Introduction: The Literary Genius of Bill Crider
Bill Crider, a prominent American author, skillfully dances between mystery, Western, horror novels, and children’s books. But he is particularly esteemed for his Sheriff Dan Rhodes series. As we trace the development of his career and the various books in order which he has released, we delve into his unique writing style and his command of narrative engagement.
Academic Pedigree and Writing Ascent: Crider’s Journey
Before embracing the irresistible call to full-time writing, Crider was an English educator at Howard Payne University for over a decade. After that, he pursued his PhD at the University of Texas at Austin. In 2003, he renounced his academic career, choosing to lavish all his time on crafting compelling stories.
Crider’s Debut into the Literary World
Bill Crider had his maiden experience as a published author in 1984 with The Coyote Connection, which he penned under the pseudonym Nick Carter. However, it was two years later, in 1986, he unveiled his true identity with the thriller Too Late to Die, marking the commencement of his highly acclaimed Dan Rhodes series.
The Books in Order: Crider’s Array of Literary Works
Here, we offer a delineation of Bill Crider’s books in order of their original publishing date:
Publication Order of Sheriff Dan Rhodes Books
| Too Late to Die | (1986) |    |
| Shotgun Saturday Night | (1987) | |
| Cursed to Death | (1988) | |
| Death on the Move | (1989) | |
| Evil at the Root | (1990) | |
| Booked for a Hanging | (1992) | |
| Murder Most Fowl | (1994) | |
| Winning Can Be Murder | (1996) | |
| Death by Accident | (1998) | |
| A Ghost of a Chance | (2000) | |
| A Romantic Way to Die | (2001) | |
| Red, White, and Blue Murder | (2003) | |
| A Mammoth Murder | (2006) | |
| Murder Among the OWLS | (2007) | |
| Of All Sad Words | (2008) | |
| Murder in Four Parts | (2009) | |
| Murder in the Air | (2010) |  |
| The Wild Hog Murders | (2011) | |
| Murder of a Beauty Shop Queen | (2012) | |
| Compound Murder | (2013) | |
| Half in Love with Artful Death | (2014) | |
| Between the Living and the Dead | (2015) | |
| Survivors Will Be Shot Again | (2016) | |
| Dead, to Begin With | (2017) | |
| That Old Scoundrel Death | (2019) | |