Joe Pickett books in order

If you're new to C.J. Box works, you may want to read the Joe Pickett books in order. Here’s the whole list, along with a reading platform suggestion.

A family-oriented, honest, and true-to-himself game warden Joe Pickett is fully committed to his work. He takes on all sorts of criminals and deals with terrifying murderous crimes. All he wants is to make his community a more peaceful place for his family and other people to enjoy.

New York Times bestselling author C.J. Box used real-life experiences as background for his short stories. C.J. Box worked on ranches and saw nature's cruelty, beauty, and balance with his own eyes. For this reason, the land is essential in all Joe Pickett novels.

The first book was published in 2001, with more than 20 publications. If you're new to the series, you may want to read the bestseller book series in order. Here's an introduction to all the Box books about the glorious Wyoming game warden (but not Cassie Dewell) in the order in which they were published.

The reading order for the Joe Pickett books

Open Season

The first novel in the series introduces us to the world of Joe Pickett. As a new game warden in Twelve Sleep, Wyoming, he isn't received well. He's righteous and obeys the law. Other hunters in the area don't like that. After an outfitter's body gets discovered near Joe's home, he takes the investigation into his own hands.

Savage Run

In Savage Run, Joe Pickett works on a mysterious murder of an infamous eco-activist. When Joe's wife starts receiving spooky phone calls from the presumed victim, Joe starts to dig even deeper in search of the truth.

Winterkill

Joe seeks a killer who kidnaps his foster daughter. The crossbow-wielding criminal is more dangerous than Joe thought. He puts Joe and his daughter in danger in the village of Saddlestring.

Trophy Hunt

Joe Pickett looks for a horrible perpetrator that mutilates animal and human corpses. While the police suspect grizzly bears, Joe fears a human.

Out of Range

Joe's close friend is found dead. While many suspect suicide, Joe has reasons to believe something else is to blame.

In Plain Sight

As an ultra-rich ranch owner goes missing, Joe takes over the case. He suspects one of her sons is behind the crime. But whoever it is, they certainly do all they can to escape charges.

Free Fire

After being fired, Joe receives a call from the local governor about an old case. Joe must find a murderer to get his job back and put one of America's most evil criminals behind bars.

Blood Trail

It's elk tracking season in Wyoming. Instead of an elk, a decapitated corpse is found on a mountain, killed in the same fashion as the animals. A poker chip and an empty cartridge are the only two clues.

Below Zero

Six years after Joe's foster daughter was killed, he receives messages that the girl may still be alive. Joe is determined to find out the truth.

Nowhere to Run

As he leaves his temporary job in Baggs, Joe has some mysterious murder cases to solve. As it turns out, those were some of the hardest and most dangerous challenges he faced in his career.

Cold Wind

Joe is in charge of a murder case of his mother-in-law's husband. Missy, the mother-in-law, pleads not guilty, but the evidence says otherwise. Joe is faced with solving a criminal case that may well ruin his family.

The Master Falconer

A man from the East brings trouble to Joe's friend Nate. Joe is determined to call for frontier-style justice from the West.

Force of Nature

Joe's ex-Black Ops agent friend, Nate Romanowski, can't move on with his life after serving in Afghanistan. Someone wants him dead for knowing too many secrets. Joe is set to help Nate and his family feel safe again.

Breaking Point

A once-respected family man, Butch Roberson, disappears after two corpses are found in the village. Everyone except for Joe believes he is the killer. Pickett is determined to clear the man's name at all costs.

Stone Cold

As a new millionaire comes to town, many people start disappearing. Joe doesn't think this is a coincidence and tries to find the true identity of the "benevolent" visitor.

Shots Fired

Shots Fired consists of ten riveting stories, including Pirates of Yellowstone, Le Sauvage Noble, and many others. Three of the ten stories in Shots Fired have never been published, like Dull Knife and others.

Endangered

Joe's daughter is found in a ditch, barely breathing after escaping with notorious Dallas Cates. Pickett does everything in his power to protect and avenge his daughter.

Off the Grid

Joe Pickett and Nate Romanowski have to confront secret agents in the Red Desert of Wyoming. Their enemies are more serious than anyone they faced before.

Vicious Circle

After serving his sentence for two years, Dallas Cates is free again. Joe knows Cates will seek revenge and is ready to protect his daughter at all costs.

The Disappeared

Joe Pickett is in the remote village of Saragota looking for traces behind a British executive's disappearance. More people start missing there. Joe, too, could be in danger unless he solves the mystery soon.

Wolf Pack

Joe's back in Twelve Sleep County and is sent to track down the owner of a drone that upsets local animals. What seemed like a simple case turned out to be a confrontation with the Wolf Pack, a savage killer group.

Long Range

As a Twelve Sleep judge's life gets put in danger, Joe's friend Nate is the main suspect in the murder attempt. Joe has to prove Nate's innocence using all means available.

Dark Sky

When Joe escorts a respected California billionaire on a hunting trip, they are confronted with a deadly hunter. Joe must get everyone out alive.

Shadows Reel

Joe and his wife prepare for Thanksgiving, but a series of horror events change their plans. Joe and Marybeth find a mysterious package with dark secrets from the past following a murder in the woods. They now fear for their own lives.

Storm Watch

Joe investigates the murder of a University of Wyoming professor. Extremists, federal agents, and the Governor obstruct the investigation. Something has gone terribly, and Joe is determined to find out what.

Read the Joe Pickett series on Speechify Audiobooks

If you'd like to read Joe Pickett novels, but lack time, you can listen to them on Speechify Audiobooks. You have total control over playback speed and can download the novels for offline listening.

Enjoy the two-time Barry Awards winner and Macavity and Edgar award winner in a brand new light. With Speechify Audiobooks, you can listen on the go using your smartphone, tablet, or any other portable device.

Try Speechify for free by visiting the official website.

FAQ

How many books are in the Joe Pickett series?

There are 26 books in the Joe Pickett series.

Do you need to read the Joe Pickett series in order?

Reading all the Joe Picket series in order is recommended, but it's not mandatory. You can read the books as standalone novels.

What is the first Joe Pickett book in the series?

Open Season is the first Joe Picket book in the series.

When was the first Joe Pickett book published?

Open Season, the first Joe Pickett series book, was published in 2001.

Will there be another book in the Joe Pickett series?

Yes, the next novel, Storm Watch, is scheduled to hit the shelves in February 2023.