Smoked Out

David Wolf #6

by Jeff Carson

With over a dozen mending bones and other injuries wreaking havoc on his body, along with a shredded spirit twisting his sanity, former sheriff David Wolf is in no shape for any sort of action. But when FBI surveillance units move into the valley and surround his house, it seems he's about to have no choice.

Wolf quickly learns, however, things are not what they seem, and a trap has been set with him as the prey. If he wants to live long enough to bring justice for the only woman he’s ever loved and to see his son grow into a man, broken body or not, he must move, and move fast.

Picking up where Cold Lake left off, this exciting sixth installment of the David Wolf series has Special Agent Kristen Luke of the FBI risking career and limb to help Wolf in a quest for the truth—a quest that will send them on a riveting adventure across the mountains of Colorado and ultimately back to Rocky Points for a deadly showdown that will reveal the answer to the one question Wolf desperately must know.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Suspense, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Action

434 pages, ebook

First published March 10, 2015

About the author

Jeff Carson is from the Front Range of Colorado where he lives with his wife and two sons. His David Wolf series of books takes place in the fictional ski town of Rocky Points, Colorado.

Reviews

[Michael Slavin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series because I know the people; it’s in a beautiful place, a ski resort in Colorado, and the characters keep developing as they all grow in the timeline. David Wolf, no longer sheriff and barely alive, is accused of murdering a few people including his ex-wife. The evidence is overwhelming.

Wolf is struggling for most of this book as he tried to recover from a lot of injuries in the last book. Of course, there is lots of action, and you find out that old enemies may not really be enemies. New bad guys show up, and there is the Colorado cartel to contend with.

An FBI agent goes against the Bureau to help Wolf who all the authorities think he may be the head of this cartel.

Great adventure and I'm ready to read the next book in the series.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh this was twisted. Unfortunately this story picked up exactly where the previous one (Cold Lake) left off and it had been some time since I'd read it so it took some time for my brain to catch up. Once it did it was full-on.

David Wolf is the former Sheriff of Sluice County. Two counties merged and the other sheriff got the gig as Wolf withdrew from the race under duress. At the end of the last book it wasn't certain that he would even live after falling down a cliff. Three some months later he is slowly recovering from his injuries when things go awry for him and it seems he is being set up to face a murder charge. He's not sure who to trust but an FBI agent goes rogue to help him clear his name and see justice done. It gets pretty hairy at times as Wolf is still not fully fit but must take on a criminal cartel to sort out the shit storm that become his life. It was a pretty exciting finish. I really enjoy this series and the characters and have a few more books to go - happy days.

[Trish R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a disappointment this book was. Between his passing out from pain over and over again, his ears ringing all the time, his sudden dizziness that dropped him to his knees at the most in-opportune times and his vomiting again and again I didn’t like this book at all. At 65% I was tempted to just stop reading. In the first 5 books David Wolf was a hero at every turn but in this book he was just nothing. The author should have made more time pass and let Wolf heal a lot more and this would have been better. The author ruined Wolf in this book. IMO. Worse book out of the 6 I’ve read.

This was about a drug cartel and the main bad guy killing people all over the place, even the head of the cartel himself, and Wolf was being accused of murder and was on the run.

I liked every player in the book except David Wolf. I have no idea how this got so many 4 and 5 star reviews with such a useless “hero.” It got 3 stars from me because I liked everyone else and the storyline.

No romance and the F-bomb was used 1 time.

As to the narration: Sean Patrick Hopkins is still a good narrator but he still needs help with this female voices.

[Beth Schindler · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOLF ON THE MEND & ON THE DEFENSE

My first book to read in the series was #5, "Cold Lake", and I had to start on this one, #6 - "Smoked Out", right away because I wanted to find out how Wolf could possibly recover from his severe injuries. Short answer--he couldn't. I don't imagine he ever will completely, but it doesn't stop Wolf from defending himself and protecting those he loves. Kudos to Jeff Carson for giving readers such rich and authentic details on what it is like to keep going despite raw pain, crippling physical weakness and the uncontrollable effects of inner ear and/or brain injury. As someone who deals with these issues, I am impressed with Mr. Carson's understanding of them and grateful to him for sharing his knowledge with others in such an exciting, entertaining way. Most of all, I loved being able to identify with an action hero who may be down, but he's not out. Wolf still kicks butt and takes no prisoners with a little help from his friends!

