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    Free Fire
    Free Fire
    Free Fire
    Audiobook11 hours

    Free Fire

    Written by C. J. Box

    Narrated by David Chandler

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Best-selling author C. J. Box-an Anthony and Macavity Award winner-earned starred reviews from both Publishers Weekly and Booklist for this exceptional mystery. Taking advantage of a legal loophole, a lawyer kills four people in Yellowstone National Park and walks away a free man. As the public outcry intensifies, the governor hires former game warden Joe Pickett to conduct a private investigation.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateJun 11, 2010
    ISBN9781449832605
    Free Fire
    Author

    C. J. Box

    C.J. Box is the New York Times bestselling author of fifteen novels including the award-winning Joe Pickett series. Box has won the Edgar Award for Best Novel as well as the Anthony, Macavity, Barry, and Le Calibre .38 awards. His novels have been translated into twenty-five languages. Box lives outside of Cheyenne, Wyoming. 

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    Reviews for Free Fire

    4/5

    372 ratings21 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Quality writing and enjoyable listening. Not quite as terrifying as the previous books but has some very exciting events.
    • 3/5
      This book was early in the Joe Pickett series and seemed to lack a good storyline and narration. Both get better as the series goes on and become more seasoned.
    • 5/5
      Loved the multilayered characters, themes & plot twists. Well done
    • 4/5
      I think this was the best of all I have read of these so far. Interesting plot device and was never obvious what was going to happen.
    • 5/5
      Joe Pickett is asked by the governor to head into Yellowstone and investigate murder. It seems that a man has killed a group of people while they were camping and, weirdly, he was not punished for it.The premise of this story is completely fascinating. The Sixth Amendment of the Constitution gives accused people the right to a speedy trial by a jury in the State and district where the crime has been committed. (See this explanation of the Vicinage Clause) There is a small section of Yellowstone that creeps over the Wyoming-Idaho border and extends into Idaho, with a population of zero people. The Vicinage Clause creates a strange loophole in this space, allowing perfect crimes to be committed. The area is essentially lawless. (The area was called the Zone of Death and it led me on a real-life trail of reading on the internet.)Anyway, this is the seventh Joe Pickett story. Joe had a change to his job description in the last book, which made me a little nervous where Joe is concerned because I'm so used to how he does things. In Free Fire, he has to leave home again and stay in Yellowstone while he is conducting this investigation, which worried me because of how things went for the Pickett family when he did that in Out of Range (Joe Pickett #5). Thankfully, this time while Joe was away, they didn't fall so far off track as a family.So there is murder and there are environmental things being investigated here. There is also some corruption in the government. It isn't surprising by now that I loved the role that Joe's friend Nate Romanowski played in the story, because he is one of the best things about the series. I wasn't as enamored with the landscape in this book even though it takes place in Yellowstone, which is super beautiful, because I'm such a huge fan of the scenery when Joe patrols the mountains, and he wasn't really doing that in this story. Still, this series is my favorite series out there and Joe Pickett is my favorite book character, and I'm ready to continue with the next installment of Joe's story.I'm pretty amazed at how fresh and exciting C.J. Box keeps every installment. I'm not sure I've been able to keep my interest in a series long enough to make it through this many books, but I definitely don't want to stop with Joe Pickett.Audiobook Notes: This is my favorite audiobook series and as long as David Chandler continues to narrate it, that will probably not change. I love listening to these stories so much. (Lately, since we've been staying at home all the time because of social distancing and Coronavirus, I've loved listening while I put puzzles together.)Title: Free Fire by C.J. BoxSeries: Joe Pickett #7Narrated by: David ChandlerPublisher: Recorded BooksLength: 11 hours, 5 minutes, Unabridged
    • 4/5
      Taking advantage of a legal loophole, a lawyer kills four environmental activists in Yellowstone National Park and walks away a free man. His murders were committed in the free-fire zone, a tiny strip of land with overlapping jurisdictions. As the public outcry intensifies, the governor hires recently fired game warden Joe Pickett to conduct a private investigation. Digging through Yellowstone's majestic yet dangerous landscape, Joe soon learns the park itself holds the secret to this terrible crime.
    • 5/5
      This one took place in Yellowstone National park. I thought the Yellowstone Zone of Death was something the author made up. Nope! He mentions at the end of the book that the Zone of Death and the microbes are real. I looked on line for more information on the Zone of Death. Scary. I enjoyed the book, and I liked it even more that I was able to learn some true information. Being set in Yellowstone was another plus.
    • 4/5
      Joe Pickett is called to Yellowstone National Park to investigate murders there which prove to be an un-crime because of jurisdictional problems. Lots of danger and mayhem as usual and it moves right along
    • 4/5
      Nice job, C.J.-- our hero Joe Pickett is (re)hired by a slimy politician governor to search out killings in Yellowstone, out of his jurisdiction; murder investigation by a game warden. Then, the family shows up; you knew they were in danger from the first hour of the listen. Nate takes care of business and some really bad parkies get their comeuppance. Great book. 7th in the series--where's number eight?
