Nowhere to Run

This is probably the best book in the series so far. This is a gripping story.

In this case, the brutal antagonists are beyond Sovereign citizens who just want to be alone. Joe becomes too deep in his quest to "just do his job" and exhibits more than zeal in his attempts at treating everyone equal in the eyes of the law. His inability to admit that he can't handle a situation by himself, lie and back off from a challenging situation get him into a world of hurt, both physical and mental.

But, Joe's long road in development keeps happening. He's beginning to trust his own abilities. He even shows Nate a thing or two. It's taken a long time, but his confidence enters the ring.

I look forward to the next book. The series is kind of show more ridiculous in a "Murder, She Wrote" kind of way; everywhere Joe goes, a fresh body turns up. But, I suppose I'm in that age bracket now, so off I go, becoming my mother. show less

I really think you read Joe Pickett novels of you have a spot in your heart for Wyoming and you want a story and an author that is unabashedly "Wyoming," with everything good and bad that comes from it.

That being said, this was my first C.J. Box novel in several years, and it was fun to come back. Some clever turns in the story that kept me reading. Indeed, it was enough of a page turner that I finished the book far faster than most novels I read.

My favorite game warden Joe Pickett puts himself in some particularly dangerous situations in this story and I was really nervous for him for most of the book. What a way to amp up the suspense, CJ Box! Because I really felt it while I was reading.

This story finds Joe near the end of his time away from his family, so he is eager to complete this last job and head back home. But of course things don't go the way they're supposed to for Joe and he finds himself tangled up with some really bad guys...or are they? The Grimm Brothers are exceptional survivalists, and what makes them extra dangerous is that they're willing to give everything up for what they believe in-including their lives. So when they attack Joe, they really don't stop show more until The Big Event happens and they have to make some choices.

This story features government seizure of land, individual rights vs the rights of the government, and what might happen if the government would just leave everyone the hell alone to live their lives in peace. A lot of food for thought in this one. (My husband are reading this series together, and I love the discussion we had about the big issues in this book.)

Nate Romanowski is helping Joe out, but in a complete turn here: Joe and Nate don't agree on what should be done, creating a lot of tension and disagreement. I'm really eager to see how everything resolves for them as I continue to read the series. But for all of Nate's loyalty to Joe, this one really surprised and delighted me. Joe and Nate are both right in their strong, opposing beliefs on what's going on with this case and the bad guys, and I also found myself imagining myself in Joe's situation and with the bad guys situation. Really great story here, nice tight writing by CJ Box. He always delivers something compelling for us.

Truly, there is no better series than this one and I'm all in on it. These books are just as amazing now that I've finished the tenth story as they were in the beginning and I just don't see this changing anytime soon.

Audiobook Notes: No shock here, but I listened to the audio for this one while following along with a book. I feel like the head of the Joe Pickett/David Chandler fan club. There is no better narrator for these stories. Chandler IS the voice of Joe Pickett.. And I loved the way he read Nate Romanowski's gravelly voice and also the voices of the bad guys: the Grimm Brothers. For all of the suspense I felt while I was listening, Chandler really amplified it with his stellar narration, which made this book really exciting from start to finish. As soon as I click "post" for this review, I'm buying the audiobook for the next book in this series.

Title: Nowhere To Run by C.J. Box
Series: Joe Pickett #10
Narrator: David Chandler
Length: 10 hours, 13 minutes, Unabridged
Publisher: Recorded Books show less

I'm torn. While reading this book, I really wanted to plan a backpacking trip to Wyoming. But the story is bland, and I was really turned off at the end by the convoluted BS the author had to go through to turn this into a political screed against "socialism." Militias don't give a shit about socialism, they are way more pissed off by corporatism in government. And in fact, it was corporatism that was the enemy of the antagonists in this story, too bad the author had to screw things up to make weak political statements. Won't be reading another CJ Box novel, that's for sure.

Excellent entry in the Joe Pickett series, one of the most reliably entertaining mystery series I've found. Pickett continues to be a fascinating character, and the intriguing mysteries, exciting showdowns, vivid depictions of the rugged Wyoming wilderness, solid & smart writing, and thought provoking social issues that are the hallmarks of the series are present here.

The Joe Pickett novels are good for a break from massive fantasy series for me. They are short, easy to read & the mysteries are rarely very demanding.
There is usually some issue as a background and it does make my eyes roll over peculiar American beliefs at times. But that's what reading gives you - a perspective on someone else's opinion - even if you think it's bananas.
This was one of the better novels although as usual the mystery is quite slight.

Nowhere To Run (2010) (Pickett #10) by C.J. Box. Nothing is ever easy for Pickett. Here he is on the last days of his assignment as Game Warden out of Baggs, Wyoming, and he finds himself hunted by a pair of superhuman men up in the mountain wilderness. After getting reports of attacks on various camps, elk bothered and other such things, he had to go check it out. So he heads out into the wilds he loves and discovers a darkness that kills his horses and just misses him.
But that is only the first half of the book. Back in “civilization” Pickett faces having to go back up into the mountains. This time, even though he is hunting the killers, he is also trying to save them from others with little or no moral standing.
There is a big show more environmental story here, but there is another, dark tale of injustice that won’t stop. Could one man alter the ways things are, and could that maybe be Joe Pickett?
This book is full of beautiful vistas, breathtaking lakes and wildlife, and more twists that an old mountain trail. Yet another winner from Mr. Box, one that has me reading the entire series. show less