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.
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. But I’ve become totally comfortable with the narrator’s Joe Pickett voices.
Stone Cold by CJ Box Narrator: David Chandler
Series: Joe Pickett #14
Published by Recorded Books on March 11, 2014
Genres: Mystery
Length: 10 hours, 49 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
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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.
Joe has been working as a game warden, living in their state house back in Saddlestring. Now after about a year, the governor has another project for him. He is sent to another region to find out about a wealthy investor who has purchased much of the land in that county over the past 5 years. The last federal employee sent died in a fire at his hotel cottage.
The mission had bad situation written all over it. Joe is not skilled with weapons, has no backup, in fact, the governor would deny he sent him. Going as a game warden, he can fly under the radar, although he is actually teamed up with the FBI. Right away, as Joe tried to do the game warden job, the game warden there warns him to stop. Apparently, some people in the county are above the law. It goes downhill from there as he finds more violations. I worried horribly that the dog Daisy would be killed. Thankfully, Daisy was fine.
The investor plays god with the people of the county, granting money and favors as long as they do as he wishes. He has a few businesses. One is a big hotel where hunters stay to come and hunt on his property. Another is a meat processing plant where he processes game for the hunters and himself. And he also has a hit man to service other wealthy clients who have someone they want out of the way.
Joe figures out they have bugged his room. I think he was insane to stir the pot making him think he was taking action against them. They make stronger efforts to remove Joe. Nate is also in the mix having done some hit man work for the investor. Another old enemy shows up and green lights Joe’s murder as well. Some villains just don’t go away until they are dead.
At home, Joe is worried about April who has taken up with a boy believed to have raped girls. She had been doing better at school and working at a Western store. Sheridan has her own problem as an RA at college with a strange boy at college who scares her. Then two other boys in her hall find all their guns missing.
The pace is quick and terrifying for the possible downfall for the characters I’ve come to love. I worried for Joe and his family, and also Nate. Although Nate often does things which are more vigilante than legal, he does follow a code of justice. It’s a good thing Joe is smart, and has research backup from Mary Beth.
Shots Fired by CJ Box Narrator: David Chandler
Series: Joe Pickett #14.5
Published by Recorded Books on July 15, 2014
Genres: Mystery
Length: 7 hours, 20 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
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Over the course of eighteen books, C. J. Box has been consistently hailed for his brilliant storytelling and extraordinary skills at creating character, suspense, and a deep sense of place. All of those strengths are in the ten riveting stories—three of them never before published—that make up Shots Fired.
Shots Fired is an anthology with all the short stories in the series. I always really appreciate when this happens for a series. There were also tales about others in the area and world where Joe lives. Three stories were new.
I appreciated the stories with Joe and Nate the most. I liked all the stories but for me, those were the best. The timing of reading is fine within the series. But I did really want to get on to Endangered after Stone Cold. So I might put it a different place in the reading order.
Endangered by CJ Box Narrator: David Chandler
Series: Joe Pickett #15
Published by Recorded Books on March 10, 2015
Genres: Mystery, Thriller
Length: 10 hours, 21 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
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She was gone. Joe Pickett had good reason to dislike Dallas Cates, even if he was a rodeo champion, and now he has even more—Joe’s eighteen-year-old ward, April, has run off with him.
And then comes even worse news: The body of a girl has been found in a ditch along the highway—alive, but just barely, the victim of blunt force trauma. It is April, and the doctors aren’t sure if she’ll recover. Cates denies having anything to do with it—says she ran away from him, too—and there’s evidence that points to another man. But Joe knows in his gut who’s responsible. What he doesn’t know is the kind of danger he’s about to encounter. Cates is bad enough, but Cates’s family is like none Joe has ever met before.
I was thrilled to read another intense adventure in the life of Joe Pickett. I was so worried for April and Nate and Liv. April had run off with Dallas in the last book and ends up beaten and left for dead in a ditch. Nate finally gets out of prison with all kinds of terms and gets shot. April and Nate are in ICU in the same hospital.
Joe has a political hot potato as some grouse get killed. Then he’s determined on the investigation into April’s attacker. He can’t seem to find out anything about Nate but his girlfriend Liv is missing. Joe figures everything out in his own way. Although the governor muses as to whether the events are connected.
The action was intense. The villains are brutal and fortunately, stupid. It was terrifying how close they came to succeeding. I was so happy with how smart Joe and Liv were.
I am absolutely not sorry for the consequences to the government bullies or the criminals. I can be petty that way when it’s fiction. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
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:
- 24-COYER
Lovely to see that this series is still a favorite. Another one I need to resume. Great review, Anne💜
Thank you – these are good and intense to read. You got me started on them.
I have never read anything by CJ Box before.. thanks for sharing.
I’m enjoying them. There is also a tv series which I haven’t watched but my daughter says is violent.
New to me!
There’s also a tv series. Which I haven’t watched.
I’m always seeing this series but have never picked one up. Glad you are enjoying them. I see Cainsville on your list. That’s one of my faves!
Thanks Barb. I think you might like it. He always has a dog too! There’s also a tv series which my daughter found too violent. I hope to get to Cainsville.