What do you think?
Rate this book
Joe Pickett #10
Nowhere To Run
Librarian’s note: This is a previously-published edition of
Kindle ASIN: B003NX75MC.
It's Joe Pickett's last week as a temporary game warden in the mountain town of Baggs, Wyoming, but his conscience won't let him leave without checking out the strange reports coming from the wilderness: camps looted, tents slashed, elk butchered. What awaits him is like something out of an old campfire tale, except this story is all too real-and all too deadly.
Kindle ASIN: B003NX75MC.
It's Joe Pickett's last week as a temporary game warden in the mountain town of Baggs, Wyoming, but his conscience won't let him leave without checking out the strange reports coming from the wilderness: camps looted, tents slashed, elk butchered. What awaits him is like something out of an old campfire tale, except this story is all too real-and all too deadly.
368 pages, ebook
First published April 6, 2010
3006 people are currently reading
4017 people want to read
About the author
C.J. Box
111 books7,231 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 1,291 reviews
September 22, 2022
Eh, book #10 is a lot of the same old, "the Brothers Grim" in the mountains, hunting, trapping large game animals. Others who witness the aftermath claimed it was a mythological creature from Native-American legend! A subplot is about a missing Olympic hopeful runner Diane Shober, who came to the area for high elevation training.
The conclusion was nice with Nate assisting Joe, but he seems to have his own opinion about the situation. Another conflicted emotion at the end that makes you think.
There wasn't a lot of character development besides that Joe is getting ready to leave his temporary Baggs district and return north to Bighorn where his family lives.
The conclusion was nice with Nate assisting Joe, but he seems to have his own opinion about the situation. Another conflicted emotion at the end that makes you think.
There wasn't a lot of character development besides that Joe is getting ready to leave his temporary Baggs district and return north to Bighorn where his family lives.
May 12, 2010
First Sentence: Three hours after he’d broken camp, repacked, and pushed his horses higher into the mountain range, Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett paused on the lip of a wide hollow basin and dug in his saddlebag for his notebook.
Game Warden Joe Pickett is making the last pass before going home through the territory he has been covering for the past year. He’s following up on reports of vandalism and other hunter’s game butchered out. He doesn’t expect to run into twin brothers who resent being asked to follow the rules and nearly cost Joe his life. He also doesn’t expect the only reason he escapes is a woman who may have been an Olympic contender but disappeared. His determination to enforce the law and to possibly rescue the woman sends Joe, with his friend Nate, back into the mountains and an old-West showdown.
Box writes books that are entertaining, exciting and occasionally touching. He also writes book that make you think about the bigger issues and does it in such a way that doesn’t preach or become didactic, but makes you weigh both sides of the question and make your own choice. That is a real talent.
The character of Joe Pickett is one of an average man; very human, married, loves his family, loyal to his friends. He learns he is not invincible, but believes in his job even it’s dangerous and, perhaps, not smart…”It’s my job. I do my job.” Even his wife, Marybeth, acknowledges his job is who he is…”You do what you do because you’re hardwired for it. You get yourself into situations because you have a certain set of standards...” That relationship and those principles give Joe the structure that defines him.
The interaction between Joe and the other characters is believable, and occasionally humorous. In this book, Box has given Joe two very challenging enemies; both in terms of surviving against them, but opposition of views on issues that are very timely.
One thing, of which I am becoming very tired, is the overuse by authors of the ignorant, obstructive, jealous superior official. Yes, I know it all-too-often exists, but it has become rather cliché.
The pacing is wonderful; it fluctuates between tension and rest. Box’s descriptions demonstrate his knowledge and love of Wyoming, and shares that with us by taking us along and letting us see what Joe sees, both in terms of its beauty and potential danger. The dialogue has a natural flow and refreshingly little profanity.
This is a very good story. I became so involved, it was a one-sitting read for me and I am now anxious for the next book.
NOWHERE TO RUN (Lic. Inv-Joe Pickett-Wyoming-Cont)- VG
Box, C.J. – 10th in series
Putnam, ©2010, US Hardcover – ISBN: 9780399156458
Game Warden Joe Pickett is making the last pass before going home through the territory he has been covering for the past year. He’s following up on reports of vandalism and other hunter’s game butchered out. He doesn’t expect to run into twin brothers who resent being asked to follow the rules and nearly cost Joe his life. He also doesn’t expect the only reason he escapes is a woman who may have been an Olympic contender but disappeared. His determination to enforce the law and to possibly rescue the woman sends Joe, with his friend Nate, back into the mountains and an old-West showdown.
Box writes books that are entertaining, exciting and occasionally touching. He also writes book that make you think about the bigger issues and does it in such a way that doesn’t preach or become didactic, but makes you weigh both sides of the question and make your own choice. That is a real talent.
The character of Joe Pickett is one of an average man; very human, married, loves his family, loyal to his friends. He learns he is not invincible, but believes in his job even it’s dangerous and, perhaps, not smart…”It’s my job. I do my job.” Even his wife, Marybeth, acknowledges his job is who he is…”You do what you do because you’re hardwired for it. You get yourself into situations because you have a certain set of standards...” That relationship and those principles give Joe the structure that defines him.
The interaction between Joe and the other characters is believable, and occasionally humorous. In this book, Box has given Joe two very challenging enemies; both in terms of surviving against them, but opposition of views on issues that are very timely.
One thing, of which I am becoming very tired, is the overuse by authors of the ignorant, obstructive, jealous superior official. Yes, I know it all-too-often exists, but it has become rather cliché.
The pacing is wonderful; it fluctuates between tension and rest. Box’s descriptions demonstrate his knowledge and love of Wyoming, and shares that with us by taking us along and letting us see what Joe sees, both in terms of its beauty and potential danger. The dialogue has a natural flow and refreshingly little profanity.
This is a very good story. I became so involved, it was a one-sitting read for me and I am now anxious for the next book.
NOWHERE TO RUN (Lic. Inv-Joe Pickett-Wyoming-Cont)- VG
Box, C.J. – 10th in series
Putnam, ©2010, US Hardcover – ISBN: 9780399156458
May 22, 2018
After successively reading two relatively long and dense literary novels with complicated plots, I felt the need for something simple and undemanding. I thought of C.J. Box's Joe Pickett series.
This is actually the tenth book in that series. Hard to believe I've read that many; they all sort of elide together in the memory.
I like Joe Pickett and his family. He's an honorable man trying to do a job that he loves and believes is important. His wife and daughters are believable people with whom the reader can empathize.
