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Blue Heaven
A twelve-year-old girl and her younger brother go on the run in the woods of North Idaho, pursued by four men they have just watched commit murder---four men who know exactly who William and Annie are, and who know exactly where their desperate mother is waiting for news of her children’s fate. Retired cops from Los Angeles, the killers easily persuade the inexperienced sheriff to let them lead the search for the missing children.
William and Annie’s unexpected savior comes in the form of an old-school rancher teetering on the brink of foreclosure. But as one man against four who will stop at nothing to silence their witnesses, Jess Rawlins needs allies, and he knows that one word to the wrong person could seal the fate of the children or their mother. In a town where most of the ranches like his have turned into acres of ranchettes populated by strangers, finding someone to trust won’t be easy.
With true-to-life, unforgettable characters and a ticking-clock plot that spans just over forty-eight hours, C.J. Box has created a thriller that delves into issues close to the heart: the ruthless power of greed over broken ideals, the healing power of community where unlikely heroes find themselves at the crossroads of duty and courage, and the truth about what constitutes a family. In a setting whose awesome beauty is threatened by those who want a piece of it, Blue Heaven delivers twists and turns until its last breathtaking page.
Blue Heaven is the winner of the 2009 Edgar Award for Best Novel.
William and Annie’s unexpected savior comes in the form of an old-school rancher teetering on the brink of foreclosure. But as one man against four who will stop at nothing to silence their witnesses, Jess Rawlins needs allies, and he knows that one word to the wrong person could seal the fate of the children or their mother. In a town where most of the ranches like his have turned into acres of ranchettes populated by strangers, finding someone to trust won’t be easy.
With true-to-life, unforgettable characters and a ticking-clock plot that spans just over forty-eight hours, C.J. Box has created a thriller that delves into issues close to the heart: the ruthless power of greed over broken ideals, the healing power of community where unlikely heroes find themselves at the crossroads of duty and courage, and the truth about what constitutes a family. In a setting whose awesome beauty is threatened by those who want a piece of it, Blue Heaven delivers twists and turns until its last breathtaking page.
Blue Heaven is the winner of the 2009 Edgar Award for Best Novel.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 8, 2008
About the author
C.J. Box
102 books6,282 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 1,513 reviews
January 15, 2022
A page-turner stand alone thriller. It could've been 5 stars if wasn't for the poor conclusion. I was pretty pissed and needed to walk it off before I gave it an emotional 3 stars 😅.
September 28, 2023
This was my first foray into the world of C. J. Box. I had been curious about the writing of Box for some time now. Just like many other authors whose works I have not yet read.
Don't let the title fool you like it did me. I thought it would fall under the genre of Chic Lit, but after my wife read it, she said it was one of the best books she has read and that I had to read it for myself. I'm glad I did. Not Chic Lit.
Box really knows how to weave a story together. The writing was superb, suspenseful and had a grip on me from the start.
This won't be my last C. J. Box book.
Recommended for both male and female readers.
Don't let the title fool you like it did me. I thought it would fall under the genre of Chic Lit, but after my wife read it, she said it was one of the best books she has read and that I had to read it for myself. I'm glad I did. Not Chic Lit.
Box really knows how to weave a story together. The writing was superb, suspenseful and had a grip on me from the start.
This won't be my last C. J. Box book.
Recommended for both male and female readers.
November 23, 2010
The book started off fairly well. The author did a great job in setting the mood and tone in the first chapter, and of course, laying down the groundwork for the story build-up. As the story progressed, the new turn of events had me catching myself at the edge of my seat; not wondering about who is who (that was pretty much a given) but how will the kids, the mother and the farmer survive from the disasterous ordeal that really only lasted a mere 72 hours.
I have no complaints on how the story unfolded or the confusing route of which the story was told from the perspective of multiple characters, but the ending could have been much better. There was so much suspense built up to the last chapter when all of a sudden, bam!, it was over in a matter of a couple of pages. To make matters worse, not only did the bad guys die, so did all the good guys! Well, most of the good guys that mattered and they all had an idiotic end. You'd expect the death of a hero as a result of some marvelous rescue not as a result of his own stupidity and lack of common sense.
In a final attempt to rectify this mistake, the author tried to save the farm by making several indirect "hush hush" references of the farmer deferring the farm to the little girl's possession while he was on his deathbed. Perhaps it was only me but the "Are you sure?" and "You'll rethink this when you get better" and "That might be the solution"'s sure wasn't clear cut enough for me. My honest reaction when turning the last page was, "This is IT!?! WTF?"
