Book 6 in Joe pickett series. This book finds Joe trying to find out who is so intent on harming him and his family. We learn that the father of April Keeley, who died along with her mother in a fire, has been released from prison and blames Joe for his loss. Quite an adventure, with people being killed and Joe being hurt, losing his job, and in the end, killing an injured Keeley. Kirkus: After an eventful trip to Jackson Hole (Out of Range, 2005), Wyoming Fish and Game Warden Joe Pickett is back in Twelve Sleep County for a homecoming that?s anything but homey.Trouble starts when fishing guide Tommy Wayman tosses Opal Scarlett, matriarch of the Thunderhead Ranch, into the river over a long-simmering feud. Assuming that Opal?s too mean to die, Tommy isn?t worried when he doesn?t see her climb out. But her disappearance¥neither she nor her corpse has turned up anywhere since thenÂ¥leaves her three sons free to battle it out with shovels over ownership of the ranch. That?s the opening scene Joe interrupts, accompanied by his daughter Sheridan, 14, and her best friend, Hank Scarlett?s daughter Julie. Soon enough, both Joe and Sheridan will be haunted by spectral sightings of Opal, grinning over her sons? fratricidal strife. By that time, though, Joe will have bigger troubles of his own. Fresh from his murder of convicted killer Wacey Hedeman, J.W. Keeley is on his way to Twelve Sleep County, eager to destroy Joe, whom he blames for the slaughter of his family (Winterkill, 2003). If you think Joe can expect help from the law-enforcement community, you don?t know this series, and it?s high time you started.Despite an encore roster of perps and felonies that plays like a Greatest Hits list from Joe?s first five adventures, Box continues to write the sharpest suspensers west of the Pecos.

(2006) Another good book in this series as Joe tries to sort a family dispute that brings him into it via his daughter & her friend (part of the Scarlett(2006)KIRKUS REVIEWAfter an eventful trip to Jackson Hole (Out of Range, 2005), Wyoming Fish and Game Warden Joe Pickett is back in Twelve Sleep County for a homecoming that's anything but homey.Trouble starts when fishing guide Tommy Wayman tosses Opal Scarlett, matriarch of the Thunderhead Ranch, into the river over a long-simmering feud. Assuming that Opal's too mean to die, Tommy isn't worried when he doesn't see her climb out. But her disappearance¥neither she nor her corpse has turned up anywhere since thenÂ¥leaves her three sons free to battle it out with shovels over ownership of the ranch. That's the opening scene Joe interrupts, accompanied by his daughter Sheridan, 14, and her best friend, Hank Scarlett's daughter Julie. Soon enough, both Joe and Sheridan will be haunted by spectral sightings of Opal, grinning over her sons' fratricidal strife. By that time, though, Joe will have bigger troubles of his own. Fresh from his murder of convicted killer Wacey Hedeman, J.W. Keeley is on his way to Twelve Sleep County, eager to destroy Joe, whom he blames for the slaughter of his family (Winterkill, 2003). If you think Joe can expect help from the law-enforcement community, you don't know this series, and it's high time you started.Despite an encore roster of perps and felonies that plays like a Greatest Hits list from Joe's first five adventures, Box continues to write the sharpest suspensers west of the Pecos.TK-I really enjoy story telling by Box. Keeley has gotten himself hired by both warring Scarlett brothers under the name of Bill Monroe. He proceeds to kidnap Joe's daughters and Julie Scarlett. When he arrives at Arlen's ranch, the youngest brother Wyatt, saves the girls by having them hide in his shack, while goes after Keeley eventually ripping off his arm. Keeley nearly bleeds to death before Joe can get his vengeance by shooting him in the head. Opal had been mounted by Wyatt after she had died of heart attack following being thrown in the river. All the Scarletts wind up being killed and burnt in the ranch house after Joe has rescued the girls.

Although it’s light on the ‘woo-woo’ stuff that often shows up in Joe Pickett mysteries, this still pushes the boundaries of Western crime fiction. There's a strong Gothic presence in it, such as a gloomy ancestral home and a grotesquely evil villain; even the weather gets in on the act. Be sure to read the third book, Winterkill, before this one since the events in it trigger the bad guy’s acts of revenge. ( )

Enjoyable enough with some twists and turns. But I'm not a fan of the stranger on revenge warpath of our hero through a very convoluted reason why! ( )

This novel sees game warden Joe Pickett's life take a turn for the worse after millionaire Opal Scarlett goes missing. As Pickett discovers more and more disturbing truths, it becomes clear that someone wants the dogged game warden to keep his nose out of the investigation.

Joe Pickett is in a tough situation right from the start of this story. He and his
family are being harassed by someone but the sheriff doesn’t like him and won’t help. His new boss wants to drive him out of his job. And a local rich, powerful man won’t cooperate when Joe tries to investigate an illegal hunting complaint against him. There’s tension throughout, which is sometimes worsened by Joe’s stubbornness and independence. The story’s well-rounded by good family relationships and an exciting ending. I thoroughly enjoyed this one. ( )