Evocative, creepy and tense – a masterful modern-day, dark, cowboy thriller.
Vicious Circle is a true wilderness thriller and the evocative setting in the chilly mountains of Wyoming really drew me in. This is the seventeenth book in the Joe Pickett series, and the first one I have read, and it didn’t matter at all to my enjoyment of the book. Pickett is an unusual and therefore fascinating thriller hero – a game warden, so not a police officer or detective. He’s also a quiet hero and a family man and it is the dynamic with his family, whom he will protect at any cost, which is so touching. His old enemy is back and out for revenge and Pickett must protect his family against a charming and dangerous adversary.

I found the location mesmerizing as I am a wilderness fan but I think it is the cast of characters that had me so hooked, especially the goons, Brutus and the Weasel, and Farkus at the bar before he meets an untimely end. They add a touch of humour in an otherwise sinister and scary plot.

I was lucky enough to meet the author, C.J. Box at the UK’s CrimeFest in May 2017 and really enjoyed hearing about his ranch in Wyoming and his family. He’s a great ambassador for his State and a wonderful author. I can’t recommend this book enough.