BookPath
Home/Authors/C. J. Box/Joe Pickett

Joe Pickett Books in Order.

Authorby C. J. Box
27 Entries
Quick Answer

Start with Open Season (2001). Each case stands alone, but Joe's family and his run-ins with Nate Romanowski build across the books, so publication order reads best.

The complete reading order for the Joe Pickett series by C. J. Box. Below you'll find the authoritative guide on how to read the books in order, including publication dates and chronological timeline placements.

Where to start

Start with Open Season (2001). Each case stands alone, but Joe's family and his run-ins with Nate Romanowski build across the books, so publication order reads best.

  • •Joe is a Wyoming game warden; the books are set in the Rocky Mountain West.
  • •Shots Fired: Stories from Joe Pickett Country (2014) is an optional short-story collection.
Begin Reading Path →Listen on Audible

Complete Series Reading Order

Publication Reading Order27 Titles

Why Publication Order?We recommend reading in Publication Order (default). This follows the author's release schedule, ensuring you experience plot twists, character growth, and world-building exactly as intended without spoilers.
Best Start Here
1

Open Season

Pub: 2001
2

Savage Run

Pub: 2002

Plot details hidden until you finish "Open Season".

3

Winterkill

Pub: 2003

Plot details hidden until you finish "Savage Run".

4

Trophy Hunt

Pub: 2004

Plot details hidden until you finish "Winterkill".

5

Out of Range

Pub: 2005

Plot details hidden until you finish "Trophy Hunt".

6

In Plain Sight

Pub: 2006

Plot details hidden until you finish "Out of Range".

7

Free Fire

Pub: 2007

Plot details hidden until you finish "In Plain Sight".

8

Blood Trail

Pub: 2008

Plot details hidden until you finish "Free Fire".

9

Below Zero

Pub: 2009

Plot details hidden until you finish "Blood Trail".

10

Nowhere to Run

Pub: 2010

Plot details hidden until you finish "Below Zero".

11

Cold Wind

Pub: 2011

Plot details hidden until you finish "Nowhere to Run".

12

Force of Nature

Pub: 2012

Plot details hidden until you finish "Cold Wind".

13

Breaking Point

Pub: 2013

Plot details hidden until you finish "Force of Nature".

14

Stone Cold

Pub: 2014

Plot details hidden until you finish "Breaking Point".

15

Shots Fired: Stories from Joe Pickett Country

Pub: 2014Optional

Plot details hidden until you finish "Stone Cold".

16

Endangered

Pub: 2015

Plot details hidden until you finish "Shots Fired: Stories from Joe Pickett Country".

17

Off the Grid

Pub: 2016

Plot details hidden until you finish "Endangered".

18

Vicious Circle

Pub: 2017

Plot details hidden until you finish "Off the Grid".

19

The Disappeared

Pub: 2018

Plot details hidden until you finish "Vicious Circle".

20

Wolf Pack

Pub: 2019

Plot details hidden until you finish "The Disappeared".

21

Long Range

Pub: 2020

Plot details hidden until you finish "Wolf Pack".

22

Dark Sky

Pub: 2021

Plot details hidden until you finish "Long Range".

23

Shadows Reel

Pub: 2022

Plot details hidden until you finish "Dark Sky".

24

Storm Watch

Pub: 2023

Plot details hidden until you finish "Shadows Reel".

25

Three-Inch Teeth

Pub: 2024

Plot details hidden until you finish "Storm Watch".

26

Battle Mountain

Pub: 2025

Plot details hidden until you finish "Three-Inch Teeth".

27

The Crossroads

Pub: 2026

Plot details hidden until you finish "Battle Mountain".

Prefer Listening?

Best if you commute

Get the professional narration of "Open Season" free with an Audible trial.

Try Audible →

Own the Physical Copy

Best value option

Add "Open Season" to your library in print or Kindle.

View on Amazon →

Frequently Asked Questions

What order should I read Joe Pickett in?

Start with Open Season (2001). Each case stands alone, but Joe's family and his run-ins with Nate Romanowski build across the books, so publication order reads best.

How many books are in Joe Pickett?

26 main books, published 2001–2026, plus 1 side story.

Can I read Joe Pickett out of order?

It's best not to. The books build on each other, so reading out of order spoils earlier twists.

Which books in Joe Pickett are prequels, novellas or side stories?

"Shots Fired: Stories from Joe Pickett Country". Each is placed in the reading order below.

Has Joe Pickett been adapted for TV or film?

Joe Pickett (2021-2023) is a TV series based on the novels, first on Spectrum and then Paramount+.