I needed to figure out a way to start reading series where I am not current or the series is finished but haven’t read them yet. So it’s a way to commit myself to read my backlist, particularly series. Of course, I chose a series to begin which I didn’t put in my graphic. lol
I have been wanting to read the Joe Pickett series for awhile after reading the first one. The initial books I read in ebook format because the narrator David Chandler was in my head for another series. There is a similarity in the two author’s work with a law enforcement main character in a gorgeous natural area. I was out of time and did a read – listen of Winterkill and was able to move to audio. The stories about the young and hard-working Pickett family are set in Wyoming.
Winterkill by CJ Box Narrator: David Chandler
Series: Joe Pickett #3
Published by Recorded Books on June 20, 2013
Genres: Mystery
Length: 11 hours, 25 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
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It's an hour away from darkness, a bitter winter storm is raging, and Joe Pickett is deep in the forest edging Battle Mountain, shotgun in his left hand, his truck's detached steering wheel handcuffed to his right—and Lamar Gardiner's arrow-riddled corpse splayed against the tree in front of him. Lamar's murder and the sudden onslaught of the snowstorm warn: Get off the mountain. But Joe knows this episode is far from over. And when his own daughter gets caught up in his hunt for the killer, Joe will stop at nothing to get her back...
The Wyoming setting is breathtaking and brutal with is harsh realities of life. Wildlife, weather and terrain all bring challenges in the remote area. The beauty and solitude of nature is majestic.
In this story, much is happening both in the professional and personal lives. Joe and MaryBeth have their 2 girls and one ward, April. Now April’s mother has come back to take her after abandoning her 4 years ago.
Two federal employees are murdered. A new federal district manager is sent in who’s a real piece of work. Even the local state people were outrageous. Joe, rightfully, doesn’t trust the federal or local people in this case. He does his own research. The “sides” are so caught up in their hate of each other, they can’t see the truth.
I worry terribly for Joe with limited equipment, no backup, and he faces hardened criminals, in terrible natural disasters, and all on his own.
Winterkill is suspenseful and tragic. It’s not a story I’ll forget soon.
Trophy Hunt by CJ Box Narrator: David Chandler
Series: Joe Pickett #4
on April 13, 2011
Genres: Mystery
Length: 11 hours, 1 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Goodreads
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It's an idyllic late-summer day in Saddlestring, Wyoming, and game warden Joe Pickett is fly-fishing with his two daughters when he stumbles upon the mutilated body of a moose. Whatever - or whoever - attacked the animal was ruthless: half the animal's face has been sliced away, the skin peeled back from the flesh. Shaken by the sight, Joe starts to investigate what he hopes in an isolated incident.
Days later, after the discovery of a small herd of mutilated cattle, Joe realizes this is something much more terrifying than he could have imagined. Local authorities are quick to label the attacks the work of a grizzly bear, but Joe knows otherwise. The cuts on the moose and the cattle were too clean, too precise, to have been made by jagged teeth. Are the animals only practice for a killer about to move on to another, more challenging prey?
Joe Pickett gets into the worst situations. I am just glad Nate has his back. It seems like every time he and MaryBeth make some friends something goes wrong. They have good instincts even though they don’t get everything right. Usually, there is just more than one thing happening and it isn’t easy to untangle them.
In Trophy Hunt, wild animals and cows are getting mutilated in odd ways. Even though some aren’t found for days, they are not being eaten by wildlife which is odd. Then things shift to humans getting hurt or killed. It takes a lot of research to get to the motives and who is involved. For some reason, the FBI, the sheriff and others on the task force don’t get any ideas and it’s up to Joe to track down the killers. I hope Joe gets to work with some more competent people soon.
Narration:
David Chandler is a favorite narrator. He is totally the voice for the Cork O’Connor series by William Kent Krueger. I wasn’t sure I could listen to these because the voice is so much the other series to me. Now I am comfortable with him for these characters in this world. I seem to be able to enjoy him in multiple series without getting him stuck in my head as just one character. I was able to listen comfortably at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip HERE
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 23-COYER
I used to run a September is for Sequels challenge for this very same reason, but haven’t done it in awhile as the participation kind of dwindled a few years after I started it. I have so many series to do this with myself!
You are welcome to join me in my Sunday Series and make your own goals. I’m trying to make it a monthly feature.
I can’t wait to get back to this series (listened to the first book). While Chandler reminded me of Cork initially, the character and environment is so different, I lost the connection and audio now works for me. Glad you’re continuing to enjoy💜
yes I was able to switch to audio now. I wasn’t sure but it’s ok now. Probably also because I’m not listening to any Cork O’Connor at the moment helps.
Great progress on one of your series to finish, Anne! I want to read these, too. I just started my first of your Cork O’Connor recs so maybe after I get through those I can hit this series. So many good ones out there!
So did you love Cork? It only gets better and better as the series continues.
I don’t usually have any trouble listening to a narrator read different books/series but I get it. I think that I read one of these books at some point and would love to tackle the series someday.
Thanks Carole. I only have trouble when I listen to a narrator only on one series for awhile and nowhere else. Or if there voice is very distinctive. Or if the voice sounds different than the voice in my head for the characters like too young or too old for example. Lorelei King is Charley Davidson so I can’t listen to the Mercy Thompson series. I’d read like half the books before I started listening to audio, so I read Mercy on ebooks. There’s a few others. Some aspects remind me of Longmire because they are both set in rural areas of Wyoming. I’m enjoying the books.
I have several books by this author on my TBR so I’m glad to see you enjoyed it. I definitely can relate to another narrator’s voice belonging to another series. I can’t listen to the Murder, She Wrote books because I can’t get over it not being Angela Lansbury.
Exactly. It should be Angela Lansbury for sure! I like these but they are gritty, bad things do happen.
😀
This is another author I’d like to try, although I think I’d be frustrated by Joe’s job situation. Not having trustworthy support.
yes I feel so worried for Joe all the time. But the stories are interesting with a combo of small town and remote area prejudices happening.