C.J. Box: Wolf Pack, Putnam, 9780525538196, hardback (paperback later in the year, available as E-book) 

(No German translation yet, previous novels are published by Heyne Verlag in paperback)

 
Joe Pickett is the Wyoming game warden and chief protagonist in C.J. Box’s New York Times bestsellers, by now one of my favorite escapist series which never disappoints. The novels are tightly crafted thrillers and the latest one “Wolf Pack” has a particularly captivating plot.  CJ Box’s nature descriptions and environmental characterizations are ace; they transport me regularly into breathtaking Wyoming country side which I had the pleasure to cycle through a few years ago. The novels have a tight plot with an eclectic assortment of tough and tender characters around Joe Pickett’s circle of colleagues, family, and friends, most set in the Saddlestring district which Joe patrols. Throw in some bad ass characters and the result will keep you clued to your armchair longer than intended, at least this happens to me as was the case with “Wolf Pack” which kept me turning the pages very briskly towards the end.

Joe is called in by fellow game warden Katelyn Hamm after she discovers that someone is using drones illegally to kill wildlife. When Joe and his falconer friend Nate take down a drone with Nate’s falcons and Joe confronts the unpleasant, arrogant owner of the drones, Bill Hill, who seems to not exist at all as he has absolutely no past records anywhere, he and Katelyn are told by the FBI to tune down their charges and to drop the case. This really spurs Joe on and the situation becomes stranger still when seemingly random murders shake their small town, all taking place after four conspicuous strangers, 3 men and one stunning looking woman, are spotted in town.  Joe has heard of the Wolf Pack, killers sent out by the Sinaloa drug cartel that seem to fit the description.  Within 24 hours Joe finds himself in one of the most dangerous situations he has ever had to deal with in his professional life.

CJ Box is an excellent writer on top of driving a fast paced plot; he is definitely one of my favorite thriller writers currently.