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Blanco County Mysteries Books in Order

18 Books
2002 – 2024 Published
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Reading order

How to Read the Blanco County Mysteries

The best way to read the Blanco County Mysteries is in publication order. The series follows a linear timeline detailing the career of game warden John Marlin, the eccentric local residents, and recurring comedic criminals like Red O'Brien and Billy Don Craddock. Reading them in order allows you to appreciate the character development and running jokes to the fullest.

Blanco County Mysteries in Reading Order

Here is the complete list of books and novellas in the series, including the 2026 novel Melt Down. The two shorter entries, Mind Game and Dog Tag, are optional but add extra flavor to the Blanco County universe.

  1. Buck Fever (2002)
  2. Bone Dry (2003)
  3. Flat Crazy (2004)
  4. Guilt Trip (2005)
  5. Gun Shy (2007)
  6. Holy Moly (2008)
  7. Mind Game (2013) – Novella (often numbered as Book 6.5)
  8. Hog Heaven (2013)
  9. Stag Party (2014)
  10. Bum Steer (2015)
  11. Point Taken (2016)
  12. Dog Tag (2017) – Short Story (often numbered as Book 11.5)
  13. Last Laugh (2017)
  14. Lefty Loosey (2018)
  15. Free Ride (2020)
  16. Boom Town (2021)
  17. Weed Killer (2023)
  18. Money Maker (2024)
  19. Melt Down (2026)

Related Series and Standalone Novels

If you enjoy Ben Rehder's comedic crime style, you might also want to check out his other works:

The Roy Ballard Mysteries

This series features freelance legal videographer Roy Ballard, who investigates insurance fraud and gets caught up in suspicious cases. It shares the same sharp humor as Blanco County and should also be read in publication order:

  • Gone the Next (2012)
  • Get Busy Dying (2014)
  • If I Had a Nickel (2015)
  • Now You See Him (2017)
  • A Tooth for a Tooth (2018)
  • Shake and Bake (2019)
  • Better to Be Lucky (2020)
  • Another Man's Treasure (2022)

Standalone Novels

Rehder has written a couple of standalone novels outside of his main series:

  • The Chicken Hanger (2012)
  • The Driving Lesson (2012)

Frequently Asked

QWhere should I start reading the Blanco County Mysteries?

You should start with the first novel, Buck Fever (2002). It introduces game warden John Marlin and establishes the comedic tone and recurring cast of the series.

QAre the novellas "Mind Game" and "Dog Tag" essential?

No, they are not essential. Mind Game and Dog Tag are shorter stories that provide fun side-adventures but do not impact the main storyline of the novels.

QHow many books are in the Blanco County Mysteries series?

As of 2026, the series includes 17 full-length novels and 2 shorter entries (one novella and one short story), bringing the total to 19 books.

QWho is the main protagonist of the series?

The series is centered around John Marlin, a relatively straight-laced game warden in Blanco County, Texas, who constantly gets pulled into local crimes and murder investigations.

QDoes Ben Rehder write any other mystery series?

Yes, Ben Rehder also writes the Roy Ballard Mysteries, which follows a freelance videographer solving insurance fraud cases and other crimes.

QAre there any co-authored books or spin-offs in this series?

No. Ben Rehder is the sole author of all Blanco County books. There are no official spin-offs or co-authored entries in this universe.