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Black Hills
Nora Roberts

Black Hills

Quick Answer

Read "Black Hills" as the 51st book in the Standalone Novels sequence. This follows the recommended publication order to preserve character development.

Sequence Warning

⚠️ Do NOT read before "Cemetery Lake" (Book 50)

❓ Can I skip this book?
❌ No — Required

This book is essential to the core narrative and character development.

Verdict Insight: As the 51st installment, this volume is critical for following the central narrative progression and plot development.

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2018432 pp
Danger hunts down an ex-soldier and his trusty coyote in this Western series debut from the New York Times–bestselling authors of the Smoke Jensen series. Meet Hunter Buchanon, a towering mountain of a man who learned how to track prey in Georgia, kill in the Civil War, and prospect in the Black Hills of Dakota. Now he’s trying to live a peaceful gun-free life—but fate has other plans for him . . . When Hunter rescued a wounded coyote pup—and named him Bobby Lee—he had no idea the cute little varmint would grow up to be such a loyal companion. Coyotes aren’t known to be man’s best friend. Most of them are as fierce and wild as the Black Hills they roam. But Bobby Lee is different. When Hunter is ambushed on the road, Bobby Lee leaps to his defense. And when the attacker tries to shoot Bobby Lee, Hunter returns the favor by hitting the man with a rock. By the time the smoke clears, the coyote-loving ex-Confederate is covered in blood—and the other guy’s got a knife in his chest. Now Hunter has to explain it all to the local sheriff. Which is going to be tough. Because the man he just killed is the sheriff’s deputy . . .
Next Recommended Book

Housewife

Book #51 of 524 in Series

Complete Series Reading Order

Publication Order

Preserves character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended.

Chronological Order

May spoil surprises but improves timeline clarity for deep lore fans.

Order Confidence

high Confidence

Why this order?

Our team of curators analyzes publication history, author interviews, and internal narrative continuity to establish the definitive reading sequence. This ensures zero spoilers and maximum narrative impact.

Why This Order Is Confusing

Many reading lists for Standalone Novels conflict because early publishers often labeled short story collections as standalone novels, or rearranged internal chronologies for marketing. This guide follows original author intent and narrative continuity to settle the debate for good.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I skip reading Black Hills?

This book is essential to the core narrative and character development.

Can I read Black Hills before Cemetery Lake?

No. We recommend reading Cemetery Lake first. Black Hills is the 51th book in the series and follows the core narrative established in earlier volumes.

Is Black Hills required reading for the Standalone Novels?

Yes, it is a core installment in the series reading order and contains critical character development and plot progression.

What comes after Black Hills in the reading order?

The next recommended book after Black Hills is Housewife (Book #51).