What do you think?
Rate this book
Joe Pickett #6
In Plain Sight
When wealthy matriarch Opal Scarlett vanishes, Joe Pickett is sure one of her greedy sons did her in. But when Joe becomes the victim of violent pranks, he wonders if what's happening has less to do with Opal's disappearance than with the darkest chapter of his own past.
306 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 30, 2006
2807 people are currently reading
3675 people want to read
About the author
C.J. Box
111 books7,234 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
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,150 reviews
September 9, 2020
Love the Pickett family and Nate. Book 6 ties back to a character in Winterkill as a lone family member out of town seeks revenge. Meanwhile local ranch matriarch is missing causing her two sons battling for control of the family empire. The river scene was exciting. What a bizarre ending!
October 11, 2025
Another solid entry in the Pickett series. This time shadows from the past threaten to shatter Joe’s family and the life he has built in Twelve Sleep. As before the landscape and location are much a characters as any of the protagonists and antagonists in the story. This is fast becoming one of my favorite series.
April 12, 2022
4.5 Stars for In plain Sight: Joe Pickett Series, Book 6 (audiobook) by C. J. Box read by David Chandler.
Another great adventure for the Wyoming game warden. A criminal is targeting the Pickett family and Joe has a hard time dodging all of the politics while trying to protect his family. This definitely has some interesting twists at the end.
Another great adventure for the Wyoming game warden. A criminal is targeting the Pickett family and Joe has a hard time dodging all of the politics while trying to protect his family. This definitely has some interesting twists at the end.
July 14, 2019
It was a 5 star book all the way until the end. The family taxidermy was a tad too much for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2025
I enjoyed the heightened drama of the many conflicts in this novel like the gathering of dark clouds that meld into one gigantic storm that almost seems larger than life calling for death & destruction for a contentious family. Joe Pickett and his family struggle with teen angst from. their daughter Sheridan who becomes an unwitting witness to the strangeness of the Scarlett family dynamics. Joe Pickett himself cannot extricate himself from the Scarlett family feud as a mysterious man with a hair trigger temper is linked to Pickett and the Scarlett family seeks to get revenge on Pickett while destroying the Scarlett family. Reading this book, made me immediately dive into the next book in the Joe Pickett series. Story line not perfect but It deserves a “5” rating.
November 30, 2020
The ending is not what I expected but it made me want to start the next book in the series faster.
March 27, 2024
What happens when you push a good man too far? He fights back and he fights back hard and dirty, no holds barred. This book was absolutely riveting from Joe's continuing problems with is boss, to the baddie who has Joe and his family in his sights, to what Joe does about it. There are lots of baddies to choose from in this one. The last chapter is just fantastic. Joe has always been Everyman. Just a normal guy going about his job and taking care of his family. But he always managed to end up in the middle of anything nasty going down in Twelve Sleep. This time is no exception.
Opal Scarlett has a reputation in Twelve Sleep and is isn't a nice one. She is mega rich and mean as a rattler. To everyone, especially her family. When she vanishes The Scarlett ranching empire is up for grabs and two of her three sons will do anything to come out on top of this power struggle that threatens to ignite an old-fashioned range war. Joe is drawn into it due to his daughter Sheridan's close friendship with Opal's granddaughter.
But Joe has his own problems with his boss, Randy Pope, and the new incompetent sheriff of Twelve Sleep. His best friend, Nate, has been gone for over six months and Joe is concerned. Also of concern to Joe are the nasty happenings around his home and the feeling he is being watched and targeted.
Opal Scarlett has a reputation in Twelve Sleep and is isn't a nice one. She is mega rich and mean as a rattler. To everyone, especially her family. When she vanishes The Scarlett ranching empire is up for grabs and two of her three sons will do anything to come out on top of this power struggle that threatens to ignite an old-fashioned range war. Joe is drawn into it due to his daughter Sheridan's close friendship with Opal's granddaughter.
But Joe has his own problems with his boss, Randy Pope, and the new incompetent sheriff of Twelve Sleep. His best friend, Nate, has been gone for over six months and Joe is concerned. Also of concern to Joe are the nasty happenings around his home and the feeling he is being watched and targeted.
March 15, 2021
Another great Joe Pickett novel by C.J. Box who is a master of the modern western mystery.
October 12, 2017
Joe Pickett is a Fish and Game Warden in a little town in Wyoming. He is consistently pitted against bad guys, his bitch of a mother-in-law, his bastard of a boss and the jerk of a sheriff in his area. Although Joe isn't the smartest guy in the world, he is straightforward, rational, patient and persistent. C.J. Box, who conjured up our boy Joe, is an exceptional author. Rather than the wilds of Wyoming, his novels could be set in New York, a Caribbean Island or a small city in Japan and they would still play extremely well.
