Ron Behnke

Mr. Box,

My son is a student at University of Wyoming and while I would love to meet you I may have to settle for him getting a book signed for me. Will you have copies of Nowhere To Run for sale at this event?

Ron Behnke
Newcastle, Wyoming

Hey Mr.Box,
I just completed reading a book you might be interested in, if you haven't already read it. It is "The Big Burn", by author Timothy Egan. It is about the founding of the US Forest Service, and Wildfires in the Rocky Mountains. Very interesting, and informing. A lot of info about an area I knew practically nothing about. Try it out if you have time.
Glenn

Although not a grandma, I am the same age as grannyannie, and am happy to find I am not the only female in my age group who has become a real fan of C.J. Box's books. I read all nine Joe Pickett books right in a row (altho not at the rate of one a day). Just finished "Blue Heaven" and am starting "Three Weeks to Say Goodbye". Other than Laura Lippman, I never read one author straight thru like this and not been ready for a change. Instead, just wished for ten more. Keep them coming C.J. And I hope one of your book tours will bring you here to Baltimore.
joyce2121

I JUST started reading the books and JoePickett, I started with IN PLAIN SIGHT, AND just finished, Free Fire, what do I READ next to keep in the series? Thanks..

I am a little ol' grandma of 74 who's known more for her chicken 'n' dumplings and oatmeal cookies than her appetite for adventure. My son-in-law loaned me eight of your paperbacks and I've read one a day for the last 8 days! Now I'm waiting for April to grab a copy of your next book! Your descriptive writing and your hero with a heart absolutely opened up a whole new world for me! Who knew game wardens had such things to contend with?

Keep writing, Mr. Box...the world needs more of this type of entertainment. Thank you.

I just finished an ARC of Nowhere to Run. Loved it! In the back of the book, you mention Wyoming game warden Mark Nelson and his encounter with twins. Is there a news story on the web regarding this?

As I am on oxygen 24/7 and disabled, my book consumption is over the top, but a new one by C.J. Box is a treat.

Thanks for all the pleasure your writing has brought into my life.

Just finished it having read In Plain Sight and Free Fire in the past couple of days, and have read most of the other Joe Pickett books which I have enjoyed. Below Zero is the exception. The descriptive settings and the family interactions, and Nate, of course, were all great. The Stenko, Robert, and April plot seemed so stilted and contrived and unbelievable that I was really puzzled. There was a lot of dialogue, and none of it rang true, to me. I know dialogue is difficult but it hasn't been in any other Pickett book. It just didn't flow, seemed awkward and unrealistic, to me, that is. Your books are certainly popular here in Tucson; I always need to wait a while after listing them on my reserve request. Maybe I'll meet you at the upcoming "Festival of Books"; hope so. I'm a Denver University grad, too, 'way before your time.b%WWTZ3

My husband and I have read ALL of the Joe Pickett novels in the past month - excellent!
Waiting (impatiently) for Nowhere to Run.
Would like to read the Limited Edition Short Stories but can't find them anywhere:
1. Dull Knife (2005) ("A Joe Pickett Story")
2. The Master Falconer (2006)
3. le Sauvage Noble (2007)
Can you help me?
Thanks,
Anita Nugun

BN
I commented earlier that Nowhere to Run started out like a story I lived. This is part of the story from the Pahrump Valley Times, Pahrump, NV. I can't tell if this got to you previously. Disregard, of course, if it did. Please comment to me if you would if you consider posting any of it.

"Apparently, it was a wandering pig that tipped the hand of fate for the man who would eventually become known as the Ballarat Bandit.

If the pig, belonging to a neighboring farmer on Canada's Prince Edward Island, had never found its way into the field of 4,000 marijuana plants being cultivated by 43-year-old George Robert Johnston in 1997, things might have been different for a lot of people.

For instance, life might have been a little easier for Inspector Dave Van Norman of the San Bernardino County Coroner's Office, who spent more than a year doggedly following every lead, no matter how unlikely, in a fruitless effort to identify the corpse of John Doe #39-04, AKA the Ballarat Bandit.

Van Norman then spent another four months shopping from one Canadian agency to another, through INTERPOL and back again, for a fingerprint search before finally receiving positive confirmation of the man's identify from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police last week.

Things might have been less complicated or frustrating for the people whose vehicles, weapons, food and other supplies were stolen during Johnston's eventual crime spree through Death Valley, Nye County and other parts of the American West. Things might have been different for the hundreds of officers in at least four states who pursued him uphill, across the scorched desert, through blinding snowstorms and into thin air between August of 2003 and July of 2004.

