Reading Order
Joe Pickettseries.seoTitleShort
Start with Open Season and continue through all 20 books in the listed reading order.
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Start with Open Season
Book 1 by CJ Box • Published 2001
New game warden Joe Pickett discovers the body of a local poacher on his own woodpile. As he investigates, he unravels a conspiracy involving an endangered species that could threaten the livelihood of the entire valley.
Complete List
Joe Pickett reading order
Ends with Shadows Reel
- 1
Book 1:Open Season
CJ Box • 2001
New game warden Joe Pickett discovers the body of a local poacher on his own woodpile. As he investigates, he unravels a conspiracy involving an endangered species that could threaten the livelihood of the entire valley.
- 2
Book 2:Savage Run
CJ Box • 2002
When a massive explosion kills an environmental activist, Joe Pickett is called to investigate. He uncovers a deadly plot involving a pair of cold-blooded assassins who are systematically eliminating targets across th...
- 3
Book 3:Winterkill
CJ Box • 2003
Joe’s supervisor is found murdered, pinned to a tree with arrows. The investigation leads Joe into the snowy mountains and a confrontation with a radical survivalist group that has a connection to his foster daughter.
- 4
Book 4:Trophy Hunt
CJ Box • 2004
Local ranch animals and wild moose are being found mutilated in bizarre ways. While some suspect a bear or even supernatural causes, Joe Pickett discovers a human killer who is far more dangerous than any animal.
- 5
Book 5:Out of Range
CJ Box • 2005
Joe is temporarily assigned to the wealthy enclave of Jackson Hole after a fellow warden’s apparent suicide. He finds himself navigating a world of rich developers and environmental extremists while questioning if his...
- 6
Book 6:In Plain Sight
CJ Box • 2006
Ranch matriarch Opal Scarlett vanishes, sparking a vicious war between her sons. Meanwhile, Joe Pickett becomes the target of a series of violent pranks that suggest someone from his past has returned for revenge.
- 7
Book 7:Free Fire
CJ Box • 2007
A lawyer confesses to four murders in a remote section of Yellowstone but claims a legal loophole makes him immune to prosecution. The governor asks Joe to go undercover and find the truth before the killer walks free.
- 8
Book 8:Blood Trail
CJ Box • 2008
A killer is targeting big-game hunters, skinning them and displaying them like trophy animals. Joe is assigned to the case alongside a mysterious "man tracker," but he soon realizes he needs Nate Romanowski’s help to...
- 9
Book 9:Below Zero
CJ Box • 2009
Joe’s daughter Sheridan begins receiving text messages from a number belonging to her deceased foster sister, April. The messages lead Joe on a cross-country hunt to uncover a massive environmental crime cover-up.
- 10
Book 10:Nowhere to Run
CJ Box • 2010
While checking a remote area, Joe stumbles upon twin brothers who have been living off the grid and running a criminal operation. Cut off from support, Joe must survive a high-altitude game of cat and mouse.
- 11
Book 11:Cold Wind
CJ Box • 2011
When Joe’s mother-in-law finds her husband’s body hanging from a wind turbine, all signs point to murder. Joe’s friend Nate Romanowski is the prime suspect, forcing Joe to investigate a complex web of wind energy poli...
- 12
Book 12:Force of Nature
CJ Box • 2012
Nate Romanowski’s dark past in the Special Forces catches up with him. A powerful enemy from his former unit arrives in Wyoming to wipe out anyone who knows his secrets, putting the entire Pickett family in the crossh...
- 14
Book 14:Stone Cold
Robert B Parker • 2003
Two cases collide in Paradise, a suspicious death and an assault that was never properly reported. Jesse Stone pushes past the town’s desire for quiet and forces long-suppressed truths into the open, even when it cost...
- 15
Book 15:Endangered
CJ Box • 2015
Joe’s foster daughter, April, is found beaten and left for dead in a ditch. Joe suspects her rodeo cowboy boyfriend, Dallas Cates, and embarks on a personal crusade for justice that threatens to cross the line.
- 16
Book 16:Off the Grid
CJ Box • 2016
Nate Romanowski is offered a pardon if he helps federal agents track a domestic terror cell in the Red Desert. Joe joins the mission, but they soon realize the government’s plan is far deadlier than they were told.
- 17
Book 17:Vicious Circle
CJ Box • 2017
Dallas Cates returns from prison seeking revenge against Joe Pickett and his family. With the help of his ruthless family, Cates initiates a violent plan, forcing Joe and Nate to prepare for a final showdown.
- 18
Book 18:The Disappeared
CJ Box • 2018
The governor tasks Joe with finding a missing British female executive who vanished from a high-end guest ranch. At the same time, Nate Romanowski questions his future as he tries to rebuild his life without falcons.
- 20
Book 20:Long Range
CJ Box • 2020
A judge is shot at from an impossible distance, and Nate Romanowski is arrested for the crime. Joe must clear his friend’s name while dealing with a rogue grizzly bear that is terrorizing the area.
- 21
Book 21:Dark Sky
CJ Box • 2021 • 1 recommendation
Joe is tasked with guiding a Silicon Valley billionaire on an elk hunt. The trip turns into a nightmare when they are ambushed by a specialized kill squad, forcing Joe to use all his skills to keep them alive.
- 22
Book 22:Shadows Reel
CJ Box • 2022
Marybeth finds a Nazi photo album left at the library, sparking a mystery with roots in World War II. Meanwhile, Nate tracks down the man who stole his falcons, leading both Picketts and Romanowski into danger.
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Joe Pickett FAQ
What is the best order to read the Joe Pickett series?
The recommended reading order is the numbered order shown on this page, starting with Open Season.
How many books are in the Joe Pickett series?
There are 20 books currently listed in the Joe Pickett series on GurusReads.
Where should I start with the Joe Pickett series?
New readers should start with Open Season, the first book in the reading order.
Is the Joe Pickett series complete?
Based on the publication years we have, the series appears likely complete and spans releases from 2001 to 2022.