Title: Long Range by C.J. Box
Joe Pickett Series Book Twenty
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 367 pages
Book Rating: B+
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss
Summary:
Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett must investigate an attempted murder–a crime committed from a confoundingly long distance–in the riveting new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author C. J. Box.
When Joe Pickett is asked to join the rescue efforts for the victim of a startling grizzly attack, he reluctantly leaves his district behind. One survivor of the grizzly’s rampage tells a bizarre story, but just as Joe begins to suspect the attack is not what it seems, he is brought home by an emergency on his own turf. Someone has targeted a prominent local judge, shooting at him from a seemingly impossible distance. While the judge was not hit, his wife is severely wounded, and it is up to Joe to find answers–and the shooter.
The search for the would-be assassin becomes personal when Joe’s best friend, Nate Romanowski –just as he’s adjusting to the arrival of his first child–falls under suspicion for the crime. It’s a race against the clock as Joe tries to clear Nate’s name and identify the real shooter, all while deciphering the grizzly encounter. Beset by threats both man-made and natural, the two men must go to great lengths to keep their loved ones safe.
Review:
The twentieth installment in the marvelous Joe Pickett series, Long Range by C.J. Box is an absolutely riveting mystery.
Wyoming Fish and Game Warden Joe Pickett is out of his territory helping Jackson Hole Game Warden Mike Martin locate the body of hunting guide Jim Trenary. According to out of state hunter Julius Talbot, the two men were suddenly attacked by a bear. Talbot managed to escape without injury, but Trenary is appears to have mauled to death. The case is puzzling since unprovoked attacks by bears are virtually unheard of. Is this unsettling bear attack an isolated incident or the beginning of a frightening new trend?
Joe is abruptly called back to Twelve Sleep County following the tragic shooting of Judge Hewitt’s wife, Sue. By all appearances, the Judge was the intended victim and he orders several law enforcement officers including Joe to investigate. This case is Joe’s first official encounter with newly elected Sheriff Brendan Kapelow. Needless to say, no one, including Pickett, have a favorable impression of the taciturn sheriff who is not interested in anyone else’s input on the investigation. After checking out his suspects, Joe is confident none of them are involved in the shooting. After visiting the scene of the shooting, Joe makes a shocking discovery and he turns to Nate Romanowski for advice.
Nate and his wife Liv Brannon are enjoying time with their new baby, Kestrel. Nate is still a little uneasy about settling into regular life. His fears are soon realized after an unpleasant visit by retired FBI Agent Jeremiah Sanburg. After Sanburg delivers disturbing news, Nate becomes extra vigilant in order to keep his family safe. However, trouble is closer than he realizes when incompetent Sheriff Kapelow sets his sights on Nate for the shooting.
Joe turns to his wife Marybeth for important research into some of his hunches. She unearths some very shocking information that turns the case upside down. Joe believes he has uncovered the truth about the shooting, but whom can he trust to help him when everything goes sideways?
Long Range is a spellbinding mystery with a clever storyline and atmospheric setting. Joe, Marybeth and Nate are vibrantly developed and have continued to grow and evolve over the course of this long running series. The investigation into the shooting is quite fascinating and eventually takes a stunning turn. With breathtaking plans in place to catch a killer, C.J. Box brings this newest addition to the Joe Pickett series to an edge of the seat, adrenaline-laced conclusion. I thoroughly enjoyed and HIGHLY recommend this spectacular mystery to readers of the genre.
