Paradise Valley by C.J. Box, Book 4 for in the Cassie Dewey Series

First, about the series. Paradise Valley is in a series that has 2 different names, or to me, it has two different names.  Actually, it has three different names. So I really don't think this has any spoilers in it but it could so read at your own risk.

The First book, Back of the Beyond was a good enough book and the series was called Cody Hoyt series.  It was about an alcoholic detective that had lots of faults but took his job seriously.  Because of his demons, he was sort of a lone wolf and he became a mentor to Cassie Dewey.

The second book, The Highway, is the only book I've ever been pissed at.  Only George R.R. Martin can kill off one of the main characters but how do you kill off the character the series is named for?  Cassie Dewey comes in and finishes out the book as the protagonist.  I think this is where the Highway Quartet series comes in.

The third book, Badlands, took me a while to read.  I still hadn't forgiven box for killing off Hoyt, but Cassie Dewey really comes on strong in this book and makes this the 2nd book of the Cassie Dewey series.

Now we're at the fourth book in the Highway Quartet and a 5th Highway quartet is coming out later this year, so how is this a quartet. So let's get started.

Paradise Valley starts our really good for Detective Cassie Dewey when Cassie gets a lead on the serial killer she's been chasing, but things go really bad.  Not only does the serial killer have it out for her but the County District Attorney and the FBI want s her hide.  Now she has to go back to relying on what Cody Hoyt taught her on being a lone wolf.  This takes her back to the beginning.  To the Lizard Kings old stomping grounds.  Cassie is always one step behind the Lizard King and finally gets help and support from people she has never met.  Will this be the end of the Lizard King or the end of her.  Since there's another book coming out this year I think we can figure the answer out, but this book is a really hard journey.

This is by far the best of the series and worth reading the series.  Paradise Valley brings Cassie Dewey up to par with C.J. Box's breadwinner, Joe Pickett.  It is well worth the read.

This is a great 8 of 10 for me.

Paradise Valley by C.J. Box

Book 4 in the Cassie Dewey series (to heck with the Highway Quartet, Cassie deserves her name on it.)