How to Read the Sheriff Bo Tully Series
The Sheriff Bo Tully mystery series by Patrick F. McManus is a delightful, lighthearted, and cozy six-book series. Since the books follow a linear timeline where character relationships, recurring jokes, and the general local lore of fictional Blight County grow over time, the recommended reading order is the Publication Order, which also acts as the chronological order. There are no prequels, short story collections, or spin-offs to worry about, making it an easy and satisfying series to read from start to finish.
Publication & Chronological Order of Sheriff Bo Tully Books
- The Blight Way (2006) – The series opener introduces Sheriff Bo Tully, his retired sheriff father Pap, and tracker Dave Perkins. Bo must solve a bizarre murder after a body is found on a local ranch, all while dealing with local politics and the quirky, rule-bending tactics known as the 'Blight Way.'
- Avalanche (2007) – When a massive snowslide occurs in the Idaho mountains and a lodge guest goes missing, Bo Tully must venture into the freezing wilderness. He quickly realizes that the avalanche might have been triggered to cover up a murder, leading him into a dangerous game of survival.
- The Double-Jack Murders (2009) – Tully tackles a decades-old mystery when human remains are discovered near an abandoned gold mine. What starts as a cold case turns hot when a modern-day killer starts targeting anyone who gets too close to the truth.
- The Huckleberry Murders (2010) – What begins as a search for a missing retiree named Orville Poulson takes a dark turn when three young men are found shot to death in a remote patch of huckleberries. Bo Tully has to coordinate with the FBI to piece together a complex puzzle of fraud and local grudges.
- The Tamarack Murders (2013) – While deep in the wilderness tracking a fugitive bank robber, Bo Tully and his deputy witness a murder firsthand. This unexpected event drags the Sheriff into a high-stakes investigation involving a prominent outdoor writer and deep-seated local secrets.
- Circles in the Snow (2014) – In the final installment of the series, a disagreeable local rancher named Morgan Fester is killed with an arrow. The crime scene is baffling: perfect circles are stamped into the snow, but there are absolutely no footprints leading to or from the body. Tully must solve this classic locked-room-style puzzle before he can contemplate his own retirement.
Understanding the Chronology and Reading Order
Because Patrick F. McManus wrote the Sheriff Bo Tully series in a clean, chronological sequence, there are no timeline gaps, flashbacks, or side projects to navigate. You do not need to choose between publication and chronological order, as they are identical. While each book features a self-contained mystery that is resolved by the final page, it is highly recommended to start with The Blight Way. Reading in order allows you to appreciate the slow-burn comedic timing, Tully's ongoing attempts at the Atkins diet, and the evolving family dynamics between Bo and his father, Pap.
Key Characters of Blight County
The real charm of this series lies in its characters. Patrick F. McManus spent decades writing outdoor humor, and he brought that same sharp wit to the cast of Blight County:
- Sheriff Bo Tully: A divorced, laid-back, yet highly competent sheriff who is also a passionate watercolor painter. He is known for using his 'Blight Way' methods, which occasionally skirt the edges of standard legal procedures to get results.
- Pap Tully: Bo’s father and the former Sheriff of Blight County. Pap is retired, mischievous, slightly corrupt, and always eager to tag along on Bo's investigations to offer unsolicited (but often useful) advice.
- Dave Perkins: Bo's close friend, an eccentric tracker, and the owner of the local diner 'Dave's House of Fry.' Famous for serving massive portions of chicken-fried steak, Dave is always ready to join the hunt for suspects.
What to Know Before You Start
Patrick F. McManus was a legendary columnist for Outdoor Life and Field & Stream. Before transitioning to novels, he was beloved for his humorous essays about camping, fishing, and hunting disasters. When he launched the Sheriff Bo Tully series in 2006, he successfully grafted his trademark outdoor humor onto the structure of a classic police procedural. Readers who enjoy Craig Johnson's Longmire or the eco-mysteries of Carl Hiaasen—but prefer a much lighter, cozier, and more humorous tone—will find themselves right at home in Blight County. The series remains a complete six-book run following the author's passing in 2018.