BATTLE MOUNTAIN is C. J. Box’s 25th adventure featuring Joe Pickett, a game warden who also oversees safety on the plains and mountains of Wyoming. Many readers no doubt followed his on-screen adventures in the terrific Paramount+ series “Joe Pickett,” which sadly was canceled in 2023 after just two seasons.

Before the plentiful action begins, we need to step back seven months earlier. Joe Pickett and his friend, falconer Nate Romanowski, are on the opposite side of a brutal battle with Axel Soledad and Dallas Cates, who have left a path of destruction in their wake and want nothing more than to rid the world of Joe and Nate. Both of their families are devastated by these events, and Nate has left his daughter with Joe's wife as he has vengeance on his mind.

"I had thought that THREE-INCH TEETH was the most explosive and brutal entry in this stellar series, but BATTLE MOUNTAIN definitely gives it a run for the money."

In the present, Nate has dropped off the grid. He feels let down by the civilized world and attends to his falcons in a solitary and nomadic lifestyle in the mountains but is seething inside with a desire for revenge. Joe continues to manage his territory. He has to put Axel and Dallas in his rearview mirror as he has been tasked with a new assignment that takes precedence.

Governor Spencer Rulon of Wyoming reaches out to Joe's office and personally requests that he drop everything and look into the disappearance of his son-in-law and his son-in-law’s hunting guide, who were last seen in the Sierra Madre mountain range. Since this is such a large terrain, Joe solicits the help of junior game warden Susan Kany.

Meanwhile, Nate has joined forces with fellow falconer Geronimo Jones --- who also has suffered loss at the hands of Axel and Dallas --- in his mission of revenge against this evil duo. With his two trusty and well-trained falcons along for the journey, Nate and Geronimo are well-equipped and eager to destroy their prey. Little do they know that Joe and Susan have taken a path in their search for the Governor's son-in-law that will put them directly in line with their revenge plot. The point of convergence is Battle Mountain; when they all meet, in the midst of a killer storm that is surging overhead, there will be hell to pay.

I had thought that THREE-INCH TEETH was the most explosive and brutal entry in this stellar series, but BATTLE MOUNTAIN definitely gives it a run for the money. If possible, newcomers should read the series in order as the intricate worldbuilding that C. J. Box has created here continues to grow, and understanding Joe's complete purview will heighten the enjoyment of each passing story. I cannot wait to spend more time with Joe and Nate.