshit, if you will. 1980s-action-flick-level, although only in one specific scene (I wish there was a lot more of it.)
As a bonus, Nate makes a last-second appearance after the dust settles. Hooray, he's back! Let's see what trouble Joe and Nate get into in Stone Cold.
Now it's the EPA's turn. The Environmental Protection Agency has taken a very focused interest in the recently acquired property of Butch Roberson. The lot, on which he and his wife have just broken ground to build their dream home, is suddenly labeled a wetland by the EPA, with no paperwork and no explanations - just a fine of $70,000 a day until they restore it!
Voice mails to the EPA office simply go unanswered. The fines, which long since racked up to more than the purchase price of the land and projected cost to build the house, have strained the Robersons beyond the breaking point. Butch suddenly moves out, and his wife and daughter are concerned that he was getting desperate when they last saw him...
I loved this book because the plot was so bonkers! There are checks and balances against abuses of power in government agencies, and while I know that corruption absolutely still exists, the level of escalation that occurs in Breaking Point can only be described as "beyond belief." Batshit, if you will. 1980s-action-flick-level, although only in one specific scene (I wish there was a lot more of it.)
As a bonus, Nate makes a last-second appearance after the dust settles. Hooray, he's back! Let's see what trouble Joe and Nate get into in Stone Cold.
July 10, 2021
4.5/5
The premise of this story is based on a real case that came out of Idaho in 2010-2011 and it is CRAZY. I mean, it is completely bonkers. Essentially the Sacketts got a permit and built a home in a residential neighborhood in Idaho, only for the EPA to come and declare their property wetlands and demand they return it to its natural condition immediately or pay a fine of $75,000 PER DAY. (Read this summary of the case and I dare you not to gasp like I did: (Sackett vs. Environmental Protection Agency)
That's the basis of this story: a local family saves their money, gets a permit, and builts a retirement home in a nice neighborhood up in the mountains. But the EPA comes and declares their property a wetlands and insists they undo all of the changes they've made to the land or be fined $75,000 per day until it is back to normal. The Robersons don't have that kind of money (who does, really?) nor are they given any chances to ask questions or appeal this decision. So after NOT changing anything because the EPA never returns their correspondence, they keep going with their building. Until one day around a year later when two armed EPA agents show up on the property again and are murdered.
CJ Box is so damn good about melding these real-life cases with the goings-on in Twelve Sleep, Wyoming. One thing that struck me about this particularly installment is the way Joe just can't believe that Butch Roberson would commit murder like this because he knows the guy. Still, he pursues him up into the mountains because Joe is good and does the right thing, and he believes he can help. I wish the crazy EPA case was the only oddball thing about how this story unfolds, but the way Roberson is pursued by federal agents is even crazier. And I totally believe the real government agencies are capable of the very same things Mr. Box has put into this story.
I missed the presence of Nate in this story because he's so interesting and adds so much to these stories. (He does show up very briefly for a couple of pages, so no worries.) But Joe does a great job on his own. His knowledge of the land is always impressive, as is his do-gooder nature. And the way Joe interacts with Marybeth and his girls in this installment is reassuring. Meaning, there's no drama at this time.
I always look forward to picking up these Pickett books. I love reading about the growth and aging of his family as it occurs-I almost feel like they grow and age in real time along with my own family, and that warms my heart a little bit. My husband is also reading this series and has gotten several books ahead of me. He likes to drop little hints about things that will be happening to Joe and his family in the future, and it drives me crazy because I don't want any spoilers. So I need to speed up my reading of this series. Truly, the series gets better with every installment. I'm a little curious about Joe's career as a game warden as this book ends and the rest of the series is out before me. I'm genuinely excited to see whether he continues in the same capacity or if things will change for him.
Audiobook Notes: This is THE BEST audiobook series and David Chandler's narration is complete perfection. As long as Chandler continues to narrate it, I will continue to buy the audiobooks and listen with bated breath as Joe investigates.
