Wyoming Game Warden Joe Pickett was fly fishing with his girls, 12-year-old Sheridan and 7-year-old Lucy, when a horrible odor lead them to the carcass of a dead moose, one which has been dead for a couple weeks. The moose was surgically mutilated, and even more remarkably, no scavenger animals had been eating it. Then, some cattle also ended up similarly dead, and no animals preyed on their bodies. Then two humans were killed, both old cowboys were murdered and carved up. C. J. Box uses the usual cast of characters including Joe’s wife Marybeth, her mother, Missy, Missy’s fiancé Bud Longbrake, and others. Corrupt Sheriff Bud Barnum is a great foil for Joe. Given the complexity of the crimes, the FBI and State cops are called in, all of whom Joe has had some trouble with in the past. Like his other books, Box kept Joe on a straight ethical path despite the very grey problematic areas with which he is confronted. Once again, it is a good story, and it makes me eager for the next novel, which is due out any day. The only thing different about this book was that the author took us slightly into the paranormal, or at least he presented characters like Nate Romanowski, the falcon-loving naturalist, who can reliably perceive real information in very nontraditional ways. And, Sheridan seems to be developing some of those same talents. It will be interesting to see what he does with that material in future books. Thanks to Midwest Dave, Box is in my power rotation of authors.
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