    • 4/5
      I learned so much about Yellowstone National park in this story of backstabbing, insanity and murders. Joe Pickett, the hero, has lost his game warden job. It was only a matter of time. But the new Wyoming Governor has decided to turn Joe into a sleuth by sending him on a Mission Impossible-type position. Find out why a prominent lawyer killed four people and who else was involved.An excellent tale from an author that I enjoy more each book!
    • 5/5
      This was worth staying up late to finish! After all the changes Joe experienced in the last installment, In Plain Sight, I knew we were in for a big adventure with Free Fire! The Governor is sending Joe to Yellowstone National Park to investigate the murder of four campers and to "quietly" look into the activities of the confessed killer, a lawyer who weaseled his way out of murder charges. As usual, Joe finds a lot more than he bargains for in a wild country that will not be tamed or controlled by any man. I enjoyed seeing Joe's confidence again. It was great to see him working with Nate and I particularly liked the moments when Marybeth joined in to help the investigation. Having the three of them working side by side was a rare treat! Doomsayer's predictions and the normal level of precautions required around the geysers and hot springs added a unique element of danger that kept me flying through the pages! Yellowstone became more than just a setting. It became a living breathing force that Joe constantly battled, embraced, questioned, and respected. This is a must read for C. J. Box fans!
    • 4/5
      I read a C.J. Box book a couple of months ago after hearing him interviewed on WAMC. I like it a lot, Badlands, and I picked this one up at a library book sale recently. The other book is not part of the Joe Pickett series. This is the first one the series that I have read, it is the seventh one, out of 16 now, and I'll be reading more. Although there were references in the book to past events that must have been the subject of previous entries in the series, I did not feel like I was missing anything by reading this book first, and the book was fully understandable despite not knowing the history of the characters.Joe has been fired from his position as a State Game Warden, and is working as a foreman for a ranch, when the Governor offers to reinstate him if he agrees to investigate some murders that occurred in Yellowstone National Park. A lawyer had killed four employees of a franchise that operates the Park's hotels. One of the victims had sent an email to the Governor that implied that the State's revenues were in jeopardy. The lawyer got away with the murders because they occurred in a part of the park within the boundaries of Idaho, and due to a legal loophole, no criminal proceeding would be brought against him.Joe's investigation pits him against the Park Service and the FBI, who resent his interference with their operations and second-guessing of the investigation that they conducted. And as he gets closer to the truth, more people start getting killed, and Joe and his family are in jeopardy.This is high quality crime fiction. I was entranced and wanted to keep reading the book once the plot took off, after Joe gets to Yellowstone.
    • 4/5
      This is the second "Joe Pickett" novel - by C.J. Box - that I have read. I think these are best read in the order they were written but I read what the library has available. I enjoyed this one because of the setting - Yellowstone - the strong characters, and the fast pace. Interesting to read a crime drama where the murder is already solved but the motivation for the murder is the crucial question. This book has a strong environmental theme running through it also quite a bit regarding the volcanic/thermal activity in the Yellowstone Caldera.
    • 4/5
      Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett is at an interesting juncture in his career. The governor offers him a position, but it's off the record. Joe is to go to Yellowstone National Park to investigate the circumstances surrounding four murders in an area called the Zone of Death – a remote corner of the park where, because of loopholes in the law, it's almost impossible to convict anyone of a crime committed there. The body count continues to mount after Joe's arrival. As Joe pieces together the information he gathers, he realizes that the murders are connected to a conspiracy, and that there could be someone on the inside who is trying to make sure that Joe doesn't uncover it. As if that isn't enough, Joe also has to confront painful memories from his past connected to the park.As usual for this series, this was a page-turner. Who knew that being a game warden could be this dangerous? I was most drawn to the Yellowstone setting. Joe is there during the off-season, and the lack of tourist traffic gives the park an ominous aura. The natural features of the park like its geysers and hot springs are used to good effect, as is the Old Faithful Inn. After reading Box's description of the inn, I'd love to go to Yellowstone just to see it. This is becoming one of my favorite series when I'm in the mood for adventure.
    • 4/5
      Stuffed down his old boss's throat by a free-wheeling governor, Joe Pickett's back in his game warden red shirt, headed for Yellowstone to investigate the murder of four people from which the confessed killer walked away free. Good story, if a bit far-fetched. As ineffective as Pickett often seems to be, it's a darn good thing his friend Nate's around to rescue him.
    • 4/5
      Continuing to work my way through the series and this had to be one of my favorite ones to date. Still love just the concept of following a Game Warden on adventures rather than a PI/Dectective/Agent... just a good twist on the norm. I loved all the information about Yellowstone National Park and now need to do some research about things I "learned" in the book to see if it was just Box's imagination. Can't wait to start the next book to see what happens next!
    • 4/5
