Stone Cold

Joe Pickett #14

by C.J. Box

The electrifying new Joe Pickett novel from the New York Times–bestselling author.
 
Everything about the man is a mystery: the massive ranch in the remote Black Hills of Wyoming that nobody ever visits, the women who live with him, the secret philanthropies, the private airstrip, the sudden disappearances. And especially the persistent rumors that the man’s wealth comes from killing people.

Joe Pickett, still officially a game warden but now mostly a troubleshooter for the governor, is assigned to find out what the truth is, but he discovers a lot more than he’d bargained for. There are two other men living up at that ranch. One is a stone-cold killer who takes an instant dislike to Joe. The other is new—but Joe knows him all too well. The first man doesn’t frighten Joe. The second is another story entirely.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Westerns, Crime, Suspense, Audiobook

384 pages, Paperback

First published March 11, 2014

About the author

C. 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

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this series and eagerly lapped this one up. Joe Pickett is a Wyoming game warden with a bit of the Boy Scout in his morality, dogged in his persistence over not letting people’s bad behavior pass unchecked. He has a talent in stumbling across nefarious schemes and crimes by the greedy and corrupt forces of the world, usually having to do with exploiting natural resources. Fortunately, he has some human weaknesses. He takes special delight in making sure that bureaucrats and petty dictators that get in his way get some form of comeuppance, and when his back is to the wall, he shows a willingness to achieve alternative forms of justice.

In the tale here, the governor tasks him to work undercover in a remote county in his game warden role while scoping out leads on a murder-for-hire operation. The whole town seems to be in the thrall of a wealthy ex-Wall Street broker who has set up shop, either as recipients of his philanthropy or as their employer at a tourist lodge and game processing plant serving hunters. The thrill factor escalates when his cover is blown and a snowstorm cuts off prospects of retreat or reinforcements. At the same time, he is tormented by worry that his daughter at the University of Wyoming may be in danger from a potential school shooter situation.

I enjoy the pervasive context of the beauty and dangers of natural environment of the Wyoming setting of these stories. The warmth of Pickett’s humor and family life add to their charm and to the engaging foundation of his character. The implausibility of some of the plot turns in this one kept it from being a favorite in the series. Also, I had some trouble accepting how far his friend Nate travelled to the dark side in this story. As a reclusive and laconic ex-Special Forces man with a passion for falconry, he has always been a creative variant on the common device in mystery series of having the hero rely on a buddy to cross lines of legality when dealing with really dangerous bad guys (e.g. Parker’s Hawk, Crais’ Joe Pike, and Burke’s Clete Purcell). I was shocked at the lines he crossed here, but I can see how Box has a mission to shake up his readers and make them think over the morality of vigilante justice.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pickett. I just don't tire of the guy. The ending stretched things a bit, but still...good stuff.

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fish and game warden Joe Pickett is back working at the discretion of the Wyoming governor in this 14th episode of the series. He is sent to remote northeast WY in the Black Hills to investigate a rancher/entrepreneur who has bought up most of the surrounding county, who may be involved in criminal activity, including murder for hire. Joe is chagrined to learn that his erstwhile best friend Nate Romanowski is somehow involved in all of this.

[Patricia Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy all books I have read by C.J. Box. This was a good one but it took me a long time to read. There was a lot going on and it took a while to tie it altogether. Lots of characters and more than on situation. I like the characters especially main one, the game warden. Always very good. LIke I say, I liked this book a lot. I liked the story and the characters but thought it was pretty complicated.

[Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars for Stone Cold: Joe Pickett, Book 14 (audiobook) by C. J. Box read by David Chandler.

The governor has tasked Joe Pickett with investigating a wealthy man whose money may have been earned as a gun for hire. And Nate Romanowski may have crossed the line this time, as Joe uncovers who all is involved.

[✨Susan✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series, the writing is fantastic and the characters are great.