This book centers around the inheritance dispute of two brothers with the prize being the biggest, most profitable ranch in the area if not the state. The characters may seem a bit outlandish to some but not to me. We, in fact, used to have a ranch in Texas which was in close proximity to the famous YO Ranch. Four brothers owned and ran the YO and when the one with brains, balls and a sense of fairness died, chaos, not unlike that of In Plain Sight, ensued, with the result being that two of the remaining brothers wound up behind bars. A ranch that was originally over 600,000 acres, essentially ceased to exist. So, as you might imagine (being the clever person that you are), I found the plot of In Plain Sight well within the bounds of reality.
Even if you are not a hunter or lover of the wilderness, you might wanna pick up a C. J. Box and give it a shot.
This book centers around the inheritance dispute of two brothers with the prize being the biggest, most profitable ranch in the area if not the state. The characters may seem a bit outlandish to some but not to me. We, in fact, used to have a ranch in Texas which was in close proximity to the famous YO Ranch. Four brothers owned and ran the YO and when the one with brains, balls and a sense of fairness died, chaos, not unlike that of In Plain Sight, ensued, with the result being that two of the remaining brothers wound up behind bars. A ranch that was originally over 600,000 acres, essentially ceased to exist. So, as you might imagine (being the clever person that you are), I found the plot of In Plain Sight well within the bounds of reality.
Even if you are not a hunter or lover of the wilderness, you might wanna pick up a C. J. Box and give it a shot.
June 23, 2025
Simon and I took turns to read this aloud as an audiobook version was not available through our library. This was a most enjoyable experience. As usual, there is a lot going on and Joe is in the thick of it.
I got a chuckle when Simon referred to Missy Vankueren-Longbrake as the mother-in-law from hell! She does seem to have it in for Joe Pickett and her snide remarks are poisonous.
C.J. Box has a knack for writing characters and describing their emotions. I especially love the relationship between Joe and his wife Marybeth. It seems a pretty authentic husband/wife partnership to me and I am often moved by their love and loyalty for one another through all kinds of challenges.
I also love the author's descriptive language. For example: "Drizzle flowed softly through the leaves of the trees and running water sang through the downspouts of the house."
Quotes that truly moved me:
"Their tight little family was the only thing that anchored him to earth, the only constant. A breach could tear them apart and unmoor him to a degree he didn't even want to imagine."
"She stepped back from the window and turned to Lucy, beaming. Everything was suddenly right with the world. 'Dad's here,' she said."
I got a chuckle when Simon referred to Missy Vankueren-Longbrake as the mother-in-law from hell! She does seem to have it in for Joe Pickett and her snide remarks are poisonous.
C.J. Box has a knack for writing characters and describing their emotions. I especially love the relationship between Joe and his wife Marybeth. It seems a pretty authentic husband/wife partnership to me and I am often moved by their love and loyalty for one another through all kinds of challenges.
I also love the author's descriptive language. For example: "Drizzle flowed softly through the leaves of the trees and running water sang through the downspouts of the house."
Quotes that truly moved me:
"Their tight little family was the only thing that anchored him to earth, the only constant. A breach could tear them apart and unmoor him to a degree he didn't even want to imagine."
"She stepped back from the window and turned to Lucy, beaming. Everything was suddenly right with the world. 'Dad's here,' she said."
December 15, 2018
I don't like reading series out of order, and this is number 6, but sometimes the book in the hand is worth two that you have to pay for, if it prevents me from buying something I'm not going to like. This came from book club and has been on the shelf for ages, and was another picked because no one would care if it took a dunking. Having read a lot of British fiction recently, I was ready for something different, so liked the idea of something set in beautiful rural USA, but this was not an enjoyable read for me.
Joe Pickett is a game warden in a small Wyoming town. He's had a lot of run-ins with various authorities for his cowboy way of handling problems. His new boss is micro-managing him and the sheriff hates him. When the feud between two sons from a prominent local family erupts, a sinister stranger on a quest for vengeance plays them off against each other to get to Joe.
I may have liked this better for knowing the characters, as lots of previous incidents are referenced, but the enormous amount of animal cruelty and casual violence was really off-putting. Joe was a disappointing hero - he keeps recognising clues but is too dim to see the truth, instead just sulking about how hard done by he is. The mystery became a bit of an afterthought and the ending was pretty abrupt. I do have the next book but doubt I'll bother with it.
