Below is the complete list of C.J. Box books in order of publication, which is the recommended reading order for the series....
Read All the C J Box Books in Order
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Read Joe Pickett Books in Publication Order
- Open Season (2001)
Buy on Amazon - Savage Run (2002)
Buy on Amazon - Winterkill (2003)
Buy on Amazon - Trophy Hunt (2004)
Buy on Amazon - Out of Range (2005)
Buy on Amazon - In Plain Sight (2006)
Buy on Amazon - Free Fire (2007)
Buy on Amazon - Blood Trail (2008)
Buy on Amazon - Below Zero (2009)
Buy on Amazon - Nowhere to Run (2010)
Buy on Amazon - Cold Wind (2011)
Buy on Amazon - Force of Nature (2012)
Buy on Amazon - Breaking Point (2013)
Buy on Amazon - Stone Cold (2014)
Buy on Amazon - Endangered (2015)
Buy on Amazon - Off the Grid (2016)
Buy on Amazon - Vicious Circle (2017)
Buy on Amazon - The Disappeared (2018)
Buy on Amazon - Wolf Pack (2019)
Buy on Amazon - Long Range (2020)
Buy on Amazon - Dark Sky (2021)
Buy on Amazon - Shadows Reel (2022)
Buy on Amazon - Storm Watch (2023)
Buy on Amazon - Three-Inch Teeth (2024)
Buy on Amazon - Battle Mountain (2025)
Buy on Amazon - The Crossroads (2026)
Buy on Amazon
Read Joe Pickett Short Stories/Novellas Books in Publication Order
- Dull Knife (2005)
Buy on Amazon - The Master Falconer (2011)
Buy on Amazon - One-Car Bridge (2015)
Buy on Amazon - Pirates of Yellowstone (2015)
Buy on Amazon - Honor & … (2017)
(With Sandra Brown)
Buy on Amazon - Precious Cargo (2022)
Buy on Amazon
Read Joe Pickett Collections Books in Publication Order
- Shots Fired: Stories from Joe Pickett Country (2014)
Buy on Amazon
Read The Hoyt/Dewell Books in Publication Order
- Back of Beyond (2011)
Buy on Amazon - The Highway (2013)
Buy on Amazon - Badlands (2015)
Buy on Amazon - Paradise Valley (2017)
Buy on Amazon - The Bitterroots (2019)
Buy on Amazon - Treasure State (2022)
Buy on Amazon
Read Standalone Novels Books in Publication Order
- Blue Heaven (2007)
Buy on Amazon - Three Weeks to Say Goodbye (2008)
Buy on Amazon - Pronghorns of the Third Reich (2012)
Buy on Amazon
Read Short Stories/Novellas Books in Publication Order
- The End of Jim and Ezra (2015)
Buy on Amazon - Everyday is a Good Day on the River (2016)
Buy on Amazon
Read Non-Fiction Books in Publication Order
- Travel Smart: Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho (1998)
(With Paul Otteson)
Buy on Amazon
Read Bibliomysteries Books in Publication Order
- Pronghorns of the Third Reich (2012)
Buy on Amazon
Read Lee Coburn Books in Publication Order
with Sandra Brown
- Lethal (2011)
(By Sandra Brown)
Buy on Amazon - Honor & … (2017)
(With Sandra Brown)
Buy on Amazon
Read The MatchUp Collection Books in Publication Order
- Honor & … (2017)
(With Sandra Brown)
Buy on Amazon
Read Mysterious Profiles Books in Publication Order
- Joe Pickett (2024)
Buy on Amazon
C. J. Box
C. J. Box is an American crime novelist best known for creating Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett, the central figure in one of the most enduring contemporary Western crime series. Born in 1958 in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Box grew up immersed in the landscapes that would later define his fiction. His deep familiarity with the American West—its wilderness, politics, and rural communities—gives his novels a distinctive sense of place that sets them apart within the crime genre.
Before becoming a full-time author, Box worked in ranching, small business, and public relations. These varied experiences, combined with a lifelong interest in conservation and outdoor life, shaped both the authenticity of his settings and the moral framework of his protagonists. His debut novel, Open Season (2001), introduced Joe Pickett, a principled but sometimes beleaguered game warden navigating wildlife law enforcement in rural Wyoming. The book won the Anthony Award for Best First Novel and launched a long-running series.
Reading C. J. Box’s books in publication order is particularly valuable because Joe Pickett ages and evolves over time. Unlike many crime series where protagonists remain static, Joe’s personal and professional life changes across installments. His marriage to Marybeth, the growth of his daughters, and shifts within the Wyoming Game and Fish Department all unfold gradually from book to book.
Early novels such as Savage Run, Winterkill, and Trophy Hunt establish Joe’s character: ethical, stubborn, and deeply connected to the land he protects. The series blends traditional crime investigation with environmental and political themes, often examining tensions between conservation, development, and federal authority. Publication order preserves the escalating conflicts between Joe and powerful interests that reappear in later books.
Over time, Box expanded the narrative scope of the Joe Pickett series to include darker threats and more complex antagonists. The introduction of Nate Romanowski, a falconer and former special operations soldier, adds a more volatile counterpoint to Joe’s steady temperament. Nate’s recurring presence becomes increasingly important in later novels, making chronological reading helpful for understanding the depth of their partnership.
In addition to the Joe Pickett series, Box has written standalone thrillers and the Cassie Dewell series, beginning with The Highway (2013). Cassie, a private investigator, operates in a similarly rugged Western setting, and her stories later intersect with characters connected to Joe Pickett’s world. Reading chronologically helps track these subtle crossovers and the expansion of Box’s fictional universe.
Box’s writing is defined by:
- Strong sense of geographic authenticity
- Exploration of Western identity and land stewardship
- Character-driven procedural storytelling
- Realistic depictions of rural law enforcement
His novels often highlight the isolation and beauty of Wyoming’s landscape while addressing contemporary issues such as political extremism, environmental exploitation, and federal land disputes. The natural environment is not merely a backdrop but a driving force in both plot and theme.
Across more than two decades of publication, C. J. Box has received numerous awards, including the Edgar Award and the Barry Award. His Joe Pickett novels have been adapted into a television series, further expanding the character’s reach.
Viewed in publication order, Box’s bibliography traces the steady maturation of Joe Pickett from a somewhat uncertain warden into a seasoned investigator confronting increasingly complex threats. The chronological progression underscores both the growth of recurring characters and the expanding moral landscape of the American West that defines his fiction.