Joe Pickett Reading Order

Here's the correct Joe Pickett reading order: every book in the right order, where to start, and answers to common questions.

C.J. Box's Joe Pickett is a Wyoming game warden — underpaid, stubbornly honest, perpetually outgunned — who keeps stumbling into conspiracies over land, money, and murder in the wide-open West. Modern Western thrillers with a conscience.

Our Recommendation: Publication Order Read in publication order, which matches chronological order exactly. Each book has a self-contained case, but Joe's family and his dangerous friend Nate Romanowski develop across the series.

Complete Reading Order

  1. Open SeasonBuy NowAudible2001
  2. Savage RunBuy NowAudible2002
  3. WinterkillBuy NowAudible2003
  4. Trophy HuntBuy NowAudible2004
  5. Out of RangeBuy NowAudible2005
  6. In Plain SightBuy NowAudible2006
  7. Free FireBuy NowAudible2007
  8. Blood TrailBuy NowAudible2008
  9. Below ZeroBuy NowAudible2009
  10. Nowhere to RunBuy NowAudible2010
  11. Cold WindBuy NowAudible2011
  12. Force of NatureBuy NowAudible2012
  13. Breaking PointBuy NowAudible2013
  14. Stone ColdBuy NowAudible2014
  15. EndangeredBuy NowAudible2015
  16. Off the GridBuy NowAudible2016
  17. Vicious CircleBuy NowAudible2017
  18. The DisappearedBuy NowAudible2018
  19. Wolf PackBuy NowAudible2019
  20. Long RangeBuy NowAudible2020
  21. Dark SkyBuy NowAudible2021
  22. Shadows ReelBuy NowAudible2022
  23. Storm WatchBuy NowAudible2023
  24. Three-Inch TeethBuy NowAudible2024
  25. Battle MountainBuy NowAudible2025
  26. The CrossroadsBuy NowAudible2026
  27. The Missing (pre-order, out Feb 23, 2027)Buy NowAudible2027
Own the Complete Series Buying the whole series at once is usually cheaper than individual books, and box sets make a great gift. See Joe Pickett box set options on Amazon ›

The Full Series

26 published novels from Open Season (2001) to The Crossroads (2026), with The Missing (#27) due February 23, 2027. Two short stories (Dull Knife, Shots Fired) and the related Cody Hoyt/Cassie Dewell 'Highway Quartet' are optional extras in the same universe.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the correct Joe Pickett reading order?

Publication Order. Read in publication order, which matches chronological order exactly. Each book has a self-contained case, but Joe's family and his dangerous friend Nate Romanowski develop across the series.

Is the Joe Pickett series finished?

No. Book 27, The Missing, comes out February 23, 2027.

Do I need to read Joe Pickett in order?

Publication and chronological order are identical here, and while each mystery stands alone, Joe's family arc and his ally Nate Romanowski build across the books — so in order is best.

How many Joe Pickett books are there?

26 published novels through The Crossroads (2026), with book 27, The Missing, out February 23, 2027 — plus a couple of short stories.

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