When a reader finishes a book with those exact words, there surely must be something not quite right with the story, or should I say, with how the story ended.
I have no complaints on how the story unfolded or the confusing route of which the story was told from the perspective of multiple characters, but the ending could have been much better. There was so much suspense built up to the last chapter when all of a sudden, bam!, it was over in a matter of a couple of pages. To make matters worse, not only did the bad guys die, so did all the good guys! Well, most of the good guys that mattered and they all had an idiotic end. You'd expect the death of a hero as a result of some marvelous rescue not as a result of his own stupidity and lack of common sense.
In a final attempt to rectify this mistake, the author tried to save the farm by making several indirect "hush hush" references of the farmer deferring the farm to the little girl's possession while he was on his deathbed. Perhaps it was only me but the "Are you sure?" and "You'll rethink this when you get better" and "That might be the solution"'s sure wasn't clear cut enough for me. My honest reaction when turning the last page was, "This is IT!?! WTF?"
When a reader finishes a book with those exact words, there surely must be something not quite right with the story, or should I say, with how the story ended.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2023
4 Stars for Blue Heaven (audiobook) C. J. Box read by Henry Leyva.
In a small Idaho town two young kids witness a murder and now they are on the run. Come to find out some retired police officers from LA have moved to this small town and they have a less than legal retirement fund and what the kids saw was the cops just tying to tie up some loose ends. The corrupt cops are assisting the local cops in finding the children and the kids don’t know who they can trust.
In a small Idaho town two young kids witness a murder and now they are on the run. Come to find out some retired police officers from LA have moved to this small town and they have a less than legal retirement fund and what the kids saw was the cops just tying to tie up some loose ends. The corrupt cops are assisting the local cops in finding the children and the kids don’t know who they can trust.
January 8, 2023
Blue Heaven is C.J. Box's first stand alone novel and was published in 2008. It won the Edgar Award for Best Mystery Novel of 2008. Twelve year old Annie and her younger brother, William, go on the run in North Idaho after witnessing three men murder another man. They put their trust in an older rancher, Jess Rawlins, whose ranch is on the brink of foreclosure.
Blue Heaven is what retired cops from Los Angeles call North Idaho. In this story there are four who have a secret they have no compunction in killing over. Even children. They easily persuade the inexperienced sheriff to let them lead the search for the missing children.
This is mostly a thriller. There is no real mystery. You know who the bad guys are. And who the good guys are. I liked how the relationship developed between the old rancher, Jess Rawlins, and the children, Annie and William. Annie was a partiuclary likeable character. She is smart for a twelve year old and has a pretty good sense of who can be trusted and who can't. It is because of these characters and the relationship that developed that I am giving this story 4 stars.
The ending was rather poor. I wasn't sure what happened and it seemed open for interpretation. Despite the poor ending I would recommend this book. Great characters. Some you like. Some you hate. Some that just make you grit your teeth. And of course a great setting.
Blue Heaven is what retired cops from Los Angeles call North Idaho. In this story there are four who have a secret they have no compunction in killing over. Even children. They easily persuade the inexperienced sheriff to let them lead the search for the missing children.
This is mostly a thriller. There is no real mystery. You know who the bad guys are. And who the good guys are. I liked how the relationship developed between the old rancher, Jess Rawlins, and the children, Annie and William. Annie was a partiuclary likeable character. She is smart for a twelve year old and has a pretty good sense of who can be trusted and who can't. It is because of these characters and the relationship that developed that I am giving this story 4 stars.
The ending was rather poor. I wasn't sure what happened and it seemed open for interpretation. Despite the poor ending I would recommend this book. Great characters. Some you like. Some you hate. Some that just make you grit your teeth. And of course a great setting.
October 1, 2022
Enjoyed this stand-alone from the author of my favorite series, Joe Pickett.
🐎
It’s interesting to read a book by the author now vs. 15 years ago. He’s always been one of the best at describing the setting and the outdoors but his writing style and pacing have developed and improved over the years.
Time to add the Cassie Dewell series to my ever-growing stacks of TBR’s (yes, stacks as in plural) 🤓
🐎
It’s interesting to read a book by the author now vs. 15 years ago. He’s always been one of the best at describing the setting and the outdoors but his writing style and pacing have developed and improved over the years.
