(This column appeared in the March 22, 2009, Star-Herald)

Since reading is one of my favorite things, Bev Russell’s column on Sundays is a "must" because she always has a new idea or suggestion to pass along in the way of books or authors.

The Scottsbluff Public Library has been part of my life since I was a child – the West Nebraska Arts Center building was the one I used, while my children grew up visiting the current building. With retirement from my secretarial job at Scottsbluff High School, I have become involved with the Friends of the Library, am an on-site volunteer at the library, and also belong to the Brown Bag book club which meets over the lunch hour on the 3^rd Wednesday of the month.

Aside from the personal pleasure reading brings is the camaraderie and stimulation that comes in talking with others about books. Through Bev’s columns and my time at the library and book club, I have added new authors to my "favorites" list and right at the top is C.J. Box.

C. J. Box lives in Cheyenne WY and is the author of a series of mysteries about game warden Joe Pickett as well as stand alone novels. The Joe Pickett series is set in Wyoming in areas familiar to most of us and Joe is a likeable easy-going guy who gets caught up in murder and mayhem simply because of his code of doing the right thing. I enjoyed all eight of the series that I’ve read and look forward to his latest Below Zero.

His stand alone thriller Blue Heaven is set in Idaho where a 12-year old girl and her younger brother go on the run from four men they saw commit murder.

The killers are retired cops from Los Angeles and easily persuade the local sheriff to let them lead the search for the missing children. Annie and William’s unexpected savior comes in the form of an old-school rancher. But as one man against four, Jess Rawlins needs allies and one word to the wrong person could seal the fate of the children and their mother. With true-to-life unforgettable characters and a ticking clock plot that covers just over 48 hours in real time, Box has created a thriller that delves into the ruthless power of greed over broken ideals, the healing power of community, and what constitutes a family. In a setting where awesome beauty is threatened by those who want a piece of it, Box delivers a story with twists and turns until the very last page.

His newest thriller is Three Weeks to Say Goodbye and I’m still on the waiting list for it. The blurb on it reads, "After years of trying to have a baby, Jack and Melissa McGuane’s dream has come true with the adoption of their daughter Angelina. But nine months after bringing her home, they receive a devastating phone call from the adoption agency--Angelina’s birth father, a teenager, never signed away his parental rights and he wants her back. Worse, his father, a powerful Denver judge, wants him to own up to this responsibility and will use every advantage his position of power affords him to make sure it happens. When Jack and Melissa attempt to handle the situation rationally by meeting face to face with the father and son, it is immediately apparent that there's something sinister about both of them and that love for Angelina is not the motivation for their actions.

As Angelina’s safety hangs in the balance, Jack and Melissa will stop at nothing to protect their child. A horrifying game of intimidation and double-crosses begins that quickly becomes a death spiral where absolutely no one is safe... How far would you go to save someone you love?"

Another benefit of time spent at our local library was that I also got to meet this author. This was back in 2007. Jana Kehn, who facilitates the Brown Bag Book Club, contacted C. J. Box and arranged for him to visit the Scottsbluff Library. It was a memorable occasion. Box met with our club and discussed his books and also presented a public program and book signing. I think it’s safe to say that everyone who met and listened to him is now a confirmed C.J. Box fan!