      Joe Pickett, now working on his father-in-law's ranch in the foothills of the Big Horn Mountains after having lost his position as a Wyoming game warden, is called back into service by Wyoming's governor to help investigate a murder which took place in a zone inside of Yellowstone National Park for which the federal government nor Wyoming has clear jurisdiction. It is a small strip which lies in Idaho. It appears that Clay McCann, an attorney who was aware of the loophole in the law, will walk away a free man even though he has admitted to the brutal murders of 4 employees of the company who manages the parks hotels, cabins, and restaurants. Joe calls his old friend Nate who has an unconventional sense of justice about him, although I think is a way that many out west think. Joe realizes that there's a lot more to this mystery than meets the eye. Author C.J. Box does a tremendous job describing the areas around the Big Horn Mountains and around Yellowstone. Having been to both, I was easily able to follow both and was able to relive some memories. This was the first novel by this author that I have read, but it will not be the last. I really enjoyed this book. I thought the plot was reminiscent of a cross between Tony Hillerman and Nevada Barr.
    • 3/5
      Free Fire is the seventh book in C.J. Box's Joe Pickett series. In this installment, Joe is working on his father-in-law's ranch when the Governor of Wyoming offers him a job back with the game wardens. Only this time he won't have an assigned district to cover, he'll be going to Yellowstone National Park to investigate a multiple homicide case that was committed in the "Zone of Death." A lawyer figured out that a small strip of land overlapped jurisdictions, the free fire zone, and therefore no one was able to prosecute him and he escaped Scot free on four murders. Joe heads out to find out what actually happened in Yellowstone and all hell begins to...erupt.Free Fire was an enjoyable book; I appreciate Box's choice of setting in this novel. I learned quite a bit about Yellowstone National Park. And a non-urban setting is always a nice change. A few of the murders in this book were rather unique as well; gruesome, but unique.The characters in this series don't really overwhelm me. Nate is a decent character, but maybe a part of me thinks the rebel sidekick has been done enough and I would like to see something more unique - like Box's settings. There are many times that Joe strikes me as indifferent more than anything.
    • 5/5
      7th in the Joe Pickett series.With this installment, Box returns to form with a fascinating novel that takes place in Yellowstone National Park. The “mystery” part of the plot is good though nothing unusual—typical good workmanship on Box’s part. But crucial to the story are several unique aspects about Yellowstone, one geological and the other legal. The legal oddity is that in the strip of the park that is within Idaho’s boundaries, no felony can be prosecuted. Therefore, you can literally get away with murder in what is called the Zone of Death, thanks to the weirdness of constitutional law that requires that a jury be drawn from the district in which the felony takes place. Since no one lives in that particular district, there can be no jury trial and therefore no prosecution.The other aspect is Yellowstone’s unique geology; the Earth’s crust is the thinnest in the Yellowstone caldera, the origin of the many geysers and other geothermal features—and the potential exists for a massive volcanic explosion that would wipe out all life within a 200 mile radius. These have occurred, and there is evidence that a) the next one is overdue and b) pressure is building up for one now—the crust in the caldera has risen 5” over the past 10 years.In all but one of his previous books, Box has worked in New West issues. He returns to that in this book, exploring the issue of licenses for bio-mining of thermophiles within Yellowstone, allowing companies to “mine” various types of microbes for huge commercial profit. Another bonus is that Box’s writing continues to improve. He also has a great one-time character in this book, who adds enormously to the interest. Nate Romanowski is back again with his unique concept of justice (a good deal like Win Lockwood of Harlan Coben’s Myron Bolitar series although less entertaining than Win).But where Box excels in his loving descriptions of the West in general and the high mountain landscapes in particular. He has the ability to evoke the exact sense of a cold, clear night and the refreshing beauty of early morning against the backdrop of some of the loveliest scenery on earth. he continues to do so in this novel, with the extra added attraction of having historical buildings in Yellowstone such as Mammoth Lodge be an necessary part of the plot, giving him a great excuse to describe them, employing them with ingenuity. Box also does an excellent job of portraying the tensions between the Park Service and the employees of the concessionaire that runs the park services, such as the lodges.Unfortunately, Box continues to use danger to Joe’s family as a plot device, and that’s getting very, very old. However, it’s clear that Box is well acquainted with teen and pre-teen girls—Joe’s daughters ring true.Interestingly enough, since the book was written, steps have been taken to deal with the legal anomaly of he western section of the park, and with the issue of licenses within the National Park system.Highly recommended, if only for the information about Yellowstone.
    • 4/5
      Like the rest of the series about Joe Pickett, this is well done albeit violent and a trifle bleak. Contains lots of detail about Yellowstone including a legal detail about the park that underlies the mystery in the book.
    • 4/5
      Another excellent book by C.J. Box. His characters remain real and interesting. The relationships also have strong elements of truth to them as well. The premise of a death zone, an area not covered by federal or state law is unusual and provides the perfect setting for Joe Pickett to deal with some old ghosts from his past and do what he loves most - be outdoors.