Title: Breaking Point by C.J. Box
Series: Joe Pickett #13
Narrated by: David Chandler
Publisher: Recorded Books
Length: 10 hours, 37 minutes, Unabridged
The premise of this story is based on a real case that came out of Idaho in 2010-2011 and it is CRAZY. I mean, it is completely bonkers. Essentially the Sacketts got a permit and built a home in a residential neighborhood in Idaho, only for the EPA to come and declare their property wetlands and demand they return it to its natural condition immediately or pay a fine of $75,000 PER DAY. (Read this summary of the case and I dare you not to gasp like I did: (Sackett vs. Environmental Protection Agency)
That's the basis of this story: a local family saves their money, gets a permit, and builts a retirement home in a nice neighborhood up in the mountains. But the EPA comes and declares their property a wetlands and insists they undo all of the changes they've made to the land or be fined $75,000 per day until it is back to normal. The Robersons don't have that kind of money (who does, really?) nor are they given any chances to ask questions or appeal this decision. So after NOT changing anything because the EPA never returns their correspondence, they keep going with their building. Until one day around a year later when two armed EPA agents show up on the property again and are murdered.
CJ Box is so damn good about melding these real-life cases with the goings-on in Twelve Sleep, Wyoming. One thing that struck me about this particularly installment is the way Joe just can't believe that Butch Roberson would commit murder like this because he knows the guy. Still, he pursues him up into the mountains because Joe is good and does the right thing, and he believes he can help. I wish the crazy EPA case was the only oddball thing about how this story unfolds, but the way Roberson is pursued by federal agents is even crazier. And I totally believe the real government agencies are capable of the very same things Mr. Box has put into this story.
I missed the presence of Nate in this story because he's so interesting and adds so much to these stories. (He does show up very briefly for a couple of pages, so no worries.) But Joe does a great job on his own. His knowledge of the land is always impressive, as is his do-gooder nature. And the way Joe interacts with Marybeth and his girls in this installment is reassuring. Meaning, there's no drama at this time.
I always look forward to picking up these Pickett books. I love reading about the growth and aging of his family as it occurs-I almost feel like they grow and age in real time along with my own family, and that warms my heart a little bit. My husband is also reading this series and has gotten several books ahead of me. He likes to drop little hints about things that will be happening to Joe and his family in the future, and it drives me crazy because I don't want any spoilers. So I need to speed up my reading of this series. Truly, the series gets better with every installment. I'm a little curious about Joe's career as a game warden as this book ends and the rest of the series is out before me. I'm genuinely excited to see whether he continues in the same capacity or if things will change for him.
Audiobook Notes: This is THE BEST audiobook series and David Chandler's narration is complete perfection. As long as Chandler continues to narrate it, I will continue to buy the audiobooks and listen with bated breath as Joe investigates.
Title: Breaking Point by C.J. Box
Series: Joe Pickett #13
Narrated by: David Chandler
Publisher: Recorded Books
Length: 10 hours, 37 minutes, Unabridged
September 1, 2025
The book starts off a little slow and doesn’t really pick up until just before the halfway mark. But once it does, the story becomes very good—fast-paced, suspenseful, and hard to put down. The ending caught me by surprise.
March 16, 2017
This guy just gets better and better....In the 13th book of his Joe Pickett series, Joe is on the job, counting elk herds when he sees a cut wire fence. On investigating, he discovers a friend of his, who says he stopped for lunch and then some hunting. On arriving back in town, Joe discovers that Butch is wanted for the murder of two EPA agents. Joe has to accompany several law officials back to where he last saw Butch, and try to follow his trail. As he is doing this, he sees the political "dirt" that is going on here. A drone is brought in to search, and when they think it has found Butch, a hell-fire missile is directed at him (killing the wrong man) and it starts a major forest fire. No spoilers, but Joe, ex sheriff Maclanahan, Butch and one other are on the run for their lives. Forced by the fire into Savage Run Canyon, they have no choice but to ride the river all the way down the mountain. Nate, who has been gone for a year, makes a small reappearance at the end of the book, but Joe pretty much has things settled. Look for big changes in the next book.
August 5, 2022
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
WHAT'S BREAKING POINT ABOUT?
