Joe Pickett Books in Order
Part ofCJ Box Books in OrderThe complete Joe Pickett series by C.J. Box, following the Wyoming game warden through every case, with summaries and reading order.
Last updated: December 11, 2025
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Publication Order
22 books
Shadows Reel
by 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.
Dark Sky
by CJ Box
2021
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.
Long Range
by 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.
Wolf Pack
by CJ Box
2019
Joe discovers a drone killing wildlife, which leads him to a Mexican cartel operating in the Wyoming wilderness. The cartel sends a team of assassins—the "Wolf Pack"—to eliminate the game warden who stumbled onto their operation.
The Disappeared
by 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.
Vicious Circle
by 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.
Off the Grid
by 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.
Endangered
by 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.
Stone Cold
by CJ Box
2014
Joe is sent undercover to a massive, secretive ranch owned by a wealthy recluse. Rumors suggest the ranch is a front for an assassination ring, and Joe finds himself cut off from help in a place where human life is cheap.
Breaking Point
by CJ Box
2013
A local business owner and family friend goes on the run after two EPA employees are murdered. Joe believes the man was pushed too far by federal overreach, but the manhunt reveals a conspiracy deeper than simple revenge.
Force of Nature
by 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 crosshairs.
Cold Wind
by 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 politics.
Nowhere to Run
by 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.
Below Zero
by 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.
Blood Trail
by 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 survive.
Free Fire
by 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.
In Plain Sight
by 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.
Out of Range
by 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 friend really killed himself.
Trophy Hunt
by 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.
Winterkill
by 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.
Savage Run
by 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 the state.
Open Season
by 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.
Series background & context
C.J. Box’s acclaimed Joe Pickett series immerses readers in the rugged, unforgiving, and breathtakingly beautiful landscape of Wyoming, where the line between civilization and the wild is often blurred. At the heart of these novels is Joe Pickett, a game warden stationed in the fictional Twelve Sleep County. Far from the typical invincible thriller protagonist, Joe is a refreshingly relatable "everyman." He is not a former special ops soldier or a martial arts expert; he is a dedicated civil servant who struggles with a meager salary, navigates complex office politics, and is frequently underestimated by both criminals and his own superiors.
Joe is defined by an unwavering, almost stubborn moral code. In a region where local traditions often clash with federal regulations, his refusal to look the other way earns him enemies on all sides, from corrupt bureaucrats to local law enforcement. He is a man who simply wants to do the right thing, even when it puts his career—and his life—in jeopardy. His vulnerability is a key element of the series’ suspense; Joe often finds himself outgunned and outnumbered, relying on his wits, his knowledge of the terrain, and sheer tenacity to survive.
Balancing Joe’s by-the-book nature is his mysterious friend and ally, Nate Romanowski. A master falconer and off-the-grid survivalist with a murky, violent past in special forces, Nate operates in the grey areas where the law cannot reach. While Joe represents the order of the law, Nate represents the primal justice of the wild. Their unlikely friendship forms a central dynamic in the series, with Nate frequently stepping in to provide the lethal force or tactical expertise that Joe lacks.
The series is also deeply grounded in Joe’s domestic life. His sharp-witted wife, Marybeth, is a full partner in his struggles, offering business acumen and investigative support that often proves crucial to solving cases. Together, they raise their daughters—Sheridan, April, and Lucy—whose growth from children into young women provides a strong emotional backbone to the saga. The danger Joe faces frequently bleeds into his home life, raising the stakes and making the family’s survival a recurring theme.
Set against the stunning backdrop of the Bighorn Mountains and the high plains, the stories typically begin with a wildlife violation—a poached elk, a mutilated cow, or an environmental anomaly—that pulls Joe into deep, deadly conspiracies. Through these mysteries, C.J. Box explores complex modern issues facing the American West, including endangered species legislation, the influence of the energy industry, and the tension between multi-generational ranchers and wealthy land developers. The result is a compelling blend of outdoor adventure, Western noir, and family drama that captures the spirit of the modern frontier.
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