The burden of sorrow might have been a little easier to bear for Patricia Johnston, loving mother and proud widow of a World War II hero in her home on Prince Edward Island, who hadn't seen her son in seven years and was bewildered by the news of his death and the nature of his recent exploits.

But most especially they might have been different for George Johnston, whose marijuana crop, according to previous writings by his former wife Tommi Johnston, earned him an eight and a half year sentence in a Canadian prison; whose prison sentence separated him from his terminally ill wife and his four young daughters; and who, some time after the death of his father in 1999, jumped parole in Vancouver and fled to the United States, where he surfaced in Death Valley in 2003 and soon became a legend.

Starting with a string of thefts in and around the desert ghost town of Ballarat, Johnston (then known only as the Ballarat Bandit) led law enforcement officials in at least four western states on a massive manhunt for nearly a year.

They tracked him on foot, on horseback, using all terrain vehicles, four-wheel drives, and even airplanes, calling in extra manpower and coordinating efforts between a number of federal, state, and local agencies interested in the capture. They looked for him by day and by night using infrared vision equipment. In Nye County law enforcement officers doubled and tripled their forces, spending sixteen hours a day in the field - and the mission wreaked havoc on Sheriff Tony DeMeo's overtime budget. They spoke of the frustration created by the elusive Bandit and quietly marveled at his seemingly superhuman endurance.

But they couldn't catch the mystery thief who could run five miles straight uphill into the setting sun and cross 60 miles of snow-covered high desert on foot. Not until the following year, when the searing heat of a July day in Death Valley drove him to the end of his rope. Then, when misstep after misstep brought him to the brink of capture, he took his own life.

That was in July of 2004, the end of a massive manhunt pursuing the lean, blue-eyed Bandit through Death Valley's Inyo County, Nye and Washoe counties in Nevada, and on into Utah and Oregon. In the end, the Bandit put a finish to the pursuit in a sandy wash just over the Inyo County line, outside the edge of Death Valley National Park, in San Bernardino County. Surrounded by police on the ground and in the air above him, he stripped off his clothing and shot himself in the head, leaving an already overworked coroner to answer the burning question - who was this man?"
Pretty hard to surround someone that elusive with 5 of us. Me, 2 other BLM Rangers and 2 NPS rangers. The CHP fixed wing was in the area.

Yesterday I opened our front doors and a FedEx package wedged in there tumbled into the house. Good news; it was a PUTNAM Publishing envelope with a galley review copy of your new book.

Since I retired from my Library Administration job a year ago, I've finally had time to read. I've devoured all of your books, and many others. {Even tho Candice Millard's amazing book about Teddy Roosevelt's harrowing Amazon travels is my favorite so far, I rank the best of your stuff as close seconds.}

I think your themes, characters and writing style appeal to a wide cross section of people, along with men and outdoorsy types. Although I fit those categories, when I pick up a Joe Pickett book now, after reading 7-8 of them, I'm eager to see what Sherry is up to and what's gonna come out of Lucy's mouth! Thanks for giving us evolving Joe, and a loving family to boot.

I'll be reviewing 'Nowhere To Run' for a newspaper and my blogsite. I can't wait to crack open the first chapter! Safe writing.

Out of Range was the first Joe Pickett book I read. I stumbled upon it by chance at the library and almost didn't read it. I'm happy to say I have now read every Joe Pickett book and can't wait for Nowhere to Run.
Thank you for creating such a unique and human character and for including nature and the outdoors as part of your books. I live in neighboring Utah and love all of the outdoor descriptions and word pictures you paint. I can clearly visualize everything.
I am thinking of attending the Tuscon Festival of Books and was wondering if advanced copies of Nowhere to Run could be purchased at the festival. (I sure hope so!) If not, I'm excited for April.
Hope to make it to Tuscon.
Regards,
RJ

Just wanted to thank you for signing my collection of your books in Birmingham and to to let you know it was great to meet you. I have just finished re-reading all of the Joe Pickett series and reading No Where To Run. They just keep getting better !

Thank you again and I hope you get to the Atlanta area on your next tour.

George Murphy

As of today, we hit a milestone: 1,004 questions and comments in this forum. I've addressed them all. It's the least I can do for you, my readers. Thank you for reading my novels and for writing and making my dreams come true. I owe it all to you. Here's to the next 1,000 posts...

I started reading your books about a month ago ,since then i have read all your books except the short stories, i would love to get my hands on . I can now say i am a fan for life i have to take a break after about chapter three because when i pass that point there is no putting it down doesn't matter which one .April cannot get here fast enough .i was wondering if you were going to be near the asheville NC, area anytime soon i was glad to see you mention asheville in your book even if judge moreland was from here . if you get this way bring your fly rod . hope to meet you soon J.Evans

Just finished Below Zero and I have read all the Joe Picketts in order. After reading Three Weeks to Say Goodbye that my wife had brought home I had told her that was a good novel . She told me that she would "hook me up." I read Open Season and got hooked. This last one, Below Zero, had me laughing, crying and just so intrerested that I could not put it down. Good job and can't wait for the next Joe Pickett novel.

