Order of Book Series
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Ralph Cotton Books in Order

Ralph Cotton has written 75 books, published between 1994 and 2022. The first book is While Angels Dance (1994) and the newest is Gunman's Pass (2022). Publication order is the reading order below.

Books
75
Published
1994–2022
Confirmed
75 of 75 titles
Pages on record
20,283 in 67 of 75 books
Reading time
338–507 hours

Reading time is an estimate, not a recorded figure: 20,283 pages at 300 words a page, read at 200–300 words a minute, covering the 67 of 75 titles with a page count on record.

See all 75 books in order Printable Ralph Cotton checklist

Ralph Cotton (1945-2024) was an American writer of westerns. The debut novel, While Angels Dance: The Life and Times of Jeston Nash, appeared from St. Martin's Press in 1994, and more than 80 novels followed, three of them carrying Ralph Compton's byline after Compton died. 75 titles are catalogued here, through to Gunman's Pass (2022). Ranger Sam Burrack is the recurring lead, with the Jeston Nash, Will Summers, Sherman Dahl, Gun Culture, Long Riders and Dead Or Alive sequences alongside. Arizona Rangers, outlaws, gunfights and frontier life carry the subject tags.

How many Ralph Cotton books are there?

Ralph Cotton has 75 books, released between 1994 and 2022. They include 8 separate series.

Ralph Cotton Books in Publication Order

The table lists all 75 Ralph Cotton books in the order they were published, with the release year, the page count where one is on record, and how many independent book listings confirm each title. Catalogue data as of September 2026.

  1. Cover of Powder River by Ralph Cotton, book 2 of the Jeston Nash series (1995)
  2. Cover of Killers of Man by Ralph Cotton, book 5 of the Jeston Nash series (1997)
  3. Cover of Justice by Ralph Cotton, book 3 of the Ranger Sam Burrack series (1999)
  4. Cover of Border Dogs by Ralph Cotton, book 4 of the Ranger Sam Burrack series (1999)
  5. Cover of Blood Rock by Ralph Cotton, book 6 of the Ranger Sam Burrack series (2001)
  6. Cover of Trick of the Trade by Ralph Cotton, book 6 of the Jeston Nash series (2002)
  7. Cover of Jurisdiction by Ralph Cotton, book 7 of the Ranger Sam Burrack series (2002)
  8. Cover of Webb's Posse by Ralph Cotton, book 1 of the Ralph Cotton Standalone Novels series (2003)
  9. Cover of Jackpot Ridge by Ralph Cotton, book 2 of the Ralph Cotton Standalone Novels series (2003)
  10. Cover of Sabre's Edge by Ralph Cotton, book 9 of the Ranger Sam Burrack series (2003)
  11. Cover of Gunman's Song by Ralph Cotton, book 1 of the Gunfighter's Reputation series (2004)
  12. Cover of Between Hell and Texas by Ralph Cotton, book 2 of the Gunfighter's Reputation series (2004)
  13. Cover of Guns of Wolf Valley / Wolf Valley by Ralph Cotton, book 3 of the Ralph Cotton Standalone Novels series (2004)
  14. Cover of Hell's Riders by Ralph Cotton, book 10 of the Ranger Sam Burrack series (2004)
  15. Cover of Showdown at Rio Sagrado by Ralph Cotton, book 11 of the Ranger Sam Burrack series (2004)
  16. Cover of Dead Man's Canyon by Ralph Cotton, book 12 of the Ranger Sam Burrack series (2004)
  17. Cover of The Law in Somos Santos by Ralph Cotton, book 3 of the Gunfighter's Reputation series (2005)
  18. Cover of Killing Plain by Ralph Cotton, book 13 of the Ranger Sam Burrack series (2005)
  19. Cover of Black Mesa by Ralph Cotton, book 14 of the Ranger Sam Burrack series (2005)
  20. Cover of Bad Day at Willow Creek by Ralph Cotton, book 4 of the Gunfighter's Reputation series (2006)
  21. Cover of Blood Lands by Ralph Cotton, book 4 of the Ralph Cotton Standalone Novels series (2006)
  22. Cover of Trouble Creek by Ralph Cotton, book 15 of the Ranger Sam Burrack series (2006)
  23. Cover of Gunfight at Cold Devil by Ralph Cotton, book 16 of the Ranger Sam Burrack series (2006)
  24. Cover of Fast Guns Out of Texas by Ralph Cotton, book 5 of the Gunfighter's Reputation series (2007)
  1. 1
    While Angels DanceJeston Nash #11994 · 358 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1994358
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  2. 2
    Powder RiverJeston Nash #21995 · 354 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1995354
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  3. 3
    Price of a HorseJeston Nash #31996 · confirmed 3/4
    1996–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  4. 4
    Cost of a KillingJeston Nash #41996 · 320 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1996320
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  5. 5
    Killers of ManJeston Nash #51997 · 336 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1997336
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  6. 6
    Montana RedRanger Sam Burrack #11998 · 294 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1998294
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  7. 7
    BadlandsRanger Sam Burrack #21998 · 300 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1998300
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  8. 8
    JusticeRanger Sam Burrack #31999 · 320 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1999320
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  9. 9
    Border DogsRanger Sam Burrack #41999 · 320 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1999320
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  10. 10
    Hangman's ChoiceDead Or Alive Trilogy #12000 · confirmed 3/4
    2000–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  11. 11
    Misery Express / Blue Star TattooRanger Sam Burrack #52000 · 288 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2000288
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  12. 12
    Devil's DueDead Or Alive Trilogy #22001 · 294 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2001294
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  13. 13
    Blood RockRanger Sam Burrack #62001 · 312 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2001312
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  14. 14
    Blood MoneyDead Or Alive Trilogy #32002 · 274 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2002274
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  15. 15
    Trick of the TradeJeston Nash #62002 · 352 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2002352
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  16. 16
    JurisdictionRanger Sam Burrack #72002 · 308 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2002308
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  17. 17
    Webb's PosseRalph Cotton Standalone Novels #12003 · 309 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2003309
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  18. 18
    Jackpot RidgeRalph Cotton Standalone Novels #22003 · 308 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2003308
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  19. 19
    Vengeance is a Bullet / VengeanceRanger Sam Burrack #82003 · 266 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2003266
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  20. 20
    Sabre's EdgeRanger Sam Burrack #92003 · 309 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2003309
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  21. 21
    Gunman's SongGunfighter's Reputation #12004 · 297 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2004297
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  22. 22
    Between Hell and TexasGunfighter's Reputation #22004 · 294 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2004294
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  23. 23
    Guns of Wolf Valley / Wolf ValleyRalph Cotton Standalone Novels #32004 · 298 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2004298
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  24. 24
    Hell's RidersRanger Sam Burrack #102004 · 309 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2004309
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  25. 25
    Showdown at Rio SagradoRanger Sam Burrack #112004 · 314 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2004314
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  26. 26
    Dead Man's CanyonRanger Sam Burrack #122004 · 295 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2004295
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  27. 27
    The Law in Somos SantosGunfighter's Reputation #32005 · 278 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2005278
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  28. 28
    Killing PlainRanger Sam Burrack #132005 · 282 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2005282
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  29. 29
    Black MesaRanger Sam Burrack #142005 · 304 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2005304
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  30. 30
    Bad Day at Willow CreekGunfighter's Reputation #42006 · 304 pages · confirmed 3/4
    2006304
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK

