How to Read the Josie Gray Mystery Series
Tricia Fields’ gripping police procedural series follows Josie Gray, the tenacious and resilient Police Chief of Artemis, a small, fictional border town in West Texas. Surrounded by the stark beauty and isolation of the desert, Josie faces constant danger from Mexican drug cartels, corrupt politicians, human trafficking rings, and local disputes that spiral out of control. Because the series features consistent character growth and recurring relationships, the recommended reading path is to follow the publication order, which matches the in-universe chronological timeline perfectly.
Josie Gray Mystery Books in Order of Publication
For the best reading experience, follow the books as they were released. This allows you to experience Josie’s personal evolution and the changing dynamics of the Artemis police department as they happen.
1. The Territory (2011)
The novel that started it all introduces Police Chief Josie Gray as she finds herself caught in the crosshairs of warring drug cartels. When she works to protect a hospitalized cartel boss from assassins, Josie is forced to navigate the corrupt underbelly of local politics, the extreme isolation of West Texas, and her own moral compass. The Territory won the prestigious Tony Hillerman Prize for Best First Mystery, establishing Tricia Fields as a major voice in Southwestern crime fiction.
2. Scratchgravel Road (2013)
In the second installment, a body marked by bizarre wounds is discovered in the desert, drawing Josie into a complex web of industrial greed and corporate corruption. As she investigates, she must also contend with the arrival of severe monsoon rains, which threaten to cause devastating mudslides and complicate an already dangerous case.
3. Wrecked (2014)
Personal stakes reach a boiling point when Josie’s longtime boyfriend, accountant Dillon Reese, vanishes. After discovering his secretary murdered in his office, Josie is officially benched from the investigation due to her conflict of interest. Refusing to stand aside, she launches her own desperate, unofficial search, uncovering a $9 million ransom demand, ties to a local wrecked-car dealership, and the shadow of the Mexican drug cartels.
4. Firebreak (2015)
Artemis is threatened by raging West Texas wildfires in this high-intensity mystery. Amidst the environmental crisis, Josie investigates a murder linked to a popular local country music star. The novel won the WILLA Literary Award, cementing its critical acclaim for its atmosphere and character depth.
5. Midnight Crossing (2016)
The danger comes straight to Josie’s doorstep when she is woken by suspicious vehicles passing her remote homestead. She discovers a traumatized, mute young woman hiding on her porch, and the body of another woman shot dead nearby. The investigation exposes the dark realities of human trafficking networks operating along the Rio Grande and reveals that some of Artemis’ own residents are complicit.
6. The Drummers (2021)
After a five-year hiatus, the series returned with Josie facing a unique threat. A mysterious, off-the-grid religious group known as 'The Drummers' moves into an abandoned church on the outskirts of town. When local power substations are sabotaged, causing a massive blackout across West Texas, suspicions fall on the group. A tense police standoff leads to tragedy, forcing Josie to unravel a web of domestic extremism.
7. A Reluctant Saint (2022)
In the seventh novel, Artemis is deeply divided over a controversial proposal by mayoral candidate Mike Striker to build a greyhound racing track. The political tension turns deadly when a local greyhound breeder who strongly opposed the track is murdered and her dogs are stolen. Josie must hunt for the killer while dealing with escalating threats in her own personal life and whispers of widespread election fraud.
What to Know Before You Start
Tricia Fields crafts a highly realistic and gritty atmosphere by drawing on her own extensive research trips to West Texas. Artemis represents the real-world struggles of small American communities located near the Mexican border, where local law enforcement is often underfunded, understaffed, and forced to handle international criminal crises. The series stands out for its strong feminist protagonist, who balances the physical demands of her job with a deeply empathetic approach to the vulnerable victims of border violence. Readers who enjoy the atmospheric, rural mysteries of Craig Johnson (the Walt Longmire series), Tony Hillerman, or Nevada Barr will find themselves right at home in Artemis.
Frequently Asked Questions & Reader Advice
Can these books be read as standalones? Yes, the core mystery of each novel is fully resolved by the final page, meaning you can pick up any book in the series and enjoy it. However, the overarching character arcs—specifically Josie's relationship with Dillon Reese and her evolving standing within the local community—make reading them in order highly rewarding.
Are there any spin-offs, prequels, or co-authored books? No, the Josie Gray Mystery series consists strictly of these seven main novels written solely by Tricia Fields. There are no short stories, prequels, or companion guidebooks. However, fans of Fields’ writing style should check out her other series, the Maggie Wise Mysteries, which begins with the 2020 novel Young Blood and follows a retired homicide cop solving crimes in Florida.