Game Warden Joe Pickett is asked by the Govenor, (off the record), to go to a small Wyoming town to Investigate the mysterious death of his undercover representative. The representative was originally sent in to find out, just why, a millionaire mogul would build a ranch in the middle of nowhere. Joe uses his status as a neighboring Game Warden as a ruse that he is there to observe and report on their local Game Warden. Immediately upon his arrival he finds out that almost everyone in the town is either indebted to, or on the payroll of the millionaire rancher, including the town Sheriff and Judge. As he digs deeper he is disappointed to find that his friend and ex special ops., Jake, is somehow wrapped up in whatever is going on. With little help from anyone in town and time restricted by the Governors office, Joe must execute his complicated plan with precision and perfect timing, in order to come out of it alive.

Needless to say when things don't go just right, chaos ensues, and all heck breaks loose. This was a fast paced story with a few clever twists that made it hard to put down. David Chandler did an excellent job narrating. I love when I can't wait to get back to a book. The Joe Pickett series is among my favorites.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Joe Pickett novel - I think that C.J. Box just keeping better!

This book had just the right amount of references to previous novels to keep a long time reader like myself entertained along with enough new for it to not seem stale. While I do think readers would get more from this book if they read the series in order, I think a reader new to Box could pick this up and be satisfied!

If you want some good mysteries - and you want things to get western - check out C.J. Box!

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Has Nate Romanowski crossed the line? The ending of Breaking Point leaves the reader wondering. The story opens with Nate apparently on a mission. The mission itself is pretty clear but who is he working for? That is what the reader is left wondering.

The story then shifts to Wyoming Game Warden Joe Pickett. At the end of Breaking Point he had quit his job. But he has three daughters, one of which is in college, and the other two expected to follow soon. His wife's business venture fell through and she works part time at the library. There are bills that have to be paid so Joe is back as game warden in Saddlestring with a raise. Thanks to the Governor. Now the Governor wants Joe to investigate a millionaire and a ranch he built in a remote corner of Wyoming. The first investigator died in an "accidental" fire so Joe is not to get involved or draw attention to himself. As Joe Friday used to say in "Dragnet" ... "Just the facts".

But trouble has a way of finding Joe and he always seems to draw attention to himself. When he arrives he discovers that everyone seems to love and is beholden to the millionaire philanthropist. Joe starts to wonder about the local game warden, the Sheriff, and judge. Joe runs afoul of others too. So much for just gathering facts and not drawing attention to himself.

Wyoming may be the 10th largest state by area and the least populous but somehow Joe and Nate manage to cross paths and Joe's mother-in-law, Missy, shows up. Not very believable and not the best in the series but still engaging. Lots of action. There are more books in the series so obviously Joe survives but sometimes you are left wondering how he is going to get out of the predicament he finds himself in. And what happens next? The ending provides a hint. I am looking forward to reading Endangered to find out.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

#14 in the Joe Pickett series is another winner

I am a C.J. Box fan and have been since his first Joe Pickett story Open Season. I have read all of this series and all of his stand-alone books too. This book is definitely a series book, NOT a stand-alone. You could enjoy it if you've not read the other Joe Pickett offerings but why cheat yourself out of the pleasure of reading the others?

"Stone Cold" has all the best qualities that have made me love his other books - non-stop action, a protagonist that is easy to identify with, a gorgeous setting in my beloved Wyoming.

Joe Pickett is still working as a Wyoming game warden but also is troubleshooting for the Governor. He goes into the Black Hill country of Wyoming in this tale, trying to find out the worst about a wealthy landowner/philanthropist. And his troubles start almost immediately.

As always, Joe tries to juggle work with his home life and two of his daughters have side tales of their own in the book.

If you enjoy suspense, mysteries, books about Wyoming, or just an exciting well-written story, you won't go wrong with this or any of author Box's books.

NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Rex Fuller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is okay but not among Box's best. It stays true to Joe Pickett's honest-to-goodness effort against criminals and bureaucracy alike and Nate Romanowski's cold-bloodedness. And there are interesting surprises. But the daughter Sheridan's predicament is not integrated into the main story the way it should be and Box normally does it.