Joe Pickett is a game warden in a small Wyoming town. He's had a lot of run-ins with various authorities for his cowboy way of handling problems. His new boss is micro-managing him and the sheriff hates him. When the feud between two sons from a prominent local family erupts, a sinister stranger on a quest for vengeance plays them off against each other to get to Joe.
I may have liked this better for knowing the characters, as lots of previous incidents are referenced, but the enormous amount of animal cruelty and casual violence was really off-putting. Joe was a disappointing hero - he keeps recognising clues but is too dim to see the truth, instead just sulking about how hard done by he is. The mystery became a bit of an afterthought and the ending was pretty abrupt. I do have the next book but doubt I'll bother with it.
March 8, 2015
This is the sixth book in the Joe Pickett series and it was definitely up to par with the preceding 5 books. This is one of my favorite series taking place in Wyoming with Joe Pickett, a State Fish and Game warden as the protagonist. In this one, a very bad member of the Keeley family is out to get his revenge on Joe for what he perceived as Joe's implication in the death of his brother and daughter. These events took place in the previous novels Open Range and Winterkill, both excellent reads. In addition, the novel tells the story of the Scarlett family, a long-time founding family of the county, and how the two older brothers are fighting for control of the family ranch and fortune after the mother vanishes. Towards the end of the novel, Joe is reunited with Nate Romanowski, who had disappeared in the prior book, Out of Range, after being accused of some homicides. Nate is one of my favorite characters in this series so hope he will play a bigger role in future stories. Overall, this was another action-packed page-turner from Box and I would highly recommend it.
May 16, 2013
This was the best paced of the Box books I've read. It sped along. Thoroughly enjoyable. Outstanding. Really want to read the next in the series.
April 2, 2023
In C.J. Box’s sixth Joe Pickett novel - “In Plain Sight” - the game warden in the county of Twelve Sleep, Wyoming, is facing a serious challenge. Opal Scarlett, a local land and ranch owner has disappeared under mysterious and suspicious circumstances. Opal is not just any town member. She is the remaining matriarch of the town’s founding father’s family, heads a multi-million-dollar empire, and is a key member in almost every key town and county committees.
What makes matter worse is that her vanishing has created a “Yellowstone” type personal war among her three sons for control of the family business. The two oldest brothers already hate each with a passion so strong that they have split the ranch in two and neither crosses over into the other’s space. Now, with their mother gone, they are going to war, and no attack – political or physical - is too low.
As the Scarlett brothers war takes over the local town, it not only affects Joe’s job and thrusting him in the middle of the chaos, is also negatively impacts his wife’s bookkeeping and tax business, and his daughter’s close friendship with one of the brother’s daughters.
As if that wasn’t enough, Joe has enemies closing in all around him. The FBI is continually questioning him about Nate Romanowski’s disappearance, finding it hard to believe that he hasn’t heard from his deadly friend. His boss, Randy Pope, has been promoted and made it his mission to either drive Joe out of his Game Warden job or fire him, whichever comes first. In addition, someone from Joe’s past has come to town with a serious grudge against him and his family. Someone that looks familiar to Joe, but he just can’t quite place him... But if he doesn’t remember him soon, it may be too late for him and each of his family members…
As I described in my review of the previous book in this series, Box has started incorporating multiple storylines into these books. There is definitely no lacking of plotting and character activities going on, which I am liking a lot. Joe’s role is strengthened by having his family and other county characters spending lead time on the stage. He’s balanced by Marybeth and Sheridan’s independent development and growth, as well as Nate’s in and out appearances. It’s great to have that rebel buddy to deal with the bad stuff that we want our hero to refrain from on an ethical level.
Because of those multiple storylines and how they interconnected to the primary mystery surrounding Opal’s disappearance and her sons feud, it made for fun and exciting reading. Some of my favorite mystery series include the ongoing development of primary and secondary characters being played out against the big murder mystery driving the overall storyline. For me, Box really uses this approach like a master chef to really map out some great storylines that make for some really entertaining reading.
Having a stable of ongoing characters is great. I love watching Sheridan grow into a young teenager, with a stubbornness that rivals her father. I am very intrigued with Nate, his violent tendencies and secretive background. He reminds me so much of Robert B. Parker’s character of Hawk, who serves as Spenser’s great partner and friend. It would be so nice to have that that kind of compadre who can do the dirty work without feeling guilt or regret. I can’t wait to see how Nate’s backstory continues to be peeled away layer by layer while the influence of Joe’s family gives him a stability that he’s never had.