Time to add the Cassie Dewell series to my ever-growing stacks of TBR’s (yes, stacks as in plural) 🤓
April 26, 2016
I enjoyed reading this thriller and give it 4 out 5 stars. It was a library book and I am counting it for Idaho in my US state challenge. This is not a traditional murder mystery, because you know who the bad guys are right at the beginning of the book. Two children, ages 12 and 10, see 3 men murder a fourth man. The killers see them and try to kill them, but they escape.
The suspense builds as the killers, ex LAPD cops, volunteer to help the local sheriff in rural northern Idaho help search for the missing children. Once I was halfway through, I found it difficult to put down.
The suspense builds as the killers, ex LAPD cops, volunteer to help the local sheriff in rural northern Idaho help search for the missing children. Once I was halfway through, I found it difficult to put down.
May 1, 2009
Box does great characters. That's all there is to it. Here he give us bad guys, good guys, morally lazy guys, incompetent guys, annoying+ guys & gals . . . essentially all the folks you need to populate a good mystery novel. But it's the kids, Annie & William, and the old-time rancher, Rawlins, who make the book. Oh, there's a plot, of course, the mystery of just who did what and when, the worries about who will come out of it alive (that would be the thriller angle), and a few messed up relationships (past, present, & efforts toward, both romantic & other). I've never been to Idaho and don't expect that to change, but this book creates a convincing rural small-town in transition, including the [fill in your favorite curse word:] developers & their clients moving in from LA (you know, the folks who want the life they see there, even as they destroy it with their McMansions and look down on the locals); folks who are trying to move with the changes; folks struggling to survive despite the changes; and those resisting the changes, even though they know they're trying to hold out in the face of the inevitable. Reading what I'm writing, I begin to see why I liked this book so much. There is a lot here!
February 5, 2013
Ok, so my library is doing this thing forValentines Day called "blind date" where they wrapped up a bunch of books in pretty paper and you don't know what book you checked out til you unwrap it. I figured it's good to read random books once in a while. This was my book. The teaser said there was a plot twist and just like any blind date, this was a bit of an exaggeration. Still it was a fun read and maybe I could go as high as 4 stars but I read another book by this guy and hated it so that has, rightly or not, effected my rating.
It's a very fast-paced story where a couple of kids witness a murder out in the woods and are seen by the killers. The kids are off and running and the bad guys go after them. The kids outsmart the bad guys and find someone who believes them. Then we have the showdown between good and evil. Not gonna tell you who lives and who dies. I will say this was a satisfactory read and I'd go out on a second date.
It's a very fast-paced story where a couple of kids witness a murder out in the woods and are seen by the killers. The kids are off and running and the bad guys go after them. The kids outsmart the bad guys and find someone who believes them. Then we have the showdown between good and evil. Not gonna tell you who lives and who dies. I will say this was a satisfactory read and I'd go out on a second date.
April 6, 2023
I took a detour off my most traveled road by deciding to read a C J Box novel that was not of the Joe Pickett series. All I can say is Wow!!! I found myself at the point of reading this story every chance I had available . With my busy schedule as of late that is really saying something. This novel will pull at your heart strings, frustrates you due some characters being near sighted and successfully creates an anxious atmosphere where you will have no idea which road the author will take. If you want a quick but powerful read this is the one for you.
January 27, 2023
Damn that was so very tense 😬! I really hate people in authority that use their power to hurt people. But there were also some really great people too. I enjoyed this immensely. I feel wrung out, emotionally brittle, but a little bit hopeful too. Because of all the emotions I am feeling and the fact this is going to stick with me for a long while, I have to give it 5 stars. Oh Jess!! ❤️
June 4, 2014
The poor ending more or less negates any reason I may have found to recommend this book.
November 17, 2014
I read this book with a friend for a buddy read. This is a new author for me as well. I really enjoyed this book a lot especially with no idea what the book was going to be about. I have to say that I am glad that I read it and found a new author to enjoy. This is not a mystery but a thriller as there is not a "whodunit' to the story, well not to the reader anyway.
In this book we have two kids, Annie and William, bother and sister, who witnesses a murder. They were spotted by the murderers and are now running for their life until they run into Jess Rawlins. Jess helps the kids by hiding them, and then the story goes on from there.
I loved both the premise of this story and the characters. Both very well developed and wrote. I loved the action and the excitement. My favorite character, hands down, is Jess. Such a strong, well developed protagonist. He is definitely someone I would want on my side of things. For some reason as I read the book, I kept picturing Sam Elliot playing this role of Jess if it were ever a movie. There were several heroes born in this book, Jess being one of them. One of my favorite things about this story was how the relationship between Jess and kids grew. How these kids had to trust someone and how they discovered that they could trust this man simply by him being who he was.
