Reading Order List β€” Book Series Reading Order Guide

Ralph Compton Reading Order

10 series Β· 159 books

Ralph Compton was a prolific American author known for his engaging western novels, spanning from 1992 to 2022. With an impressive catalog of 159 books across ten series, including notable titles like Gunfighter, Sundown Riders, and Trail Drive, he captivated readers with his vivid storytelling. His works continue to resonate with fans of the genre, solidifying his legacy in western literature.

Border Empire Series

Complete

3 books (1997–1998)

Start with The Border Empire and read in order.

#Title
1
Cover of The Border Empire
The Border Empire
2
Cover of Six guns and Double Eagles
Six guns and Double Eagles
3
Cover of Train to Durango
Train to Durango

Buck Fletcher Series

Complete

3 books (2003–2004)

Start with Doomsday Rider and read in order.

#Title
1
Cover of Doomsday Rider
Doomsday Rider
2
Cover of Showdown at Two-Bit Creek
Showdown at Two-Bit Creek
3
Cover of Vengeance Rider
Vengeance Rider

Danny Duggin Series

Complete

4 books (1999–2003)

Start with Death Rides a Chestnut Mare, the first of 4 books in the Danny Duggin series.

#Title
1
Cover of Death Rides a Chestnut Mare
Death Rides a Chestnut Mare
2
Cover of The Shadow of a Noose
The Shadow of a Noose
3
Cover of Riders of Judgement
Riders of Judgement
4
Cover of Death Along the Cimarron
Death Along the Cimarron

Gunfighter Series

Likely Complete

23 books (2020–2022)

Start with Blood of the Hunters, the first of 23 books in the Gunfighter series.

#Title
1
Blood of the Hunters
2
Broken Rider
3
Death Valley Drifter
4
Cover of Return to Gila Bend
Return to Gila Bend
5
Reunion in Hell
6
Ride for Justice
7
Cover of Ride the Hammer Down
Ride the Hammer Down
8
Cover of Blood on the Prairie
Blood on the Prairie
9
Cover of Dalton's Justice
Dalton's Justice
10
Die Trying
11
Cover of Face of a Snake
Face of a Snake
12
Frontier Medicine
13
Guns of the Greenhorn
14
Cover of Hell Snake
Hell Snake
15
Hellbound Posse(By: Robert J. Randisi)
16
Shot to Hell
17
The Devil's Snare
18
The Wrong Side of the Law
19
Counterfeit Lawman(By: Jackson Lowry)
20
My Brother, My Killer(By: Jackson Lowry)
21
Stagecoach Revenge(By: D.B. Pulliam)
22
The Guns of Wrath
23
Thirteen Bullets(By: Sean Danker)

John McBride Series

Complete

3 books (2007–2008)

Start with West Of The Law and read in order.

#Title
1
Cover of West Of The Law
West Of The Law
2
Cover of Blood on the Gallows
Blood on the Gallows
3
Cover of Shadow of the Gun
Shadow of the Gun

Ralph Compton Western Series

Likely Complete

55 books (2001–2021)

Start with Clarion's Call(By: Robert Vaughan), the first of 55 books in the Ralph Compton Western series.