[Eric Wadsworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leaving off where Cold Lake ended... David Wolf is still in recovery after jumping off that cliff to save his team. Finding out the twins were behind so much death and destruction, Wolf had to do whatever it took to save the team and take them down. In the process of healing, he slips out of the Sheriff race and McLean begins to take control. Wolf struggles to recover. The FBI come knocking on his door as he is still in bedrest to let him know he is now the key suspect in a murder investigation regarding a female that was used to setup one of Wolf's deputies (Rachette). Then, months later, his ex-wife, who Wolf has been trying to reignite a relationship with, is found dead, murdered, with a person Wolf has had altercations with. Come to find out, this man is FBI as well, murdered, next to his ex-wife. FBI blame Wolf more and begin to hunt him down. FBI Agent Luke never gives up on Wolf and pushes for the truth. Her partner (Tedescu) is next up to be murdered, but before he is killed, he reveals to Luke some truth about who is behind all the murder and where to find evidence. Meanwhile, the entire department and FBI are on the hunt for Wolf... and now Luke. The fight continues for Wolf and Luke as they are now also being chased by the real murderers, a group called the Ghost Cartel. Key members have leveraged insiders (moles) into the department, setting up traps and leaking information that framed Wolf. Typical Wolf fashion, there is a gun battle, truth exposed, and plenty of drama.

[Sydney Fair · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly wasn’t sure where this book was going to go but Carson did it again and kept my mind jumping. This book took a little longer for me to get into and yes David wasn’t portrayed as the strong hero we normally know him to be, but it allowed for others to take over that role. Another great read by Carson. Glad i was able to find this series because it truly is similar to CJ Box Joe Pickett series.

[Eva Raley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining

Not bad, I am trying to read all the available books in the series.
Getting used to the writing style. I did figure out the mole but it’s ok still a good read.
I don’t give 5 starts unless I really love the book, so 3 starts is good.

[julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one! Great plot,action packed a few surprises. Ready to move to the next in the series.

[B. Shaun Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great finale to events that started in Cold Lake (book 5). Once it gets going it doesn't stop till the end!

[David Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fast, fun read. Sort of closed out this mini saga in the long series. Excited to see how it continues on.

[Twobchelm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full of action … almost to much! I had a hard time keeping track of the players! Entertaining though!

[AC · Rating 2 out of 5]

Spoilers galore....

If you haven't read the previous book in this series, Cold Lake, you're likely going to be incredibly confused. That book ended on a cliffhanger, and the story picks up in this book with Wolf recovering from injuries he sustained in that book.

Once again, Wolf is being investigated for something he didn't do: namely, murdering his ex-wife, an FBI agent, and a drug mule, and for running a multimillion dollar drug cartel under the protection of the Sheriff's department.

We get some goon who carries out murders, cleaning up a couple of FBI agents (one of whom was killed with Wolf's ex-wife) who were blackmailing the drug cartel of which he is part, and off which he takes command after having the previous leader shot. We get yet another silent, obviously evil henchman to the new sheriff, who receives various calls to his cell phone while teamed up with Patterson - obvious early on to anyone with half a brain that he's taking orders from the cartel and not the actual sheriff, but apparently not obvious enough, early enough to Patterson or anyone else. We get Wolf on the run with Kristen Luke of the FBI, who never thinks to check messages or emails while she's hauling him around. We get Wolf, banged up from the last book suddenly able, at opportune moments, to ignore all those injuries, plus new ones he picks up (and of course, at opportune times, being overcome by those injuries). We get a murky connection to another mole in the sheriff's office, a whole pack of characters to keep track of, and an infodump at the end, courtesy of an email one of the dead FBI agents wrote to his boss, confessing his guilt and helpfully laying it all out for everyone.

There seems to be something really wrong in the air in Sluice-Byron County. It's an awful lot of murder, drugs, and corrupt agents going on, and what really struck me is that with all this going on, there's no press. Zero. In this day and age? With all that's been going on there, press, both local and national, should be permacamped there. When they're not covering all the bodies and drugs and whatnot, they could take in some skiing.