The antagonists were also written very well. I definitely hated each one of them for many, many reasons that I can't get into since this is a spoiler free review. There were the 'bad cops' of the worse kind, a big mouth reporter, of course we have to have one of those. The kind that grate on your nerves and you want to either put them in their place or shoot them. I think the author developed all of them very well.
I have to say that I was a little surprised by the ending of this book. I feel as though the Author left it open for the reader's interpretation. So I feel like there was not any really closure to the end of the story. It can be interpreted in so many ways, one of which I hate to even explore. I recommend this book to anyone that loves a little mystery or thriller in their dose of daily reading.
In this book we have two kids, Annie and William, bother and sister, who witnesses a murder. They were spotted by the murderers and are now running for their life until they run into Jess Rawlins. Jess helps the kids by hiding them, and then the story goes on from there.
I loved both the premise of this story and the characters. Both very well developed and wrote. I loved the action and the excitement. My favorite character, hands down, is Jess. Such a strong, well developed protagonist. He is definitely someone I would want on my side of things. For some reason as I read the book, I kept picturing Sam Elliot playing this role of Jess if it were ever a movie. There were several heroes born in this book, Jess being one of them. One of my favorite things about this story was how the relationship between Jess and kids grew. How these kids had to trust someone and how they discovered that they could trust this man simply by him being who he was.
The antagonists were also written very well. I definitely hated each one of them for many, many reasons that I can't get into since this is a spoiler free review. There were the 'bad cops' of the worse kind, a big mouth reporter, of course we have to have one of those. The kind that grate on your nerves and you want to either put them in their place or shoot them. I think the author developed all of them very well.
I have to say that I was a little surprised by the ending of this book. I feel as though the Author left it open for the reader's interpretation. So I feel like there was not any really closure to the end of the story. It can be interpreted in so many ways, one of which I hate to even explore. I recommend this book to anyone that loves a little mystery or thriller in their dose of daily reading.
December 22, 2020
4.5 stars. I've been reading books by C.J. Box for at least 20 years and don't know how I missed out on this one. In my opinion, his Joe Pickett series is one of the best ever. Now I've got a treat with this standalone from 2007.
In North Idaho, 12 year old Annie and her 10 year old brother William decided to go fishing. They witness 3 men shooting another man. Annie and William are spotted and must run for their lives. These men will stop at nothing.
Jess Rawlins owns a 3000 acre cattle ranch and can't make the payments any longer. Eduardo Villatoro is a retired cop who never solved a 13 million dollar robbery of a race track several years ago. He simply can't let the case go.
Box is known for his wonderful descriptions of the outdoors and this scenery of the place called Blue Heaven is no different. There are many poignant parts to this story - - the spunky kids, the poor but loving single mother, the banker who feels guilty about his part in the coverup, and the old fashioned rancher. I see many similar qualities in this book as the Joe Pickett series, mainly men who are determined to do what's right, regardless of the consequences to themselves. The ending was climactic. I cried.
In North Idaho, 12 year old Annie and her 10 year old brother William decided to go fishing. They witness 3 men shooting another man. Annie and William are spotted and must run for their lives. These men will stop at nothing.
Jess Rawlins owns a 3000 acre cattle ranch and can't make the payments any longer. Eduardo Villatoro is a retired cop who never solved a 13 million dollar robbery of a race track several years ago. He simply can't let the case go.
Box is known for his wonderful descriptions of the outdoors and this scenery of the place called Blue Heaven is no different. There are many poignant parts to this story - - the spunky kids, the poor but loving single mother, the banker who feels guilty about his part in the coverup, and the old fashioned rancher. I see many similar qualities in this book as the Joe Pickett series, mainly men who are determined to do what's right, regardless of the consequences to themselves. The ending was climactic. I cried.
July 2, 2017
With lots of twists and turns, this book has the action Ive come to expect from CJBox. I absolutely fell in love with Jess Rawlins. It is wonderful to know there are good men left in the world. And horrifying to know that you cant always trust the ones who should be above reproach. The last chapter made me cry.
April 15, 2024
A good book to read on a plane or a road trip. The plot moves along and the multiple characters are distinctive so you don't mix them up. The author evokes Dennis Lehane a bit, if Lehane were writing about the opposite side of the country.
March 3, 2021
This was a great read from beginning to end! C.J. Box continues to entertain. Great plot, interesting, well-drawn characters and a different ending. Highly recommend. (please note: this is not a Joe Pickett novel).