In the last novel, the Picketts learned that the foster daughter who they thought was dead was very much alive and living in Chicago in rather desperate circumstances. They brought her home but she has many problems emanating from her hard life and she is a disruptive influence in the family, constantly at war with her two sisters.
Joe had been sent away from his home and family for a year to be the temporary game warden in Baggs, Wyoming. At the beginning of this book, he's in his last week of that assignment and looking forward to going home. Somehow the reader suspects that this is not going to go off on schedule.
The first part of this book is a nail-biting thriller in which Joe comes up against two seemingly superhuman mountain men (brothers) who have been terrorizing the region and, most importantly from Joe's point of view, breaking game laws. When he tries to hold them accountable for their breaches of the law, their ruthless and violent nature is revealed. They follow him as he leaves their camp, eventually attacking him and his horses. They kill the horses, wound him, and take all his supplies. He's left with nothing but his service weapon and the clothes on his back.
Of course, Joe is used to surviving in the wild, so, in spite of his serious leg wound, he continues on his way down the mountain, even as he's being tracked by a pack of wolves - wolves that aren't supposed to be there.
Eventually, he happens upon the cabin of a recluse woman who dresses his wound and shelters him. But then the crazy brothers, who are friends and protectors of the woman, show up and Joe has to escape out a back window and later watches from a distance as the three burn the cabin.
Okay. So far the story was an exciting, page-turning read, as we wonder how Joe is going to escape from another fine mess he's gotten into. But then the narrative takes a turn and becomes essentially a right-wing libertarian screed. Government bad! Mountain men good! Even when they terrorize the neighborhood and destroy other people's property, slaughter wildlife, attack a game warden just trying to do his job, and eventually kill at least four people. They just want to be left alone! And being left alone to do as one pleases is the highest good in this philosophy.
A great proponent of this philosophy is Joe's friend, Nate Romanowski, and most of the arguments for it are spoken by him, as were, in the last book, the arguments regarding denial of human-caused climate change. He finds a soul mate in the woman recluse on the mountain, both of them great fans of Ayn Rand, and we are treated to their admiring discussion of Atlas Shrugged and their denigration of European socialism.
One suspects that C.J. Box, too, is an admirer of Ayn Rand and that his writing is influenced by her. He manages to get those arguments against government and any kind of regulation into every one of his books, and always - ALWAYS! - the law enforcement authorities from the local sheriff to the FBI are corrupt and only out to thwart the work of the only honorable man, Joe Pickett. Joe Pickett who strongly objects to being referred to as "the government man," even though that's exactly what he is.
I don't know. The plot of this book has holes that a herd of pronghorns could run through and I'm beginning to lose patience with Box, but then I've never read Atlas Shrugged so before I write him off completely, maybe I should read it. At the same time, I would encourage him to study the benefits of European socialism a little more closely and with an open mind.
This is actually the tenth book in that series. Hard to believe I've read that many; they all sort of elide together in the memory.
I like Joe Pickett and his family. He's an honorable man trying to do a job that he loves and believes is important. His wife and daughters are believable people with whom the reader can empathize.
In the last novel, the Picketts learned that the foster daughter who they thought was dead was very much alive and living in Chicago in rather desperate circumstances. They brought her home but she has many problems emanating from her hard life and she is a disruptive influence in the family, constantly at war with her two sisters.
Joe had been sent away from his home and family for a year to be the temporary game warden in Baggs, Wyoming. At the beginning of this book, he's in his last week of that assignment and looking forward to going home. Somehow the reader suspects that this is not going to go off on schedule.
The first part of this book is a nail-biting thriller in which Joe comes up against two seemingly superhuman mountain men (brothers) who have been terrorizing the region and, most importantly from Joe's point of view, breaking game laws. When he tries to hold them accountable for their breaches of the law, their ruthless and violent nature is revealed. They follow him as he leaves their camp, eventually attacking him and his horses. They kill the horses, wound him, and take all his supplies. He's left with nothing but his service weapon and the clothes on his back.
Of course, Joe is used to surviving in the wild, so, in spite of his serious leg wound, he continues on his way down the mountain, even as he's being tracked by a pack of wolves - wolves that aren't supposed to be there.
Eventually, he happens upon the cabin of a recluse woman who dresses his wound and shelters him. But then the crazy brothers, who are friends and protectors of the woman, show up and Joe has to escape out a back window and later watches from a distance as the three burn the cabin.
Okay. So far the story was an exciting, page-turning read, as we wonder how Joe is going to escape from another fine mess he's gotten into. But then the narrative takes a turn and becomes essentially a right-wing libertarian screed. Government bad! Mountain men good! Even when they terrorize the neighborhood and destroy other people's property, slaughter wildlife, attack a game warden just trying to do his job, and eventually kill at least four people. They just want to be left alone! And being left alone to do as one pleases is the highest good in this philosophy.
A great proponent of this philosophy is Joe's friend, Nate Romanowski, and most of the arguments for it are spoken by him, as were, in the last book, the arguments regarding denial of human-caused climate change. He finds a soul mate in the woman recluse on the mountain, both of them great fans of Ayn Rand, and we are treated to their admiring discussion of Atlas Shrugged and their denigration of European socialism.
One suspects that C.J. Box, too, is an admirer of Ayn Rand and that his writing is influenced by her. He manages to get those arguments against government and any kind of regulation into every one of his books, and always - ALWAYS! - the law enforcement authorities from the local sheriff to the FBI are corrupt and only out to thwart the work of the only honorable man, Joe Pickett. Joe Pickett who strongly objects to being referred to as "the government man," even though that's exactly what he is.
I don't know. The plot of this book has holes that a herd of pronghorns could run through and I'm beginning to lose patience with Box, but then I've never read Atlas Shrugged so before I write him off completely, maybe I should read it. At the same time, I would encourage him to study the benefits of European socialism a little more closely and with an open mind.
December 24, 2021
Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett has been exiled to Baggs, Wyoming for the past year. Now he is finally about to go home to Saddlestring. But before he leaves he needs to check out reports of strange things going on in the mountains. Camps looted, tents slashed, elk butchered ... his conscience won't let him leave without checking the reports out. Two years ago he had been in these same mountains searching for a missing runner who was never found.
As he heads into the mountains the realization of his situation enters his mind. He is all alone with no back up. He wishes he could just leave and go back home to his wife and daughters. But he can't do that. His morality won't let him. He is not wired that way. So he continues his solo journey into the remote mountains. And then he encounters a man fishing in a lake. A very big man. Being a game warden Joe has to ask him to see his fishing license. The man doesn't have it on him so they head to his camp where Joe sees his equally big twin brother. Things do not go well and Joe is lucky to get off the mountain alive. One of the reasons he survived was because he had the help of a woman in a cabin. Could it have been the missing runner?
