Force of Nature is the 12th book in author C.J. Box’s series centered around Wyoming Game Warden Joe Pickett. At this point, I really do think you have to have read at least a few of the books prior to this one and have an acquaintance with various characters to grasp all of what’s happening. I do give Box credit, though; he does his best to give brief recaps and make the book accessible to all. I just think it’s harder to understand some of the characters’ nuances unless you’re acquainted with them prior to reading this one.

Throughout the series, Nate Romanowski has been there for Joe Pickett. Nate’s background is mysterious, but it’s been intimated that he was part of a secret group of highly specialized operatives, and he’s hiding from people who would want to make sure he stays quiet about what he’s seen and done. Joe saved his life back in the first book when he was arrested for a crime he didn’t commit, and it seemed like it might be the end of the line for him. Since then, Nate has been there whenever Joe needed him. Joe knows Nate works outside of the law and doesn’t question him, which at times seems hypocritical, but then Joe is a flawed human being.

Leading into Force of Nature, Nate knows the very thing he dreads is happening. His friend, Large Merle, is killed, but before he dies, he gives Nate the message that “The Five. They’ve deployed.” This puts Nate on edge, although the reader doesn’t yet know what’s going on. One of the first people he warns is his game warden friend, Joe Pickett. Nate is worried that they will try to use people close to Nate to flush him out. Nate gives Joe a rather involved way of communicating with him as he plans to drop out of sight.

Nate knows who is after him. John Nemecek was his superior and now wants to silence everyone who knows his transgressions permanently. One by one, Nate checks in with people he knew from that time of his life, and one by one, he learns they are dead, or they die while he is talking to them. Nemecek is afraid that Nate has told people about what he saw and did, and wants no witnesses (or potential witnesses) left. It’s a cat-and-mouse battle between Nate and Nemecek, with Joe Pickett and his family as potential collateral damage.

If, from that summary, you think Force of Nature is more about Nate Romanowski than Joe Pickett, you would be correct. We finally learn the weight that Nate has been carrying all this time. He blames himself for something he could not have foreseen at the time, but he blames himself nonetheless. Nemecek has way more resources than Nate, but Nate is clever. The suspense throughout the book is excellent. It’s plausible that this could mark the end of Joe having Nate in his corner when needed.

Joe has some conflict with all of this. Nate has warned him away from the situation, but Joe feels like he owes Nate after the man has been there for him and his family more than once. He’s not on Nate’s level in any shape or form, but wants to help his friend. I can see his conflict, but he has a family that depends on him more than ever. I don’t think I would be quite as understanding of his choices as his wife is.

The story was great, as was the pacing. I liked finally getting to know Nate’s background. The audiobook is narrated by David Chandler, who has narrated earlier books in the series as well. He does a great job creating different characters with his voice without feeling like he is infusing something into them as he reads the story. I want the author’s perspective of the characters, not the person reading the audiobook, and he does this well.

I think Force of Nature is very satisfying for those of us who have been reading the series. It’s more of a Nate Romanowski story than a Joe Pickett one, but it fits very well into the series. It feels like it was a good time to reveal all about Nate, and his background is truly everything I expected it to be and more.

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