2nd in series with Cassie Dewell as chief investigator in fictional Grimsted, ND. A bit gruesome and quick read. KIRKUS REVIEWBox takes another break from his highly successful Joe Pickett series (Stone Cold, 2014, etc.) for a stand-alone about a police detective, a developmentally delayed boy, and a package everyone in North Dakota wants to grab.Cassandra Dewell can?t leave Montana?s Lewis and Clark County fast enough for her new job as chief investigator for Jon Kirkbride, sheriff of Bakken County. She leaves behind no memories worth keeping: her husband is dead, her boss has made no bones about disliking her, and she?s looking forward to new responsibilities and the higher salary underwritten by North Dakota?s sudden oil boom. But Bakken County has its own issues. For one thing, it?s cold¥a whole lot colder than the coldest weather Cassie?s ever imagined. For another, the job she turns out to have been hired forÂ¥leading an investigation her new boss doesn?t feel he can entrust to his own forceÂ¥makes her queasy. The biggest problem, though, is one she doesn?t know about until it slaps her in the face. A fatal car accident that was anything but accidental has jarred loose a stash of methamphetamines and cash that?s become the center of a battle between the Sons of Freedom, Bakken County?s traditional drug sellers, and MS-13, the Salvadorian upstarts who are muscling in on their territory. It?s a setup that leaves scant room for law enforcement officers or for Kyle Westergaard, the 12-year-old paperboy damaged since birth by fetal alcohol syndrome, who?s walked away from the wreck with a prize all too many people would kill for.A suspenseful, professional-grade north country procedural whose heroine, a deft mix of compassion and attitude, would be welcome to return and tie up the gaping loose end Box leaves. The unrelenting cold makes this the perfect beach read.

(2015) Continuation of the Cody Holt story line as we follow Cassie. She had exposed Cody's corruption and is now a hot commodity in law enforcement. Starting a new job as chief investigator of an oil-boom town in North Dakota. She helps bring down drug gangs in town and uses a young boy (Kyle) to stop them. Violent but interesting book.KIRKUS REVIEWBox takes another break from his highly successful Joe Pickett series (Stone Cold, 2014, etc.) for a stand-alone about a police detective, a developmentally delayed boy, and a package everyone in North Dakota wants to grab.Cassandra Dewell can't leave Montana's Lewis and Clark County fast enough for her new job as chief investigator for Jon Kirkbride, sheriff of Bakken County. She leaves behind no memories worth keeping: her husband is dead, her boss has made no bones about disliking her, and she's looking forward to new responsibilities and the higher salary underwritten by North Dakota's sudden oil boom. But Bakken County has its own issues. For one thing, it's cold¥a whole lot colder than the coldest weather Cassie's ever imagined. For another, the job she turns out to have been hired forÂ¥leading an investigation her new boss doesn't feel he can entrust to his own forceÂ¥makes her queasy. The biggest problem, though, is one she doesn't know about until it slaps her in the face. A fatal car accident that was anything but accidental has jarred loose a stash of methamphetamines and cash that's become the center of a battle between the Sons of Freedom, Bakken County's traditional drug sellers, and MS-13, the Salvadorian upstarts who are muscling in on their territory. It's a setup that leaves scant room for law enforcement officers or for Kyle Westergaard, the 12-year-old paperboy damaged since birth by fetal alcohol syndrome, who's walked away from the wreck with a prize all too many people would kill for.A suspenseful, professional-grade north country procedural whose heroine, a deft mix of compassion and attitude, would be welcome to return and tie up the gaping loose end Box leaves. The unrelenting cold makes this the perfect beach read.Pub Date: July 28th, 2015ISBN: 978-0-312-58321-7Page count: 272ppPublisher: MinotaurReview Posted Online: April 22nd, 2015Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15th, 2015

A few pages in, didn't care for it.

A paperboy, Kyle Westergaard sees a package being thrown from a car in North Dakota just before the car crashes and rolls. There are two police cars and the men appear to be looking for something. Kyle takes the package home and his mother's ner do well boyfriend opens the package and finds money and drugs. He assures Kyle that he will take care of his motherby using the money Kyle has found.
A number of people are after the package and its contents.

Cassie Dewell, newly arrived from Montana is on the case. In additon, she is still tracking the Lizard King. ( )

I somehow read all of The Highway Quartet series, but book 3. A pleasant surprise that I get to dive into the hunt for the Lizard King one more time. This book was very good, but the plot deals more with drug distribution and MS13. Very entertaining audio, I love January LaVoy narrating as Cassie. Highly recommend this series to crime-mystery readers. ( )