Helpful Score: 1
The Joe Pickett stories just keep getting better! And Nate Romanowski, though not the main character, is by far the more intriguing. Joe is the "every man" we'd all like to be -- moral and predictably straight-laced. Nate always does what he believes is right, but his ethical framework for such decisions is unique.
Box has not only created endearing and enduring characters, he has also found a way to set his stories in a wild and beautiful outdoor environment, creating vivid visual images. He even manages to sneak in some political and environmental issues, though never in a proselytizing way.
When this book arrived in the mail (free from the publisher for review) I put every other book aside, even stopped in the middle of one I was reading, and gleefully started reading STONE COLD. Not many authors or characters can make me do that.
Box has not only created endearing and enduring characters, he has also found a way to set his stories in a wild and beautiful outdoor environment, creating vivid visual images. He even manages to sneak in some political and environmental issues, though never in a proselytizing way.
When this book arrived in the mail (free from the publisher for review) I put every other book aside, even stopped in the middle of one I was reading, and gleefully started reading STONE COLD. Not many authors or characters can make me do that.
Helpful Score: 1
I love this Joe Pickett series!!! The family, the friend 'Nate', and Box comes up with very interesting stories about game and wildlife.
I don't like Nevada Barr's series of Anna Pidgeon at all but this Joe Pickett is great!
I don't like Nevada Barr's series of Anna Pidgeon at all but this Joe Pickett is great!
I have been a fan of this series for a while, but, found this book to be ...almost irritating. I found myself getting annoyed by the main character, it seemed his personality traits were being exaggerated to "move the story along", and , for me, this turned him into a not very like-able character. Also, it ended quickly, without fully exploring the consequences of what happened. Not, if CJ Box would start a spin off series with the Nate Romanowski character, I would be more interested in following that series that reading anymore of Joe Pickett.
Terrific series
I have enjoyed this series immensely. This is the last one that I have in the series although the next in line, Endangered, is already on the best seller lists. I may have to get that one from the library. Anyway, Stone Cold was another great outing from C.J. Box. In this one, Joe Pickett is sent to northeastern Wyoming by the Governor and the FBI to try to get an understanding of what is happening in the county. A wealthy stranger has bought up most of the county and has a huge ranch and game packing operation there. But is he also someone who is available as a hired killer? Joe is sent there to supposedly help out the local game warden...but is the game warden also dirty? And is Nate Romanowski one of the hired killers? This one was non-stop action as usual and also included a subplot involving Joe's daughter, Sheridan, who is a junior at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. Sheridan suspects one of the students of possibly being unstable and a threat to the other students. Joe's mother-in-law, Missy, also turns up in the plot along with Nate, who was absent from the last outing, Breaking Point. Overall, another high recommendation for this one.
C.J.Box has done it again! I love his Joe Pickett Series and his friend Nate is my favorite! As usual, this was an exciting story and was glad to see Nate played a big part. Looking forward to the next book.
Game warden Joe Pickett is back on the job in the 14th of this series. There's just barely enough backstory to make this an entry point for a new reader; probably best if they start earlier in the series though. Fans of the series will find lots to love. Box always brings up some interesting bits about politics and environmentalism in the West, although mostly you want to read these for the action and not dwell too much on the details. And I'm grateful Joe only killed another truck and not a horse in this one.
Joe's had his ups and downs as the game warden but he now has his job and seniority back, although he's also been tapped to be a troubleshooter for the Governor, with the unwilling knowledge of his boss. Now he's been sent into a small town to check into the local big shot there's a suspicion that he makes his money by arranging assassinations.
As usual, Joe is incapable of just watching and observing when laws are broken, so his cover is blown almost instantly. No surprise that Nate Romanowski will show up here too, but I was definitely surprised to see another character show up. Lots of evil villains and townspeople ready to look the other way.
There's a couple side plots involving Joe's daughters as well. I didn't care for the bit about Sheridan at university: interesting start, but the attempted rescue at the end was completely unconvincing.
Joe's had his ups and downs as the game warden but he now has his job and seniority back, although he's also been tapped to be a troubleshooter for the Governor, with the unwilling knowledge of his boss. Now he's been sent into a small town to check into the local big shot there's a suspicion that he makes his money by arranging assassinations.
As usual, Joe is incapable of just watching and observing when laws are broken, so his cover is blown almost instantly. No surprise that Nate Romanowski will show up here too, but I was definitely surprised to see another character show up. Lots of evil villains and townspeople ready to look the other way.
There's a couple side plots involving Joe's daughters as well. I didn't care for the bit about Sheridan at university: interesting start, but the attempted rescue at the end was completely unconvincing.
Everything about the rich stranger is a mystery: the massive, isolated ranch in the remote Black Hills of Wyoming, 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 the truth. But he finds out a lot more than he 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. He doesn't frighten Joe at all. The other man is another story...
Joe Pickett, still officially a game warden but now mostly a troubleshooter for the governor, is assigned to find out the truth. But he finds out a lot more than he 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. He doesn't frighten Joe at all. The other man is another story...
As usual this Joe Pickett series that I enjoy was a quick read. There was lots of action and the book flowed good, as Joe always manages to get himself in a pickle especially when Governor Rulon calls in a favor. I would have under normal circumstances given this book a 5 as it was a page turner and explosive. Yes there is a BUT, and that was the reason for a 4 star review. I am beginning to see a pattern in a lot of C.J. Box's books, and I hate to be critical, and here i comes the BUT, his books seem to be following a pattern and similarity. Governor calls in a favor or local government is corrupt, then Joe gets in trouble sorting it out, then his friend Nate Romanowski comes in to bail him out. Usually too on the side there is a problem in his family with one of the girls, or bad guy is connected to the family. And in this one the mother-in-law shows up to throw in a twist as has happened in the past. If you have read this series in order I am sure you have seen the pattern too. It is starting to get somewhat predictable, still have to admit I enjoy the series and books because of the familar characers, still it would be nice to change the pattern and veer off the beat and path just a little.
