New York Times bestselling author C.J. Box's novels have been called "red hot" (Booklist) and "edge-of-your-seat read[s]" (Omaha World-Herald). Now he delivers a novel that will steal your sleep as much as it will wrench your heart. Three Weeks to Say Goodbye is a novel about something that could be anyone's worst nightmare. . . Jack and Melissa McGuane have spent years trying to have a baby. Finally their dream has come true with the adoption of their daughter, Angelina. But nine months after bringing her home, they receive a devastating phone call… Angelina's birth father, a teenager, never signed away his parental rights—and he wants her back. Worse, his father, a powerful Denver judge, will use every trick in the book to make sure it happens. The McGuanes attempt to meet face-to-face with the father and son…but soon it becomes clear that there's something sinister about their motivations—and that love for Angelina is not one of them. A horrifying game of intimidation and double crosses begins that quickly becomes a death spiral where everyone is suspect and no one is safe. Now Jack and Melissa will stop at nothing to protect their child—even though time is running out… C.J. Box has once again written a bone-chilling thriller that will keep you guessing until the very last page.
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"Jack and Melissa have spent several years trying to have a baby. Their dream has come true with the adoption of a baby girl. But, in every adoptive parent's nightmare, they receive a phone call.. The baby's father, just a teenager never signed away his rights and he wants the baby girl back. Even worse than that, his father - a powerful judge will use a heavy-hand to make sure it happens. The motivation of the teenaged father and his powerful father soon becomes clear and love is not at the top of the list. This is a gut-wrenching story of frightening circumstances and the suspense leaves the reader of the edge of their seat. "
— Julie (4 out of 5 stars)
“Box brings heart-wrenching intensity to this suspenseful story. The pace is quick and tension-filled, and the main characters are likable and sympathetic.”
— RT Book Reviews...Lloyd transitions smoothly between the diverse range of characters and scenes, and the listener will easily follow along. Fans of Box who have come to expect action-packed, fast-paced thrillers will find a tight time line filled with tension and violence.
— AudioFile magazine" I'm pleasantly surprised by this book. I found it in B&N for six dollars in the bargain books section, so I gave it a home. When I read what it was about (An adoptive family recieving a call from their adoption agency, alerting them that the birth father of their nine month old daughter had not signed away his rights, and now would like her back), I thought it was more of a drama (in a Jodi Piccoult fashion) than a thriller. It never slowed down, not once. I was immediately engulfed in any parent's worst nightmare. Twists were interesting and unexpected. I really liked it. "
— Rhi, 2/11/2014" listened on my way to wk, enjoyed it. "
— Aliciaq, 1/30/2014" This was a good book - I had a hard time putting it down. Adopting a baby from a teenage mom after years of infertility... then teenage dad (who never signed his parental rights away) shows up with his powerful Judge dad and wants the baby back. Every adoptive parents nightmare! The story seemed very realistic from an emotional standpoint. Some of the scenes seemed a little too much - these were average people and some of the gun play, well, I'm just not sure real life would have gone there - but maybe... The Jeter character was too much, though. Overall, a good book! "
— Janne, 1/30/2014" I really liked it. I couldn't put the book down. I don't read a lot of mysteries but I may start. The characters in this book intrigued me. I lived in Denver for awhile and it's always nice to hear about familiar places. Great ending but I won't say much about that. I especially loved the police officers. What a job. Cody was my favorite and his uncle Jeter, what a guy. "
— Dee, 1/30/2014" I was drawn to this book because as an adoptive mom the thought of having to give a child back to the biological parent sounds like a nightmare. I thought it was very well written and provided lots of suspense. Some of it seemed a little far fetched in terms of gun-play and the character of Jeter Hoyt wasn't very believable. The author mentioned the adoptive mother's drinking and something about the furnace in the adoptive parents house. It seemed to have no significance to the story even though it was brought up several times. Those two facts were left dangling with me saying, "Hmmmm." I will read more of this author's stand-alone books. I don't feel up to reading his series. "
— Ginny, 1/22/2014" This thriller explores an adoptive parents worst nightmare! I found this book very captivating and it kept me intrigued. Written like a true life crime, this book will keep you wondering what will happen next! "