Acquaintance and father of one of Lucy's best friends, Butch Roberson, is in trouble—he's been being harassed by some EPA agents and they've turned up dead. Joe was the last person to see him before he became a prime suspect in their murder and a subject of a manhunt. Which, in the perverse way that only bureaucrats can think, gets him in hot water.
Joe's now tasked with helping some contractors track Butch through the wilderness—he really doesn't want to do it, and almost quits over it. But the way these guys are acting, Joe figures that he's the only one who can ensure that Butch is brought in alive and with a shot at a fair trial (especially if he can get him into local custody).
Joe's been in hazardous wilderness conditions before—regularly, from the reader's point of view—but I think it's safe to say that these are the most dangerous he's been in. And the humans (officially and unofficially) hunting for Butch are just making things worse.
Meanwhile, Marybeth is doing a little investigative work on the side for Joe while helping Butch's wife and daughter through this time. She even sends up a flare hoping to get some help from Nate Romanowski.
There's a whole lot of moving pieces in this novel, and hopefully, the Picketts and Robersons come out of things alive.
FEDERAL AGENCIES
Outside of some FBI Agents (maybe only one), people who work for the Federal Government don't come across well in these books. And Breaking Point is no exception
I don't know��and really don't care—how much of Box's own politics are reflected in these books, but he does a great job of portraying the attitudes of people in Wyoming and Idaho (not that he does a lot of Idaho work, but there's some). Federal Agents are inherently suspect and will wield their power to damage the way of life of citizens. Sure, there are exceptions, but on the whole, you can't trust them to do the right thing.
It's never comfortable reading these depictions of the Federal Government, but if nothing else, it's good to be reminded of/exposed to the way hunters/ranchers/etc.out here think of them—and why they do.
THE SUB-PLOTS
The new head of Game and Fish, Lisa Greene-Dempsey (LGD) is a more interesting foil for Joe than the previous officious penny-pinchers. She's trying to reshape the Agency in a way that Joe's not comfortable with, and she's clearly playing politics with him/his job. But the way she's going about it—with good intentions, I think—makes her a better character and gives us more interesting reactions from Joe. It's always better to have competing good intentions than having one side just out to hurt the other/improve themself alone. The whole arc there is one of the best Joe vs. The System stories Box has given us.
I don't get the Marybeth story, it fizzled on all fronts for me. If it's to underline the financial hardships the family has gone through, he's done it more effectively before. If it's laying the groundwork for something else, on the other hand, great—but I want to see it soon. Generally, Marybeth's stories are a highlight of these novels but this one fell flat for me.
While Sheridan had a pivotal part to play here, it sort of seems to me that Box doesn't know what to do with her anymore (ditto for her sisters, but Sheridan's always shown the brightest among them, so it seems worse). I really hope he does something interesting with her soon, I'm not sure how long I'd have stuck with the series if not for her early on, and I don't want to not enjoy her in the future.
THAT DEATH...
There's a significant character death that shocked me—both in the manner, the function in the story, and the fact that it happened at all. Box treated the whole thing perfectly.
I'm not going to get into details, but it was a smart, gutsy move.
HOW'S THE NARRATION?
Chandler has the characterizations down pat—every time he says something as McLanahan (and how great is it to see how things went for him between Force of Nature and this book?) I want to punch the guy in his nose. Which is more violent than I typically get, but that voice is perfectly grating—a wonderful match for McLanahan's personality.
He's great even when he doesn't irritate me—Chandler has brought this series to life, and continues that work here. Really don't have much else to say.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT BREAKING POINT?
There's a great call-back to Savage Run, reminding the reader just how far Joe's come, and some of the things he's pulled off in his career.
Box delivers a great thriller here, as we're used to—with some important character work for Joe—including a move that'll change his professional life forever.
It's the thirteenth book in a series, and it's really difficult to come up with something to say. The storytelling isn't getting stale, the characters are developing nicely, the premise of the novel rings true, and Box executes it well. It's an incredibly consistent series, really—not getting much better (nor does it need to), it's definitely not getting worse.
There's not much more to say—if you've liked most of the previous twelve novels (like I have), you'll like this one. If you're intrigued by the idea of a Game Warden getting involved in criminal investigations while dealing with wilderness adventures, you'll likely enjoy this one, even without the backstory.