If you're a creature of habit like me and read all the books in a series, or want to get closure on the cliffhanger from the last book, by all means, read this one. I'd say (on the Kindle/Fire) slogging to the 50% mark and then skipping to the past few chapters wouldn't make much of a difference, story-wise. If you want a bunch of scenes where Luke and Wolf narrowly avoid all the roadblocks and checkpoints, and various cops, local and federal, acting like they don't have a brain cell to rub between them, reading the whole thing will be illuminating. And worrying, for the citizens of Sluice-Byron County.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is my favorite so far, and I have enjoyed every single one of the David Wolf books. I just finished #5, Cold Lake, and so I had to pick this right up to get some answers. I am so glad I did. I just love David Wolf. Now, I found this series by accident and have read them out of order, but it has not mattered yet, except with these two. Readers should definitely read Cold Lake before Smoked Out. I still have three I have not yet read and I am going to take a break only because I want to save the others for later. I will be sad when I don't have another Wolf book to read!

[Tulay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deadly showdown.

Before reading this book you have to read Cold Lake. That way you'll know more about David Wolf, he's fictional character with a great heart. So many times I was praying for his safety and taking deep breaths to slow down my heart. Very exciting thriller, must read book. Drug cartels, money and murder.

[Satrajit Sanyal · Rating 5 out of 5]

The suspense in "Smoked Out" is over the top! Wolf is about as damaged as a man can be and not be dead. When he went over a cliff holding a rope in the last book, he ended up with a broken pelvis, broken femur, and multiple cracked vertebrae. Those were just some of the physical injuries; emotionally he is grieving big time. His son won't speak to him because he blames Wolf for his mother's murder! Jack isn't the only one; the FBI believe David Wolf murdered Sarah, his ex, and Carter Willis. Special Agent Luke is not dating David anymore, but even if she wanted to help him, the FBI are watching her and David. Carter Willis is an unknown; Wolf wants to know who he is, but the FBI are acting dumb and blind.

Three months after his traumatic injuries, David Wolf is walking again, but is still in a tremendous amount of pain. Nothing else has really changed in his life. David decides he has to solve his ex-wife's murder and starts asking questions around town, even though he faints or just falls asleep every once in a while! This stirs everything and everyone up; S.A. Luke decides she has to help David, even if it means her job.

Wolf is a man who does not give up; the twists and turns this case takes will have you wondering if you are imagining things! This is a very exciting and interesting read!

[Patches Deese · Rating 5 out of 5]

The suspense in "Smoked Out" is over the top! Wolf is about as damaged as a man can be and not be dead. When he went over a cliff holding a rope in the last book, he ended up with a broken pelvis, broken femur, and multiple cracked vertebrae. Those were just some of the physical injuries; emotionally he is grieving big time. His son won't speak to him because he blames Wolf for his mother's murder! Jack isn't the only one; the FBI believe David Wolf murdered Sarah, his ex, and Carter Willis. Special Agent Luke is not dating David anymore, but even if she wanted to help him, the FBI are watching her and David. Carter Willis is an unknown; Wolf wants to know who he is, but the FBI are acting dumb and blind.

Three months after his traumatic injuries, David Wolf is walking again, but is still in a tremendous amount of pain. Nothing else has really changed in his life. David decides he has to solve his ex-wife's murder and starts asking questions around town, even though he faints or just falls asleep every once in a while! This stirs everything and everyone up; S.A. Luke decides she has to help David, even if it means her job.

Wolf is a man who does not give up; the twists and turns this case takes will have you wondering if you are imagining things! This is a very exciting and interesting read!

[Lin L Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why Reacher and not Wolf? And why not six stars?

I really don't understand why Jeff Carson's David Wolf books aren't getting that level of exposure, sales, and readership. They are just as well-written as Lee Child's work. Maybe it's because Wolf is a well-rounded and very human character, more or less average if biased toward tall, dark, not bad looking, and smart, where Reacher is basically a very tall nut job.

I grew up reading British mysteries - Dick Francis, Ngaio Marsh, Josephine Tey - so I am just plain fussy about the use of language. This is not something I want to be, the Language Police alarm sounds without my consent when things clank on the page. Carson's work does not clank. Ever. This is the fifth or sixth of the Wolf books I've read (out of order, at that)and the narrative and dialog are all pitch-perfect.

More to the point, each of these books has a cohesive, if fiendishly complex, backbone of plot.

So if you are grieved that Ngaio Marsh, Dick Francis, and Josephine Tey* are all dead, wipe your eyes and say howdy to David Wolf. He'll probably look at you funny, but he won't fail to entertain you.