There were several things that I liked about this book and the development of Joe Pickett, his family, and the town’s other characters. It starts with Box’s simple and straight-forward writing style. The storylines moved along at a smooth and steady pace. I never lost in interest while reading and was personally invested in the outcomes of both the characters and the mystery. The plot was set-up well, the characters were interesting, and I found myself appreciating his storytelling skills. The plotlines were creative, interesting, and well-delivered. The ending had a strong buildup that delivered a winning and emotional climax.
Overall, this was another 4-star rating for me, which seems to be a repetitive statement for me. I have given all of the first six books in the series no lower than a 4-star rating, and for good reason. I hope you consider taking a chance on reading this series if you haven’t already. It is worth it. Entertaining mystery at its best and I cannot wait to start reading the next one in the series.
What makes matter worse is that her vanishing has created a “Yellowstone” type personal war among her three sons for control of the family business. The two oldest brothers already hate each with a passion so strong that they have split the ranch in two and neither crosses over into the other’s space. Now, with their mother gone, they are going to war, and no attack – political or physical - is too low.
As the Scarlett brothers war takes over the local town, it not only affects Joe’s job and thrusting him in the middle of the chaos, is also negatively impacts his wife’s bookkeeping and tax business, and his daughter’s close friendship with one of the brother’s daughters.
As if that wasn’t enough, Joe has enemies closing in all around him. The FBI is continually questioning him about Nate Romanowski’s disappearance, finding it hard to believe that he hasn’t heard from his deadly friend. His boss, Randy Pope, has been promoted and made it his mission to either drive Joe out of his Game Warden job or fire him, whichever comes first. In addition, someone from Joe’s past has come to town with a serious grudge against him and his family. Someone that looks familiar to Joe, but he just can’t quite place him... But if he doesn’t remember him soon, it may be too late for him and each of his family members…
As I described in my review of the previous book in this series, Box has started incorporating multiple storylines into these books. There is definitely no lacking of plotting and character activities going on, which I am liking a lot. Joe’s role is strengthened by having his family and other county characters spending lead time on the stage. He’s balanced by Marybeth and Sheridan’s independent development and growth, as well as Nate’s in and out appearances. It’s great to have that rebel buddy to deal with the bad stuff that we want our hero to refrain from on an ethical level.
Because of those multiple storylines and how they interconnected to the primary mystery surrounding Opal’s disappearance and her sons feud, it made for fun and exciting reading. Some of my favorite mystery series include the ongoing development of primary and secondary characters being played out against the big murder mystery driving the overall storyline. For me, Box really uses this approach like a master chef to really map out some great storylines that make for some really entertaining reading.
Having a stable of ongoing characters is great. I love watching Sheridan grow into a young teenager, with a stubbornness that rivals her father. I am very intrigued with Nate, his violent tendencies and secretive background. He reminds me so much of Robert B. Parker’s character of Hawk, who serves as Spenser’s great partner and friend. It would be so nice to have that that kind of compadre who can do the dirty work without feeling guilt or regret. I can’t wait to see how Nate’s backstory continues to be peeled away layer by layer while the influence of Joe’s family gives him a stability that he’s never had.
There were several things that I liked about this book and the development of Joe Pickett, his family, and the town’s other characters. It starts with Box’s simple and straight-forward writing style. The storylines moved along at a smooth and steady pace. I never lost in interest while reading and was personally invested in the outcomes of both the characters and the mystery. The plot was set-up well, the characters were interesting, and I found myself appreciating his storytelling skills. The plotlines were creative, interesting, and well-delivered. The ending had a strong buildup that delivered a winning and emotional climax.
Overall, this was another 4-star rating for me, which seems to be a repetitive statement for me. I have given all of the first six books in the series no lower than a 4-star rating, and for good reason. I hope you consider taking a chance on reading this series if you haven’t already. It is worth it. Entertaining mystery at its best and I cannot wait to start reading the next one in the series.
September 20, 2017
And now for something completely different - a western mystery.
It has been three years since I last read one of C.J. Box's Joe Pickett mysteries, so it was time for me to check in once again on the Saddlestring, Wyoming game warden and his family. This is the sixth book in the series and here's a caveat for potential readers: Don't read this book until you've read the previous five; you will be lost.
Joe is still the game warden in Twelve Sleep County but that's one of the few constants in this story. The old sheriff of the county, Joe's nemesis, is gone. There is a new sheriff in town and he has quickly become another Pickett nemesis, mainly because he seems incapable of caring about or upholding the law.
Joe's old supervisor, who had helped shield him from some of the bureaucratic minutiae and infighting that he hates, is gone. There's a new head of his department who has taken over the direct supervision of his Twelve Sleep game warden, with an eye to "getting the goods" on him so he can finally push him out.
