by C. J. Box
Part of Joe Pickett, book 24
First published 2024
Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett confronts a deadly puzzle when a rogue grizzly bear tears through his territory, killing multiple victims including his daughter's fiancé. The attacks devastate the community and leave Joe struggling with personal grief while tracking the dangerous animal. Then Dallas Cates walks free from prison after serving years behind bars, his skin marked with six tattooed names. Cates blames these six people for destroying his family, stealing his property, and ruining his reputation. His list includes a judge, county prosecutor, defense attorney, and prison guard. It also contains two names that make Joe's blood run cold: Nate Romanowski and Joe Pickett himself. As Cates begins systematically hunting his targets, he discovers the perfect cover for murder. The grizzly's killing spree provides him with a brutal template. Cates adopts the bear's methods, making his human victims appear to be animal attacks. Joe must now track two different predators using identical techniques, knowing that both he and his friend Nate stand directly in the crosshairs.
Genres: adventure, mystery, crime, thriller, action
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: cat-and-mouse, enemies-to-lovers
Setting: Wyoming
371 pages · Hardcover · G. P. Putnam
Content warnings: animal-death, violence