*And possibly, in the books which feature Wolf's farting retired K-9 unit dog, Terry Pratchett.

[Dave Weller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though most of the books that I read in the thriller and mystery genre are part of a series, they usually function quite well as a stand alone read, or reading them out of chronological order is an acceptable practice. I feel like reading book 5 followed shortly by book 6, Smoked Out, would have enhanced my enjoyment of this book. The time that elapsed between my completion of each was fairly significant, and I had great difficulty remembering the circumstances that preceded Smoked Out. At the outset we find David Wolf in a very compromised condition both mentally and physically. Wolf is no longer a sheriff, and he struggles to perform the basics of daily living due to periodic mental and physical breakdowns. Near the beginning, FBI agents Terrence Tedescu and Kristen Luke enter the picture, as they check in on the murder of a family in Denver, CO. Tedescu immediately freaks out and sends his family into hiding while providing Luke with a clue to his concerns. Clayton Pope enters the picture as a Colorado drug lord bereft of any redeeming qualities, and the foreshadowed death of Tedescu becomes a reality. I'll stop here. There is a lot going on in this book. The FBI suspects that Wolf killed his wife and an undercover FBI agent named Paul Smith in a fit of jealous rage. An anonymous tip further implicates Wolf as the murderer of Gail Olson, and the call also points the FBI to an alleged murder weapon in Wolf's barn. Wolf is forced into fugitive mode, but he rendezvous with his former girlfriend, FBI Agent Luke. This book ties up many of the loose ends from book 5, Cold Lake. I was pleased to see Agent Luke back in the picture. Other characters from the series reappear in Smoked Out including Heather Patterson, Tom Rachette, Deputy Wilson, Deputy Baine, Sheriff Will MacLean, and ex-sheriff Harold Burton. New to this book are deputies Munford and Lancaster from Byron County under Will Maclean. These characters are all developed to satisfactory levels relative to their importance to the plot. Another underlying theme involves Wolf and his son, Jack, who blames Wolf for allowing his mother, Sarah, to be murdered in Cold Lake. Smoked Out was a gripping read, and many threads coalesce including some surprises near the end. I will move on to book 7.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wolf is slowly recovering from serious injuries and grieving the murder of his former wife, Sarah. His son is not speaking to him, the FBI is investigating him, and he believes the newly elected Sheriff is corrupt. Determined to avenge Sarah, to renew his relationship with his son, to prove himself innocent and to root out corruption, Wolf puts himself at great risk. Fortunately, he has the help of some loyal friends and FBI agent and former lover, Kristen Luke. One of Wolf's former deputies, Heather Patterson, says that Wolf is the best man she's ever known, and I think that's part of his appeal as a character. Wolf is not perfect, but he is a man of high integrity who holds himself to an often impossibly high standard. He never gives up. His desire to right wrongs is a huge driver in his life. Jeff Carson does a great job of creating characters who are Wolf's antithesis, and the characters are familiar...people we might have encountered in our lives. His "bad guys (or gals)" might appear ordinary, but they're not, and Wolf works to reveal what is rotten at the core.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better Than Books #1-5

“Thank you!” To the author, for NOT stopping this book in the middle of a plot, just to provide a flying leap into the next book [his previous practice of this was shameful and disrespectful of the reader!]. “Smoked Out” clearly did not end the myth of Sheriff David Wolf, but it did put him through the wringer. I do not believe that such a super-human character can do all of the things attributed to him in this book. BUT, I also believe too many capabilities and back-stabbing actions were given to the numerous bad guys written into this plot. So, if both of these extremes could be scaled back to a more realistic set of scenarios — then maybe the David Wolf series have a change of improving for the better.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is book 6 in the David Wolf series. I have been reading them in order and really liked them for an interesting, yet easy read, however... Book 5 got a bit unbelievable with just too much over the top, unbelievable, foolishness (the murdering, psycho twins, jumping off cliffs...), but book 6 (Smoked Out), was just too much. Wolf is now a super hero, defying all odds and not only performing completely inhuman acts, but living through everything, while saving everyone else.
I already have #7 reserved in my Kindle, but it will be a shame if this one gets even worse. I was generous with 3 stars.

