This book was not as good as the second in the series.... glad I read #2 first, otherwise I never would have picked it up.

Started this because I’ve been watching Big Sky, which is based on this series, apparently. The show has been a really pleasant surprise. It’s way more inclusive than I expected and had some really fun twists. The show starts off at book 2 of this, so this is a prequel, I figured - only not really because two characters were in this book. I guess that means the show may remix the books into its own thing, kind of like The Magicians. I LOVE when shows do this instead of retreading everything exactly, but I’ll see when I start book 2 how much that holds.

Anyway, in terms of the book:
Met my expectations. A couple fun twists. Good narration. Serviceable prose, but still felt a bit like commercial fiction. Nothing wrong with that but I’m definitely a reader that gets a lot out of theme and prose, so it’s fairly hard for commercial fiction to hit my sweet spot. 3 stars, for me, is exactly what you’d expect out of a book, so everything worked for me, I found it a fast read and satisfying enough. It would have been more interesting if the plotting foreshadowed one particular twist better. There’s a few contrivances that feel like an effort to do so, but don’t quite land. But I plan on starting the second all the same.

Pretty decent. A bit predictable but good pace.

I have started listening to audiobooks in the car since my job involves a lot more driving then it used too. Since then I've been able to seriously cut down my reading list, but there are some draw backs to listening to books. The readers have to have a good voice and be able to portray the different characters well. This can sometimes be hard to find, for instance I can't listen to the readers of the Game of Thrones novels AT ALL. Also, stopping and starting a book so often when you are in and out of the car a lot can be disconcerting as well.

Back of Beyond was an excellent listen. C.J. Box gives readers enough intrigue into situations that you leave each time with skeptical indecision as to whether you liked what just happened or not but just enough to interest you as soon as you return to it. Cody Hoyt is such a love/hate kind of character. He has some strong character flaws that could easily become annoying but enough is happening around him that it doesn't impact reader interest. When a friend of his is killed, whether by accident or murder, he reacts badly to say the least. Then when very slim chances evidence point in the direction to where his son is spending part of his summer, Hoyt overreacts and dramatically, illegally leaves town and throws around his 'cop' status to get people to help him even though he's been suspended and no longer has a badge.

Justin Hoyt and sisters Danielle and Gracie, who are on another part of this story are a wonderful addition to this story. What's happening on their adventure meshes with what's happening to Cody in a great way that is unexpected to all characters. I really loved how everything came together, but some of it was sort of the expected, convenience that would get Cody Hoyt out of as much trouble as he should have been in.