by C. J. Box
Part of Joe Pickett, book 21
First published 2021
Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett receives an unwelcome assignment from the governor: escort a Silicon Valley tech baron on an elk hunting expedition. Joe leads his high-profile companion into the remote wilderness, but they are not alone in the woods. A vengeful man-hunter stalks them through the forest, seeking retribution. Joe finds himself stripped of his weapon, his horse, and any means of communication. He must use his wilderness expertise and survival instincts to keep both himself and the CEO alive. Back home, Joe's friend Nate Romanowski and his daughter Sheridan discover the mortal danger Joe faces. They venture into the same treacherous terrain to reach him. The pursuit builds to a violent confrontation where Joe, Nate, and Sheridan must face both human malice and the unforgiving forces of nature in their fight for survival.
Genres: adventure, mystery, crime, thriller, action
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, fish-out-of-water
Setting: Wyoming, Silicon Valley
Period: 21st-century
351 pages · Hardcover · G.P. Putnam's Sons
Content warnings: violence