[Chuck Karas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always have to read CJ Box books very quickly because I so want to get Joe Pickett out of whatever terrible trouble he's gotten into this time. (And if that's a spoiler, you haven't read any of the other books in this series!) in this book Joe, a Wyoming State Game Warden and sometime associate of Governor Rulon, is sent by the FBI to the eastern part of the state. His ostensible goal is to deliver a load of ring-neck pheasants to supplement the local population depleted by a harsh winter and help the local warden set up some walk-in hunting areas for the public on private land. His real assignment is to look into a mysterious rich guy who has bought up most of the area and, as it turns out, supports most of its people. The mayhem begins immediately, and continues almost to the last page. It's no secret that our old friend Nate Romanowski turns up again, but there are surprises in his story, and other surprises await in this thrilling installment of the life of Joe Pickett.

[Sandra Hoover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness! How I love this series! With every book, I think these books can't get any better, but then they do. So many things come together to clash in Stone Cold - some I just couldn't believe. Brilliantly written with an audio performance that enhances the reading experience even more. I can't wait to continue this series.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thia is another fantastic story in a series full of fantastic stories. Everyman Joe is up against some really bad baddies in this one and one of those baddies may be his good friend Nate. This is a story that builds slowly and grabs your attention and won't let go. To say Joe was tossed into a pit of vipers would be an understatement. But I really loved the surprise return of two of my favorite characters.

Joe promised. He promised Marianne. He promised Governor Rulon. He promised FBI Agent Coons. He promised himself. He is not going to do anything beyond observe and report. So much for promises. Joe just can't help it when he sees a wrong, he has to try and right it. It's in his DNA. And, there was soooo much wrong with the situation that Governor Rulon and FBI Agent Coons sent him to investigate and report on.

Everyone Joe has met from his fellow Game Warden, Jim Latta, to the mysterious billionaire, Wolfgang Templeton who runs the county of Medicine Wheel County, Wyoming, just seems off to Joe. But then, as Joe tells Daisy "Yep, it's a whole different world here."

[Monnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Depending on the source, this is either the 13th or 14th in the author's series featuring Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett, and I've read them all. As I've mentioned before, I started reading these books out of a special "connection" - Pickett is my family name. I've kept reading them, though, just because they're very good.

This one begins as Joe, who's officially still a game warden but unofficially assigned to handle special projects for the state governor, is given the task of finding out what's happening at a huge ranch in a remote area of the Black Hills. The owner, Wolfgang Templeton, is known as a philanthropist but is powerful and mysterious. And, he's surrounded by dangerous men, not the least of whom is Joe's old friend Nate Romanowski, a falconer who's been living off the grid for quite some time. Meantime, Joe's daughter Sheridan, a resident assistant at the college she attends, is dealing with a potentially dangerous student, causing concern for Joe and his wife Marybeth.

When Joe starts checking out Templeton and his property, he quickly learns the man literally owns everyone in the county - including local law enforcement and quite possibly old friend Nate as well. Has Nate crossed over to the dark side? Will Joe make it out of this wilderness alive once it becomes clear why he's really there? Can Joe get to his daughter before she becomes the victim of a sniper?

The way these questions are answered, in fact, are why I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5. Although everything moves along very quickly and it was hard to put the book down, parts of the plot - especially near the end - are more than a little contrived, perhaps in an effort to set up the plot of the next installment. Still, it's a worthwhile read - just not the best of the lot.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Governor of Wyoming tasks Joe Pickett with an undercover "mission impossible" in another county to investigate a mysterious rich guy with possible criminal designs. C.J. Box has written a very solid new Joe Pickett book that's not the best or the worst in this exceptionally entertaining long running series. What I particularly like about Wyoming Game Warden Joe Pickett is his Dave Robicheau-like relationship with his environment. He describes Northern Wyoming's tundra-like beauty with herds of Pronghorn Antelope running the Bighorn Mountain Range that read and feel like you're actually there, clearly a master storytellers gift to his readers.

Joe also does something new here that I liked. He brings his dog Daisy with him on his trip to Northeast Wyoming. I like dogs and Daisy, as Joe's "wing-man", added an interesting dimension to this action driven plot that twists like a Black Hills switch-back. Unlike other long running action series, this one shows no signs of fatigue and consistently delivers originality and fast paced character driven thrillers that turn pages. I wish I'd see Joe Pickett, his family, his outlaw friend Nate and his big sky Wyoming more than once a year. ............Ed

[Traci Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I keep waiting for the day when the Joe Pickett series becomes old and tired and fails to surprise me.

