Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dead Acre | 2020 | Rhett C. Bruno | Buy |
| 2 | Cold as Hell | 2022 | Rhett C. Bruno | Buy |
| 3 | Vein Pursuits | 2023 | Rhett C. Bruno | Buy |
| 4 | Ace in the Hole | 2025 | Rhett C. Bruno | Buy |
The Black Badge series is Rhett C. Bruno’s take on the weird western genre, combining frontier settings with supernatural threats. Dead Acre (2020) introduces the concept of lawmen who operate outside normal jurisdiction to handle things that go bump in the night. Cold as Hell (2022), Vein Pursuits (2023), and Ace in the Hole (2025) continue the story.
The series blends gunfights and frontier justice with monsters and dark magic, creating a version of the Old West where the most dangerous threats are not human. The books have found an audience among readers who enjoy genre mashups.