"...freezing jolts of recognition at just how real Box’s stories are...a standout story..."

Wyoming author C.J. Box’s skill as a mystery writer earned international recognition last year when he won the Edgar Allen Poe Award from Mystery Writers of America.

And he continues to hone those skills in “Nowhere to Run,” his tenth novel about Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett.

Like his much-heralded “Blue Heaven” about a retired-cop haven in Idaho, the new novel produces freezing jolts of recognition at just how real Box’s stories are.

Many of his novels include current events and controversies at their core, as with the battle over development of microorganisms in Yellowstone National Park that fed greed and murder in “Free Fire.”

But something is especially chilling in “Nowhere to Run” as Pickett follows reports of odd happenings in Wyoming’s Sierra Madres and comes upon the Brothers Grimm. Such a fairy-tale name. Such a grim and deadly duo.

While Pickett finds himself with nowhere to run from the sharp-shooting brothers, they, too, have nowhere to escape the civilization that has forced them into the life of outliers.

Box credits inspiration for the pair to Mark Nelson, whose experiences as a Wyoming game warden have factored into some earlier novels and who has provided expertise on procedure and more for the novels.

Nelson, too, encountered two brothers who had made the wilds their home. And, haunted by that tale, Box wrote the Pickett short story, “Perfectly Grimm,” which provided the foundation for ‘Nowhere to Run.”

The author also took inspiration from a real-life female runner who disappeared on a training run in the Wyoming wilds.

In his desperate flight to escape the brothers, Pickett thinks he spies that long-missing woman.

Or did he?

His tale of fleeing the brothers is greeted with skepticism, dire warnings and the pleas of a mother hopeful that he can bring her daughter home.

The mystery operates on many levels, from Pickett’s own tenuous job situation to a touchy relationship with the FBI to corporate, governmental and environmental issues and the complexities of human wants and needs.

Gov. Spencer Rulon helps Pickett get perspective on how far-reaching the mystery could be: “Conspiracies don’t exist in government for long. But a couple of things are timeless, especially in Washington: greed and corruption.”

Box’s familiarity with Wyoming’s outdoors plays out strongly, as nature again becomes its own character — with landscape as much to battle as to admire.

He even blends in the legend of 1800s mountain man Hugh Glass.

The emotional turmoil of family grounds Pickett in humanity as he struggles with rebellious teen daughters and a truly nasty, self-absorbed mother-in-law.

As always in a Pickett tale, the author’s strong presentation of character brings humor — this time in verbose and bumbling Dave Farkus, who gets caught up in the action. And The litany of “Shut up, Dave,” becomes both comic and laden with a sense of doom.

Still, that’s just one more bright spot for readers as Box again delivers a standout story with popular faces from the series. Ones fans hope to see again soon in yet another Pickett tale.

Contact Chris Rubich at crubich@billingsgazette.com or 657-1301.

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