May 22, 2010
RATING: 4.5
Twelve-year-old Annie Taylor is pretty fed up with her mother, especially when her latest boyfriend, Tom, appears at breakfast one morning, just like he belongs there. In an effort to win over her 10-year-old brother, William, Tom has promised to take him fishing. When that doesn't happen, Annie decides to take matters in her own hands. Appropriating Tom's fishing rod, she takes William on a trek into the woods so they can fish on their own. Neither of them are prepared for what happens while they're there. They've stumbled across a group of four men who are in the process of killing another man. The children inadvertently give themselves away and end up going on a run for their lives. And thus, they become "missing children"; fortunately, they've found a place to lay low until they can figure out what to do.
The book takes place in North Idaho, a setting that Box describes in breathtakingly beautiful detail. The area has become a haven where retired cops from Los Angeles are settling down. They get to have a little bit of heaven at an affordable price; at the same time, there are enough of them that they have a sense of community. Considered to be a desirable addition to the neighborhood, it's a shock to realize that the killers are among this group. In an effort to cover up the crime, they volunteer to run the task force searching for the children. Who better to take on such an assignment than a bunch of expert cops? Of course, no one is aware that there is anything amiss with these men.
The children end up on a remote ranch owned by Jess Rawlins that has seen better days. Rawlins is struggling to keep his ranching operation going; he's about to sell out unless he can turn things around. He's a man with a big heart, though, and he immediately protects the children when he finds them in his barn and hears their story. The suspense ratchets to unbearably tense levels when the rogue cops realize that Rawlins has the children in his care.
BLUE HEAVEN is a marvelous book that transcends the thriller genre. The characters are lovingly drawn and feel very real. I cared deeply about the fate of the children and aligned instantly with the principled and brave Rawlins. In many thrillers, the characters are there merely to serve the plot; in BLUE HEAVEN, they are the focus and that's what makes it work so well. At the same time, the plot is well conceived and the pacing excellent.
C. J. Box is best known for his series set in Wyoming featuring Sheriff Joe Pickett. I wouldn't be surprised to find this standalone thriller reaching the best seller lists. I know that it is going to be a top read of the year for me.
Twelve-year-old Annie Taylor is pretty fed up with her mother, especially when her latest boyfriend, Tom, appears at breakfast one morning, just like he belongs there. In an effort to win over her 10-year-old brother, William, Tom has promised to take him fishing. When that doesn't happen, Annie decides to take matters in her own hands. Appropriating Tom's fishing rod, she takes William on a trek into the woods so they can fish on their own. Neither of them are prepared for what happens while they're there. They've stumbled across a group of four men who are in the process of killing another man. The children inadvertently give themselves away and end up going on a run for their lives. And thus, they become "missing children"; fortunately, they've found a place to lay low until they can figure out what to do.
The book takes place in North Idaho, a setting that Box describes in breathtakingly beautiful detail. The area has become a haven where retired cops from Los Angeles are settling down. They get to have a little bit of heaven at an affordable price; at the same time, there are enough of them that they have a sense of community. Considered to be a desirable addition to the neighborhood, it's a shock to realize that the killers are among this group. In an effort to cover up the crime, they volunteer to run the task force searching for the children. Who better to take on such an assignment than a bunch of expert cops? Of course, no one is aware that there is anything amiss with these men.
The children end up on a remote ranch owned by Jess Rawlins that has seen better days. Rawlins is struggling to keep his ranching operation going; he's about to sell out unless he can turn things around. He's a man with a big heart, though, and he immediately protects the children when he finds them in his barn and hears their story. The suspense ratchets to unbearably tense levels when the rogue cops realize that Rawlins has the children in his care.
BLUE HEAVEN is a marvelous book that transcends the thriller genre. The characters are lovingly drawn and feel very real. I cared deeply about the fate of the children and aligned instantly with the principled and brave Rawlins. In many thrillers, the characters are there merely to serve the plot; in BLUE HEAVEN, they are the focus and that's what makes it work so well. At the same time, the plot is well conceived and the pacing excellent.
C. J. Box is best known for his series set in Wyoming featuring Sheriff Joe Pickett. I wouldn't be surprised to find this standalone thriller reaching the best seller lists. I know that it is going to be a top read of the year for me.
December 29, 2008
A little sluggish, but still a good thriller featuring four bad cops, one good one, a tough rancher (great part for Clint Eastwood) and two courageous kids!