Back home his misadventure and possible encounter with the missing runner becomes big news. The Baggs sheriff department organizes a massive search for the two brothers and the mysterious woman Joe encountered. The state and federal government get involved even though everyone acts like they don't believe Joe's story. Eventually Joe and his friend Nate Romanowski head back to mountains by themselves to try and "rescue" the missing runner and deal with the mountain men brothers.
The biggest problem that I had with this story was that once again C.J. Box brings in corrupt politicians and anti-government factions. Big government is bad and is out to steal your land and money. This has become a theme in several of his books (see Winterkill). I like the protagonist. Joe Pickett is a decent man, a family man, who deeply loves his wife and family. He has a high moral compass. Something anyone can admire. Sometimes though I wish the author would keep the politicians and anti-government groups out of his stories.
As he heads into the mountains the realization of his situation enters his mind. He is all alone with no back up. He wishes he could just leave and go back home to his wife and daughters. But he can't do that. His morality won't let him. He is not wired that way. So he continues his solo journey into the remote mountains. And then he encounters a man fishing in a lake. A very big man. Being a game warden Joe has to ask him to see his fishing license. The man doesn't have it on him so they head to his camp where Joe sees his equally big twin brother. Things do not go well and Joe is lucky to get off the mountain alive. One of the reasons he survived was because he had the help of a woman in a cabin. Could it have been the missing runner?
Back home his misadventure and possible encounter with the missing runner becomes big news. The Baggs sheriff department organizes a massive search for the two brothers and the mysterious woman Joe encountered. The state and federal government get involved even though everyone acts like they don't believe Joe's story. Eventually Joe and his friend Nate Romanowski head back to mountains by themselves to try and "rescue" the missing runner and deal with the mountain men brothers.
The biggest problem that I had with this story was that once again C.J. Box brings in corrupt politicians and anti-government factions. Big government is bad and is out to steal your land and money. This has become a theme in several of his books (see Winterkill). I like the protagonist. Joe Pickett is a decent man, a family man, who deeply loves his wife and family. He has a high moral compass. Something anyone can admire. Sometimes though I wish the author would keep the politicians and anti-government groups out of his stories.
August 28, 2024
Review to follow
January 7, 2015
This begins as a nail-biting, harrowing tale. Joe Pickett is trapped in the mountains, at the mercy of a couple of seemingly superhuman, ruthless, violent men who have been terrorizing the region. He is injured. His horses have been slaughtered. He has no supplies and no way to contact anyone in "the world." A strange recluse saves his life and gives him temporary respite, but there is no hiding from these men. It's looking pretty bleak. Since this is less than 1/2 way into the novel, it isn't much of a spoiler to note that he eventually finds himself in a hospital. The problem is not solved, of course. No one can find any evidence that any of what he reports actually happened. There is nothing. Bring in Pickett's dreadful mother-in-law, problems with the foster daughter, now a teen, and a brief reintroduction to Nate--easily as ruthless and superhuman as "the bad guys". Wyoming is, of course, absolutely beautiful. So far, fabulous story. Unfortunately, Box takes the reader deep into a twisted right-wing rant.
Actual spoiler--The rant begins with the back-story on the violent brothers, past victims of an immoral land-grab by a crooked, greedy politician wielding eminent domain like a club. Ok, we have some psychological motivation. However, by the end of the final confrontation, everything these violent men have done is somehow blessed by Nate and Box, because they just want to be left alone. Apparently that justifies claiming public land for themselves, terrorizing locals and tourists, slaughtering animals, murder and everything else this pair has done because government is bad. The best Pickett can come up with to justify the confrontation is that it's his job as game warden, because they're breaking the law re game, even though he sympathizes with these two--after they killed his horses and almost killed him. What?!? As for the runner who disappeared years ago and has been hiding in the mountains, in league with these brothers, she somehow has to go underground in order to be free. This is never, ever explained. Her father is evil. Ok. And the need to run from the rest of society, including her poor, heart-broken mother? Well, who knows? The right-wing, libertarian slant is always part of Box' novels, but it's over the top in this one and pretty much undercut all that was good in the book.
Actual spoiler--The rant begins with the back-story on the violent brothers, past victims of an immoral land-grab by a crooked, greedy politician wielding eminent domain like a club. Ok, we have some psychological motivation. However, by the end of the final confrontation, everything these violent men have done is somehow blessed by Nate and Box, because they just want to be left alone. Apparently that justifies claiming public land for themselves, terrorizing locals and tourists, slaughtering animals, murder and everything else this pair has done because government is bad. The best Pickett can come up with to justify the confrontation is that it's his job as game warden, because they're breaking the law re game, even though he sympathizes with these two--after they killed his horses and almost killed him. What?!? As for the runner who disappeared years ago and has been hiding in the mountains, in league with these brothers, she somehow has to go underground in order to be free. This is never, ever explained. Her father is evil. Ok. And the need to run from the rest of society, including her poor, heart-broken mother? Well, who knows? The right-wing, libertarian slant is always part of Box' novels, but it's over the top in this one and pretty much undercut all that was good in the book.
September 21, 2024
I am used to these books starting with a lot more action than this one. I am not really into the psychological mind games when Joe encounters the Grim Brothers. As the plot unfolds, it moves from two brothers who feel they are just protecting their mountain and becomes a very interesting plot and take on the freedoms we take for granted until our personal interests come into conflict with the government. The narration by David Chandler on this series is awesome. He gives life to Joe and the other characters.
This is Joe's last patrol into some very desolate territory and even the locals give this area a wide berth and recommend that Joe do the same. That is so not Joe, especially when there are reports of vandalized camps, hunting out of season and a missing Olympic hopeful who disappeared without a trace. This is catnip to Joe. No way does he leave it for the next Game Warden assigned to this area.
This is Joe's last patrol into some very desolate territory and even the locals give this area a wide berth and recommend that Joe do the same. That is so not Joe, especially when there are reports of vandalized camps, hunting out of season and a missing Olympic hopeful who disappeared without a trace. This is catnip to Joe. No way does he leave it for the next Game Warden assigned to this area.
January 5, 2021
His books just keep getting better.
September 25, 2025
Buddy read with Simon. We took turns to read out loud, which we truly enjoyed. Wow! I think this is the best one yet! C.J. Box's writing seemed so relevant to the current socio-political climate in the USA that I had to check the publishing date, which was 2010! As usual, I truly enjoyed the interactions between Joe and his wife Marybeth and on more than one occasion they moved me to tears. Truly, we were excited to pick this back up each evening and continue on where we left off.
