Three books in and it's getting predictable. Joe does something stupid. Joe gets involved in something where he has no jurisdiction. Joe does something else stupid. Joe and/or his family get hurt. Joe does more stupid things (how does this man still have a job?!?). There's a big showdown. Terrible things happen. Joe wins, kind of, but it's overshadowed by the fallout from the ineptitude of everyone else (how does the sheriff still have a job?).