One of the most popular writers in our library is C. J. Box, the author of the Joe Pickett series, consisting of 26 books about game warden Joe Pickett and his family in the mountains of Wyoming. An avid outdoorsman, Box has hunted, fished, hiked, ridden and skied throughout Wyoming and the Mountain West, so he knows about what he is writing.

Box has created a number of characters in his Joe Pickett novels, the first of which is Joe Pickett himself. Box presents Joe Pickett as a hero who is tough, but by no means perfect. He has his flaws, but he is truly connected to his family. His wife Marybeth is an intelligent woman who never fails to support her family. His children, daughters Sheridan and Lucy, manage to stay busy, love their dad fiercely, and always ask a lot of questions.

Other memorable characters include Joe’s friend Nate Romanowski, who carries a really big gun, and Wyoming Governor Spencer Rulon, who likes to send Joe on impossible missions. There is also Joe’s mother-in-law Missy Vankeuren, whose goal is to break up her daughter’s marriage. The books are filled with suspense, danger, and lots of action, as well as laughter as Joe laughs at himself.

The ideas that Box includes in his Joe Pickett novels include environmental conservation. Joe enforces environmental laws, protecting nature against poachers and greedy developers. Box’s novels also include the struggle between rural tradition and new development. Joe must often work to reduce the tension between the traditional, rugged lifestyle of Wyoming and the rich newcomers buying up the land. Box also shows the struggles of a principled game warden in modern Wyoming. Joe Pickett is often seen as an ordinary, decent man simply trying to do the right thing.

The first book of the Joe Pickett series is entitled Open Season, and it begins with Joe finding the body of a known poacher on his stack of firewood in his backyard. Joe has no idea how the body got there, but he has to find out because the dead man was someone with whom Joe did not get along. Joe knows that he did not kill the man, but it sure did look suspicious, even to Joe.

Open Season is followed by 25 additional novels about Joe Pickett and his adventures. Our library contains all of the Joe Pickett books, including the most recent novel The Crossroads in which Joe is found on a rough, backcountry road in his beat-up game warden truck. He has been shot several times, the worst being in the head. No one knows when or why or by whom Joe has been shot, but his wife and their three daughters (yes there is another one since the first book) are determined to answer all of the questions about what happened to Joe. Will Joe survive the brutal attack?

A note to all of our patrons:
If a patron comes to the library for a particular book, such as one of the Joe Pickett books, but is unable to find it, there are other options available. A patron can ask for a hold to be placed on a book. When the book is returned to the library, the patron will be notified and the book will be held until the patron comes for the book. In addition, books can be ordered from other libraries in the state through the Interlibrary Loan program. The books will usually come to our library in about a week. Then the patron may check out the books and can keep them for up to two weeks. The books must be returned to our library when the patron is finished with the them, so that they can be returned to the loaning library. Also, patrons are encouraged to check the Red River Parish Library website for information on upcoming events, such as workshops, as well as information about new books which arrive on a regular basis.

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