[Review] — "THREE-INCH TEETH" is a Grizzly Read

Have you ever been so upset that a television series got canceled that you delayed reading the newest book, which inspired the show, out of spite? Well, that's what happened to me with Joe Pickett. Paramount Plus canceled the streaming series in late 2023 after two seasons. (Side note: the first season aired on Spectrum.) It was a well-made modern-day Western series similar to Yellowstone and should have done better in ratings if marketed correctly.

Nevertheless, another television show I loved was short-lived. At least Joe Pickett is based on the ongoing book series by C.J. Box—the newest being titled THREE-INCH TEETH, a book that took me too long to get to because I was grieving for the television series. But—hey—here I am months later, sharing my thoughts.

THREE-INCH TEETH is the twenty-fourth book in the Joe Pickett series, which follows a Wyoming game warden who always seems to be in the wrong place at the right time. The character is now fifty-one, but don't let his age fool you; he can spot a murder from a mile away. The first victim, Clay Hutmacher Jr., is Joe's eldest daughter's boyfriend. At first glance at the crime scene, it looks like a savage bear attacked Clay while he was fishing, but like most murders in Twelve Sleep County, things aren't what they seem.

Meanwhile, a dangerous criminal, Dallas Cates, whom Joe helped put in prison years ago, is released with a special revenge list tattooed on his skin. His goal is to mark off everyone on that list whom he blames for the deaths of his entire family. Two names on that list are Joe Pickett and Nate Romanowski.

I have mixed feelings about THREE-INCH TEETH. It's better than the last two books in many ways, but it has many plot deficiencies and moments that defy belief and logic. I won't spoil it for other readers, but there are two shocking deaths. One is a pointless death because the character appears for the first time here—in the present timeline. It feels cold-hearted that nobody will grieve for the character, who should've appeared in future storylines. The other character is a fan favorite and will upset die-hard fans. Like ripping off a band-aid, this death happens suddenly and is shocking. I didn't like this death at first, but once I thought about it, I realized it would set up a future storyline, probably in the next book.

While I liked parts of THREE-INCH TEETH, it's a lackluster installment in the series, though better than the previous two. The killer bear subplot is unrealistic and feels like a B-horror movie. The revenge subplot was intriguing, but two predictable moments held it from being great. ╌★★★½✰

Just a quick reminder: This book is available for purchase on Amazon.com. I am an Amazon affiliate, so if you buy the book through the link above, I will receive a small commission. All earnings will help to support future reviews.