His friend and ally, Nate Romanowski, is out of the picture - at least at the beginning of the book. Various law enforcement agencies are looking for him, especially the FBI. Joe doesn't know his whereabouts and hasn't heard from him, but before Nate absconded, Joe had promised to feed his hawks and he still honors that promise.
Joe's wife, Marybeth, has started a successful accounting business, which is a good thing because Joe's job doesn't pay much. Their two daughters are growing up and Marybeth is saving for their college education.
In Plain Sight finds Twelve Sleep County in turmoil because the matriarch of the most powerful family in the county, the Scarletts, has gone missing. Opal Scarlett had spent her life setting her sons against each other and now the two older of them are at war over who will control the vast family ranch holdings. The prevailing opinion regarding Opal's disappearance is that one or the other of her sons has killed her and disposed of the body, but the local sheriff doesn't seem to be too eager to investigate.
Meanwhile, a ghost from Pickett's past (which is why you need to read those earlier books) is stalking the family. A series of violent acts involving the killing of wild animals Joe is sworn to protect and leaving the carcasses on or near their house is distressing to the family. Joe searches his memory to try to think who would do such a thing, but he doesn't have a clue.
Box does a good job of describing the Wyoming landscape and the isolation of the inhabitants. His Joe Pickett is a multifaceted character. He first presents as a rather bumbling, ineffective upholder of the law, but there is more there than meets the eye and, as one of the other characters opines, it is dangerous to underestimate him.
The plot moved along at a good pace which kept me turning the pages. There's not a lot of nuance in the characters; they are either good or evil. On the whole, I found this to be an interesting reunion with the Picketts and the ending of the book left me wondering what's going to happen next, so I don't think it will be another three years before I pick up the next one.
It has been three years since I last read one of C.J. Box's Joe Pickett mysteries, so it was time for me to check in once again on the Saddlestring, Wyoming game warden and his family. This is the sixth book in the series and here's a caveat for potential readers: Don't read this book until you've read the previous five; you will be lost.
Joe is still the game warden in Twelve Sleep County but that's one of the few constants in this story. The old sheriff of the county, Joe's nemesis, is gone. There is a new sheriff in town and he has quickly become another Pickett nemesis, mainly because he seems incapable of caring about or upholding the law.
Joe's old supervisor, who had helped shield him from some of the bureaucratic minutiae and infighting that he hates, is gone. There's a new head of his department who has taken over the direct supervision of his Twelve Sleep game warden, with an eye to "getting the goods" on him so he can finally push him out.
His friend and ally, Nate Romanowski, is out of the picture - at least at the beginning of the book. Various law enforcement agencies are looking for him, especially the FBI. Joe doesn't know his whereabouts and hasn't heard from him, but before Nate absconded, Joe had promised to feed his hawks and he still honors that promise.
Joe's wife, Marybeth, has started a successful accounting business, which is a good thing because Joe's job doesn't pay much. Their two daughters are growing up and Marybeth is saving for their college education.
In Plain Sight finds Twelve Sleep County in turmoil because the matriarch of the most powerful family in the county, the Scarletts, has gone missing. Opal Scarlett had spent her life setting her sons against each other and now the two older of them are at war over who will control the vast family ranch holdings. The prevailing opinion regarding Opal's disappearance is that one or the other of her sons has killed her and disposed of the body, but the local sheriff doesn't seem to be too eager to investigate.
Meanwhile, a ghost from Pickett's past (which is why you need to read those earlier books) is stalking the family. A series of violent acts involving the killing of wild animals Joe is sworn to protect and leaving the carcasses on or near their house is distressing to the family. Joe searches his memory to try to think who would do such a thing, but he doesn't have a clue.
Box does a good job of describing the Wyoming landscape and the isolation of the inhabitants. His Joe Pickett is a multifaceted character. He first presents as a rather bumbling, ineffective upholder of the law, but there is more there than meets the eye and, as one of the other characters opines, it is dangerous to underestimate him.
The plot moved along at a good pace which kept me turning the pages. There's not a lot of nuance in the characters; they are either good or evil. On the whole, I found this to be an interesting reunion with the Picketts and the ending of the book left me wondering what's going to happen next, so I don't think it will be another three years before I pick up the next one.
September 14, 2021
3.5 Stars
In the sixth book in the series Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett is dealing with multiple issues. Opal Scarlett, matriarch and owner of the Thunderhead Ranch, has disappeared. Her sons are feuding over who will control the ranch. His boss, Randy Pope, has it in for Joe and is doing everything and anything he can to force Joe out. And an ex-con with a connection to Joe's past (read Winterkill) is out for revenge. To make matters worse the sheriff is useless.
