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All of C.J. Box’s Books in Order!
Who is C.J. Box?
Charles James Box Jr.–aka C.J. Box–is the bestselling author of the Joe Pickett series, but also of the Cassie Dewell series. At that point, he has written about thirty books, most of them taking place in Wyoming.
Not surprising as Box is a Wyoming native, and still lives there, and has worked as a ranch hand, surveyor, fishing guide, a small-town newspaper reporter, and editor, and he owned an international tourism marketing firm with his wife Laurie.
Joe Pickett is now a TV show on Spectrum (a cable television service in the U.S.) featuring actor Michael Dorman in the title role. Cassie Dewell is also on the small screen, her series is being adapted into the television drama series Big Sky on the ABC network with Kylie Bunbury playing Cassie next to Katheryn Winnick.
How to read C.J. Box’s Books in Order?
The Joe Pickett Series
C.J. Box’s Joe Pickett is the new game warden in Twelve Sleep, Wyoming, a town where nearly everyone hunts, and the game warden – especially one like Joe who won’t take bribes or look the other way – is far from popular.
He’s taken on environmental terrorists, rogue federal land managers, animal mutilators, crazed cowboy hitmen, corrupt bureaucrats, homicidal animal rights advocates, and violent dysfunctional families.
For more information, go to the dedicated Joe Pickett Books in Order page.
- Open Season (2001)
- Savage Run (2002)
- Winterkill (2003)
- Dull Knife (short story) – Collected in Shots Fired.
- Trophy Hunt (2004)
- Out of Range (2005)
- In Plain Sight (2006)
- Free Fire (2007)
- Blood Trail (2008)
- Below Zero (2009)
- Nowhere To Run (2010)
- The Master Falconer (short story) – Collected in Shots Fired.
- Cold Wind (2011)
- Force Of Nature (2012)
- Breaking Point (2013)
- Stone Cold (2014)
- Endangered (2015)
- Off The Grid (2016)
- Vicious Circle (2017)
- The Disappeared (2018)
- Honor & … (short story) – It features Box’s character Joe Pickett and Sandra Brown’s character Lee Coburn from her novel Lethal.
- Wolf Pack (2019)
- Long Range (2020)
- Dark Sky (2021)
- Shadows Reel (2022)
- Storm Watch (2023)
The Cassie Dewell Series
Everything begins with Cody Hoyt, a police investigator who introduces us to his former partner, Cassie Dewell. Together, they are at the center of what was called the Highway Quartet, a C.J. Box mystery series set against the majestic backdrop of the American West.
But now, Cassie works alone, tracking a serial killer or leading other kinds of difficult investigations.
For more information, go to the dedicated to CJ Box’s Cassie Dewell Books in Order page.
- Back of Beyond (2011) – Not with Cassie Dewell, this book features Cody Hoyt. Cassie will become his partner in The Highway.
- The Highway (2013) – Introduction of Cassie Dewell.
- Badlands (2015)
- Paradise Valley (2017)
- The Bitterroots (2019)
- Treasure State (2022)
Other novels by C.J. Box
- Blue Heaven (2008) – A twelve-year-old girl and her younger brother are on the run in the Idaho woods, pursued by four men they have just watched commit murder―four men who know exactly who William and Annie are. And where their mother lives. Retired policemen from Los Angeles, the killers easily persuade the local sheriff to let them lead the search for the missing children. Now there’s nowhere left for William and Annie to hide…and no one they can trust. Until they meet Jess Rawlins.
- Three Weeks to Say Goodbye (2009) – Jack and Melissa McGuane have spent years trying to have a baby. Finally their dream has come true with the adoption of their daughter, Angelina. But nine months after bringing her home, they receive a devastating phone call… Angelina’s birth father, a teenager, never signed away his parental rights―and he wants her back. Worse, his father, a powerful Denver judge, will use every trick in the book to make sure it happens. A horrifying game of intimidation and double crosses begins that quickly becomes a death spiral where everyone is suspect and no one is safe…
- Pronghorns of the Third Reich (2014) – Lyle and Juan wait outside the lawyer’s house in ski masks, pistols hidden behind their backs. Shortly after dawn, Paul Parker, an aged lawyer, and his old dog step into the cold. The thugs kill the dog, and take the lawyer hostage. Parker’s day has started badly and is going to get much worse. Once a fine lawyer, Parker’s enthusiasm has slipped with age, and criminals like Lyle are part of the reason for his disillusionment. Years after they last saw each other in court, Lyle is convinced that Parker owes him something. At gunpoint, Lyle and Juan make Parker lead them to the old Angler ranch, to open up a hidden library whose volumes hold the secret to forgotten riches, and the strangest war profiteering scheme to ever come out of the Great Plains.
