The Recommended Starting Point
For readers new to Dave Stanton's work, the best place to start is with the debut novel, Stateline (2013). This book introduces the central protagonist, private investigator Dan Reno, and sets up his complex history—including the defining trauma of his father's murder when Reno was just thirteen years old. It also establishes his partnership with ex-cop Cody Gibbons. While the books are written so they can be enjoyed as standalone crime thrillers, starting from the beginning offers the best progression of character development and relationship dynamics.
Dan Reno Books in Publication Order
If you prefer to follow the series as it was written and published, here is the order of release:
- Stateline (2013)
- Dying for the Highlife (2014) – Also published under the title "Blind Luck"
- Speed Metal Blues (2014) – Also published under the title "Mortal Outcomes"
- Dark Ice (2015)
- Hard Prejudice (2015)
- Wrong Turn at Carson (2016) – A short story prequel/supplement
- The Doomsday Girl (2017)
- Right Cross (2019)
- The Asylum Thread (2022)
- The Last Boundary (2026)
Chronological Order and Title Caveats
The chronological order of the stories matches their publication order. However, readers should keep two major caveats in mind. First, several books in the series have been released under alternate titles. Specifically, Dying for the Highlife is identical in content to Blind Luck, and Speed Metal Blues is the same book as Mortal Outcomes. Make sure not to purchase the same book twice under these different names.
Second, Wrong Turn at Carson is not a full-length novel. It is a promotional short story that the author typically offers as a free download for signing up to his official mailing list. While it provides fun extra background on Dan Reno's adventures, it is not required reading to follow the primary series arc.
Detailed Series Guide and Tone
Stanton's Dan Reno series is a modern take on classic noir fiction, blending the snappy dialogue of Raymond Chandler with the relentless, physical pacing of Lee Child's Jack Reacher books. The stories are heavily grounded in the geography of Northern California and Nevada, moving between the snowy peaks of Lake Tahoe, the desert lights of Reno and Las Vegas, and the tech-heavy suburbs of Silicon Valley. Here is a brief look at the major cases Reno tackles:
- Stateline: Reno is pulled into a web of corrupt police officers and high stakes after a tycoon's son is killed on the eve of his wedding.
- Dying for the Highlife: A lottery winner finds that hitting the jackpot brings his darkest past sins back to light, drawing Reno into a deadly game.
- Speed Metal Blues: Set in Lake Tahoe, Reno goes toe-to-toe with a ruthless gang from New Jersey.
- Dark Ice & Hard Prejudice: These entries raise the stakes, forcing Reno and Gibbons to deal with increasingly dangerous adversaries while navigating moral gray areas.
- The Doomsday Girl & Right Cross: Hard-hitting mysteries that test the limits of Cody Gibbons and Dan Reno's investigative skills.
- The Asylum Thread: Reno hunts down a highly intelligent predator with close ties to a powerful Silicon Valley billionaire.
- The Last Boundary: Hired to track a runaway sixteen-year-old girl from a Mormon family, Reno heads to Las Vegas and faces a dangerous pimp with no digital footprint and a deadly accomplice who recognizes no boundaries.