Breaking Point by C.J. Box

Breaking Point is C.J. Box’s latest work featuring Joe Pickett, a game warden in Saddlestring, Wyoming.  Joe is a straight arrow.  He lives in a black and white world with a strong sense of right and wrong.  In his work he follows regulations to the letter of the law.  Yet he recognizes government bureaucracies and their political appointees do not always act fairly or in the best interest of the people.  It is here that Joe is conflicted and it’s only a matter of time until he reaches his own breaking point.

Two EPA agents are sent from the Denver office to Saddlestring on a mysterious mission and are subsequently found dead in a shallow grave, killed by gunshot wounds.  Evidence points to Butch Roberson, a local construction company owner as the prime suspect.  The agents were killed on his property and it is discovered that Roberson and his wife were involved in a convoluted dispute with the EPA over the site of the Roberson’s future retirement home.  Even though the property was located in high lands, the EPA declared it a wetlands and was threatening exorbitant fines if construction of the home continued.

Joe and Butch knew each other through their daughters’ friendship.  In fact, Joe had encountered Butch while on patrol in the Wyoming wilderness the day after the murders but before the bodies were discovered.  The local sheriff found the crime scene and proceeded to investigate but soon a wave of federal and state agencies arrived in force.  EPA regional director, Juan Julio Batista shows up to take charge with the FBI in tow.  Governor Rulon shows up to protect Wyoming citizens from the Federal government.  Helicopters and drones are employed to find the fugitive.  Joe is recruited to lead the feds on horseback into the wilderness where he last saw Roberson.

But something didn’t seem right to Joe.  Why was the EPA Regional Director leading a murder investigation and manhunt?  Why was Batista so zealous to kill the fugitive without a trial?  Could Butch be innocent?  Joe asked his wife Marybeth to research Batista.  Marybeth, a librarian with computer access to some little known databases, uncovers a dark side in Batista’s background.  Meanwhile, Batista sends a drone after Roberson and manages to set the wilderness on fire while Butch escaped down the other side of the mountain.  Joe resigns from his job and sets out after Butch as a private citizen into dangerous terrain with a forest fire on his heels.

In Breaking Point Box illustrates how conflict between common citizens and government can escalate out of control.  Heavy handed actions by political appointees can ruin the lives of ordinary people.  Joe Pickett is caught in the middle.  In his work Joe’s strong sense of law and order drives him to dispense the most severe punishment authorized.  Yet when law enforcement crosses the line of his own brand of justice, he pushes back…without regard for personal consequences.  That is why we love Joe Pickett.