Box knows what he's doing at this point, and even with my quibbles, I figure he's going to do something in the future to remove them. Give this one a try.
---
WHAT'S BREAKING POINT ABOUT?
Acquaintance and father of one of Lucy's best friends, Butch Roberson, is in trouble—he's been being harassed by some EPA agents and they've turned up dead. Joe was the last person to see him before he became a prime suspect in their murder and a subject of a manhunt. Which, in the perverse way that only bureaucrats can think, gets him in hot water.
Joe's now tasked with helping some contractors track Butch through the wilderness—he really doesn't want to do it, and almost quits over it. But the way these guys are acting, Joe figures that he's the only one who can ensure that Butch is brought in alive and with a shot at a fair trial (especially if he can get him into local custody).
Joe's been in hazardous wilderness conditions before—regularly, from the reader's point of view—but I think it's safe to say that these are the most dangerous he's been in. And the humans (officially and unofficially) hunting for Butch are just making things worse.
Meanwhile, Marybeth is doing a little investigative work on the side for Joe while helping Butch's wife and daughter through this time. She even sends up a flare hoping to get some help from Nate Romanowski.
There's a whole lot of moving pieces in this novel, and hopefully, the Picketts and Robersons come out of things alive.
FEDERAL AGENCIES
Outside of some FBI Agents (maybe only one), people who work for the Federal Government don't come across well in these books. And Breaking Point is no exception
I don't know��and really don't care—how much of Box's own politics are reflected in these books, but he does a great job of portraying the attitudes of people in Wyoming and Idaho (not that he does a lot of Idaho work, but there's some). Federal Agents are inherently suspect and will wield their power to damage the way of life of citizens. Sure, there are exceptions, but on the whole, you can't trust them to do the right thing.
It's never comfortable reading these depictions of the Federal Government, but if nothing else, it's good to be reminded of/exposed to the way hunters/ranchers/etc.out here think of them—and why they do.
THE SUB-PLOTS
The new head of Game and Fish, Lisa Greene-Dempsey (LGD) is a more interesting foil for Joe than the previous officious penny-pinchers. She's trying to reshape the Agency in a way that Joe's not comfortable with, and she's clearly playing politics with him/his job. But the way she's going about it—with good intentions, I think—makes her a better character and gives us more interesting reactions from Joe. It's always better to have competing good intentions than having one side just out to hurt the other/improve themself alone. The whole arc there is one of the best Joe vs. The System stories Box has given us.
I don't get the Marybeth story, it fizzled on all fronts for me. If it's to underline the financial hardships the family has gone through, he's done it more effectively before. If it's laying the groundwork for something else, on the other hand, great—but I want to see it soon. Generally, Marybeth's stories are a highlight of these novels but this one fell flat for me.
While Sheridan had a pivotal part to play here, it sort of seems to me that Box doesn't know what to do with her anymore (ditto for her sisters, but Sheridan's always shown the brightest among them, so it seems worse). I really hope he does something interesting with her soon, I'm not sure how long I'd have stuck with the series if not for her early on, and I don't want to not enjoy her in the future.
THAT DEATH...
There's a significant character death that shocked me—both in the manner, the function in the story, and the fact that it happened at all. Box treated the whole thing perfectly.
I'm not going to get into details, but it was a smart, gutsy move.
HOW'S THE NARRATION?
Chandler has the characterizations down pat—every time he says something as McLanahan (and how great is it to see how things went for him between Force of Nature and this book?) I want to punch the guy in his nose. Which is more violent than I typically get, but that voice is perfectly grating—a wonderful match for McLanahan's personality.
He's great even when he doesn't irritate me—Chandler has brought this series to life, and continues that work here. Really don't have much else to say.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT BREAKING POINT?
There's a great call-back to Savage Run, reminding the reader just how far Joe's come, and some of the things he's pulled off in his career.
Box delivers a great thriller here, as we're used to—with some important character work for Joe—including a move that'll change his professional life forever.
