The good news is that Joe Pickett has his job back, after his last adventure in The Disappeared. The bad news is that he's come to learn that a drone is killing wildlife—and the drone belongs to a mysterious and wealthy man whose son is dating Joe's own daughter, Lucy.
When Joe tries to lay down the rules for the drone operator, he's asked by the FBI and the DOJ to stand down, which only makes him more suspicious. Meanwhile, bodies are piling up in and around Joe's district in shocking numbers. He begins to fear that a pack of four vicious killers working on behalf of the Sinaloa cartel known as the Wolf Pack has arrived. Their target seems to be the mystery man and everyone—including Joe, Nate, and others—who is associated with him.
Teaming up with a female game warden (based on a real person, one of the few female game wardens at work in Wyoming today) to confront these assassins, Joe finds himself in the most violent and dangerous predicament he's ever faced.
The series
In the rugged expanses of Wyoming’s wilderness, where the land’s raw beauty and unforgiving nature are as much characters as the people who inhabit it, Joe Pickett patrols the borders of justice. The Joe Pickett series by C.J. Box follows the moral compass of this tenacious game warden, whose deep-rooted sense of right and wrong constantly tests him against the harsh realities of the world around him.
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What sets this series apart isn’t just the high-stakes adventures but the quiet tension that builds between the sweeping landscapes and the intimate, often dangerous conflicts Pickett faces. Each novel immerses readers in the untamed wilds of the American West, where crime, environmental battles, and deeply personal choices intertwine. Joe’s world is one of shifting allegiances, hidden secrets, and unpredictable challenges, making every turn in the plot feel as precarious as the mountain cliffs he scales.
The series introduces a captivating cast of characters, from the steadfast Joe himself to his equally complex allies like Nate Romanowski, a falconer with a shadowy past. These characters feel like living, breathing entities shaped by both the land and the challenges they face. Whether battling wildfires, confronting ruthless criminals, or uncovering political conspiracies, Joe Pickett remains an unwavering force—his journey is as much about internal struggles as the external ones.
C.J. Box’s writing style pulses with tension and authenticity, perfectly reflecting the unforgiving environment where the stakes are never just about survival but about the choices that define who we are. As Joe grapples with the consequences of his actions, readers are taken on a suspense-filled ride through a world where nothing is as simple as it seems, and the boundaries between good and evil are often blurred.
For those who crave more than just a detective story, Joe Pickett offers a visceral experience—a journey into the heart of a man who is constantly challenged by the world, his conscience, and the wilderness he’s sworn to protect.
#1 · 2001Open Season 
#2 · 2002Savage Run 
#3 · 2003Winterkill 
#4 · 2004Trophy Hunt 
#4.5 · 2005Dull Knife 
#5 · 2005Out of Range 
#6 · 2006In Plain Sight 
#6.5 · 2006The Master Falconer 
#7 · 2007Free Fire 
#8 · 2008Blood Trail 
#9 · 2009Below Zero 
#10 · 2010Nowhere to Run 
#11 · 2011Cold Wind 
#12 · 2012Force of Nature 
#13 · 2013Breaking Point 
#14 · 2014Stone Cold 
#14.5 · 2014Shots Fired 
#15 · 2015Endangered 
#16 · 2016Off the Grid 
#17 · 2017Vicious Circle 
#18 · 2018The Disappeared 
#19 · 2019Wolf Pack 
#20 · 2020Long Range 
#21 · 2021Dark Sky 
#22 · 2022Shadows Reel 
#23 · 2023Storm Watch 
#24 · 2024Three-Inch Teeth 
#25 · 2025Battle Mountain 
#26 · 2026The Crossroads 
#27 · 2027The Missing 
#28 · 2028Joe Pickett Book 28 Be the first reviewer
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