Typically enough, Joe Pickett gets in the middle again. This time, he gets shot. So it's down to others to try to get justice.

There is a new sheriff in town, and Nate is around but not really involved, so Joe's three daughters take on the task of tracking down the shooter, but things are not as they seem, and the suspect pool is large.

Fans of CJ Box will know what to expect, but this is a departure from his usual setup of Nate and Joe. The great part is that he acknowledges time passing and things change, so the children are stepping up.

All in all, a hearty five stars but with a pang of loss for the less 'derring do' of his earlier novels and the more 'Nancy Drew' of this one.

Game Warden Joe Pickett has made his share of enemies in his time, so it is perhaps not altogether a surprise when one of them catches up with him and he is found badly injured, shot in the head.

What is perhaps more unexpected is the way that his trio of daughters steps up to investigate what has happened to their father. And as events unfold, it becomes increasingly clear that the apple truly does not fall far from the tree...

An absorbing and well written story, this is worth your time.

Joe Picket a game warden is in hospital after being shot while on duty and he is critical ill.
His three daughters decide to find out who shot their father and why.
There are quite a few suspects and it is not going to be easy to find the culprit.
Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks for allowing me to read this prior to publication. This was another brilliant book in the Joe Pickett series. It isn't written like the other books, it starts near the end and you have to read the book to find out what is going on. I loved the fact that we got to spend time with the girls and Nate again. I think the only thing wrong with the book was that it was too good to put down and I now have the long wait for the next book in the series.

Omg, this was amazing! All I can say is its a must read. Ot drags you in straight away and keeps you hooked. It starts off woth an explosive pace and manages to keep up the tension theoughout whi h is very rare in a book. I loved the characters and getting to know them a bit better, its impossible not to be rooting for them! Just a really enjoyable book

'Dudley Do Right' Joe Pickett gets shot and is in a coma. So this time, it's up to his three daughters to figure out who shot him and why. An interesting departure from the regular Joe Pickett books, but it's great to see the characters of April, Sheridan and Lucy come into their own in this book. The ever loyal Marybeth and the formidable Nate also play their roles - I really enjoyed this book and will be interesting to see how the series develops in the future.

Strongly recommend for fans of the series.

The Crossroads by C J Box is book 26 in the Joe Pickett game warden series. Joe has been shot whilst out working and fortunately was found and placed in an induced coma.
This storyline is about the people who love and care for Joe and who want to find out what happened to him and why. In some ways it is a coming of age story for his three daughters who came together and work together to find who is responsible for his near death. Mary Beth stays by Joe’s side at the hospital and remains in contact with her daughters. Nate and the new sheriff also play their part in bringing a conclusion to the whole episode.
I really enjoyed reading this book and seeing his three daughters working together and making sure that those responsible for their father’s injuries will be dealt with.
Highly recommended

Perhaps the main correlation with previous instalments of the Joe Pickett series is the rugged Wyoming landscape, pictured to vividly as to be a character in its own right. This time though Joe himself is just a supporting member of the cast, with Joe’s 3 daughters front and centre, and taking on his normal investigative role. Their character development is excellent and emotionally the stakes are high, making this a tense read from start to finish. An excellent read.

Wow, I wasn’t ready for that opening. I’ve been following Joe Pickett for years, but The Crossroads felt fresh because it forced the rest of the family to step into the spotlight. Having Joe sidelined was a bold move by C.J. Box, but seeing Sheridan, April, and Lucy take charge was so satisfying. It really shows how much they’ve grown up throughout the series.

The mystery involving the three different ranches kept me guessing, and the tension was through the roof. It’s a bit of a "who-done-it" set in the Wyoming wilderness, and it works perfectly. If you’re a long-time fan, you’re going to love seeing the Pickett girls show that they’re definitely their father’s daughters. Highly recommended!