If you don’t want to miss a new book by C.J. Box, don’t forget to bookmark this article!
This article was last updated on April 25, 2023.
My husband and I have read every C.J. Box book and especially enjoyed the Joe Pickett series. The author writes with such imagery that I am transported to the scenes of the Wyoming that I do not know. Please write some more Joe Pickett books!
I loved every CJ Box books of “The Joe Picket series.” I read the series in order quite a few years ago. I have been waiting for the next Joe Picket book but since then I have read 4 of the short stories with 3 books to go, the 3-book series: Back from beyond, The Highway and Badlands I have not read. If they are all half as good as the Joe Picket series I it won’t take me long to read. Love they way he tells the stories!
I have only recently discovered C.J.Box’s books, and am thoroughly enjoying the Joe Pickett series. This is writing that captures the outdoors, the struggles of a family and the impossibilities of such a huge job. The mystery sustained throughout makes it very hard to put a book down.
I look forward to sharing these with my brother, who dearly loves the outdoors and hunting.
My husband and I loved the Joe Pickett series that Spectrum Originals offered. I have read several of your books and have just finished reading out loud “Winterkill”to him. He has dementia so I am glad he has a new interest.
Is CJ related to anyone from Montague County, TX?
Josephine Marzee Box Stewart or James Walter Stewart?
I was so impressed with the stand alone novel 3 weeks to Goodbye. Love the Joe Pickett series. Just read 8 of them but not in order!
Would like to listen to all of Joe Picket series…while we travel….what is the best way to get them all?
Try Libby app. They have all but the 3rd one.
I enjoy reading the Joe Pickett novels but the Spectrum series is typical of Hollywood’s wokeness. The blonde ponytailed Nate Romanowski is not accurately depicted and I’m surprised that Mr Box has sold out and allowed his great writing to be changed.
I wholeheartedly agree with Bo
You hit the nail on the head. I was so disappointed when
I saw the actor chosen for the role that I refuse to watch the series.The same go,s for Joe
@Bo Radley, I totally agree! They need to right that wrong!
I was introduced to the Joe Pickett series, albeit not in correct sequence, in August 2021. Even though the book that I read at that time was later in the series, I was hooked. I’ve since read almost every book in the series as greedily as I possibly could leading to a many a sleepless, nail-biting, page turning filled night. CJ Box spins a great tale and ranks amongst the likes of Robert B. Parker, Tony Hillerman, John Connelly and Laura Lipman. Once I start reading a series steeped in such mystery and brilliant description of its environs I can’t stop!! Even though I have not yet completed the series I am most looking forward to the drop of Shadows Reel in March 2022
My library staff knows which authors I a very fond of and notifies me when a new book is ouit. Mr. Box is up there at the top of my list of favorite authors and I plan to continue to read him as long as my vision holds out. Unfortunately I am having some problems and will eventually have to go to recorded books.
Well, at least I can tell you that the narrator of the Joe Pickett audio books is excellent!
Mr. boxes Joe Pickett series is the next Saget series this author’s just as good as Louis l’Amour and I find his books very entertaining
I love the Joe Pickett series. The TV series from Spectrum is good however I can’t believe CJ Box allowed Nate’s character (who is blond-ponytailed & Polish) to be portrayed as a black man. Just doesn’t work!
Mr. box I hope you read this. You are a master storyteller. Your books have helped me through some long days battling first cancer and then chronic depression. Not able to be as active as I’d like, and TV being boring and predictable, your books have given me a chance to escape the suffering. Sometimes I feel like I’m a part of the Picket family! You also tackle some major societal issues, Like climate change, and you seem to present all sides objectively leaving the reader with a more understanding And balanced perspective. Thank you so much.
Some one above called it Hollywood wokeness and I agree. The series on paramount tv is poor. Hard to understand how mr box allowed them to ruin his character’s for the sake of being politically correct by making sure we have African Americans throughout the cast when there are none in any of the books! Really man
Big sky and joe picket television series have huge plot holes, obvious cliche turn of events, bad acting galore, and all around unrealistic plots. Big sky in particular appears to be a vehicle for hollywood woke culture talking points, which further sacrifices any realism. Does a disservice to the books and Disappointing.
Love the all his books and the genre being a Montana boy it speaks my language. It’s a lot of fun to have a good long series that has characters you can come to know and have a mental picture of each that is your own. But it’s only up to so much interpretation and TV took it to far and ruined it. It’s not prejudice to not make a character black that isn’t black🤦♂️. Anyways I digress, hoping for any good recommendations on similar book series. My name being “Tell” I’m pretty well read in Lois lamour already😂. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!
I agree with all the comments about the tv Joe Pickett series. So happy to hear CJ Box refused to let Hollywood continue to ruin his books.