#Title
1
Cover of Clarion's Call(By: Robert Vaughan)
Clarion's Call(By: Robert Vaughan)
2
Cover of Blood and Gold(By: Joseph A. West)
Blood and Gold(By: Joseph A. West)
3
Cover of For the Brand(By: David Robbins)
For the Brand(By: David Robbins)
4
Cover of By the Horns(By: David Robbins)
By the Horns(By: David Robbins)
5
Cover of Deadwood Gulch(By: John Edward Ames)
Deadwood Gulch(By: John Edward Ames)
6
Cover of Guns of the Canyonlands(By: Joseph A. West)
Guns of the Canyonlands(By: Joseph A. West)
7
Cover of Rio Largo(By: David Robbins)
Rio Largo(By: David Robbins)
8
Cover of Texas Empire
Texas Empire
9
Cover of A Wolf In the Fold(By: David Robbins)
A Wolf In the Fold(By: David Robbins)
10
Cover of Blood Duel(By: David Robbins)
Blood Duel(By: David Robbins)
11
Cover of Bluff City(By: David Robbins)
Bluff City(By: David Robbins)
12
Cover of The Bloody Trail(By: Marcus Galloway)
The Bloody Trail(By: Marcus Galloway)
13
Cover of West Of The Law(By: Joseph A. West)
West Of The Law(By: Joseph A. West)
14
Cover of Blood on the Gallows(By: Joseph A. West)
Blood on the Gallows(By: Joseph A. West)
15
Cover of Bullet for a Bad Man(By: David Robbins)
Bullet for a Bad Man(By: David Robbins)
16
Cover of Death of a Bad Man(By: Marcus Galloway)
Death of a Bad Man(By: Marcus Galloway)
17
Cover of Ride the Hard Trail(By: David Robbins)
Ride the Hard Trail(By: David Robbins)
18
Cover of The Convict Trail(By: Joseph A. West)
The Convict Trail(By: Joseph A. West)
19
Cover of Bounty Hunter(By: Joseph A. West)
Bounty Hunter(By: Joseph A. West)
20
Cover of Fatal Justice(By: David Robbins)
Fatal Justice(By: David Robbins)
21
Cover of Outlaw's Reckoning(By: Marcus Galloway)
Outlaw's Reckoning(By: Marcus Galloway)
22
Cover of Rawhide Flat(By: Joseph A. West)
Rawhide Flat(By: Joseph A. West)
23
Cover of The Man From Nowhere(By: Joseph A. West)
The Man From Nowhere(By: Joseph A. West)
24
Cover of Death of a Hangman(By: Joseph A. West)
Death of a Hangman(By: Joseph A. West)
25
Cover of North to the Salt Fork(By: Dusty Richards)
North to the Salt Fork(By: Dusty Richards)
26
Cover of Rusted Tin(By: Marcus Galloway)
Rusted Tin(By: Marcus Galloway)
27
Cover of Stryker's Revenge(By: Joseph A. West)
Stryker's Revenge(By: Joseph A. West)
28
Cover of The Burning Range(By: Joseph A. West)
The Burning Range(By: Joseph A. West)
29
Cover of The Shadow Of A Gun(By: Henry Clay Merritt)
The Shadow Of A Gun(By: Henry Clay Merritt)
30
Cover of The Ghost of Apache Creek(By: Joseph A. West)
The Ghost of Apache Creek(By: Joseph A. West)
31
Cover of The Last Manhunt(By: Joseph A. West)
The Last Manhunt(By: Joseph A. West)
32
Cover of The Stranger from Abilene(By: Joseph A. West)
The Stranger from Abilene(By: Joseph A. West)
33
Cover of Dead Man's Ranch(By: Matthew P. Mayo)
Dead Man's Ranch(By: Matthew P. Mayo)
34
Cover of Down on Gila River(By: Joseph A. West)
Down on Gila River(By: Joseph A. West)
35
Cover of One Man's Fire(By: Marcus Galloway)
One Man's Fire(By: Marcus Galloway)
36
Cover of Slaughter Canyon(By: Joseph A. West)
Slaughter Canyon(By: Joseph A. West)
37
Cover of Tucker's Reckoning(By: Matthew P. Mayo)
Tucker's Reckoning(By: Matthew P. Mayo)
38
Cover of Brimstone Trail(By: Marcus Galloway)
Brimstone Trail(By: Marcus Galloway)
39
Cover of Hard Ride to Wichita(By: Marcus Galloway)
Hard Ride to Wichita(By: Marcus Galloway)
40
Cover of Straight Shooter(By: Marcus Galloway)
Straight Shooter(By: Marcus Galloway)
41
Cover of The Hunted(By: Matthew P. Mayo)
The Hunted(By: Matthew P. Mayo)
42
Cover of Comanche Trail(By: Carlton Stowers)
Comanche Trail(By: Carlton Stowers)
43
Cover of Double-Cross Ranch(By: Matthew P. Mayo)
Double-Cross Ranch(By: Matthew P. Mayo)
44
Cover of The Cheyenne Trail(By: Jory Sherman)
The Cheyenne Trail(By: Jory Sherman)
45
The Dangerous Land(By: Marcus Galloway)
46
Cover of Vigilante Dawn(By: Marcus Galloway)
Vigilante Dawn(By: Marcus Galloway)
47
Cover of Brother's Keeper(By: David Robbins)
Brother's Keeper(By: David Robbins)
48
Cover of Shotgun Charlie(By: Matthew P. Mayo)
Shotgun Charlie(By: Matthew P. Mayo)
49
Cover of Straight to the Noose(By: Marcus Galloway)
Straight to the Noose(By: Marcus Galloway)
50
Cover of Texas Hills(By: David Robbins)
Texas Hills(By: David Robbins)
51
Cover of The Evil Men Do(By: David Robbins)
The Evil Men Do(By: David Robbins)
52
Cover of The Law and the Lawless(By: David Robbins)
The Law and the Lawless(By: David Robbins)
53
Outlaw Town(By: David Robbins)
54
Cover of Phantom Hill(By: Carlton Stowers)
Phantom Hill(By: Carlton Stowers)
55
Hellbound Posse(By: Robert J. Randisi)

Sundown Riders Series

Likely Complete

28 books (1996–2022)

Start with North To The Bitterroot, the first of 28 books in the Sundown Riders series.