December 7, 2015
Really enjoyed this book. This is my third book by C. J. Box. He does not disappoint.
April 8, 2020
The good and the bad, story of a band of retired bad cops takes over a small town in Idaho. Good prevails, loved the players .
October 30, 2020
It is hard to get anything done when you are a reading a good book like this. The cast and location is terrific.
March 27, 2009
My first C.J. Box - won’t be my last!
Their mother’s current beau was still there that morning and walked into the kitchen, finding twelve-year-old Annie and ten-year-old William at the table eating breakfast. Following a quick conversation, Tom promised William he’d take William fishing that afternoon - school was letting out early. Upset with her mother that she’d allow that man into her home, and upset that Tom broke his promise to William, the pair set out on their own to the creek. Neither knows how to fish, but Annie is a determined girl; she figures that if Tom knows how to fish, it can’t be all that hard to learn.
But once at the creek, the children witness an execution-style murder and are now on the run from the three men who spotted them. Only, it’s not just the three men: after being rescued, Annie quickly learns that their rescuer is in on it as well. Again on the run, they’ve taken refuge in Jess Rawlins’s barn.
Retired Santa Anita policeman, Eduardo Villatoro, has come to town, wanting to solve a case that still haunts him. A few years back, after the races in Santa Anita, several million dollars was being transfered from the racetrack to the bank. The armored cars were stopped and one of the officers were killed. All this time, the killers were never found, the money still missing. But several of the bills that matched the recorded serial numbers have been deposited lately, most through a bank in Kootenai Bay (Blue Heaven). Villatoro is determined to solve this last case.
Rawlins, an old-school rancher, thinks at first that Annie and William couldn’t have witnessed what they said they did. It didn’t make any sense; especially when the supposed killers turn out to be retired policemen from Los Angeles. But as Jess continues with questions while the children are hiding in his home, he learns that the children were right. Now the four men are heading the search for the missing children, one of them staying with their mother in her house, keeping her away from the public, the media and the phone. And now Jess, divorced with a mentally ill and drug-addicted son, a man about to lose his family’s ranch, is determined to keep the children alive. But what will he do when the killers figure out the children are hiding in his home?
**Fabulously told, rich with descriptions and well-developed characters.
Jess Rawlins doesn’t see himself as a brave savior; he only wants to do what’s right. But he is a strong man with strong beliefs, and he’ll do what he must to protect those children.
Annie - for a twelve-year-old, she’s turning out to be a brave and mature young lady. She does what’s necessary to protect her brother, right down to convincing Jess to teach her how to load and shoot a gun. William believes to be brave, even when scared spitless. I adored the children.
And the killers… they gave me the creeps. Being retired police officers, I think made the creeps worse. Vindictive, manipulative and cunning, I cringed everytime they determined what to do next to find the kids. I hated every single one of them. While they get what they deserve, I still wish more would have happened to them. If you as me, they got the easy way out.
Superb action, intense suspense, well-developed love-to-love and love-to-hate characters, incredible descriptions of what seems like a beautiful and relaxing place on earth, together with a tear-jerker ending, this was my first experience with C.J. Box. I can say with complete honesty it won’t be my last. A huge recommendation!
Their mother’s current beau was still there that morning and walked into the kitchen, finding twelve-year-old Annie and ten-year-old William at the table eating breakfast. Following a quick conversation, Tom promised William he’d take William fishing that afternoon - school was letting out early. Upset with her mother that she’d allow that man into her home, and upset that Tom broke his promise to William, the pair set out on their own to the creek. Neither knows how to fish, but Annie is a determined girl; she figures that if Tom knows how to fish, it can’t be all that hard to learn.
But once at the creek, the children witness an execution-style murder and are now on the run from the three men who spotted them. Only, it’s not just the three men: after being rescued, Annie quickly learns that their rescuer is in on it as well. Again on the run, they’ve taken refuge in Jess Rawlins’s barn.
Retired Santa Anita policeman, Eduardo Villatoro, has come to town, wanting to solve a case that still haunts him. A few years back, after the races in Santa Anita, several million dollars was being transfered from the racetrack to the bank. The armored cars were stopped and one of the officers were killed. All this time, the killers were never found, the money still missing. But several of the bills that matched the recorded serial numbers have been deposited lately, most through a bank in Kootenai Bay (Blue Heaven). Villatoro is determined to solve this last case.