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Cj Box. im left thinking what an author! the tensions the suspense is running through this whole read and kept me turning pages and needing to know more and more and more.
Joe is injure and its up to the rest of the Pickett family to step up. their mother attends to him and his three daughters are to find out what and why this happened. but there are far too many suspects that could be down for this.
i really like how in the Joe Picket series it switches it up to the other around him being the focus whilst he is hurt. hes been shot and left for dead. this is serious as it could be. but where it happened is at the Crossroads of three ranches. each road and ranch has a family who all seem to have gripes against the warden Joe. this is no easy who dun-nit.
i love how we then get the daughters taken on the role of finding out about each family and what or who might have done this. they all had their unique ways and personalities.
not having Joe involved worked somehow so well, because he kind of is still involved in it all.
seeing these girls and where they are now is something i love. we've seen them grow and here they are now. i love it when a series sees the family and personal lives of its characters. you come to know and care about them and therefore the stories more.
the investigation side was also done so well. once again C.J has taken me on the best ride and best read.
this book is full of all the things i wished it could be going in and loved the difference but also still the same spin and Joe and this series. its been done with brilliant details and links all of it and our series together perfectly.
loved it.
C.J is such a talent i feel lucky every time i get to read one of their books.

The Crossroads by C. J. Box is a tense, emotionally charged instalment that had my heart racing more than once.
Marybeth Pickett receives the call she has always feared. Her husband Joe, the local game warden, has been found with a gunshot wound to the head, unconscious and fighting for his life. He was discovered in his pickup at Antler Creek Junction, a crossroads linking three ranches, each owned by a dangerous family with their own reasons to resent Joe. With no explanation of where Joe was going or why, suspicion immediately falls on all three.

As Joe lies in hospital, the focus shifts to his family. Marybeth stays by his side while their daughters Sheridan, April, and Lucy each take it upon themselves to investigate one of the neighbouring families. I really enjoyed this shift in perspective. Each daughter brings a different strength, skill set, and approach, and watching them work separately while sharing the same goal added real depth and urgency to the story.

The structure works brilliantly, building tension as each investigation uncovers more danger and raises more questions. The sense of time running out is constant, especially with Joe unable to provide any answers himself. That central frustration of if only he had told someone where he was going hangs over everything.

This book is fast paced, gripping, and emotionally loaded, balancing high stakes action with a strong focus on family. It is a standout entry that proves the series can still surprise and deliver powerful twists.

A heart pounding read that kept me hooked from start to finish.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

A Joe Picket story where this time he’s not the main character having been shot and in a coma. It’s down to his three daughters to investigate the shooting aided by a new local sheriff. There are basically three farm owning families who are the main suspects. The action rolls along with violent killings thrown into the plot line as Joe remains in hospital at deaths door. It all builds to a satisfying conclusion and hopefully there’s still more come.

Another great read in the Joe Pickett, Game Warden series which is set in Montana and Wyoming. I have read, and enjoyed, every book in this popular series, this one is a little bit different in that Joe's three daughters are the central characters. The tension really ramped up as the tale unfolded, it's fast paced and full of detail which left my head spinning. It is such a satisfying, although different, read in a brilliant series. I highly recommend it to lovers of thrillers. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

I thoroughly enjoyed this ARC from Netgalley.. The Crossroads is tense, atmospheric and expertly paced, with C. J. Box delivering another compelling story that pulls you in from the opening chapters. The characters feel authentic and the plot unfolds in a way that keeps you turning pages. A strong, confident novel that will please existing fans and is accessible enough for new readers too. Highly recommended

This is an unexpected change from the brilliant CJ Box stories of Game Warden Joe Pickett with Joe having been shot and left for dead at the beginning of the story. This leaves Marybeth at the hospital hoping for the critically injured Joe's recovery while his three daughters come together to try to track down Joe's attackers.
Lots of clues for the girls to consider with the owners of three adjoining ranches as possible suspects and we also have a new sheriff added to the mix. Many twists and turns in this great story as they try to uncover the truth behind Joe's attempted murder whilst being updated by Marybeth on Joe's condition.
No spoilers but this is another great un put downable book from CJB with all the usual characters, although Nate is not so prominent in this story, with Joe incapacitated its the daughters taking centre stage to bring it to a terrific finale.
I am already looking forward to the next story in this super series, and thank you for my advanced copy.