Anna Pigeon books in order

Complete list of all 18 Anna Pigeon books in order by Nevada Barr. Full publication order from Track of the Cat to Boar Island.

Reading order

# Title Year Location Buy on Amazon
1 Track of the Cat 1993 Guadalupe Mountains National Park Buy
2 A Superior Death 1994 Isle Royale National Park Buy
3 Ill Wind 1995 Mesa Verde National Park Buy
4 Firestorm 1996 Sequoia National Park Buy
5 Endangered Species 1997 Cumberland Island National Seashore Buy
6 Blind Descent 1998 Carlsbad Caverns National Park Buy
7 Liberty Falling 1999 Statue of Liberty / Ellis Island Buy
8 Deep South 2000 Natchez Trace Parkway Buy
9 Blood Lure 2001 Glacier National Park Buy
10 Hunting Season 2002 Natchez Trace Parkway Buy
11 Flashback 2003 Dry Tortugas National Park Buy
12 High Country 2004 Rocky Mountain National Park Buy
13 Hard Truth 2005 Great Smoky Mountains National Park Buy
14 Winter Study 2008 Isle Royale National Park Buy
15 Borderline 2009 Big Bend National Park Buy
16 Burn 2010 Lassen Volcanic National Park Buy
17 The Rope 2012 Guadalupe Mountains National Park (Prequel) Buy
18 Destroyer Angel 2014 Voyageurs National Park Buy

Anna Pigeon is a National Park Service ranger who investigates crimes committed in America’s parks. Nevada Barr worked as a park ranger herself in summer months during her early career as an actress and writer. She draws on that experience to create detailed, authentic portrayals of different national parks, from the heat of Guadalupe Mountains to the cold of Isle Royale.

The series takes readers across the United States. Each book explores a different park with its own ecosystem, challenges, and culture. Barr doesn’t just use parks as backdrops - she examines environmental issues, conservation conflicts, and the unique pressures facing park rangers working in isolated locations far from backup.

Anna Pigeon is a complex character. She struggles with bureaucracy, authority, and the sometimes brutal reality of nature. The mysteries she solves often involve people with deep connections to the land - locals, researchers, fellow rangers. Barr’s experience as a ranger gives her insight into what happens when human drama collides with wilderness.

Frequently Asked Questions

What order should I read the Anna Pigeon books?

Read in publication order starting with Track of the Cat (1993). Each book is set in a different National Park, but character development builds throughout the series. The Rope (2012) is a prequel that shows Anna’s first case.

How many Anna Pigeon books are there?

There are 18 books in the main Anna Pigeon series as of 2016. Nevada Barr has also written standalone novels like What Rose Forgot (2019).

What makes the Anna Pigeon series unique?

Unlike most detective series set in cities, Anna Pigeon mysteries are set in National Parks across America. Barr worked as a park ranger herself, giving the series authentic detail about park life and environmental issues.

Is Anna Pigeon based on Nevada Barr?

Anna is not a direct autobiography, but Barr draws on her experience as a National Park Ranger. The parks featured in each book are real places Barr knows intimately, with accurate details about their ecosystems and challenges.

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