Fans of the series know that while Joe may not be the smartest protagonist in fiction series he is honest, dedicated, hardworking and loves his family. He is not going to get rich working as a game warden and their house, provided by the government, is small. To help out his wife, Marybeth, has started her own accounting business and is doing quite well. Better than Joe financially as his mother-in-law often reminds him.
The Pickett's are drawn into the feud between Opal's sons because their daughter, Sheridan, is best friends with Julie Scarlett. Also, both Arlen and Hank Scarlett want to hire Marybeth to do the accounting on the Thunderhead Ranch. She can only work for one and whichever choice she makes she is sure to alienate the other. A no win situation. The whole town seems to be in the same situation. Choosing sides.
In the midst of all of this there are attacks against Joe and his family that are escalating. The sheriff is useless and his boss is micromanaging everything preventing him from doing anything to investigate. As mentioned, Joe is decent and believes in the law but when his family is put in danger what will he do to protect them?
This was an enjoyable read. Not the best book in the series but still good. I would recommend reading earlier books, at least Winterkill to have a better understanding of the events taking place in this story. The ending was a bit wild but left me looking forward to reading the next book, Free Fire.
In the sixth book in the series Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett is dealing with multiple issues. Opal Scarlett, matriarch and owner of the Thunderhead Ranch, has disappeared. Her sons are feuding over who will control the ranch. His boss, Randy Pope, has it in for Joe and is doing everything and anything he can to force Joe out. And an ex-con with a connection to Joe's past (read Winterkill) is out for revenge. To make matters worse the sheriff is useless.
Fans of the series know that while Joe may not be the smartest protagonist in fiction series he is honest, dedicated, hardworking and loves his family. He is not going to get rich working as a game warden and their house, provided by the government, is small. To help out his wife, Marybeth, has started her own accounting business and is doing quite well. Better than Joe financially as his mother-in-law often reminds him.
The Pickett's are drawn into the feud between Opal's sons because their daughter, Sheridan, is best friends with Julie Scarlett. Also, both Arlen and Hank Scarlett want to hire Marybeth to do the accounting on the Thunderhead Ranch. She can only work for one and whichever choice she makes she is sure to alienate the other. A no win situation. The whole town seems to be in the same situation. Choosing sides.
In the midst of all of this there are attacks against Joe and his family that are escalating. The sheriff is useless and his boss is micromanaging everything preventing him from doing anything to investigate. As mentioned, Joe is decent and believes in the law but when his family is put in danger what will he do to protect them?
This was an enjoyable read. Not the best book in the series but still good. I would recommend reading earlier books, at least Winterkill to have a better understanding of the events taking place in this story. The ending was a bit wild but left me looking forward to reading the next book, Free Fire.
June 23, 2021
Another solid Pickett book, first novel for me AN. Nina puppy kept me from reading it in a couple days, instead it took a couple weeks. It was certainly worth it though. Joe had an evil enemy in this one even though the ending was a little anticlimactic. Even though it was a sort of bridge story, tying things up, there is plenty left to explain. The next one should be something.
August 14, 2007
IN PLAIN SIGHT (Licensed Investigator-Wyoming-Cont) – Ex
Box, C.J. – 6th in series
G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2006- Hardcover
***Wyoming Game warden Joe Picket reports to a man with whom he does not get along in a town whose sheriff likes having the persona of a “Western Lawman” without having to bother with enforcing the law. The power in the town is the Scarlett family and matriarch Opal Scarlett is missing leaving the two of the sons literally fighting over ownership of the ranch and the town members forced to take sides. The greater threat is J.W. Keeley who blames Picket for the death of his brother, sister-in-law and daughter, and Keeley is out for revenge.
*** This is a story of conflict on multiple levels and is superbly done. It’s not just the conflict of the good guy against the bad guy, but Joe against his boss, doing what is right versus what is expedient, being who he is versus who others might like him to be, doing what is just versus what is legal. Even in the story, a character is advised not to underestimate Joe and that is exactly the way Box has conveyed him; as someone who is not powerful or successful, but rock solid and dependable as time. In addition to strong characters, Box creates excellent sense of place and knows how to build suspense. For me, this was an excellent book in a series I recommend reading in order.
Box, C.J. – 6th in series
G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2006- Hardcover
***Wyoming Game warden Joe Picket reports to a man with whom he does not get along in a town whose sheriff likes having the persona of a “Western Lawman” without having to bother with enforcing the law. The power in the town is the Scarlett family and matriarch Opal Scarlett is missing leaving the two of the sons literally fighting over ownership of the ranch and the town members forced to take sides. The greater threat is J.W. Keeley who blames Picket for the death of his brother, sister-in-law and daughter, and Keeley is out for revenge.