That day has not come yet.

Of course, any book that starts out with Nate Romanowski in the first chapter is bound to be a good one.

I enjoyed barreling along on this wild ride VERY much. In fact, I think this entry into the series is one of my all-time favorites.

My one tiny quibble is that the side storyline with Sheridan seemed a bit... unnecessary, other than a way to feature a Sheridan cameo. That being said, I really *liked* that storyline. I just don't quite see that it was needed. But I suppose an unnecessary -- but good -- plot device is much better than the alternative!

And that ending. C.J. Box is a cruel, cruel man for the things he does to his readers. Now it's back to waiting a year for the next book to come out!

[Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

C.J. Box scores again with another terrific installment in the Joe Pickett series.

[Carol Jones-Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though this is the 14th book in the series, it is my first, and I really enjoyed it very much. "Stone Cold", author C.J. Box's fourteenth "Joe Pickett" adventure, will well-serve both devoted fans and those readers who are new to the series. After reading "Stone Cold", the newbies will definitely dive into the first thirteen books featuring Pickett and his pals. Trying to move forward after a disastrous and deadly turn of events, Joe is still functioning as a game warden, but he is also "on hold" as a special liaison for the governor of Wyoming. When the call finally comes from the governor, Joe asks him why he was chosen for the position. The governor informs Joe that "you have the uncanny ability to irritate the right people and cause havoc", making him perfect to carry out the governor's directive. However, Joe is unprepared to learn that his assignment will involve family friend Nate Romanowski, who may be working for the very man whom Joe is sent to investigate. Complicating matters further for Joe are issues with the four women in his life: his wife, Marybeth, their two daughters, Sheridan and Lucy, and their unsettled ward, April. Pickett's penchant for stepping in potholes of trouble is in full force here, and C.J. Box's extremely entertaining storytelling keeps things moving and keeps the reader involved. A recommended series from a master of contemporary Western suspense.

Box has a penchant for capturing the extremes of human behavior, dramas made all the more poignant for their contrast with nature’s harsh beauty, whether it be in Saddlestring, Wyoming, Fort Smith, Montana, or Medicine Wheel County in the Black Hills. Though some of the players hail from more distant places—New York, the West Coast, Florida—their schemes reach larger-than-life proportions against nature’s majesty. Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett is known for his doggedness in rooting out the bad behavior of those who would hide their crimes, often attracting the scrutiny of his superiors in take-no-prisoners scenarios. This book is no exception, though the bad guy is much more difficult to corner after buying up masses of Medicine Wheel County for his Sand Creek Ranch spread in the Black Hills and hiring most of the locals in a depressed economy. Wolfgang Templeton, who has rescued an area in sharp decline, is a revered man in the county. Few are willing to speak against him.

Pickett is dealing with the antics of his daughters. The eldest, Sheridan, faces a serious problem in her dorm at the University of Wyoming that will have tragic consequences. Teenaged ward April is straining the parental relationship in a rebellious romance with a boyfriend Pickett doesn’t trust when Pickett is summoned by Governor Rulan to the state capitol. The governor wants him to quietly assess the state of affairs in Medicine Wheel County in the Black Hills. The last agent who was sent to the area did not come back, dying in a suspicious motel fire.

Rulan suggests that Joe arrive under the guise of his office without attracting attention, check out the lay of the land and report back without taking any action himself—a near impossibility for Pickett. If, indeed, illegal activity—a murder-for-hire enterprise—is based there under the direction of Wolfgang Templeton, Pickett will receive backup from his old friend, Special Agent Chuck Coon, his only contact while on the assignment. Box adds a little more spice with the presence of Nate Romanowski, an outlier and master falconer who lives by his own rules, often skating the fine line between lawful and not. Nate appears to be involved in the murder scheme masterminded by Templeton, unaware that Pickett is anywhere in the vicinity.

Warden Pickett, with only Coon between him and the vast wilderness he has entered, both literally and figuratively, finds his low profile doesn’t fool anyone for long. Even the local game warden seems to be in thrall to the big man, or at least the tentacles of his power, as are a couple of thugs hired by Templeton who don’t think the laws apply to them, a more serious threat on the horizon. Nate, by the nature of his association with Templeton, is privy to the ugly turn the enterprise has taken, proving to be invaluable once more when Pickett is in dire trouble.

