Brief Mention: OFF THE GRID, C. J. Box, Wyoming (Joe Pickett)

C. J. Box's latest thriller, OFF THE GRID, came out in March and I missed it at the time. Summer's reward meant a chance to catch up with game warden Joe Pickett and his family, as well as his old and close friend Nate Romanowski. Joe and Nate haven't seen each other in a while when OFF THE GRID opens, because Nate's been hiding out, keeping low, out of trouble but also pinned in place by a difficult-to-live-with agreement that's sheltering him and his beloved Olivia from criminal charges.

But when both Nate and Joe's wife, Marybeth, experience the same dream, pierced by Arab voices in the dangerous terrain of the Red Desert, each man finds himself driven toward a major standoff in the parched and desperate landscape. Add some strong scenes of falconry, an antigovernment black op, and foreign agents, and there's good reason to wonder whether Joe's horse, dog, and friend will survive. Not to mention Joe himself.

A wild page-turner of a mystery, with a lot of insight. I asked myself quite a few questions as it all rounded out. And I almost missed making supper. Yes, it's really that good.