— Kate, 1/21/2014" I loved the premise of this book. One night I actually had nightmares about people coming into my house just to mess with me, much like the characters in this book. The ending I felt was lacking, but again, worth my time to read, I saw it through to the end. "
— Joy, 1/19/2014" Good, fast read. A solid mystery novel, not being an expert in mysteries, however. Book one of three mysteries set in Denver/Colorado given to me by a friend before I left LA. One to books three and four soon. "
— Andrea, 1/19/2014" It is as hard to put down as all of his books were. "
— Rutherforda, 1/7/2014" Parts of this book seemed implausible. "
— Dara, 1/5/2014" I really liked it. It had far more twists than I thought it would. A really good page turner. "
— Bethj, 12/18/2013" Entertaining book that I enjoyed for a change of scenery. "
— Kim, 12/15/2013" Like books by Harlan Coben, this author's book grabbed me right away. It was such a page turner, that I finished it in a day! "
— Emma, 11/10/2013" Enjoyable story from an author I've never read before. I'll have to pick up more of his books. "
— Diane, 11/8/2013" Not his best book. I don't think I liked the lead player much, which detracted from the storyline. I thought the plot was a little flakey and I couldn't really beleive all the people that were getting shotup, with virtually no police involvement at all. It was an ok book "
— Dave, 10/14/2013" Really good, wasn't sure what was going to happen til the end "
— Helen, 9/26/2013" Gripping, edge of your seat thriller. This was my first time to read this author and I liked the style. Jack & Melissa are fighting to keep their adopted daughter. It had plenty of twists. Definitely recommended. "
— Cindy, 9/25/2013" Loved BLUE HEAVEN (first of his books I've read) but this is a page turner. "
— Helen, 5/27/2013" Overdone "
— Peggy, 3/3/2013" Great book, lots of suspense and an ending I could live with : ) "
— Kenny, 10/8/2012" An almost noir story of a corrupt judge trying to reclaim an adopted granddaughter. Good page-turner, a really quicdk read "
— Dennis, 4/28/2012" First sentence, "It was Saturday morning, November 3, and the first thing I noticed when I entered my office was that my telephone message light was blinking." "
— Douglas, 8/5/2011" Talk about suspense! A fast read you can't put down. C.J. Box has a series, too, but his stand-alones are the BEST! Especially this one... "
— Karen, 6/16/2011" Audio Book. I was definitely entertained and I definitely didn't like the antagonists but, the hero kept doing stupid things. That gave the book a lower score. I will probably go back to CJ Box for more books but, I still prefer a better hero. "
— Jake, 5/6/2011" Audio Book. I was definitely entertained and I definitely didn't like the antagonists but, the hero kept doing stupid things. That gave the book a lower score. I will probably go back to CJ Box for more books but, I still prefer a better hero. "
— Jake, 5/6/2011" This novel is not part of the Joe Pickens series, but I loved it! Glad to have discovered a new author, thanks to my Goodreads friend, Jana! "
— Rita, 5/3/2011" Good suspense - not so great ending.... <br/> "
— Colleen, 4/15/2011" Very good book. Suspense / thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. I am definately going to look for more by this author. "
— Sheila, 4/12/2011" so far this book is a good read "
— Em, 3/13/2011" Good story. Again, unnecessary violence but less than Blue Heaven. "
— Elizabeth, 2/15/2011" It was a good suspense(sp?) book, but had a lot of swearing and really could have done with out it! "
— Kelli, 2/10/2011" I thought it was okay, but there was just too much (unpunished, unnecessary) collateral damage, and a really quick, almost too-tidy wrap up. There were also several plot holes that would have been easy enough to fill in/change to fit the story. I guess I was just expecting more from this book. "
— Jennifer, 1/20/2011C. J. Box is the New York Times bestselling author of the Joe Pickett series, six stand-alone novels, the Cody Hoyt series, the Cassie Dewell series, and a story collection. He has won the Edgar, Anthony, Macavity, Gumshoe, and Barry Awards, as well as the French Prix Calibre .38, and the Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association Award for fiction. He has also been a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. His novels have been translated into twenty-seven languages. A Wyoming native, he has worked on a ranch and as a small-town newspaper reporter and editor. He is an executive producer of ABC TV’s Big Sky, which is based on his Cody Hoyt/Cassie Dewell novels, as well as executive producer of the upcoming Joe Pickett television series for Paramount TV.
John Bedford Lloyd, Earphones Award–winning narrator, is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama, has appeared in many major motion pictures, including The Bourne Supremacy, Crossing Delancey, The Abyss, The Manchurian Candidate, and Philadelphia. His television credits include Suits, Pan Am, Law & Order, Spin City, and The West Wing.