Quotes:
Descriptive writing:
"He longed for an afternoon thunderstorm to cool things down, but the thunderhead had slowed its sky march and the rain column now looked like an afterthought."
Gave me a chuckle:
"It was always amazing to Joe how more often than not those who sought solace in nature were the least prepared to enter it."
The art of psychological warfare:
"Joe was taken aback how once again they were talking above him, as if he weren't there or he didn't matter and they didn't care if he heard them. This scared him as much as anything, how they minimized his presence, depersonalized his being. And he thought how much easier it was to be cruel and ruthless when you didn't consider your adversary an equal."
Parenting teenage girls:
"April is like a stick of dynamite walking around in a room filled with candles."
Dealing with the death of a parent:
"Garrard looked in the back Joe's pickup. 'What's in the box?'
'My dad,' Joe said. 'I don't know where to spread his ashes.'
Garrard did a double take. 'So you're just driving him around the state? Like taking him on vacation?'
Joe nodded."
Personal integrity:
"I just want to do my job out here and solve crimes and put bad guys in prison. I don't want any part of deals cut in D.C. between senators and attorneys general. I've got a son. I want to be able to look him in the eye. And I want to be able to look at myself in the mirror."
Quotes:
Descriptive writing:
"He longed for an afternoon thunderstorm to cool things down, but the thunderhead had slowed its sky march and the rain column now looked like an afterthought."
Gave me a chuckle:
"It was always amazing to Joe how more often than not those who sought solace in nature were the least prepared to enter it."
The art of psychological warfare:
"Joe was taken aback how once again they were talking above him, as if he weren't there or he didn't matter and they didn't care if he heard them. This scared him as much as anything, how they minimized his presence, depersonalized his being. And he thought how much easier it was to be cruel and ruthless when you didn't consider your adversary an equal."
Parenting teenage girls:
"April is like a stick of dynamite walking around in a room filled with candles."
Dealing with the death of a parent:
"Garrard looked in the back Joe's pickup. 'What's in the box?'
'My dad,' Joe said. 'I don't know where to spread his ashes.'
Garrard did a double take. 'So you're just driving him around the state? Like taking him on vacation?'
Joe nodded."
Personal integrity:
"I just want to do my job out here and solve crimes and put bad guys in prison. I don't want any part of deals cut in D.C. between senators and attorneys general. I've got a son. I want to be able to look him in the eye. And I want to be able to look at myself in the mirror."
February 14, 2013
I am liking all of C.J. Box's books but this is one of my favorites. In addition to the non-stop action I liked how Box dove deeper into Joe and how he feels about who he is and what he does. The fact that he questions himself and his job is real and honest. The fact that he even questions himself as a man, provider, husband, father is real. Box also did an excellent job of showing the reader more deeply how Joe's character and what he believes in affects the choices he makes everyday. In previous books this is brought up and addressed but in this book, Box really shows us how strongly Joe feels about what he believes in, the truth and doing his job right. And finally how all of this plays in with his relationship with Nate. They clearly care and respect each other but in this book they are faced with addressing how different they really are. And their struggle to support and be there for each other at the same time stand true to their personal code was excellent. But while Joe was struggling with himself and he and Nate were struggling with their differences, Box also showed how people, like the Kline brothers struggle with their choices and how they struggle to be true to themselves as well. The ending was excellent. Box did an amazing job of portraying how difficult this situation was for everyone, as individuals and for their personal causes.
July 9, 2024
In “Nowhere to Run” our favorite Game Warden, Joe Picket is finishing up his temporary assignment in the remote area of Baggs District, where the Governor sent him until the recent political heat wore off. It is his last week before returning home to his family and resuming his previous local area responsibilities, which he is excited about. However, before leaving he takes one last trip into the Sierra Madre to investigate strange reports of elks being slaughtered, camps being broken into and left damaged.
Back at home in Saddlestring, Joe’s wife, Marybeth is facing her own challenges. Their foster daughter, April Keeley, is having struggles at school; her domineering mother, Missy, is pushing Marybeth to put her in touch with Nate Romanowski so that she can hire him to chase off her ex-husband, Bud Longbrake, even though Nate is still in hiding from the FBI; and in addition to that, Marybeth’s sold her management company to a local accounting firm and has one year to transition everything over to the new owners. She’s got her hands full.
Things get weird as Joe heads into the Sierra Madre. On his second day following a search of a looted camp and leftover elk that were killed and stripped, Joe meets a strange fisherman and his unusual brother. After issuing them citations for multiple violations he heads further into the mountains.
Things then get worse. The next day Joe is attacked from a distance, taking an arrow through his leg along with his horse. He is also separated from his pack horse, and supplies. Weapons, and satellite phone. Things then get deadly, as Joe finds himself being hunted with the intent to kill.
While Marybeth is struggling with work and family issues, Joe is seriously injured and fighting for his own survival. He must find a way to get out of the mountains before deadly hunters find and kill him. Joe is in a race for his very life… Will he get to ever see his family again…
After finishing the previous book in this series, I immediately started this one because the last one was so dang good. I was amazed at howe well one book blended smoothly right into the next and I didn’t miss a beat. That’s one nice thing about starting a series after twenty-plus books have been published. You don’t have to wait a year between books. It’s nice to just rip right through them at your own pace. And that is the case with the Joe Picket novels. I can read them anywhere (and I do).
The first half of the book focused mostly on Joe as he started an investigation by himself in the mountains and spent a good amount of time running and fighting to survive his attack by deadly killers. It had some of the most intense moments in the series – lots of drama, tension, and intrigue. I greatly appreciate Box’s simple and straight-forward writing style. It works well in this well-delivered story.
The second half was about corruption in government and the improper use of imminent domain to steal from those who cannot defend themselves. It pulls back the current on dirty political deals and the response from anti-government factions. Both sides are in the wrong and the fight is just getting worse.
What made the argument interesting and thought provoking was its impact on the relationship of Joe and Nate. Joe is duty bound to honor the letter of the law regardless of situation or circumstances. Nate, on the other hand, lives outside of formal laws and structures, focusing more on justice and fairness, at least how perceives it. To say that Nate is not a fan of government power is putting it mildly. Box uses this political situation to challenge their beliefs, their actions, and their relationship. That was the secret sauce that raised this book up to a higher level for me. Making it personal for Joe and Nate, and putting them in conflict with each other. Box was not afraid to test their friendship.
