In Vicious Circle by C. J. Box, game warden Joe Pickett is thrust back into danger when Dallas Cates, the violent ex–rodeo star Joe helped put behind bars, is released from prison. Dallas is consumed by rage and determined to take revenge on everyone he blames for destroying his life — especially the Pickett family. As unsettling events begin to unfold in Saddlestring, Joe realizes that Dallas and his ruthless allies are building toward a deadly confrontation that could shatter everything Joe has fought to protect.

With the law offering little help and threats escalating, Joe must rely on his instincts, integrity, and courage to outmaneuver a man who has nothing left to lose. C. J. Box builds a tense, fast-paced thriller where loyalty is tested, violence looms over every decision, and the line between justice and vengeance grows dangerously thin. Joe faces a brutal cycle of retribution — one he must break before it destroys his family for good¹.