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  • Savage Run

  • A Joe Pickett Novel
  • Written by: C. J. Box
  • Narrated by: David Chandler
  • Length: 8 hrs and 48 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (35 ratings)

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Savage Run

Written by: C. J. Box
Narrated by: David Chandler
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Publisher's Summary

An Edgar, Anthony, Macavity, Gumshoe, and Barry Award winner, C. J. Box delivers the second pulse-pounding installment in his critically acclaimed series. While investigating a string of bizarre murders, Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett is forced to flee across treacherous terrain with a deadly tracker on his trail.

©2002 C.J. Box (P)2011 Recorded Books, LLC

What the critics say

"Picturesque detailing, admirable prose, and agitating suspense demonstrate the appeal of this follow-up to Box’s Edgar nominated debut." ( Library Journal)
"Laconic Joe Pickett returns to his slightly offbeat duties in Wyoming's Bighorn Mountains in C. J. Box's Savage Run. Joe is called to the scene when an exploding cow kills a famous ecoterrorist, Stewie Woods, and his bride of three days, who were peacefully spiking trees. A visit to the cow's pugnacious owner leaves Joe defensive, angry, and curious: Why doesn't the rancher ask any questions about the bizarre accident that happened on his land? Then Joe's wife, Marybeth, begins receiving phone calls from her high-school boyfriend - the peculiarly healthy-sounding Stewie Woods. Stewie may or may not be alive, but his old pal Hayden Powell and other environmental activists are all turning up deceased in strange circumstances. As the body count climbs, Joe tries to sort out the bad guys, the good guys, and the truly dead guys in this sometimes funny, sometimes angry [novel]. Box depicts the spare beauty and cussed individualism of the intermountain West with the sure hand of a seasoned writer." (Amazon.com review)

What listeners say about Savage Run

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Joe Pickett rocks!

The Joe Pickett series is entertaining, honest, and refreshing. Joe is an ordinary game warden with human foibles and feelings and the crimes he solves are believable. The characters are sometimes funny and sometimes psycho! The story lines are easy to follow but the twists that are thrown in will shock the reader! Excellent writing and great narration!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great and timely book

Always loved reading CJ Box books and now love listening to them as well. Great characters and subject matter . .........every time!

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  • Kelly
  • 2014-01-30

Box brings the West alive!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. I found the plot interesting and the characters well-developed. Yes, it isn't a traditional mystery as we already know who the bad guys are, but Mr Box develops the setting so well that it becomes another character. I live in the mountains of Colorado and life is quite similar to life in WY. Hunting, fishing, ams... I think Mr Box does a great job of illustrating the type of lives that are lived in the rural West.

Some reviewers said they found Joe Pickett to be too weak. I don't think of him as weak. He is a pacifist, a lover of nature, and a family man. He does the job he does because he truly believes that the animals and land should be protected. He carries a weapon only because it is required and would much rather not do so. To me, that isn't weak, in fact, it is the opposite. He has strong convictions and isn't swayed by outside sources. I respect that in people and I respect it in this character.

What other book might you compare Savage Run to and why?



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30 people found this helpful

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  • AudioAddict
  • 2018-06-04

We can always count on Joe!

STORY (Modern Detective) - In this book Joe Pickett, game warden extraordinaire, investigates the case of an exploding cow...and other mysterious deaths surrounding environmental activists. The story is exciting from beginning to end, but it's the vivid descriptions of Wyoming's breathtaking scenery and wildlife that sets this series apart from others in the genre and keeps this listener coming back for more.

PERFORMANCE - David Chandler is the perfect choice to perform Joe Pickett, and he does a great job varying his voice to differentiate between other characters as well. Bravo!

OVERALL - This book is a little more violent than others in the series, and I believe the F-word was uttered a couple times. Therefore, I would highly recommend it for all listeners except young children.

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20 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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  • MidwestGeek
  • 2013-02-13

21st century range war! Adventure not mystery.

Instead of the cowboys against the farmers (Oklahoma!,) it's the gentleman ranchers against the environmentalists! It's a good story, and Box's descriptions of the wild country in Wyoming are marvelous. This is not really a mystery, since we know who the bad guys are and it isn't hard to guess who is behind their killing spree. As a result, the plot seems thin, too slow and stretching beyond the limits of credibility at times. I read this after reading Force of Nature, book #12, which I liked better but also suffered from some of the same plot defects. I like the protagonist Joe Pickett, but he can't possibly be so naive as he sometimes says or acts. The environmental activist, Stewie Woods, is a more multi-dimensional and believable character than Joe Pickett. Toward the end, too many rabbits are pulled out of the hat to make the denouement fully satisfying.

David Chandler adds a lot to the pleasure of listening, his narration and portrayal of characters are terrific.

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16 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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  • K. Hewett
  • 2012-05-23

Savage Run by CJ Box

I thought the book was well written and well preformed. There was some bloody details involving animals that seemed sensationalized. I think the book would have been just as strong without those parts. The ending left me cold. I could think of half a dozen ways to end the story that might have made our hero more of a hero. I do like the character of Joe Picket, he is humble and understated. He reminds me a little of the Jim Chee character in the famous Tony Hillerman books.

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10 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Gary c
  • 2016-02-04

Excellent listen

I've listen to many Joe Pickett books and this by far my favorite. Great characters, succinct narration, and intriguing story. Well done

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7 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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  • Pogue
  • 2019-12-29

I like the hero's to have some skills

Joe had no skills. Couldn't shoot or walk and chew gum. I really dislike a book where you have to wait till the end for the bad guys to get there just deserts and then Joe is still a dunce.

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6 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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  • Brutis
  • 2019-10-01

Needs A Little Research

Pistols that can shoot between mountains, icons blown up with no federal investigation, pepper spray that causes nerve agent reactions, phone records that don't shoe incoming call info, etc.. An I like this author, just wish he would do more research. Won't return it because I did the first one by mistake and despite the criticism I think the author could be great just needs to research.

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6 people found this helpful

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  • O. Gilley
  • 2012-03-19

Great series for outdoor types

Would you listen to Savage Run again? Why?

I almost never listen to a book more than once, but that is because there are only 24 hours in a day and so many books. I would listen to this one again in a few years.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

The plot was a bit of a stretch, but it was seldom dull.

What about David Chandler???s performance did you like?

I found the performance to be very good.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

With all the twists, there wasn't a particular point that moved me.

Any additional comments?

If you love the outdoors, like to hunt, fish, hike, or just enjoy the challenges of nature, you will enjoy this book if you like mysteries.

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6 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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  • Marisia Robus
  • 2019-12-23

Enjoyable

My 2nd Joe Pickett and it was enjoyable. I just feel that the balance between the police work and nature is not quite right, feels lacking in parts.

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5 people found this helpful

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  • Debra
  • 2020-04-21

Just Ok. Not great

I’ve read a couple of the Pickett novels. The author tends to be balanced on both sides of the issues in Wyoming. Be it environmental or ranch. Not very believable about Pickett accidentally getting a lucky shot from that far away with a 357 pistol against someone with a rifle in the bushes. And the fact that Pickett is a bad shot? And he grew up in Wyoming AND is a Fish and Game Warden. I hope by the next book, he has gone to the range. Also the voice of the narrator for Mary Beth is not good at all.

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3 people found this helpful