Ralph Cotton characters in order

The character linked below has its own reading-order page.

Ralph Cotton books grouped by series

Each title below is a row in the publication-order table above. None of these groups has a reading-order page of its own on this site.

Ranger Sam Burrack in order

40 books
  1. 1. Montana Red
  2. 2. Badlands
  3. 3. Justice
  4. 4. Border Dogs
  5. 5. Misery Express / Blue Star Tattoo
  6. 6. Blood Rock
  7. 7. Jurisdiction
  8. 8. Vengeance is a Bullet / Vengeance
  9. 9. Sabre's Edge
  10. 10. Hell's Riders
  11. 11. Showdown at Rio Sagrado
  12. 12. Dead Man's Canyon
  13. and 28 more in the table above

Gunfighter's Reputation in order

11 books
  1. 1. Gunman's Song
  2. 2. Between Hell and Texas
  3. 3. The Law in Somos Santos
  4. 4. Bad Day at Willow Creek
  5. 5. Fast Guns Out of Texas
  6. 6. Ride to Hell's Gate
  7. 7. Gunmen of the Desert Sands
  8. 8. Crossing Fire River
  9. 9. Escape From Fire River
  10. 10. Gun Country
  11. 11. City of Bad Men

Jeston Nash in order

6 books
  1. 1. While Angels Dance
  2. 2. Powder River
  3. 3. Price of a Horse
  4. 4. Cost of a Killing
  5. 5. Killers of Man
  6. 6. Trick of the Trade

Ralph Cotton Standalone Novels

6 books

6 titles published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.

Will Summers in order

4 books
  1. 1. Summers' Horses
  2. 2. Incident at Gunn Point
  3. 3. Dark Horses
  4. 4. Gunman's Pass

Dead Or Alive Trilogy in order

3 books
  1. 1. Hangman's Choice
  2. 2. Devil's Due
  3. 3. Blood Money

Sherman Dahl in order

2 books
  1. 1. Fighting Men
  2. 2. Gun Law

Gun Culture in order

2 books
  1. 1. Friend of a Friend
  2. 2. Season of the Wind

Long Riders in order

1 book
  1. 1. The Guns of C.C. Ellis

Do you have to read Ralph Cotton books in order?

You only need to read Ralph Cotton books in order within each series: the books listed here span 8 separate series, and each series has its own publication order.

Where to start with Ralph Cotton

Start with Gunman's Song (2004), the first Gunman’s Reputation book. The earliest catalogued title overall is While Angels Dance (1994).

What is the newest Ralph Cotton book?

Gunman's Pass (2022) is the newest Ralph Cotton book released so far.

Is there a new Ralph Cotton book coming?

No next Ralph Cotton book is announced in the catalogue, which is a gap in the listings it merges rather than a sign that the run has ended.

Ralph Cotton at a glance

Died
Ralph Cotton died in 2024, according to Wikidata.
Last book
The newest book credited to Ralph Cotton on record dates from 2022.
Release pace
Ralph Cotton books have appeared more than one a year on average.
Length
20,283 pages across the 67 of 75 books with a recorded length, a median of 298 pages each.
Busiest decade
Most Ralph Cotton books, 35 of 75, were published in the 2000s.

What the Ralph Cotton books are about

66 of the 75 Ralph Cotton books carry subject tags in Open Library's catalogue. The subjects below are the ones that recur across them, most frequent first: westerns is tagged on 51 of 66. The subjects are cataloguers’ headings, not a plot summary.