🔫 Book Review: Honor & . . . by Sandra Brown and C.J. Box (Kindle Edition, The MatchUp Collection)
A fast-paced, high-stakes thriller that brings together two iconic characters—Lee Coburn and Joe Pickett—for a tense, action-packed short story that’s as explosive as it is entertaining.
🧠 Overview
Originally published in the MatchUp anthology in 2017, Honor & . . . is a 32-page short story co-written by Sandra Brown and C.J. Box, pairing their popular protagonists—Lee Coburn, a former FBI agent from Brown’s Lethal, and Joe Pickett, a Wyoming game warden from Box’s long-running mystery series. The story begins with Joe investigating illegal elk hunting near Jackson Hole, only to stumble upon a dead body and a man with a gun—Lee Coburn.
Before either man can explain, they’re ambushed by gunfire and forced to retreat into a log cabin, setting off a tense survival scenario that tests their instincts, trust, and grit.
🎯 Key Highlights
- 🏞️ Unfamiliar terrain: Joe Pickett is out of his element in Jackson Hole, adding vulnerability to his usual stoic demeanor
- 🔫 Instant tension: The story opens mid-crisis, with a body on the floor and a gun aimed—no time wasted
- 🤝 Character clash: Coburn’s hardened edge contrasts with Pickett’s principled approach, creating dynamic friction
- 💥 Relentless pacing: The action unfolds rapidly, with gunfire, tactical retreats, and a mystery that deepens with every page
“Joe sat with his back to the wall and his shotgun across his knees, wishing the day had gone in an entirely different direction…” — Honor & . . .
💬 Reader Reception
- ⭐ Goodreads rating: 4.02/5 from over 1,300 ratings
- 📖 Readers praise the story’s tight pacing, strong character interplay, and cinematic action
- 🧾 Fans of either author enjoy seeing their heroes team up, while newcomers find it a thrilling standalone
- 💬 “Spectacularly great. Very short, very sharp, and full of firepower.” — Reader review
⚠️ Considerations
- 📄 Short format: At 32 pages, it’s a quick read—best enjoyed as a high-octane interlude
- 📚 Series familiarity: While it works as a standalone, readers familiar with Lethal and the Joe Pickett series will appreciate the deeper character nuances
- 🔞 Violent content: Includes gunfights and tactical action—intended for mature thriller fans
🏁 Final Verdict
Honor & . . . is a lean, adrenaline-fueled thriller that delivers exactly what fans of Sandra Brown and C.J. Box crave: strong characters, sharp dialogue, and a plot that doesn’t let up. Whether you’re a longtime follower of Coburn and Pickett or just dipping into the MatchUp Collection, this Kindle edition is a satisfying burst of suspense and grit.