Box plays the two men off one another in a perfect cadence of hero and anti-hero, each bound by loyalty, affection and a love of the environment they inhabit. It is this land that serves as a central character in Box’s books, immutable, beautiful and often deadly. Box effortlessly takes his readers into another world in his novels, uniquely contemporary in plot but primitive in the nature of the territory on which the action plays out. It’s the perfect canvas for yet another memorable struggle between those who respect the law and those who defile it. I'm quite liking
Box. He's kind of a hoot to read and enjoy. Fern Michaels is a Master at her genre too

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heavy CJ Box reread taking place during football season…In “Stone Cold,” Joe Pickett is charged by the Governor to dig into the corruption in a poverty stricken county…A wealthy land owner and philanthropist seems to be at the heart of the corruption…Throw in Nate Romanowski and Joe’s Mother in law and things start to boil…Great fun!!!

[Scott A. Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love these books. Pickett is right there with Reacher, Ryan, Davenport, Potter, Smoak, Grave and Gentry. Just so reliable. Always fun. Box just keeps sending us great stories.

Not sure just how Nate will be after this one but another truck bites the dust. Missy’s story is also a lot more complicated now. I’m ready for the next one right now.

[John (JC) · Rating 5 out of 5]

His novels keep getting better and better

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

just didn't seem like the usual storyline. over-the-top bloody action, no family life to speak of, unbelievable coincidences, caricatures instead of characters. hope this is just a blip in one of my favorite series.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book. Nothing to get all excited about but a must read if you are into the series. DEFINITELY sets you up so you HAVE to read the next book!

[Toby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another decently written, action-packed tale from CJ Box. I enjoy these stories and the MC, Joe Pickett, although he does get himself into so many unsafe (& sometimes not terribly credible) situations! I really love the setting and how Box bring Wyoming to life in all of its beauty and danger.

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoy these books. This one was really good! There were a few moving parts but it was easy to follow and I was always looking forward to what was going to happen next. It was one of my favorites so far.

[Ronna · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a while since Wyoming Game Warden, Joe Picket, returned to service as a game warden, but he's gotten his job back because Governor Rulon likes Joe's determined skills at finding criminals. Now the Governor has a new job for Joe. In an little outpost of Wyoming, there is a new man in town. He seems to be building an empire but where is his money coming from. The Governor suspects foul play and "commands" Joe to go there to check things out.

At home, Joe's family has a couple of problems of their own. Adopted daughter, April, is sullen and obstinate. She has a new boyfriend that her parents are none to pleased with. But worse still, their eldest daughter and dorm RA, Sheridan, is extremely concerned with a darkly dressed and secretive male student on her floor. But Joe must fly off to check out the Governor's concerns. He soon finds that there is a whole community that seems to be under the orders of one man-- Wolfgang Templeton. He's rich, threatening, seemingly owns the local law, and has the services of "stone cold" killers. But Joe realizes that one of these men is his friend, Nate.

Once again, CJ Box has written a fast passed and thought provoking thriller. Box has become my favorite author, as his books are always winners! His characters are blends of good and evil. Decisions are never easy for these characters as justice almost always comes with a price. Though this book could be read as a stand alone, this book is best read as a series since the characters grown with every book.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

C. J. Box never lets me down for a good story. I just finished it and can't wait for the next. I like these characters. Liking the main characters is a requirement for me if a book series wants to get into my must read list.

[Dolphe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great Pickett party ... sure, it's a bit choppy here and there, but that's easily overlooked.

[Kate prefers books to people · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book went ridiculous very quickly but I'm invested and I just don't care.

Nate is back working for a jet setting team connected to big crimes. Joe ends up as the governor's point man investigating a mysterious rancher the feds are asking about. Missy returns. There are explosives and sausage of... dubious origins?

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite install ent, so far, of Joe Pickett series. There is a lot going on this one including plot threads with April, Sheridan, Mate and the return of a despicable character. Fun, exciting, violent and grisly. Leads directly into book 15.