Rawlins, an old-school rancher, thinks at first that Annie and William couldn’t have witnessed what they said they did. It didn’t make any sense; especially when the supposed killers turn out to be retired policemen from Los Angeles. But as Jess continues with questions while the children are hiding in his home, he learns that the children were right. Now the four men are heading the search for the missing children, one of them staying with their mother in her house, keeping her away from the public, the media and the phone. And now Jess, divorced with a mentally ill and drug-addicted son, a man about to lose his family’s ranch, is determined to keep the children alive. But what will he do when the killers figure out the children are hiding in his home?
**Fabulously told, rich with descriptions and well-developed characters.
Jess Rawlins doesn’t see himself as a brave savior; he only wants to do what’s right. But he is a strong man with strong beliefs, and he’ll do what he must to protect those children.
Annie - for a twelve-year-old, she’s turning out to be a brave and mature young lady. She does what’s necessary to protect her brother, right down to convincing Jess to teach her how to load and shoot a gun. William believes to be brave, even when scared spitless. I adored the children.
And the killers… they gave me the creeps. Being retired police officers, I think made the creeps worse. Vindictive, manipulative and cunning, I cringed everytime they determined what to do next to find the kids. I hated every single one of them. While they get what they deserve, I still wish more would have happened to them. If you as me, they got the easy way out.
Superb action, intense suspense, well-developed love-to-love and love-to-hate characters, incredible descriptions of what seems like a beautiful and relaxing place on earth, together with a tear-jerker ending, this was my first experience with C.J. Box. I can say with complete honesty it won’t be my last. A huge recommendation!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2018
This is a stand alone book and wow! It has the ability to stand alone, on its own two (or however many a book has) legs. This is one of the best of Mr. Box's books that I've read and I've read a lot with none being less than very good. It deals with corrupt cops and honest cops and how so many retired LAPD officers have moved to Idaho. It deals with cops who were involved in a robbery and the subsequent murder of several people and the attempt to murder a 12 year old girl and her 10 year old brother. Some of the characters were endowed with great depth while others were fairly shallow and one dimensional. But that is a minor flaw and one that can easily be understood; with the amount of characters in this book it would have required a weighty tome indeed to develop all the characters with a certain amount of depth.
As with all of the Box books I've read so far, the land is a major character in the book. It's high mountain forests and meadows with Box introducing us to the climate of the area. It's part of the plot and the action. Of course that's what we've come to expect from Mr. Box and he certainly fulfilled all expectations. With just a modicum of imagination one can smell the pine needles, see the clouds hovering around the mountain tops in the distance, see the clarity of the water in the lakes and streams and even feel the grittiness of the bar that is long past its prime.
If you like Box but you haven't read this one then by all means, find a source and get this book. You will be treating yourself.
Addendum: As mentioned, this is a stand alone novel. I would love to see Box write more with Annie, the 12 year old girl. I would love to see her grow, to develop the skills that she showed in this book as she matures. Annie could be an excellent protagonist.
As with all of the Box books I've read so far, the land is a major character in the book. It's high mountain forests and meadows with Box introducing us to the climate of the area. It's part of the plot and the action. Of course that's what we've come to expect from Mr. Box and he certainly fulfilled all expectations. With just a modicum of imagination one can smell the pine needles, see the clouds hovering around the mountain tops in the distance, see the clarity of the water in the lakes and streams and even feel the grittiness of the bar that is long past its prime.
If you like Box but you haven't read this one then by all means, find a source and get this book. You will be treating yourself.
Addendum: As mentioned, this is a stand alone novel. I would love to see Box write more with Annie, the 12 year old girl. I would love to see her grow, to develop the skills that she showed in this book as she matures. Annie could be an excellent protagonist.
May 27, 2018
This is my first book by C. J. Box and I'm so thrilled a friend highly recommended this author! I will be reading more from this author since I foresee BOX being one of my favorite Mystery Thriller writers. It's easy to see why he has sold so many copies of his books and has won so many awards and acclaims. This novel is full of so many twists, turns and unexpected events that I did not want to put it down. This novel has good cops, bad cops, a sweet small town community in Idaho, murder, a lonely old farmer and kids on the run-- just to name a few things going on in this excellent read.
Twelve year old Annie decides to take her younger brother William fishing after they were stood up by their mothers boyfriend. They have no idea how wrong this day will go. As they are walking through the woods they stumbled upon and witness a murder. Now their on the run from four killers. Four killers that know who they are, who their mother is and these men are ex-L.A. police officers that know how to track and find them. Annie and William soon learn they do not know who they can trust and that they can't go home or even contact their mom to let her know they are alive. The kids take refuge in a barn about 8 miles from where the crime occurred on the ranch of Jess Rawlins. Little do they know that this old man will become their savior and risk it all for them.
