Curt Wendelboe / C. M. Wendelboe Books in Order

Where to Start Reading C. M. Wendelboe

If you are new to the novels of retired lawman C. M. Wendelboe (also writing as Curt Wendelboe), the best place to begin depends on your favorite flavor of mystery. For fans of modern, culturally rich police procedurals set against the vast backdrop of Native American reservations, the best starting point is Death Along the Spirit Road (2011), which introduces FBI Special Agent Manny Tanno. If you prefer gritty, serial-killer-chasing thrillers with a touch of dark humor and procedural realism, you should start with Hunting the Five Point Killer (2017), the first book in the Bitter Wind Mystery series.

For those who love historical Westerns and frontier justice, his historical series provide excellent entry points. You can dive into his Depression-era law enforcement tales starting with The Marshal and the Moonshiner (2018) or go further back into traditional Western adventures with Backed to the Wall (2017).

Spirit Road Mystery Series

This is C. M. Wendelboe's longest-running and perhaps most acclaimed series. It features Manny Tanno, an Oglala Lakota tribal police officer who leaves the reservation only to return later as an FBI Special Agent. The series blends forensic science, tribal politics, historical themes (such as the legacy of the American Indian Movement), and Sioux spiritual traditions. Readers should follow these books in publication order to appreciate Manny's personal growth and the evolving relationships on the Pine Ridge Reservation.

• Death Along the Spirit Road (2011) – Manny investigates the murder of a tribal leader found on a sacred ceremonial site.
• Death Where the Bad Rocks Live (2012) – Manny is called to the Badlands to solve the murder of an archaeologist, navigating both local tensions and ancient curses.
• Death on the Greasy Grass (2013) – Manny faces a high-profile case near the historic Little Bighorn battlefield when a Native American activist is found dead.
• Death Etched in Stone (2019) – A cold case resurfaces when human remains are discovered inside Mount Rushmore, forcing Manny to confront old ghosts.
• Death through Destiny's Door (2021) – Manny hunts a killer after a body is found near a historic pioneer trail site.
• Death Under the Deluge (2023) – A devastating flood uncovers a long-buried corpse, pulling Manny into a complex web of reservation history and greed.

Bitter Wind Mystery Series

Set in and around Cheyenne, Wyoming, the Bitter Wind series moves away from reservation politics to focus on urban serial killers, cold cases, and media relations. The protagonist is Arn Anderson, a cynical but sharp retired homicide detective who reluctantly partners with an ambitious television reporter to track down elusive killers. The series is highly procedural, drawing directly from Wendelboe's 38 years of real-life law enforcement experience.

• Hunting the Five Point Killer (2017) – Arn Anderson is pulled out of retirement to solve a cold case involving a serial killer who branded his victims.
• Hunting the Saturday Night Strangler (2018) – Arn and his journalist partner team up to stop a killer targeting victims on weekend nights.
• Hunting the VA Slayer (2019) – A killer begins targeting military veterans, forcing Arn to navigate federal bureaucracy and military history.
• Hunting the Mail Order Murderer (2022) – The investigation turns toward a killer exploiting lonely hearts through early correspondence networks.
• Hunting the Lady of the Night (2025) – A serial killer targets workers in the local nightlife district, requiring Arn to dig into Cheyenne's dark underbelly.

Nelson Lane Frontier Mystery Series

This series moves the clock back to the Great Depression of the 1930s. The protagonist, U.S. Marshal Nelson "Nels" Lane, patrols the windswept and economically devastated plains of Wyoming, enforcing the law in a time when desperation pushed many citizens into criminality.

• The Marshal and the Moonshiner (2018) – Nelson Lane is tasked with taking down an elusive local bootlegging operation, but the case turns deadly when a body is discovered.
• The Marshal and the Sinister Still (2019) – Nels continues his battle against illicit alcohol networks as the violence surrounding illegal stills escalates.
• The Marshal and the Mystical Mountain (2020) – Set near the sacred site of Devils Tower, Nels must solve a murder that threatens to ignite tribal and local conflicts.
• The Marshal and the Fatal Foreclosure (2022) – During the height of the Great Depression, a local banker is murdered during a foreclosure dispute, leaving Nels to untangle a web of financial greed and desperation.

Tucker Ashley Western Adventure Series

For readers who want classic frontier Western action, the Tucker Ashley series is the perfect choice. These books follow Tucker Ashley, a rugged rancher and deputy who navigates land disputes, kidnappings, and outlaw pursuit on the post-Civil War American frontier.

• Backed to the Wall (2017) – Tucker Ashley must defend his land and livelihood against corrupt cattle barons and outlaw gangs.
• Seeking Justice (2018) – When a close friend's fiancée is kidnapped by a ruthless gang, Tucker rides out on a rescue mission.
• When the Gold Dust Died in Deadwood (2019) – Tucker is drawn to the lawless town of Deadwood, South Dakota, to solve a murder amidst the gold rush.
• Fork in the False Trail (2021) – Tucker returns to find his ranch raided and his business partner taken hostage, sparking a grueling pursuit across rugged terrain.

Standalone Novels & Collaborative Works

In addition to his four main series, Wendelboe has written standalone novels that highlight different historical aspects of the American West, along with collaborative short stories.

Standalone Novels

• An Extralegal Affair (2019) – A standalone thriller focusing on frontier justice, lawmen, and the moral compromises made on the edge of civilization.
• The Man Who Hated Hickok (2019) – A historical Western that explores the myths and realities surrounding legendary lawman Wild Bill Hickok.

Short Stories & Novellas

• Gut Feeling (2020) – A short story showcasing Wendelboe's signature blend of law enforcement intuition and gritty Western settings.
• Death on Out-to-Sea Island (2024) – A collaborative mystery novella co-authored with Matt Cost and B.J. Magnani.

What to Know Before You Start

C. M. Wendelboe's writing is highly respected for its authenticity. Having spent 38 years in law enforcement—including time as a sheriff's deputy in Gillette, Wyoming, a police chief, and a tactical team member—he writes procedural details, interrogations, and firearm handling with first-hand accuracy. Furthermore, his early career assisting federal and tribal agencies during conflicts in South Dakota in the 1970s gave him a deep respect for Lakota culture, which shines through in the Manny Tanno novels. While each book's main mystery is solved by the final page, it is highly recommended to read each series in publication order to follow the character development and overarching subplots.