[Anthony Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

With each new book in the series they just keep getting better. David Wolf is no longer Sheriff, with the beating he took at Cold lake, his ex-wife Sarah dead, and being forced to drop out of the Sheriff race, he just needs time to grieve, heal, and reevaluate. But... He's now being investigated by the FBI, for the death of an agent, his ex, and a drug runner. Suspected of being the mastermind behind this drug operation, Wolf needs to run, hide, figure this all out. With the help of Agent Kristen Luke, that is exactly what they do. Smoked Out will introduce you to Pope, The Ghost Cartel, corrupt Agents and Deputies. This was a very fast paced book, that keeps you on the edge the whole time.

[Sheena BZA · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a great "Cold Lake" I wasn't expecting to enjoy the follow-on as much. But I did indeed! It's David's turn to be on the run and the excitement with the FBI on the chase is tangible right up to Patterson's role in the final stage.
Quick light and immensely enjoyable. This one done in a day. I don't even remember turning the pages.
Note to all: I am reading these books in sequence, I'm a good follower, what can I say. So although the story stand on their own I personally think that a reader would miss a lot of character nuances if you started on book 5 or 6. Just saying.

[D. E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A JC. Mystery Action Thriller (DWB. - 6) /Be Very Careful When You Work With The FBI

JC. has. penned the sixth no do in the David Wolf series, which places him in a precarious position without a briefing. He assumes he is working with the FBI. but they have set him up as the prey or better said as the Target....What the F'BI . is unaware of is the critical imbalance of DW.,' s mental state of mind, but in this case even coming to the realization DW. was in difficulty the FBI. Decided that kind under matter did not matter. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS

[Carlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so glad I read Cold Lake and Smoked Out on the same day (though I literally haven't done anything else!). With Wolf seriously injured at the end of the former installment I had to find out what happened next! I certainly was not disappointed. Another edge of my seat read. Drug cartels, merged sheriffs' offices, blackmail, and through all this Wolf is trying to reconnect with his son Jack. The two books filled in the blanks between #4 and #6 which I've already read. Great series, great characters, and with my home state of Colorado as the setting you can't go wrong!

[Ronaele Whittington, D.S.W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lengthy healing required from past and present episodes

David Wolf heals from traumatic injuries while bad guys infiltrate the staff of the newly formed county sheriff force. A new sheriff and FBI must sort out roles and responsibilities. Family members assist in finding truth.
I rated these a 4 because while all parts come together, the flow gets choppy at times. In book 6, I had to re-read when Luke or Patterson were involved, each with separate agencies but connected by family ties and friendships.

[terry johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have walked in middle of law officers and criminals too

Complex story to follow at times. Couldn't put it down! Having spent a few years working myself in the Sheriff's department I enjoy the relationships between the officers. Some were wonderful and others too political. Carson books all bring back memories of the horrible times of dealing with criminals and law officers, the loss of officers in the line of their duties, and how people are forced into situations that can be illegal by on both sides of our laws.

[Black Butterfly · Rating 5 out of 5]

5++++++++++*stars REALLY
I LOVE WOLF AND WORRY ABOUT JUST HOW MUCH MORE ABUSE HIS POOR BODY & MIND CAN TAKE. I DON’T KNOW HOW HE’S STILL STANDING OR ACTUALLY ABLE TO WALK. OMG, WHY DOES HE HAVE TO SUFFER SO MUCH? THE MOST INTENSE BOOK IN THE SERIES BUT I ALWAYS THINK THAT UNTIL I READ THE NEXT BOOK. HAHAHA! I HAVE TO FORCE MYSELF TO STOP READING AND PUT IT DOWN, IF I DON’T I WILL CONSUME IT IN ONE SITTING. I LOVE THIS SERIES . . . I TRULY DO! ;D

[Penny Post · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, I admit it, I am hooked on this series of books. Wolf is a mess of broken bones and heart. He is trying to heal body and mind when he discovers a plot pinning the murder of his ex-wife and an FBI agent on him. He is off to find proof of his innocence, try to save his relationship with his son, Jack and find justice for Sarah. A lot of twists and turns in this fast read. Even a visit to Gunnison, CO to find the evidence proving his innocence.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Smoked Out' was another awesome addition to a great series, 'David Wolf Series'. I loved the story line and how it played out. So much action, thrilling scenarios and a lot of great characters. Wolf is a great lead. I love his outlook and how he handles life in general. This book definitely took me on a roller coaster ride with my emotions. I look forward to reading more. A must add to your tbr list.