The Recommended Reading Order
For readers diving into the Steve Martinez series, the best starting point is the very first novel, Season's Revenge. Because the books follow a linear chronological timeline that tracks Steve’s progression from a deputy sheriff to the sheriff of Porcupine County, reading them in order of publication is highly recommended. Below is the complete chronological and publication order:
- Season's Revenge (2003) – The series opener introduces Deputy Steve Martinez as he investigates the suspicious death of a wealthy resident. Staged to look like a bear attack, Steve's instincts lead him to uncover a web of local secrets while starting a romance with town historian Ginny Fitzgerald.
- A Venture into Murder (2005) – Steve faces a complex case involving a body washing ashore, a century-old skeleton in the woods, drug trafficking, and potential mob ties, culminating in a dramatic showdown in an abandoned copper mine.
- Cache of Corpses (2007) – Also known as A Cache of Corpses, this novel centers on a killer who uses the high-tech hobby of geocaching to hide human remains. At the same time, Steve is running a challenging campaign for sheriff against his former boss, Eli Garrow.
- Hang Fire (2013) – Newly elected Sheriff Steve Martinez investigates a series of muzzle-loading rifle deaths, beginning with a teacher killed during a historical re-enactment. Steve must solve the case as he becomes the killer’s primary target.
- Tracking the Beast (2015) – When the bodies of three young girls are discovered in long-abandoned railroad hopper cars, Steve works alongside the FBI, the Ontario Provincial Police, and Detroit figures to track a perpetrator operating within the world of train enthusiasts.
- The Riddle of Billy Gibbs (2016) – In the series finale, Steve partners with neighboring Mackinac County Sheriff Selena Novikovich to investigate the murder of Billy Gibbs, a Black Army veteran. The investigation leads them across five states to confront a neo-Nazi organization and a multi-million dollar scheme.
What to Know Before You Start
Henry Kisor, a retired book review editor for the Chicago Sun-Times and a deaf author, summered in Michigan's Upper Peninsula for decades. He used this deep familiarity to make the rugged, isolated landscape of Porcupine County a living character in the books. His protagonist, Steve Martinez, is a Lakota man who was adopted and raised by white Methodists, giving him a unique outsider perspective that helps him navigate the tight-knit, predominantly white rural community.
The series is less of a fast-paced thriller and more of a classic, clean-cut police procedural. It prioritizes character development, local culture, and realistic investigative work over explosive action. In addition to the individual cases, the overarching narrative follows Steve's professional growth and his rocky, emotionally realistic relationship with Ginny Fitzgerald.
Publishing and Continuity Details
While the first three novels were published traditionally and later compiled into an omnibus titled Porcupine County, Kisor transitioned to self-publishing later in the series (utilizing platforms like CreateSpace) to ensure the books remained in print and accessible to readers. There are no major spin-offs or co-authored books in the Steve Martinez universe, making this a straightforward, six-book read.