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The Crossroads: Joe Pickett, Book 26
Game warden Joe Pickett fights for his life as his daughters try to uncover who shot him and left him for dead in this riveting new novel from #1
New York Times
bestseller C. J. Box.
Marybeth Pickett gets the call she has always her husband Joe is in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the head.
Joe was found in his pickup at Antler Creek Junction, a crossroads connecting three ranches. Each road leading to a dangerous family. Each family with a different bone to pick with the local game warden. Marybeth and the new sheriff assume that Joe was ambushed by one of the families, but they have no idea which one since Joe didn't say where he was going or why.
With Joe unconscious and fighting for his life with Marybeth at his side, Sheridan, April, and Lucy split up and investigate each of the families to uncover the truth of what happened to their father, before it's too late.
Marybeth Pickett gets the call she has always her husband Joe is in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the head.
Joe was found in his pickup at Antler Creek Junction, a crossroads connecting three ranches. Each road leading to a dangerous family. Each family with a different bone to pick with the local game warden. Marybeth and the new sheriff assume that Joe was ambushed by one of the families, but they have no idea which one since Joe didn't say where he was going or why.
With Joe unconscious and fighting for his life with Marybeth at his side, Sheridan, April, and Lucy split up and investigate each of the families to uncover the truth of what happened to their father, before it's too late.
Audible Audio
Published February 24, 2026
11 people are currently reading
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About the author
C.J. Box
123 books7,337 followersC. J. Box is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of 24 novels including the Joe Pickett series. He won the Edgar Alan Poe Award for Best Novel (Blue Heaven, 2009) as well as the Anthony Award, Prix Calibre 38 (France), the Macavity Award, the Gumshoe Award, two Barry Awards, and the 2010 Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association Award for fiction. He was recently awarded the 2016 Western Heritage Award for Literature by the National Cowboy Museum as well as the Spur Award for Best Contemporary Novel by the Western Writers of America in 2017. The novels have been translated into 27 languages.
Box is a Wyoming native and has worked as a ranch hand, surveyor, fishing guide, a small town newspaper reporter and editor, and he co-owns an international tourism marketing firm with his wife Laurie. They have three daughters. An avid outdoorsman, Box has hunted, fished, hiked, ridden, and skied throughout Wyoming and the Mountain West. He served on the Board of Directors for the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. Box lives in Wyoming.
--from the author's website
Series:
* Joe Pickett
http://us.macmillan.com/author/cjbox
Box is a Wyoming native and has worked as a ranch hand, surveyor, fishing guide, a small town newspaper reporter and editor, and he co-owns an international tourism marketing firm with his wife Laurie. They have three daughters. An avid outdoorsman, Box has hunted, fished, hiked, ridden, and skied throughout Wyoming and the Mountain West. He served on the Board of Directors for the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. Box lives in Wyoming.
--from the author's website
Series:
* Joe Pickett
http://us.macmillan.com/author/cjbox
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 2, 2026
*** MINOR SPOILERS ***
This book is one of the Joe Pickett series and is one of the best.
Joe gets shot and nearly dies and his wife, Marybeth, gets a call telling her that something happened to him. At first, you are not sure if he is even alive, but she finds out that he needs to be airlifted out to a hospital for emergency care. Marybeth watches over him at the hospital. Their three children, Sheridan, April, and Lucy, decide to investigate what happened to find out what happened to their dad.
Joe is a game warden in Wyoming. Joe was shot in his pickup truck at a fork in the road. The fork leads in three different directions. Each one has someone who might be responsible for the shooting. Even if they are not involved in the shooting, they are up to their eyeballs in something.
The county where Joe lives and was shot has a new sheriff and deputy. They are unfamiliar with the history of the people and their relationships in the county: some good, some bad. Sheridan offers the sheriff the help of the Pickett women. Sheridan and the sheriff are interested in each other. April works in Montana for Cassie Dewell, a private investigator, and Cassie appears in the story. Cassie has her own series of books.
I have read most of CJ Box’s books and the Joe Pickett series is great. When Marybeth gets the call that Joe has been shot, I cried right along with her.
The story is told from different points of view, including Joe’s as you see the events that led up to the shooting.
The pace of the story is good and the dialogue is realistic. There were some funny lines particularly with the banter between the sisters.
The author obviously did a lot of research on the medical issue facing Joe.
The landscape and weather of Wyoming is a part of the book which I enjoyed. I also enjoyed the descriptions of various animals that live in the area: elk, bear, wolves, and different birds.
CJ Box has won multiple awards for his writing. He deserves another one for this book.
I plan on continuing reading this series.
This book is one of the Joe Pickett series and is one of the best.
Joe gets shot and nearly dies and his wife, Marybeth, gets a call telling her that something happened to him. At first, you are not sure if he is even alive, but she finds out that he needs to be airlifted out to a hospital for emergency care. Marybeth watches over him at the hospital. Their three children, Sheridan, April, and Lucy, decide to investigate what happened to find out what happened to their dad.
Joe is a game warden in Wyoming. Joe was shot in his pickup truck at a fork in the road. The fork leads in three different directions. Each one has someone who might be responsible for the shooting. Even if they are not involved in the shooting, they are up to their eyeballs in something.
The county where Joe lives and was shot has a new sheriff and deputy. They are unfamiliar with the history of the people and their relationships in the county: some good, some bad. Sheridan offers the sheriff the help of the Pickett women. Sheridan and the sheriff are interested in each other. April works in Montana for Cassie Dewell, a private investigator, and Cassie appears in the story. Cassie has her own series of books.
I have read most of CJ Box’s books and the Joe Pickett series is great. When Marybeth gets the call that Joe has been shot, I cried right along with her.
The story is told from different points of view, including Joe’s as you see the events that led up to the shooting.
The pace of the story is good and the dialogue is realistic. There were some funny lines particularly with the banter between the sisters.
The author obviously did a lot of research on the medical issue facing Joe.
The landscape and weather of Wyoming is a part of the book which I enjoyed. I also enjoyed the descriptions of various animals that live in the area: elk, bear, wolves, and different birds.
CJ Box has won multiple awards for his writing. He deserves another one for this book.
I plan on continuing reading this series.
March 1, 2026
This wasn't one of Box's strongest mysteries but I enjoyed having the Pickett girls take center stage in this mystery. Fun to see them as adults.
March 4, 2026
Great story. Loved how whole family was involved.
March 11, 2026
CJ Box never disappoints! Great storyline again. Can't wait for the next one to come out! Highly recommend this series.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews