A very fast-paced novel that truly had no slow parts. This was the first C. J. Box novel I have read, and it made me want to read more. The relationship between a father and daughter as mature investigators who work together to solve a crime.with international ties. A few humorous parts, but overall the message of saving our natural resources came through loud and clear. The setting of this novel, however, kept bringing to mind the old TV show "Twin Peaks." I guess from the snow and cabins and outdoors.

It’s January in Wyoming, Joe Pickett’s least favorite month of the year. Twenty below zero temperatures and strong winds keep away the hunters and restrict the locals, including the game warden, to mostly indoor activities. For Joe it’s a time to catch up on all the paperwork that goes with his bureaucratic job. He also is monitoring the progress of rebuilding his state-owned home which was burned to the ground last fall by a family foe. He suspects the state is moving deliberately slow on replacing his home, because his boss believes Joe’s reputation for destroying state owned pickup trucks has spread to his state supplied house. So, Joe, his wife, and younger daughter Lucy are living in a rented condo and Joe has been issued a small temporary office in the Wyoming Department of Transportation building just outside Saddlestring.
Joe has mixed feelings when the governor calls and asks to meet in his state-owned jet on the tarmac of the nearly abandon airport near Saddlestring. Joe had done special projects for former Governor Rulon and the new governor, Coulter Allen likes the idea of a “range rider” to clean up problems around the state. Allen’s problems, however, tend to be political in nature, and Joe, when presented those opportunities, just tells the governor, “I don’t do political.” This time, however, Governor Allen asks Joe to get involved in the investigation of the disappearance of a British celebrity, Kate Shelford-Longden. Kate had spent a week vacationing the previous August at a Wyoming dude ranch/ resort and then disappeared before leaving the country. Governor Allen is tired of the bad press this is causing and has decided some fresh eyes, Joe’s, could help solve the case. Coincidently, Joe’s oldest daughter Sheridan, is working at the Silver Creek Ranch in Saratoga, Wyoming, the very ranch from where Kate has gone missing. Also, coincidently, the game warden for that district has mysteriously abandoned his post, so Joe can sleuth the area undercover as a temporary game warden. So Joe, even though he doesn’t like the new governor, and even though he doesn’t see his skills as a game warden fitting a missing persons investigation, looks forward to escaping the boring bureaucratic paperwork storm he is facing at home. Plus, he misses his daughter and welcomes the opportunity to visit her.
Meanwhile, Nate Romanowski calls and asks a favor of Joe. A friend of Nate’s and fellow falconer is having trouble getting Federal permission to use the endangered golden eagle for hunting overpopulated wildlife. Nate suggests he meet Joe in Saratoga to explore alternatives. After learning the scope of Joe’s investigation, Nate, naturally prone to conspiracy theories, becomes convinced that the mysterious departure of the local game warden, the disappearance of British celebrity, and the Federal government’s reluctance to allow golden eagles to be trained to hunt are all related. He decides to join Joe in his investigation. Nate soon discovers two possible sources that may explain all of the strange goings on in Saratoga. One, a power company has invested billions to install hundreds of wind turbines throughout the valley and may somehow be protecting their investment and two, Joe’s mother-in-law, Missy Vankuren, who despises Joe, may be trying to end Joe’s career and marriage by getting him involved in a no win situation. Her current husband happens to be a defense attorney known for his political support of Governor Allen. Either way, Nate senses that Joe is in real trouble… and Nate’s senses are rarely wrong.
This is my favorite C.J. Box novel to date. I like the way Box includes all our old favorite characters, Nate, Missy, Sheridan, and even ex-Governor Rulon and gives us some insights into current issues like the fate of the golden eagle, switching from coal to wind as an energy source, unemployment in rural Wyoming, and the curious popularity of ‘romance vacation’ ranching. I love Joe Pickett and the way C.J. Box takes this dinosaur of a character in Podunk U.S.A. and weaves modern day issues into his world. For example, without using Donald Trump’s name, Box describes Coulter Allen, the fictional governor of Wyoming, as much the same in character as Trump, causing us to long for people beyond fiction with the morals and values of a Joe Pickett. When did reading about honorable characters become escapism?
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance look.

A wealthy business woman from England on vacation at a posh guest ranch in Wyoming never showed up at the airport for her flight home and hadn’t been heard from since she checked out. It seemed there were no leads.
The governor hired Joe Puckett to see if he could solve the mystery. Joe couldn’t figure out why he was called to solve the mystery but off he goes. And of course his sidekick Nate shows up to help. What they find themselves in the middle of couldn’t have anything to do with a missing woman or could it?

Another fantastic book by C J Box. He is one of my absolute favorite authors. I love the continuation of the Joe Pickett story, and really enjoyed how this new novel featured his daughter.prominently. The ending was such a cliff hanger....I hope the next n the series comes out soon!

Thank you to the publisher for the early reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

C.J. Box is hugely popular at my library. Great mystery series that appeals to both men and women.

I'm a big fan of Joe Pickett and eagerly look forward to the next chapter in my favorite Wyoming game warden's life.

This one is good, but not as good as some of his previous works. I will say the description of the dead of winter in Wyoming is so well written that I almost put on an extra sweater while reading. Beautiful country and a good mystery keep this one of the best mystery series around.

Highly recommended!

Due to be published in March 2018.

Another great read from Box. This one really kept me guessing. Also, love all the descriptions of Wyoming. Highly recommend this book