*** This is a story of conflict on multiple levels and is superbly done. It’s not just the conflict of the good guy against the bad guy, but Joe against his boss, doing what is right versus what is expedient, being who he is versus who others might like him to be, doing what is just versus what is legal. Even in the story, a character is advised not to underestimate Joe and that is exactly the way Box has conveyed him; as someone who is not powerful or successful, but rock solid and dependable as time. In addition to strong characters, Box creates excellent sense of place and knows how to build suspense. For me, this was an excellent book in a series I recommend reading in order.
March 23, 2018
In Plain Sight!!! Wow, wow, another Amazing book by CJ Box. I’m so glad he has written lots of books because this reader is HOOKED!!
Joe Pickett is about to have the past come back and haunt him and his family. This one is not for the faint of heart.
If you have not read this author and you love the great outdoors, intrigue, and solving a murder, sometimes multiple murders... well here’s an author who will satisfy all that.
Joe Pickett is about to have the past come back and haunt him and his family. This one is not for the faint of heart.
If you have not read this author and you love the great outdoors, intrigue, and solving a murder, sometimes multiple murders... well here’s an author who will satisfy all that.
December 7, 2023
This sixth instalment of C.J.Box’s neo-western crime drama Joe Pickett series was another fairly solid one.
Joe was back in his usual location of Saddlestring in this one but life was as complicated as ever. In town a massive power struggle ensues between Arlen and Hank Scarlet after their mother goes missing. They are the most powerful family in the region and the power struggle surrounding the inheritance between the two brothers causes issues for everyone in the region! On top of that Joe has to deal with crazed figure with ties to his past that is hellbent on vengeance against Joe.
It was an entertaining read. Plenty of mystery, a bit of action, and fairly high on the tension in this instalment as Joe fought to save both his job and safeguard his family.
The other notable thing was the fact that the main villain in this one was probably the most menacing one yet for the series.
Rating: 3.5 stars.
Audio Note: David Chandler did OK with the audio version. Struggled a bit with the female voices but was fine with everything else.
Joe was back in his usual location of Saddlestring in this one but life was as complicated as ever. In town a massive power struggle ensues between Arlen and Hank Scarlet after their mother goes missing. They are the most powerful family in the region and the power struggle surrounding the inheritance between the two brothers causes issues for everyone in the region! On top of that Joe has to deal with crazed figure with ties to his past that is hellbent on vengeance against Joe.
It was an entertaining read. Plenty of mystery, a bit of action, and fairly high on the tension in this instalment as Joe fought to save both his job and safeguard his family.
The other notable thing was the fact that the main villain in this one was probably the most menacing one yet for the series.
Rating: 3.5 stars.
Audio Note: David Chandler did OK with the audio version. Struggled a bit with the female voices but was fine with everything else.
July 6, 2016
I'd heard a lot of good things about Box & thought I'd try one of his novels, but I couldn't finish it. I tried. I've been trying for over a month. The narrator could put a rat on crack to sleep & the story itself just isn't all that good. Possibly if I'd started from the first book in the series I would have had some investment in the hero, but I didn't have much. I liked him OK & felt for him to a certain point, but that was about it. All the rest of the characters were caricatures. The bad ones had no redeeming features & there were a couple that should have.
If this had been a real book, I could have skimmed & might have at least finished it. Since it's an audio book & I'm forced to listen to every sentence, I just couldn't take it any more.
If this had been a real book, I could have skimmed & might have at least finished it. Since it's an audio book & I'm forced to listen to every sentence, I just couldn't take it any more.
January 5, 2025
What started out as a humdrum premise sure turned into a whoa of a climax!
Opal Scarlett's Thunderhead Ranch has long been the beating heart of Twelve Sleep County, Wyoming. When the mean-spirited matriarch goes missing and nobody can find her will, two of her three adult sons come to blows over control of the sprawling property. Meanwhile, Joe Pickett's family is menaced by someone leaving dead animals outside their door, making the girls more and more scared. Trusted friend Nate Romanowski's whereabouts are unknown, so even though Joe's busy investigating Opal's disappearance, it's up to him to keep his family safe, too.
The pace was a bit slow until we started heading into the climax - too late to keep this book from getting more than 3 stars. Hopefully the pacing will be better in Free Fire.
Opal Scarlett's Thunderhead Ranch has long been the beating heart of Twelve Sleep County, Wyoming. When the mean-spirited matriarch goes missing and nobody can find her will, two of her three adult sons come to blows over control of the sprawling property. Meanwhile, Joe Pickett's family is menaced by someone leaving dead animals outside their door, making the girls more and more scared. Trusted friend Nate Romanowski's whereabouts are unknown, so even though Joe's busy investigating Opal's disappearance, it's up to him to keep his family safe, too.
