Title:	Vicious Circle
	Author:	C J Box
	Published:	March 21, 2017, G.P. Putnam's Sons
	No. of Pages:	384
	Cover Price:	$27.00 Hardcover, $13.99 Kindle

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Vicious Circle is the 17th novel in the bestselling Joe Pickett series. Pickett is a Wyoming game warden, and in this novel, while in a small plane, sees on an iPad screen what looks like three men taking another man down. Joe becomes involved in the investigation, first of a missing person, and then what turns out to be the murder of one of his acquaintances. Previously, Joe had run ins with the Cate family, whose members are notorious for evil ties with powerful, corrupt people, and was instrumental in getting some of them into prison. He suspects that they are involved, and knows that the Cates are out for revenge against him. He knows that he and his family are in danger. Pickett must not only find out what happened - why and how the murder took place - as well as protect his family.

The Joe Pickett series is well-written, the characters are well-developed, and the story is good enough to keep readers on the edge of their seats. Pickett is likeable, and is an upstanding member of law enforcement. He is a happily married family man and is very protective of them. Even though there are some very bad guys in the area where Joe works, the book doesn’t have a lot of graphic violence, which is refreshing since the readers will know what happened, but are spared an over-abundance of gruesome details.

Vicious Circle and other books in this excellent series will appeal to readers who enjoy the outdoors. Joe is a man’s man – not one who wears a suit and works in an office. Unlike heroes in most of the other modern series, he isn’t a womanizer, doesn’t use a lot of foul language, and is generally a likeable and believable guy.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.