It's the thirteenth book in a series, and it's really difficult to come up with something to say. The storytelling isn't getting stale, the characters are developing nicely, the premise of the novel rings true, and Box executes it well. It's an incredibly consistent series, really—not getting much better (nor does it need to), it's definitely not getting worse.
There's not much more to say—if you've liked most of the previous twelve novels (like I have), you'll like this one. If you're intrigued by the idea of a Game Warden getting involved in criminal investigations while dealing with wilderness adventures, you'll likely enjoy this one, even without the backstory.
Box knows what he's doing at this point, and even with my quibbles, I figure he's going to do something in the future to remove them. Give this one a try.
February 18, 2024
3+ stars
I like these Joe Pickett books on audio because I enjoy the narrator so much. This was an interesting mystery but I found myself, multiple times, wondering how a complete psycho could be in charge of a an organization. It was pretty unbelievable that one guy, who nobody liked or respected, could order a huge number of people to go on a deadly manhunt, break all kinds of laws, an have no-one question or balk at his orders. I guess my other quibble would be the lack of closure on the ending. It felt like it was over rather abruptly, after spending so many detailed hours living through the escape through the fire.
I like these Joe Pickett books on audio because I enjoy the narrator so much. This was an interesting mystery but I found myself, multiple times, wondering how a complete psycho could be in charge of a an organization. It was pretty unbelievable that one guy, who nobody liked or respected, could order a huge number of people to go on a deadly manhunt, break all kinds of laws, an have no-one question or balk at his orders. I guess my other quibble would be the lack of closure on the ending. It felt like it was over rather abruptly, after spending so many detailed hours living through the escape through the fire.
December 29, 2020
Once again, Joe Pickett finds himself in a dangerous situation, and we should all be grateful! This another great book in the Joe Pickett series by C. J. Box. This story involves some of the same old characters as well as a few new ones and revolves around the murder of two government agents, and Joe Pickett has to help find the the killer. This is a great story with a twist ending I didn’t see coming. I highly recommend this book! C. J. Box is as good as anyone out there, in my opinion.
September 25, 2021
Another exciting Joe Pickett novel with a surprise ending. Joe is almost killed again as he tracks down a killer, then runs from a fire as he attempts to get the "killer" to justice. Great author, great suspense.
November 4, 2013
I had a few problems with this. It's a good story, but with some serious, and some not so serious, errors that made it really hard to buy the whole plot. I'd give it 3 stars for the story, if not for the fact that the circumstances that kick it off are so unbelievable.
We start with two (armed) EPA agents travelling to small town Wyoming to serve papers—papers that should have been served a year earlier—the men promptly turn up dead. The crime that the EPA is fighting is supposedly the illegal development of a wetland: except that everybody knows there is no such wetland. So we're asked to believe that, first, the EPA has ordered a developer (verbally) to stop work on a "wetland" and to restore it to its natural condition immediately, and that fines of $70,000 a day will be imposed until the site is restored. In an afterword, Box says that this has really happened to a couple named Sackett in Idaho, and as far as it goes, this is true. However, in the Sackett's case, nobody—except perhaps the Sacketts—denies that the property really was a wetland and a compliance order was issued, which latter didn't happen in this fictional version. It's also true that only the EPA can define what constitutes a wetland under the Clean Water Act, and that they claimed the Sacketts had no right of appeal. The US Supreme court ruled that they did have a right of appeal in March 2012, well before this book was published. So, really, no, I don't think the scenario described here could have happened.
For the far less consequential, we're told this town is too small to have even one taxi, but a young hooligan that Joe Pickett is looking for is the son of an Episcopalian Bishop. You think? My experience is that Episcopal diocesan seats are in rather larger centres. In Wyoming's case, that's Caspar: population 55,000.
Towards the end of the book, Joe's riding a log down a river that even the best whitewater kayakers only tackle in the spring runoff. That's not the way it works, Mr. Box: if it's dangerous in August, it's worse when the water's high. Think about it. There's more water, moving faster, in the
spring runoff than during the
dry part of summer : Energy = ½mass*velocity² — more energy = more danger.
So, that's all a long winded way of saying that I was pretty short on the willing suspension of disbelief. Outside of that, I enjoyed it….
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