#Title
1
North To The Bitterroot
2
Demon's Pass(By: Robert Vaughan)
3
Cover of Runaway Stage(With: Robert Vaughan)
Runaway Stage(With: Robert Vaughan)
4
Do or Die(By: David Robbins)
5
Across the Rio Colorado
6
Nowhere, TX(With: David Robbins)
7
West of Pecos(By: David Robbins)
8
The Winchester Run
9
Skeleton Lode
10
Whiskey River
11
Devil's Canyon
12
Calvert's Last Bluff(By: E. L. Ripley)
13
Lost Banshee Mine(By: Jackson Lowry)
14
Never Bet Against the Bullet(By: Jackson Lowry)
15
Cover of Prairie Fire, Kansas(By: John Shirley)
Prairie Fire, Kansas(By: John Shirley)
16
The Wolves of Seven Pines(By: E. L. Ripley)
17
Tin Star(By: Jackson Lowry)
18
Flames of Silver(By: Jackson Lowry)
19
Ghost Hollow Ranch(By: D.B. Pulliam)
20
Seven Roads to Revenge(By: Carlton Stowers)
21
Snake's Fury(By: Bernard Schaffer)
22
Cover of Stagecoach to Hell(By: Terrence McCauley)
Stagecoach to Hell(By: Terrence McCauley)
23
The Outlaw Hunters(By: D B Pulliam)
24
The Trail's End(By: E. L. Ripley)
25
The Winter of Wolves(By: Royal Harding)
26
Snake Oil Justice(By: Jackson Lowry)
27
The Reluctant Lawman(By: Craig Barstow)
28
The Robber Barons(By: Craig Barstow)

Tom Navarro Series

Complete

2 books (2005–2005)

Start with Bullet Creek and read in order.

#Title
1
Cover of Bullet Creek
Bullet Creek
2

Trail Drive Series

Likely Complete

35 books (1992–2022)

Start with The Goodnight Trail, the first of 35 books in the Trail Drive series.

#Title
1
Cover of The Goodnight Trail
The Goodnight Trail
2
Cover of The Western Trail
The Western Trail
3
Cover of The Bandera Trail
The Bandera Trail
4
Cover of The Chisholm Trail
The Chisholm Trail
5
Cover of The California Trail
The California Trail
6
Cover of The Shawnee Trail
The Shawnee Trail
7
Cover of The Virginia City Trail
The Virginia City Trail
8
Cover of The Dodge City Trail
The Dodge City Trail
9
Cover of The Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail
10
Cover of The Santa Fe Trail
The Santa Fe Trail
11
Cover of The Old Spanish Trail
The Old Spanish Trail
12
Cover of The Deadwood Trail
The Deadwood Trail
13
Cover of The Green River Trail
The Green River Trail
14
Cover of The Dakota Trail(By: Robert Vaughan)
The Dakota Trail(By: Robert Vaughan)
15
Cover of The Alamosa Trail(By: Robert Vaughan)
The Alamosa Trail(By: Robert Vaughan)
16
Cover of The Bozeman Trail(By: Robert Vaughan)
The Bozeman Trail(By: Robert Vaughan)
17
Cover of The Abilene Trail(By: Dusty Richards)
The Abilene Trail(By: Dusty Richards)
18
The Palo Duro Trail(By: Jory Sherman)
19
Cover of Trail To Fort Smith(By: Dusty Richards)
Trail To Fort Smith(By: Dusty Richards)
20
The Ellsworth Trail(By: Jory Sherman)
21
Cover of The Ogallala Trail(By: Dusty Richards)
The Ogallala Trail(By: Dusty Richards)
22
Cover of The Tenderfoot Trail(By: Joseph A. West)
The Tenderfoot Trail(By: Joseph A. West)
23
Cover of Trail to Cottonwood Falls(By: Dusty Richards)
Trail to Cottonwood Falls(By: Dusty Richards)
24
Cover of The Amarillo Trail(By: Jory Sherman)
The Amarillo Trail(By: Jory Sherman)
25
The Omaha Trail(By: Jory Sherman)
26
Big Jake's Last Drive(By: Robert J. Randisi)
27
Drive for Independence(With: Lyle Brandt)
28
Cover of Red Trail(By: John Shirley)
Red Trail(By: John Shirley)
29
The Badlands Trail(By: Lyle Brandt)
30
Cover of The Kelly Trail(By: Terrence McCauley)
The Kelly Trail(By: Terrence McCauley)
31
Cover of Terror Trail(By: Lyle Brandt)
Terror Trail(By: Lyle Brandt)
32
Cover of The Empire Trail(By: Jeff Rovin)
The Empire Trail(By: Jeff Rovin)
33
Cover of The Too-Late Trail(With: Matthew P. Mayo)
The Too-Late Trail(With: Matthew P. Mayo)
34
Tthe Sagebrush Trail(By: Robert J. Randisi)
35
The Saltwater Trail(By: Jackson Lowry)

Trail of the Gunfighter Series

Complete

3 books (1995–1996)

Start with The Dawn of Fury and read in order.

#Title
1
Cover of The Dawn of Fury
The Dawn of Fury
2
Cover of Autumn of the Gun
Autumn of the Gun
3
Cover of The Killing Season
The Killing Season

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Ralph Compton written?
Ralph Compton has written 159 books across 10 series. Their published works span from 1992 to 2022.
What is the first book in each Ralph Compton series?
Here are the first books in Ralph Compton's series: Border Empire: The Border Empire; Buck Fletcher: Doomsday Rider; Danny Duggin: Death Rides a Chestnut Mare; Gunfighter: Blood of the Hunters; John McBride: West Of The Law.
What order should I read Ralph Compton's books?
We recommend reading Ralph Compton's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
Are Ralph Compton's series complete?
Ralph Compton has 6 completed series.

You might also like