by C. J. Box
Part of Joe Pickett, book 13
First published 2013
Game warden Joe Pickett considers Butch Roberson a solid man. Butch runs a local business, and his daughter plays with Joe's kids. When they chat that morning, Butch mentions heading into the mountains to hunt. Joe has no reason to doubt him. Then two EPA employees are found murdered. Every piece of evidence points to Butch as the killer. The manhunt begins immediately, but Butch has vanished into the wilderness. Joe learns the backstory piece by piece. Butch and his wife bought land for their dream retirement home. The EPA stepped in and declared it protected wetland. When Butch protested, the penalties started flowing. New fines arrived daily. The mounting debt destroyed his family. Something inside the man finally snapped. The story seems straightforward enough. A decent person pushed past his limit commits an unthinkable act. But Joe starts asking questions. Details don't add up. The more he digs, the more he suspects powerful people want Butch dead rather than captured. Joe finds himself caught in a conflict he never sought. Anyone who gets in the way becomes a target.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, action
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: cat-and-mouse, conspiracy
Setting: Mountains, Wilderness
Period: Contemporary
367 pages · Hardcover · G.P. Putnam's Sons
Content warnings: violence