by C. J. Box
Part of Joe Pickett, book 5
First published 2006
Joe Pickett tries to survive his mother-in-law's wedding to a prominent rancher when devastating news arrives. Will Jensen, a fellow Wyoming game warden and close friend, has taken his own life. Joe gets assigned to manage Jensen's district temporarily in Jackson, Wyoming. The assignment takes him far from his familiar territory in Saddlestring to a world of environmental activists and wealthy elites. Joe struggles with his new responsibilities, but Will's death haunts him. Everyone says Will had become violent and erratic in his final months. Joe digs deeper into the circumstances surrounding his friend's suicide. The investigation puts Joe on a dangerous path. His own life begins to unravel as he uncovers the truth. Joe realizes he could become Jackson's next casualty if he makes the wrong move.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, action
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, investigation
Setting: Jackson, Saddlestring, Wyoming
Period: contemporary
310 pages · Mass Market Paperback · G.P. Putnam's Sons
Content warnings: suicide