Yea, there are probably a lot of readers less than thrilled with the political arguments in this one (and trust me, I get it). In some ways, it was a bit overkill, but I think Box did a good job of showing how both sides were just as wrong in some of their stances and arguments as they were right. Nobody was behaving in the best interest of everyone involved, even Joe. For me, I was rather irritated by Joe’s behavior to a degree. He was so stubborn in keeping to the letter of the law, that he was unwilling to compromise and willing to sacrifice his life for a battle he was never going to win. In the end it seemed to me that Nate valued their friendship more than Joe, who was so incredibly stubborn that it almost cost him his life. Nate was more willing to adapt and set aside his own beliefs and morals for Joe and that was a serious moment for me.
There’s not much left to say. Let’s leave it at that.
In closing, this was a strong 4.5 out of 5-star rating for me. Ignore the 4-star listed as Goodreads doesn’t round off.
This series just keeps getting better with each book. And yes, I cannot wait to start reading the next one…
Back at home in Saddlestring, Joe’s wife, Marybeth is facing her own challenges. Their foster daughter, April Keeley, is having struggles at school; her domineering mother, Missy, is pushing Marybeth to put her in touch with Nate Romanowski so that she can hire him to chase off her ex-husband, Bud Longbrake, even though Nate is still in hiding from the FBI; and in addition to that, Marybeth’s sold her management company to a local accounting firm and has one year to transition everything over to the new owners. She’s got her hands full.
Things get weird as Joe heads into the Sierra Madre. On his second day following a search of a looted camp and leftover elk that were killed and stripped, Joe meets a strange fisherman and his unusual brother. After issuing them citations for multiple violations he heads further into the mountains.
Things then get worse. The next day Joe is attacked from a distance, taking an arrow through his leg along with his horse. He is also separated from his pack horse, and supplies. Weapons, and satellite phone. Things then get deadly, as Joe finds himself being hunted with the intent to kill.
While Marybeth is struggling with work and family issues, Joe is seriously injured and fighting for his own survival. He must find a way to get out of the mountains before deadly hunters find and kill him. Joe is in a race for his very life… Will he get to ever see his family again…
After finishing the previous book in this series, I immediately started this one because the last one was so dang good. I was amazed at howe well one book blended smoothly right into the next and I didn’t miss a beat. That’s one nice thing about starting a series after twenty-plus books have been published. You don’t have to wait a year between books. It’s nice to just rip right through them at your own pace. And that is the case with the Joe Picket novels. I can read them anywhere (and I do).
The first half of the book focused mostly on Joe as he started an investigation by himself in the mountains and spent a good amount of time running and fighting to survive his attack by deadly killers. It had some of the most intense moments in the series – lots of drama, tension, and intrigue. I greatly appreciate Box’s simple and straight-forward writing style. It works well in this well-delivered story.
The second half was about corruption in government and the improper use of imminent domain to steal from those who cannot defend themselves. It pulls back the current on dirty political deals and the response from anti-government factions. Both sides are in the wrong and the fight is just getting worse.
What made the argument interesting and thought provoking was its impact on the relationship of Joe and Nate. Joe is duty bound to honor the letter of the law regardless of situation or circumstances. Nate, on the other hand, lives outside of formal laws and structures, focusing more on justice and fairness, at least how perceives it. To say that Nate is not a fan of government power is putting it mildly. Box uses this political situation to challenge their beliefs, their actions, and their relationship. That was the secret sauce that raised this book up to a higher level for me. Making it personal for Joe and Nate, and putting them in conflict with each other. Box was not afraid to test their friendship.
Yea, there are probably a lot of readers less than thrilled with the political arguments in this one (and trust me, I get it). In some ways, it was a bit overkill, but I think Box did a good job of showing how both sides were just as wrong in some of their stances and arguments as they were right. Nobody was behaving in the best interest of everyone involved, even Joe. For me, I was rather irritated by Joe’s behavior to a degree. He was so stubborn in keeping to the letter of the law, that he was unwilling to compromise and willing to sacrifice his life for a battle he was never going to win. In the end it seemed to me that Nate valued their friendship more than Joe, who was so incredibly stubborn that it almost cost him his life. Nate was more willing to adapt and set aside his own beliefs and morals for Joe and that was a serious moment for me.
There’s not much left to say. Let’s leave it at that.
In closing, this was a strong 4.5 out of 5-star rating for me. Ignore the 4-star listed as Goodreads doesn’t round off.
This series just keeps getting better with each book. And yes, I cannot wait to start reading the next one…
May 22, 2023
5 Stars for Nowhere To Run: Joe Pickett, Book 10 (audiobook) by C. J. Box read by David Chandler.
The Fish and Game Officer, Joe Pickett is working in the mountains outside Baggs, Montana. He comes across an unusual man fishing deep in the woods. This incident will lead him into one of his most dangerous encounters. This will risk his life and test his relationships with Nate and the Governor.
The Fish and Game Officer, Joe Pickett is working in the mountains outside Baggs, Montana. He comes across an unusual man fishing deep in the woods. This incident will lead him into one of his most dangerous encounters. This will risk his life and test his relationships with Nate and the Governor.
September 20, 2025
When I first started reading “Nowhere to Run,” I realized that I saw a televised version of this story which I didn’t particularly enjoy. But sometimes a story is better conveyed via a book than a televised version. Reading this story via the written word was much more interesting. The storyline was more detailed and thought provoking. It brought all the characters to life and adeptly depicted two antagonists having multifaceted personalities: simultaneously as killers and as victims. The author did a great job of character development.
Game Warden Joe Pickett investigates reports of vandalism’s of cabins & vehicles, poaching, and a missing Olympic contender. Pickett determined to perform his duties invites a near fatal encounter with identical twin brothers, Camish & Caleb. When the sheriff & his men go looking for the brothers, they do not find a trace of the brothers or the mysterious woman who saved his life. No one believed Joe’s story & Joe is harangued by Sheriff Baird and other law enforcement. Joe is plagued by the face of the woman whom he suspects might be the female athlete gone missing. Was she kidnapped and what is her relationship with the two brothers? Efforts by others end tragically, yet one character somewhat dramatically yet comically uses his "skills & perception" to survive with the eventual rescue by Joe and Nate. Joe & Nate face off with the brothers with a shocking yet sad conclusion.
Nate and Joe disagree on their views of the government and whether or not on returning someone to their family to the point that Nate touches the butt of his gun. Joe is left wondering how this disagreement has changed their friendship, and are they still friends? I guess I'll have to continue reading the Pickett novels to find out.
This book left me contemplating adherence to laws. Are we made to follow the laws absolutely & unchallenged? Or were laws made to help people and society live peacefully? What happens when
laws are misused for monetary and political purposes at the expense of others? My intention is not to make a political statement, just stating a few of my thoughts as I read the book. I found myself both sympathetic to Joe and Nate's individual points of view.
