Stone Cold

Stone Cold by C.J. Box is another fun outing with Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett. He gets sent to a different game warden's territory to find out whether a local wealthy landowner is behind the assassinations of some rich, difficult to convict frauds, one of whom is reminiscent of Bernie Madoff. Wyoming's Governor Rulon believes in Joe, and looks once more for him to get to the bottom of a tough problem:

"You've always had this ability to get into the middle of things. And when you do, you look at the situation in a clear-eyed way. At times it's annoyed me, and I just wish you'd gone on with your business. But it is a unique gift, and I recognize that. . . . Joe, you're my range rider - a seeker of truth. You're my man on the ground, show more like before. Only this time, you can't get directly involved in the situation and you need to be wary not to embarrass me."

Joe's honesty and integrity in the face of pressures to bend like everyone else are major aspects of his attractiveness as the main character in this series. His ability to unwisely annoy other people, his sometimes clumsy responses to problems in his family, and his occasional Stephanie Plum-like ineptness, help keep him from achieving only boring sainthood in the eyes of the reader. In this one, his friend, the complicated but deadly efficient Nate Romanowski, may be involved in the murders-for-hire. Joe also is trampling on the turf of a fellow game warden. Although he promises the Governor, the FBI, and most importantly, his wife, not to get directly involved, that of course is exactly what he's drawn into doing. Meanwhile, his adopted teen daughter April is swooning over a local rodeo champ who Joe suspects of being a rapist, and his college daughter Sheridan is worried about a darkly asocial student in her dorm who seems to have Columbine tendencies. These other stories are smoothly integrated, and one in particular leaves room for development in the next book.

Joe isn't very good with his gun, and as always attacks the problem with his wits and doggedness, rather than brawn and firepower. I was ready for more when this one ended, and look forward to the next chapter in his adventures. show less

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader as part of a Quick Takes Catch-up post, emphasizing pithiness, not thoroughness.
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This was a good way to bring Nate back into the series if nothing else. The story was okay, and seeing Joe balance out working for his new administrator and Gov. Rulon was fun. I was less-than-excited about Sheridan’s storyline, it was good to see her in action, and any way that Box can do that is okay with me—I just wanted more, I guess.

Bringing Missy in (and Box might as well have saved time with that reveal, anyone could’ve seen that coming 5 miles away) didn’t do much for me at all. The series really needs less of her, and I don’t get Box’s need to use her as much as he does.

A decent show more installment in this series—nothing special, but nothing bad, either. show less

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 (through Library Thing Early Review program) I put every other book aside, even stopped in the middle of one I show more was reading, and gleefully started reading STONE COLD. Not many authors or characters can make me do that. show less

I keep waiting for CJ Box to start losing his edge as many other authors have done as their series get a little long in the tooth, but not Box. He keeps it fresh and exciting every time. Unbelievable how much trouble one Game Warden in Wyoming can find himself but when you throw in a highly unconventional governor who happens to appreciate Joe's ability to insinuate himself into trouble wherever he goes, and Joe's buddy Nate it's anyone's guess what the final body (and state vehicle) count will be. Most shocking in this book is the return of the most villainous character of the entire series, which I can't expand on without spoiling it for others. Already can't wait for the next book to come out to see what becomes of Nate, and if show more anything comes of the lie he told Joe at the end of the book. I recommend this book 100%, but start with book 1 and work your way through. You'll be glad you did. show less

I always have to read CJ Box books very quickly because I so want to get Joe Pickett out of whatever terrible trouble he's gotten into this time. (And if that's a spoiler, you haven't read any of the other books in this series!) in this book Joe, a Wyoming State Game Warden and sometime associate of Governor Rulon, is sent by the FBI to the eastern part of the state. His ostensible goal is to deliver a load of ring-neck pheasants to supplement the local population depleted by a harsh winter and help the local warden set up some walk-in hunting areas for the public on private land. His real assignment is to look into a mysterious rich guy who has bought up most of the area and, as it turns out, supports most of its people. The mayhem show more begins immediately, and continues almost to the last page. It's no secret that our old friend Nate Romanowski turns up again, but there are surprises in his story, and other surprises await in this thrilling installment of the life of Joe Pickett. show less

Wyoming may be a small town in a big state, but there were far too many coincidences in this for me.

Nate shows up. "I'm not a murderer, Joe." WTF. Yes. Yes, you are.

So Nate can also fly a plane like a pro now. Without ever having done it before. Nate is Neo now. I know that Nate is a trope in this genre, but this is ridiculous.

Missy? Seriously? How does her new smart and savvy businessman beau not know about her past? That she murdered her last husband?

Despite the flaws, I still like the way Box writes and the Pickett family. Box has a way of describing ordinary life that is both humorous and heartfelt.

She looked out at the passing trees with a kind of stoic dumbness unique to Labradors, and he was grateful he owned a dog not bright show more enough to be frightened. Fine powdered snow covered her snout."

Daisy is a great dog. show less

If you've read C. J. Box before, Breaking Point (A Joe Pickett Novel), you'll settle into this one just like into a fine used saddle. C. J. Box's characters, Joe Pickett and Nate Romanowski, bring you back to the fold in no time. If not, settle your Stetson on your head and get ready for an exciting ride. Wyoming State Game Warden Joe Pickett is called in by the Governor to investigate and report on a wealthy rancher in a remote county. Wolfgang Templeton may have ties to the disappearance and possible murder of several shady financial magnates across the country. The cold snow and hot lead soon start flying. Well, if you know Joe, you know he will soon be waist deep in it and fighting his way out. Especially when he finds a connection show more to his friend Nate, who has been known to jump over the line between good and evil before. This is a great tale set in the snowy hills of Wyoming. It delivers a great ride. Book provided for review by Amazon Vine. show less