C.J. Box Books In Order – Complete List of Novels

Last Updated on March 14, 2024

Reading the C. J. Box books in order means catching up with 23 Joe Pickett novels, 6 Cody Hoyt/Cassie Dewell series, 2 standalone novels, several short stories, and collections as well. Quite a lot of books, but well worth the read!

Here are the C. J. Box novels in order of publication and chronological order for all his series.

New CJ Box Books

Three-Inch Teeth
Three-Inch Teeth (Joe Pickett #24), 2024

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Joe Pickett Books In Publication Order

  1. Open Season (#1), 2001
  2. Savage Run (#2), 2002
  3. Winterkill (#3), 2003
  4. Trophy Hunt (#4), 2004
  5. Dull Knife (#4.5), 2011
  6. Out of Range (#5), 2005
  7. In Plain Sight (#6), 2006
  8. Free Fire (#7), 2007
  9. Blood Trail (#8), 2008
  10. Below Zero (#9), 2009
  11. Nowhere to Run (#10), 2010
  12. Cold Wind (#11), 2011
  13. The Master Falconer (#11.5), 2011
  14. Force of Nature (#12), 2012
  15. Breaking Point (#13), 2013
  16. Stone Cold (#14), 2014
  17. Shots Fired: Stories from Joe Pickett Country ( #14.5), 2014
  18. Endangered (#15), 2015
  19. Off the Grid (#16), 2016
  20. Vicious Circle (#17), 2017
  21. Disappeared (#18), 2018
  22. Wolf Pack (#19), 2019
  23. Long Range (#20), 2020
  24. Dark Sky (#21), 2021
  25. Shadows Reel (#22), 2022
  26. Storm Watch (#23), 2023
  27. Three-Inch Teeth (#24), 2024

Joe Pickett Short Stories

Joe Pickett Short Story Collections

Cody Hoyt / Cassie Dewell Series In Publication Order

  1. Back of Beyond (#1), 2011
  2. The Highway (#2), 2013
  3. Badlands (#3), 2015
  4. Paradise Valley (#4), 2017
  5. The Bitterroots (#5), 2019
  6. Treasure State (#6), 2022

Standalone Novels in Publication Order

C.J. Box Novellas

Anthologies and Collections

Series Contributed To

Bibliomysteries

Best American Mystery Stories

Overview of the Joe Pickett Series

The series follows the life of Joe Pickett, a game warden in Wyoming, as he navigates through his job and personal life in the rural west.

Joe is a dedicated family man who takes his job seriously, and he frequently finds himself caught up in dangerous situations as he investigates various crimes in the region. Throughout the series, he faces a range of challenges, including environmental concerns, corruption, and violence, while also grappling with personal issues and relationships with his wife and daughters.

One of the recurring themes in the series is the tension between modern life and traditional values, as Joe and other characters struggle to balance the demands of a changing world with their deep attachment to the land and way of life in the rural west.

The books are known for their strong sense of place and vivid descriptions of the western landscape, as well as their complex characters and intricate plotlines. As the series progresses, readers become increasingly invested in the lives of Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett and the other characters, making the books a compelling and addictive read for fans of crime fiction and western literature.

Should We Read the Joe Pickett Series in Order?

The Joe Pickett series is written with a strong narrative arc that develops over time, with recurring characters and storylines that build on each other. Each book builds on the previous one and adds new layers to the overarching story.

Reading the books out of order may confuse and spoil important plot points, which can detract from the overall reading experience. In addition, the character development of game warden Joe Pickett, his family, and his colleagues evolves throughout the book series, and reading the books in order allows readers to fully appreciate these changes and understand how they fit into the larger story.

Furthermore, the books often refer back to events from previous installments, so readers who start with a later book may miss important details that would enhance their understanding and enjoyment of the story.

Overall, reading the Joe Pickett series in order allows readers to fully immerse themselves in the world that C.J. Box has created, follow the growth of the characters, and fully appreciate the depth and complexity of the book series as a whole. Every year a thrilling new novel in the Joe Pickett series is released, which makes the readers of the bestselling series extremely happy. The latest Joe Pickett novel is Three-Inch Teeth, published in 2024.