I enjoyed this story very much, and hope you will too if you decide to read this novel.
Game Warden Joe Pickett investigates reports of vandalism’s of cabins & vehicles, poaching, and a missing Olympic contender. Pickett determined to perform his duties invites a near fatal encounter with identical twin brothers, Camish & Caleb. When the sheriff & his men go looking for the brothers, they do not find a trace of the brothers or the mysterious woman who saved his life. No one believed Joe’s story & Joe is harangued by Sheriff Baird and other law enforcement. Joe is plagued by the face of the woman whom he suspects might be the female athlete gone missing. Was she kidnapped and what is her relationship with the two brothers? Efforts by others end tragically, yet one character somewhat dramatically yet comically uses his "skills & perception" to survive with the eventual rescue by Joe and Nate. Joe & Nate face off with the brothers with a shocking yet sad conclusion.
Nate and Joe disagree on their views of the government and whether or not on returning someone to their family to the point that Nate touches the butt of his gun. Joe is left wondering how this disagreement has changed their friendship, and are they still friends? I guess I'll have to continue reading the Pickett novels to find out.
This book left me contemplating adherence to laws. Are we made to follow the laws absolutely & unchallenged? Or were laws made to help people and society live peacefully? What happens when
laws are misused for monetary and political purposes at the expense of others? My intention is not to make a political statement, just stating a few of my thoughts as I read the book. I found myself both sympathetic to Joe and Nate's individual points of view.
I enjoyed this story very much, and hope you will too if you decide to read this novel.
October 30, 2020
My favorite game warden Joe Pickett puts himself in some particularly dangerous situations in this story and I was really nervous for him for most of the book. What a way to amp up the suspense, CJ Box! Because I really felt it while I was reading.
This story finds Joe near the end of his time away from his family, so he is eager to complete this last job and head back home. But of course things don't go the way they're supposed to for Joe and he finds himself tangled up with some really bad guys...or are they? The Grimm Brothers are exceptional survivalists, and what makes them extra dangerous is that they're willing to give everything up for what they believe in-including their lives. So when they attack Joe, they really don't stop until The Big Event happens and they have to make some choices.
This story features government seizure of land, individual rights vs the rights of the government, and what might happen if the government would just leave everyone the hell alone to live their lives in peace. A lot of food for thought in this one. (My husband are reading this series together, and I love the discussion we had about the big issues in this book.)
Nate Romanowski is helping Joe out, but in a complete turn here: Joe and Nate don't agree on what should be done, creating a lot of tension and disagreement. I'm really eager to see how everything resolves for them as I continue to read the series. But for all of Nate's loyalty to Joe, this one really surprised and delighted me. Joe and Nate are both right in their strong, opposing beliefs on what's going on with this case and the bad guys, and I also found myself imagining myself in Joe's situation and with the bad guys situation. Really great story here, nice tight writing by CJ Box. He always delivers something compelling for us.
Truly, there is no better series than this one and I'm all in on it. These books are just as amazing now that I've finished the tenth story as they were in the beginning and I just don't see this changing anytime soon.
Audiobook Notes: No shock here, but I listened to the audio for this one while following along with a book. I feel like the head of the Joe Pickett/David Chandler fan club. There is no better narrator for these stories. Chandler IS the voice of Joe Pickett.. And I loved the way he read Nate Romanowski's gravelly voice and also the voices of the bad guys: the Grimm Brothers. For all of the suspense I felt while I was listening, Chandler really amplified it with his stellar narration, which made this book really exciting from start to finish. As soon as I click "post" for this review, I'm buying the audiobook for the next book in this series.
Title: Nowhere To Run by C.J. Box
Series: Joe Pickett #10
Narrator: David Chandler
Length: 10 hours, 13 minutes, Unabridged
Publisher: Recorded Books
This story finds Joe near the end of his time away from his family, so he is eager to complete this last job and head back home. But of course things don't go the way they're supposed to for Joe and he finds himself tangled up with some really bad guys...or are they? The Grimm Brothers are exceptional survivalists, and what makes them extra dangerous is that they're willing to give everything up for what they believe in-including their lives. So when they attack Joe, they really don't stop until The Big Event happens and they have to make some choices.
This story features government seizure of land, individual rights vs the rights of the government, and what might happen if the government would just leave everyone the hell alone to live their lives in peace. A lot of food for thought in this one. (My husband are reading this series together, and I love the discussion we had about the big issues in this book.)
Nate Romanowski is helping Joe out, but in a complete turn here: Joe and Nate don't agree on what should be done, creating a lot of tension and disagreement. I'm really eager to see how everything resolves for them as I continue to read the series. But for all of Nate's loyalty to Joe, this one really surprised and delighted me. Joe and Nate are both right in their strong, opposing beliefs on what's going on with this case and the bad guys, and I also found myself imagining myself in Joe's situation and with the bad guys situation. Really great story here, nice tight writing by CJ Box. He always delivers something compelling for us.
Truly, there is no better series than this one and I'm all in on it. These books are just as amazing now that I've finished the tenth story as they were in the beginning and I just don't see this changing anytime soon.
Audiobook Notes: No shock here, but I listened to the audio for this one while following along with a book. I feel like the head of the Joe Pickett/David Chandler fan club. There is no better narrator for these stories. Chandler IS the voice of Joe Pickett.. And I loved the way he read Nate Romanowski's gravelly voice and also the voices of the bad guys: the Grimm Brothers. For all of the suspense I felt while I was listening, Chandler really amplified it with his stellar narration, which made this book really exciting from start to finish. As soon as I click "post" for this review, I'm buying the audiobook for the next book in this series.
Title: Nowhere To Run by C.J. Box
Series: Joe Pickett #10
Narrator: David Chandler
Length: 10 hours, 13 minutes, Unabridged
Publisher: Recorded Books
September 8, 2010
You may flog me now. This is actually the first time I have read C.J. Box and his hero Joe Pickett. I have no excuses why it took me so long to read my first one, only regrets that I have not been involved as a reader sooner. Maybe I am not the only the one out there that hasn’t read the fine works of C.J. Box. If that is the case then let it be known to the uninitiated that he has won numerous awards: The Edgar, Anthony, Macavity, Gumshoe, and Barry awards as well as the French Prix Calibre .38 and the French Elle magazine literary award. His novels have been translated into twenty- two different languages. Not too shabby.