The pace was a bit slow until we started heading into the climax - too late to keep this book from getting more than 3 stars. Hopefully the pacing will be better in Free Fire.
March 21, 2021
This book is all about someone after Joe Pickett for something he did not do several years past. You need to have read the previous books in the series to get the most out of this book. Joe and his family survive, but he has lost his job - so will see what happens next in the next book.
June 24, 2025
I felt a lot more disconnected from everyone than normal. I don't know if it was me or the book, but I was struggling to care about the events, and I didn't feel that way with book 5, which I finished less than two weeks ago.
The town is split in two in a political and personal fight, and it gets tedious AF.
Marital problems, while real, are never super fun to read about. Nothing pisses me off more than some man who feels immasculated by a woman making more money than him. It's for both of you, dumbAss
There was woefully little actual game wardening, and Opal is such a nasty character that it's hard to care what happened.
2.5-3 Stars
The town is split in two in a political and personal fight, and it gets tedious AF.
Marital problems, while real, are never super fun to read about. Nothing pisses me off more than some man who feels immasculated by a woman making more money than him. It's for both of you, dumbAss
There was woefully little actual game wardening, and Opal is such a nasty character that it's hard to care what happened.
2.5-3 Stars
October 17, 2022
Love the series and the character and as a result, I'm in the midst of a number of rereads...Definitely, it's the struggle of our "black and white" Joe Pickett living in a gray world...constantly tested by his rigid standards in the face of the realities...In this one Pickett and his family are beset on all sides...by officialdom, a revenge seeker and local powerful forces of a family that could rival Hamlet...Great stuff, but we are left hanging...I'm ready for more reads!!!
November 15, 2021
While this was a good book I didn't feel that it was as great as the others in the series.
This book was well weird to say the least. One thing I loved is that Nate is back and not before time.
I will continue with this series as I do love Joe and the other character, I am just hoping that things get back to normal.
This book was well weird to say the least. One thing I loved is that Nate is back and not before time.
I will continue with this series as I do love Joe and the other character, I am just hoping that things get back to normal.
September 21, 2022
Very good! Even if those books are always kind of similar (had to be honest) I enjoy reading them and following Joe Pickett on his adventure. I think this might be my favorite so far. The story being a bit more personal and focus on Joe made it very interesting for me and the last part had a good level of intensity!
July 30, 2025
I've read more than a few books by this author. This particular series I haven't really had a chance to read them in order. Sometimes that is annoying, but for the most part, it works out just fine.
This is book #6 in the Joe Pickett series and I'm still not bored. Each installment brings something new to the table. The twists are unexpected and quirky at times and this keeps the pace moving. I'm always pulled in.
The author does a great job of evolving the characters over time. And a perk is that the author isn't afraid to make the hard choices when to comes to his characters and sticky situations. He also doesn't seem to to mind killing one off here and there either.
The real plus with this series is the MC. He doesn't tolerate stupidity. He often takes a stand when it matters, even if things don't always go his way. He has flawed determination which might he an asset when it comes to keeping things interesting.
Overall, a solid and enjoyable read. 4 stars for me.
This is book #6 in the Joe Pickett series and I'm still not bored. Each installment brings something new to the table. The twists are unexpected and quirky at times and this keeps the pace moving. I'm always pulled in.
The author does a great job of evolving the characters over time. And a perk is that the author isn't afraid to make the hard choices when to comes to his characters and sticky situations. He also doesn't seem to to mind killing one off here and there either.
The real plus with this series is the MC. He doesn't tolerate stupidity. He often takes a stand when it matters, even if things don't always go his way. He has flawed determination which might he an asset when it comes to keeping things interesting.
Overall, a solid and enjoyable read. 4 stars for me.
January 7, 2024
CJ Box is certainly a gifted author. He makes us care about Joe and his family and go through the trials that they face. It’s nice to see Nate back but I wonder how long that will last. And what is next for Joe. It’s worrisome that he has crossed a line but it’s hard not to think he did the right thing. Justice and morals, right and wrong, evil and the greater good are all themes in this series. Sure are some evil people in Joe’s world. Looking forward to see what is next but I think I need something a little fluffier first.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 13, 2022
A sound product of what the series is about. If this was a readers first exposure to Pickett, they would be treated well. A minor critic from me is that Box doesn't stay in the "climatic act" long. I am sure that is intentional, but not sure why. Perhaps to not want to alienate a fan segment?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,150 reviews