Overview of the Cody Hoyt/Cassie Dewell Series

The series revolves around the investigative work of Cody Hoyt, a troubled former cop, and Cassie Dewell, a recently divorced single mother who works as a private investigator.

The first book in the series, Back of Beyond, introduces readers to Cody, who is struggling with alcoholism and personal demons, and Cassie, who is hired to investigate the disappearance of a wealthy businessman in Montana. As they delve deeper into the case, they uncover a web of deceit and corruption that leads them on a dangerous journey through the wilderness.

In subsequent books, including The Highway and Badlands, Cody and Cassie continue to investigate complex cases involving violent crime, corruption, and political intrigue. Along the way, they must navigate personal relationships and confront their demons, making the series as much about the characters’ personal journeys as it is about the crimes they investigate.

The series is known for its fast-paced action, complex characters, and vivid descriptions of the western landscape. As the book series progresses, readers become increasingly invested in the lives of Cody and Cassie, making the books a compelling and addictive read for fans of crime fiction and western literature.

C.J. Box Biography – About the Author

C J Box books in order

C. J. Box, aka Charles James Box, is the New York Times bestselling author of the Joe Pickett mystery series.

The author is a native of Wyoming. Born in 1958 in Casper, WY, where he grew up. He is the older of three siblings.  he graduated with a degree in Mass Communications from the University of Denver.

C.J. Box worked a variety of jobs after college, including as a ranch hand, surveyor, fishing guide, and newspaper reporter. He also worked for a time as a Wyoming game warden, an experience that inspired his game warden Joe Pickett series of novels. At some point, he owned an international tourism marketing firm with his wife, Laurie.

He was and is involved in various aspects of tourism, earning the “BIG WYO” Award from the state tourism industry. He was on the Board of Directors of Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo and serves on the Wyoming Office of Tourism Board these days.

C J Box is currently living outside of Cheyenne with his family.

The C J Box novels have been translated into over 30 languages, and overall, the books have sold both in the US and abroad missions of copies.

At some point, I owned all the Joe Pickett books, but I’ve in the meantime given many to the local charity bookshop for those who cannot afford to buy books. I still have one more, a trade paperback called Free Fire, bought several years ago.

Of course I continue to buy the latest Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett novels as soon as they come out, however, these days I rather buy them as Kindle downloads due to lack of space in my home. For me, reading the CJ Box books in order is one of the biggest joys when I know the latest novel has been just released and I can get ahold of it right away.

The most popular C.J. Box series is Joe Pickett. He is a Wyoming game warden in the small town of Twelve Sleep. This is a town of hunters, so it’s understandable that game wardens are not viewed with the utmost respect by the natives.

Joe is especially hated because he doesn’t take bribes and he takes his job seriously. Most people there love their rifles and love their drinks as well, not a healthy combination, especially when Joe has to give tickets to armed drunks who are caught in the act.

In The Disappeared, Joe works two cases at the same time. First, there is the disappearance of three British women who were visiting a local ranch, and second, he and his friend, Nate Romanowski, are called to investigate the killings of some eagles, which is a Federal offense. The problem is that someone wants Joe to stop investigating, but so far it’s not sure which case is someone trying to stall.

A popular Joe Pickett short story, The Master Falconer, was named a chilling short story of death and retribution, as well as a dramatic short story of justice both old and new.

In addition to his writing, Box is a frequent public speaker and commentator on outdoor and wildlife issues. He has served on the board of directors for the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo and the Wyoming Humanities Council. He currently lives with his family in Wyoming.

C.J. Box Awards

Several of the books written by C J Box received awards, including the Anthony Award, Macavity Award, the Gumshoe Award, the Barry Awards, Prix Calibre 38 (France), and the Maltese Falcon Award (Japan). His first standalone novel, Blue Season, received the Edgar Award for Best Mystery Novel of 2008. He was also awarded the 2016 Western Heritage Award for Literature by the National Cowboy Museum, as well as and the Spur Award from Western Writers of America for Best Contemporary Novel.

