Open Season

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Joe Pickett becomes the central investigative character in 23 other novels by C.J. Box, following in a long tradition of fictional detectives like Sherlock Holmes, Auguste Dupin, Hercule Poirot of The Mysterious Affair at Styles, and Nancy Drew of The Secret of the Old Clock. Does Joe Pickett remind you of these or any other fictional detectives that you’ve read? What makes Joe Pickett stand out compared to these other characters?

2. Have you read any other books by C.J. Box, either from the Joe Pickett series or his standalone novels? Did you enjoy this story more or less than the others? Why? Do you notice any common themes that connect the stories to one another?

3. How did you feel about the novel’s ending and the Epilogue’s wrap-up of the various storylines? Did you find the conclusion satisfying, realistic, unrealistic, etc.? Why?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Joe’s determination to adhere to the responsibilities of his game warden position brings him into conflict with characters in the book who want him to drop his investigation into the Miller’s weasel.