Hello Mr.Box.I just wanted to say thank's for the countless hours of pure reading enjoyment.I am presently reading the novel Free Fire.As i progess from one book to the next,they just keep getting better.Even the stand alone novel Blue Heaven was terrific.Thanks again Mr.Box.

Tim
Rochester N.Y.

I don't have a comment as much as a question. I'm a real animal lover, does Harry the dog get mistreated or killed in this book? I need to know before I go any further. So far, enjoying the book!

Hello Mr. C.J. Box, I commented awhile ago that I was waiting for Savage Run and Winterkill from the local library, got them and have read them!! You do not disappoint, they were so good and Joe Pickett and his family are the best. If your Joe Pickett character were to be in the movies, who would you like to see cast as Joe? Anyways love your books and any chance would you consider a book signing here in Michigan, I do know someone with buffalo so we can make you feel at home. Thanks for all the good reads!! Rose is a Rose...

When is the book going to be available????Barnes & Noble told me it won't be released until April. I can't wait that long.

As much as I love the all your books, C.J. I really love "Out of Range". In fact my favorite part of it and any book in the series is in "Out of Range" when (in case no one has read the book, spoiler alert)

***SPOILER ALERT***

Nate confronts Sheriff Barnum in the bar and throws him across the bar and sticks the phone card into his gums. I just loved how Nate took care of a corrput jerk like Barnum.

***END OF SPOILER ALERT***

What's your favorite scene in any of the books?

In all honesty I had never read your books before I picked up Below Zero. The plot was gripping and the characters real to life. Stories where you feel like you are making the journey with the characters is a very important feature of writing and Mister Box, you nailed it.

I especially like the characters of Stenko and Robert.

*SPOILER ALERT*

Even though Stenko was part of the mob, you could still see so much humanity in him. Yes, he was a criminal, yet you could still sympathize with him. He was toward the end of his life and he was tired, in so many ways.

I though it was also quite interesting that Robert, an enviromentalist, was so inhumane. The dynamic between Father and son and the guilt and anger between them was awesome writing. I think what makes Stenko more sympathetic than Robert, is the fact that the former aknowledges his many mistakes. Robert does not take responsibility for his own action. Of course, he is a sociopath.

I loved the exchange between Joe and April at the end. It was hopeful.

*END OF SPOILERS*

Anyway, I have finished rambling. I love your character Joe Picket and look forward to reading more about him. Was Blood Trail the first Joe Picket novel?

Thank you for writing this character. Looking forward to more.

Barbara Sprague
I have read them all in the last 6 months and loved everyone of them. Was tempted to invite Joe and family to Christmas. Want to adopt Joe since he is an orphan. I think he would fit nicely in my family and the girls. . . we have no girls! Now I will impatiently wait for the next book. Is Sheridan going to become an FBI agent or even a game warden like her dad? Will Lucy go on the stage? Will Missy's botox give out and her true age show? Will Joe run against Gov Rulon? Will there be a whole nother series about Nate? The possibilities seem endless.

CJ
I got an Advanced Readers Copy of Nowhere To Run and I just finished it. It was awesome, your best Pickett book yet. So many twists and surprises, I couldn't put it down, and I loved the area you wrote about. I'm looking forward to seeing you at the book signing. Thanx for the great books.

Tom in Cheyenne

**GASP** Please tell me that you are going to make a trip to Denver as part of your "Nowhere to Run" book tour! I can't find any scheduled events listed at Murder by the Book (my usual haunt) and there is nothing listed here. I am waiting for the next Joe Pickett book with baited breath after reading the story behind the story. Denver is sort of a gimme for the tour, right?? :)

LeeAnne

Mr.Box-
I am a 23 year old college student from texas and to say that I am not a big reader would definitely be an understatement. However, I picked up Open Season and brought it to the deer blind on opening day. Since then I have read open season through blood trail and I cannot get enough of Pickett. In my search for your next book I have come across nothing but great reviews for Below Zero and cant wait to read it. However, I have been unable to find it in any book stores around here. Is the book out yet? Also, when will Nowhere To Run be released? Lastly, besides Joe, my favorite character in your novels is Nate Romanowski. Are we ever going to learn more about his past?? Your characters are all too real and make reading your books a truly enjoyable experience. Thanks for sharing your brilliant ideas with the world.
KEEP EM COMIN!
-Bryan, Houston TX