  • Anthony Award Best First Novel winner in 2002 for Open Season
  • Edgar Award Best Novel winner in 2009 for Blue Heaven
  • Barry Award Best Novel winner in 2016 for Badlands

58 Comments

  1. CJ, has a way of immersing you into Joe Picketts shoes. The observations and surroundings that are described are spot on from the Wolf Lodge to Virginian Inn to the mountain ranges and prairies. Highway numbers and exit numbers are all there. I have personally visited many of the locations described and can see everything he is talking about in the books. I am on my second round through all of the books on Audible and enjoy them as much or more than the first. Read many of them as well.

  2. I am enjoying all of the books, reading through the Joe Pickett series. I actually got interested in the television series before knowing about the books. I loved the series because it didn’t exist to show sexual scenes, terribly vulgar language, and promote split families. Just good, basically down to earth for a series, acting. Great characters! I even liked this better than Longmire, which is a favorite. So hoping you’ll find a way, quickly, to bring this excellent series back to us with many future seasons to enjoy. It’s refreshing to find something that isn’t trashy nowadays.
    5 stars from me!

  3. Love his books, please sign me up for the newsletter! More Joe Pickett books please!!!!!!!!

  4. I have read ever C.J. Box books, and Joe Pickett is my most favorite character. Then I saw they were making a series on it, and I thought, who could play Joe? And if they didn’t pick an actor who embodies Joe Pickett.
    Man, my husband never watches shows based on books, and he is the one hollering for me now to get into the Living Room, He’s going to start Joe Pickett.

  5. Husband was never a reader in high school and beyond. Now he cannot stop – loves the stories, the locale and the characters. Thanks.

  6. Love them all, even have the travel books you did before Joe Picket, Montana Wyoming & Idaho both editions. The 4 limited edition,Le Sauvage Noble, The Master Falconer, Dull Knife, The River God. Pronghorns of the Third Reich Compact Disc, Power Wagon in The Highway Kind, Pirates of Yellowstone in Meeting Across thje River, Fire & Ice in Inherit the Dead, The Encampment: The Hotter, Younger Sister in Gather the River. Mystery Stories C. J. Box Editor, Wolf Pack and The Disappeared in Readers Digest, Every Day is A Good Day On The River in Hook, Line & Sinister.

  7. I don’t know what it is about these novels but they have a tremendously calming effect on me. It’s not like there is no violence… I think there is just such a lack of good, honest people/men in our society that loves their wife and family, makes mistakes and works to correct them. I, for one, wish Joe Pickett was a real person!

  8. Wish all the Joe Pickett books were on audible —— absolutely love everyone I have listened to —– thank you for writing such wonderful stories.

  9. Stopped watching the ‘Big Sky’ series before the first season ended. Why would they take a very good book , have it rewritten and turn it into a inclusion-woke tv series?

    1. Not sure what you mean? In Plain Sight is listed right between Out of Range and Free Fire.

  10. CJBox is a talented writer… I love the way he captures your attention from the beginning…his books are wonderful from beginning to end……I love Joe Pickett and his family…..and his friendship with Nate…..I have read all of the Joe Pickett Series…..I am ready to start the standalones………

  11. Omg…I have read all the comments and I don’t think I can add anything different.
    I love all the ones I have read so far. I am reading them in order and I’m just ready to start “Breaking Point”
    Keep on writing CJ Box….I hope you can keep this series going for quite awhile.

  12. A minor error I noted in the above article on the Joe Pickett novels. Joe is from Saddle String. Ten Sleep is the river in the area, running through town. These books are great! I can’t wait until the next one. I listened to all of them in order. More please!

  13. Having read every single CJ Box book, they are singularly immersive. And all great. If you were perusing these comments looking for an absolute favorite. 1. Nowhere to Run is my favorite book of all time.

    2. Wolf Pack is my second favorite Joe Pickett Book.

    3. Of the non Joe Pickett, Back of Beyond is a great place to start and Blue Heaven is great too.

    1. I absolutely love all of the CJ Box novels I have read so far. In the Pickett series I just finished Force of Nature, so I still have a few more to go. I’ve read all the books in the Hoyt/Dewell series as well as the standalones. My two favorites are Nowhere to Run, Winterkill and Three Weeks to Say Goodbye. Breaking Point is next!

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