Dwight Holing Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Dwight Holing

Dwight Holing is master of two distinct styles: gritty, atmospheric environmental noir and witty, lighthearted urban capers. Because his series are very different in tone and setting, your best starting point depends entirely on what kind of mystery you are in the mood for.

If you love atmospheric, character-driven mysteries set in the rugged outdoors with a touch of historical depth, start with the Nick Drake Novels. The best entry point is the first book, The Sorrow Hand (2018). Read this series in strict chronological order, as the protagonist's emotional healing and his journey from a traumatized Vietnam veteran to a local lawman form a continuous, overarching story arc.

If you prefer fast-paced, humorous heist stories and classic crime capers set against the backdrop of modern city streets, start with the Jack McCoul Capers. The ideal starting point is A Boatload (2014). This series is best read in publication order to appreciate the evolving relationships among the quirky recurring characters.

The Nick Drake Mystery Series (Recommended Order)

Set in the high desert of Harney County, Oregon, starting in 1968, this series follows Nick Drake. Drake is a wounded Vietnam War veteran who seeks refuge from his trauma by working as a flight patrol and wildlife ranger. The series blends environmental preservation issues, Native American lore, and noir mystery. Recently, the series has progressed chronologically with Nick transitioning into the role of County Sheriff.

1. The Sorrow Hand (2018): Nick Drake arrives in Oregon's high desert seeking peace but is immediately pulled into the investigation of a suspicious death on a wildlife refuge.
2. The Pity Heart (2019): When a young Paiute woman goes missing, Nick must navigate local racial tensions and corporate greed to find her.
3. The Shaming Eyes (2019): Nick investigates a series of eagles being poisoned, uncovering a conspiracy that goes much deeper than simple poaching.
4. The Whisper Soul (2020): A body found in a frozen lake forces Nick to confront ghosts from his own military past.
5. The Nowhere Bones (2020): The theft of ancient Native American relics from a local museum leads Nick on a dangerous chase through the wilderness.
6. The Forever Feet (2022): A Hollywood film crew arrives in Harney County, bringing chaos, glamour, and a baffling murder case that Nick must solve.
7. The Demon Skin (2023): Nick confronts a ruthless survivalist group hiding out in the remote Steens Mountain area.
8. The Broken Blood (2024): A family feud over water rights boils over into murder, putting Nick directly in the crosshairs.
9. The Thunder Head (2025): Nick Drake and Sheriff Pudge Warbler investigate a brutal homicide that exposes a toxic battle between local ranchers and land developers.
10. The Yellow Hair (2026): Taking office as the new Sheriff of Harney County, Nick must solve a double homicide staged as a murder-suicide while battling a recall campaign organized by his political enemies.

The Jack McCoul Capers (Recommended Order)

For readers looking for something lighter, the Jack McCoul Capers deliver San Francisco crime stories filled with sharp dialogue, humor, and clever schemes. Jack is a reformed con artist trying to walk the straight and narrow path, but his past and a colorful cast of characters continually drag him back into dangerous heist situations.

1. A Boatload (2014): Jack is forced to pull one last job when a friend gets in over his head with a local mobster.
2. Bad Karma (2015): A search for a missing tech entrepreneur leads Jack into the dark side of Silicon Valley.
3. Baby Blue (2016): Jack gets entangled in the high-stakes world of art theft and international smuggling.
4. Shake City (2017): Jack goes up against corrupt property developers trying to exploit the city's housing market after a series of earthquakes.

Standalone Novels and Short Stories

Beyond his two main series, Dwight Holing has written a highly acclaimed standalone thriller and collections of shorter fiction that showcase his versatility as a storyteller.

• California Works (2013): A collection of short stories focusing on the diverse lives and landscapes of the Golden State.
• Over Our Heads Under Our Feet (2018): A collection of short fiction exploring themes of connection, nature, and the human condition.
• Hard Blue Empty (2023): A standalone mystery novel featuring Jess Parks, a Search and Rescue specialist. Jess travels from Oakland to the Amazon rainforest to find Blue Macaw, an indigenous activist who went missing after an oil company encroached on her tribe's ancestral home.

What to Know Before You Start

Before you dive in, it helps to understand how Dwight Holing’s background informs his fiction. Holing spent much of his early career writing travel, nature, and conservation books for publications like Smithsonian Books and Time-Life. This passion for the natural world is why the landscapes in his novels—especially the harsh, beautiful Oregon high desert in the Nick Drake series—feel like characters themselves.

While the Jack McCoul series was completed after four books to let Holing focus entirely on Nick Drake, the two series represent two sides of his writing style. The McCoul books are fast, funny, and urban, whereas the Nick Drake novels are slower, highly atmospheric, and emotionally resonant. If you prefer deep character development and environmental themes, Nick Drake is the best starting point. If you want a quick, entertaining caper, go with Jack McCoul.