It's very easy to see why Blue Heaven earned the Edgar Award for Best Novel in 2009! If you like Crime Thrillers this is a book for you! A must read.
Twelve year old Annie decides to take her younger brother William fishing after they were stood up by their mothers boyfriend. They have no idea how wrong this day will go. As they are walking through the woods they stumbled upon and witness a murder. Now their on the run from four killers. Four killers that know who they are, who their mother is and these men are ex-L.A. police officers that know how to track and find them. Annie and William soon learn they do not know who they can trust and that they can't go home or even contact their mom to let her know they are alive. The kids take refuge in a barn about 8 miles from where the crime occurred on the ranch of Jess Rawlins. Little do they know that this old man will become their savior and risk it all for them.
It's very easy to see why Blue Heaven earned the Edgar Award for Best Novel in 2009! If you like Crime Thrillers this is a book for you! A must read.
August 30, 2009
I felt the author gave a true portrayal of what life is like in Idaho. The idea that Californian's should stay in California. They move to Idaho to get away from the chaos and then try to change and manipulate things to be more like California. Go figure. I also liked the fact that Box points out that Idaho is known for racists groups. Groups by the way “That we chased out of Idaho several years ago".
SIDENOTE: Racist groups whose leaders ironically came from California. (Carl Story and Vincent Bertollini are from the Silicon Valley) Richard Butler was from Colorado.
The story is about a bunch of L.A. cops who have moved to North Idaho to retire and get away from California. The cops are not as wholesome as they seem and things begin to spiral out of control to cover their tracks.
I like C.J Box novels because he uses some of the western states like Idaho, Montana and Wyoming in his novels, and he has a great understanding of the way people in these states really act and feel. No 99.5% of us are not all racist skin heads out to destroy everyone who is not white. Sorry to disappoint.
SIDENOTE: Racist groups whose leaders ironically came from California. (Carl Story and Vincent Bertollini are from the Silicon Valley) Richard Butler was from Colorado.
The story is about a bunch of L.A. cops who have moved to North Idaho to retire and get away from California. The cops are not as wholesome as they seem and things begin to spiral out of control to cover their tracks.
I like C.J Box novels because he uses some of the western states like Idaho, Montana and Wyoming in his novels, and he has a great understanding of the way people in these states really act and feel. No 99.5% of us are not all racist skin heads out to destroy everyone who is not white. Sorry to disappoint.
May 26, 2013
Box defends North Idaho from the bias of those who've never been there and adds a great child-witness escape story with a superb character in the pantheon of real cowboys, Jess Rawlins. It's not part of the Joe Pickett series but just as good.
August 27, 2014
This was a good story, however, I think that the newer Joe Pickett series stories are better. His newer novels have a smoother presentation. I enjoyed the characters and the unexpected ending. It was fun to read this on a buddy read.
August 3, 2013
Excellant mystery with great characters. Loved it.
July 22, 2023
Blue Heaven is the nickname for a small town in Idaho where many retired LAPD officers move to. Most of them are the good guys, a few not so much. When Annie Taylor and her brother, William, witness a cold blooded murder they run for their lives and end up hiding in the barn owned by Jess Rawlins. Jess is an older rancher on the brink of losing his ranch, but he will fight with his life to protect the children.
This was a great story with some pretty intense moments. The bad cops have no regard for human life and think nothing about ending someone’s. Just a heads up to the squeamish, there is a bit of graphic violence in the book. I was a bit surprised by how easily the retired officers were able to take over the search for the missing kids, but I also understood it. The sheriff was new and very inexperienced.
I really enjoyed the story line and characters in the story. There were a few scenes that got me upset, but things ended up working out. The ending was bitter sweet, but it made me smile. C.J Box is a new author to me, but I look forward to reading more by him.
This was a great story with some pretty intense moments. The bad cops have no regard for human life and think nothing about ending someone’s. Just a heads up to the squeamish, there is a bit of graphic violence in the book. I was a bit surprised by how easily the retired officers were able to take over the search for the missing kids, but I also understood it. The sheriff was new and very inexperienced.
I really enjoyed the story line and characters in the story. There were a few scenes that got me upset, but things ended up working out. The ending was bitter sweet, but it made me smile. C.J Box is a new author to me, but I look forward to reading more by him.
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