Nowhere To Run finds Joe Pickett in his last week as the temporary game warden in an isolated town where some funny business has been going on. Instead of just riding out the time and calling it a day, he can’t let it go and has to investigate the mysterious goings on. Would we expect no less from the man of more? I don’t think so. Being a first timer, I enjoyed the characteristics that make this guy who and what he is. In fiction right now there are very few horse riding, modern time detectives and hero types. I enjoyed the total originality of the character, the manner in which C.J. Box not only constructs Pickett but the surrounding microcosm and the people that inhibit it. This is not an urban affair and for me that was more refreshing than the mountain high air the characters were breathing.
C.J. Box for me stands apart in the genre, which foot you can say he has it in would be a matter for another discussion. Is he a western, mystery, thriller or action/suspense author? Nowhere To Run is all that and one heck of a fun ride. I plan to backtrack and get my hands on the rest of his work as I feel compelled to find out what I missed before this. What makes Joe Pickett who and what he is? Where did he start and how did he arrive at Nowhere To Run? For me, that is why Box has won all the awards. He has created in me the thirst, the desire to embrace Joe Pickett and inhabit his world and learn as much about him as possible and enjoy the ride with him. I have some catching up to do, how about you? If you have read C.J. Box and his amazing character Joe Pickett, what is your favorite novel? Have you read his stand alone efforts as well: Three Weeks To Say Goodbye & Blue Heaven?
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Facebook & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day.
Nowhere To Run finds Joe Pickett in his last week as the temporary game warden in an isolated town where some funny business has been going on. Instead of just riding out the time and calling it a day, he can’t let it go and has to investigate the mysterious goings on. Would we expect no less from the man of more? I don’t think so. Being a first timer, I enjoyed the characteristics that make this guy who and what he is. In fiction right now there are very few horse riding, modern time detectives and hero types. I enjoyed the total originality of the character, the manner in which C.J. Box not only constructs Pickett but the surrounding microcosm and the people that inhibit it. This is not an urban affair and for me that was more refreshing than the mountain high air the characters were breathing.
C.J. Box for me stands apart in the genre, which foot you can say he has it in would be a matter for another discussion. Is he a western, mystery, thriller or action/suspense author? Nowhere To Run is all that and one heck of a fun ride. I plan to backtrack and get my hands on the rest of his work as I feel compelled to find out what I missed before this. What makes Joe Pickett who and what he is? Where did he start and how did he arrive at Nowhere To Run? For me, that is why Box has won all the awards. He has created in me the thirst, the desire to embrace Joe Pickett and inhabit his world and learn as much about him as possible and enjoy the ride with him. I have some catching up to do, how about you? If you have read C.J. Box and his amazing character Joe Pickett, what is your favorite novel? Have you read his stand alone efforts as well: Three Weeks To Say Goodbye & Blue Heaven?
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Facebook & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Gelati’s Store Tab on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day.
January 8, 2024
4.5 ⭐️ rounded up. Had low expectations based on negative reviews I read - but I really liked this one quite a bit. Box has this way of writing that feels comfortable - hard to explain. Great pacing, maybe? He’s great at description without being overly descriptive or too wordy.
February 24, 2014
I have been a pretty avid Joe Pickett fan since Open Season.
Nowhere to Run was an exciting book. Frankly, the first hundred or so pages were some of the best of the series. However, I did read the whole book.
I believe that this will be my last Joe Pickett book. I have just grown very weary of this series. I don't understand the need to jam in the political stuff. The series was better when these themes were more subtle. I liked reading about Joe the good guy, not about how the federal government is out to get us.
I will add that I am getting weary of how all this bad stuff keeps happening to Joe. If Joe solved this many mysteries and murders, he would be much more than a game warden. I understand that these are fictional books, but the events are getting a bit hard to accept as fictional reality if that makes sense.
Nowhere to Run was an exciting book. Frankly, the first hundred or so pages were some of the best of the series. However, I did read the whole book.
I believe that this will be my last Joe Pickett book. I have just grown very weary of this series. I don't understand the need to jam in the political stuff. The series was better when these themes were more subtle. I liked reading about Joe the good guy, not about how the federal government is out to get us.
I will add that I am getting weary of how all this bad stuff keeps happening to Joe. If Joe solved this many mysteries and murders, he would be much more than a game warden. I understand that these are fictional books, but the events are getting a bit hard to accept as fictional reality if that makes sense.
January 20, 2025
It figures Joe won't get out of purgatory Baggs, Wyoming without something bad happening.
Approaching the end of a year's probation before returning as a game warden to Saddlestring, Joe has an encounter with two brothers in a remote mountain range. They can't produce fishing or hunting licenses, and before you can say what the BFE is going on, Joe is badly injured and running for his life with two fatally shot horses.
A lot of Joe Pickett novels involve people who want to live off the grid and away from the government, but this plot was more avoidably tragic than earlier books. I find myself feeling bummed about how this one turned out - especially for Joe's BFF Nate, who sympathizes closely with their sentiments. I guess that's why I thought this book was particularly good. Onward to Cold Wind.
Approaching the end of a year's probation before returning as a game warden to Saddlestring, Joe has an encounter with two brothers in a remote mountain range. They can't produce fishing or hunting licenses, and before you can say what the BFE is going on, Joe is badly injured and running for his life with two fatally shot horses.
A lot of Joe Pickett novels involve people who want to live off the grid and away from the government, but this plot was more avoidably tragic than earlier books. I find myself feeling bummed about how this one turned out - especially for Joe's BFF Nate, who sympathizes closely with their sentiments. I guess that's why I thought this book was particularly good. Onward to Cold Wind.
October 21, 2021
Certainly not my favorite Pickett book. I guess I’m just sick of corrupt politicians and anti government nut jobs. Everyone in the book was miserable. Joe is going to find everything he knows or has known changed significantly. I hope Box gives him a little bit if good news in the next few books. He’s earned it.
November 17, 2019
This is a less than average Joe Pickett book. It actually is a 3 star book but I dropped a star for killing horses. Joe can wreck all the pickups in the world but Box does not need to write about killing horses. That upsets me.
March 29, 2019
Great read. This story starts out as the last week for Joe, our Forest Ranger, in a remote area of Wyoming. As soon as he fulfills his purgatory here, he can go home to his family. Just his luck, he comes upon a couple of backwoods brothers who don't want to go by the rules.
Enter the FBI, the governor, Nate and some paramilitary types. Great action and dialogue.
Enter the FBI, the governor, Nate and some paramilitary types. Great action and dialogue.
September 27, 2025
This series gets better and better, but damn, I can't stand Marybeth's mom!
July 3, 2011
I was hoping that this was my introduction to a new author whose books I'd enjoy.
Not really. The book held my attention, but there was far too much of a super-Libertarian focus to it. As usual, those that hold a blind belief in small government confuse the excesses of government (which we clearly have in the US) with socialism, when in fact the excesses of government here have much more to do with oligarchy and the rich running rampant over the normal people -- the opposite of socialism as it should be practiced.
Add to that the feeling that the characters were not terribly realistic, and that the hero is idealistic, but seemingly not terribly competent, and I was disappointed.
I have another of his books from the library, so I'll see what it's like, but I'm not thinking this author is a keeper for me...
Not really. The book held my attention, but there was far too much of a super-Libertarian focus to it. As usual, those that hold a blind belief in small government confuse the excesses of government (which we clearly have in the US) with socialism, when in fact the excesses of government here have much more to do with oligarchy and the rich running rampant over the normal people -- the opposite of socialism as it should be practiced.
Add to that the feeling that the characters were not terribly realistic, and that the hero is idealistic, but seemingly not terribly competent, and I was disappointed.
I have another of his books from the library, so I'll see what it's like, but I'm not thinking this author is a keeper for me...
May 27, 2021
Another excellent Joe Pickett book. Joe was probably in the worst situation in the 10 books I have read so far. There is some political philosophy near the end - Objectivism vs socialism. Book was written in 2010 and already some people are not liking the direction the country is going and are trying to escape it. I look forward to the next 11 books in the series.
June 28, 2021
Another 5 star Joe Pickett novel by C.J. Box. What more can I say--great characters, great story, great writing as usual.
March 29, 2024
Government Overreach
As always, Joe Pickett gave us an adventure to keep us glued to the story, but what a mess this one was. I usually really appreciate the fact that Joe is a rule following Boy Scout, but if he were a real friend of mine I might have slapped him upside the head for the tickets he gave out.
Not to give away too much of the story, but Joe found himself in a situation with two brothers that was uncomfortable before he got to their very claustrophobic camp covered with obviously poached animal bones. One brother had been fishing and these fellows had practically nothing except the food they caught out in the middle of nowhere… on government land of course, they lured him there to look for their non existent licenses. Needless to say Joe is gonna be Joe and it all goes downhill from there.
As always, C. J. Box builds a complex story with interesting characters that have backstories making them not only real to you, but fascinating as well. I consistently give his stories five stars, usually for the creativity, great storytelling and quality writing and this is no exception. I didn’t enjoy the ending, but sometimes real life is like that too.
As always, Joe Pickett gave us an adventure to keep us glued to the story, but what a mess this one was. I usually really appreciate the fact that Joe is a rule following Boy Scout, but if he were a real friend of mine I might have slapped him upside the head for the tickets he gave out.
Not to give away too much of the story, but Joe found himself in a situation with two brothers that was uncomfortable before he got to their very claustrophobic camp covered with obviously poached animal bones. One brother had been fishing and these fellows had practically nothing except the food they caught out in the middle of nowhere… on government land of course, they lured him there to look for their non existent licenses. Needless to say Joe is gonna be Joe and it all goes downhill from there.
As always, C. J. Box builds a complex story with interesting characters that have backstories making them not only real to you, but fascinating as well. I consistently give his stories five stars, usually for the creativity, great storytelling and quality writing and this is no exception. I didn’t enjoy the ending, but sometimes real life is like that too.
October 18, 2021
I picked up this book because I was traveling in Wyoming and South Dakota and wanted background reading about or set in Yellowstone. This fit the bill as far as current status of the state parks and it's the story of Joe Pickett ending his shift in the Wyoming parks as a temporary game warden. When we got to the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone we were told by the tour guides that in 1864 when they were setting up these parks to protect the nature, flora and fauna they started out hiring individuals but the parks were too big to ensure safety to both people and the livestock so finally back then they had the Buffalo Soldiers guard and keep safety in Yellowstone. Anyway, now we have park rangers and of course these lands are Federal lands.
The book starts off as a nail biting thriller with Pickett facing some formidable foes. I mean my heart was racing and I couldn't put the book down wondering if he was going to survive these superhuman characters.
Then we see him at the hospital, all traces of what happen in the park have disappeared and Pickett's story is not believed by his superiors and other Federal agents.
We see Pickett at home interacting with his wife and daughters and we get to see that his a caring husband and devoted dad. But the story slows down quite a lot with the scenes of domestic drama and family dynamics. Which is interesting background. However, later on in the book it because more of a manifesto about big government, the feds, the incompetency and corrupt officials. Which we know exist in every form of government. However, the story comes to a crawl and there are several gaps - I mean the fact that their property was expropriated by the Feds doesn't mean the twin brothers have the right to kill people just because they want to be left alone. There are also the questions about the long distance runner, why did she decide to disappear and what were the problems with her dad. So there were a lot of issues left unanswered. I was kind of let down at the end.
But definitely read a couple more of his books specially since I loved Wyoming.
The book starts off as a nail biting thriller with Pickett facing some formidable foes. I mean my heart was racing and I couldn't put the book down wondering if he was going to survive these superhuman characters.
Then we see him at the hospital, all traces of what happen in the park have disappeared and Pickett's story is not believed by his superiors and other Federal agents.
We see Pickett at home interacting with his wife and daughters and we get to see that his a caring husband and devoted dad. But the story slows down quite a lot with the scenes of domestic drama and family dynamics. Which is interesting background. However, later on in the book it because more of a manifesto about big government, the feds, the incompetency and corrupt officials. Which we know exist in every form of government. However, the story comes to a crawl and there are several gaps - I mean the fact that their property was expropriated by the Feds doesn't mean the twin brothers have the right to kill people just because they want to be left alone. There are also the questions about the long distance runner, why did she decide to disappear and what were the problems with her dad. So there were a lot of issues left unanswered. I was kind of let down at the end.
But definitely read a couple more of his books specially since I loved Wyoming.
August 13, 2010
Joe Pickett, a Wyoming game warden, comes across a pair of evil brothers hiding out illegally in a remote mountainous area of the State forest. He faces many dangerous challenges, and as usual his stubborn determination to do the right thing with little help from inept and corrupt law enforcement saves the day. The formula works because of his grounding in his family, a savvy wife and wise kids. A man of few words, his actions speak louder than words. We all wish we could have his moral compass. I am addicted to this series, so take my bias into account.
March 21, 2018
Tenth installment in the Joe Pickett series is a worthy entry. There are three fairly distinct parts that add up to a solid story. Box continues to weave violent stories with the story of a good family man trying to balance both sides. Great villains in this one. Some what disappointing ending. Good amount of Nate Romanowski.
February 5, 2022
The best Joe Picket novel I’ve read so far. 5 stars all the way. Favorites List.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,291 reviews