TV Series
Have you seen the news that there’s a TV series in the works of Nevada Barr’s Anna Pigeon mystery series? Well, there is! It is scheduled to premiere on August 7, 2026.
For those unfamiliar with the series, Nevada Barr’s Anna Pigeon is a National Park Ranger. Barr herself worked as a National Park Ranger, so the stories have an aura of authenticity. Each novel is set in a different national park, and the mystery at its heart is integral to its location.
When I worked as a bookseller, I often recommended the series to those who liked the great outdoors and were seeking a bit of armchair travel. Or to those who were traveling to a particular National Park.
Who is Anna Pigeon?
Barr’s protagonist of the series, Anna Pigeon, a New Yorker who leaves the city and becomes a ranger after her husband’s death. She’s a champion of nature and animals, who doesn’t trust people and has a precarious relationship with alcohol. The first novel in the series, Track of the Cat, is set in West Texas. A mountain lion is blamed for the death of another ranger, but Pigeon doesn’t buy it.
The first episode of the TV series will focus on Track of the Cat. Here’s the series in chronological order:
- Track of the Cat, 1993
- A Superior Death, 1994
- Ill Wind, 1995
- Firestorm, 1996
- Endangered Species, 1997
- Blind Descent, 1998
- Liberty Falling, 1999
- Deep South, 2000
- Blood Lure, 2001
- Hunting Season, 2002
- Flashback, 2003
- High Country, 2004
- Hard Truth, 2005
- Winter Study, 2008
- Borderline, 2009
- Burn, 2010
- The Rope, 2012
- Destroyer Angel, 2014
- Boar Island, 2016
I read the bulk of the series before starting this blog, but I have to say, this adaptation is making me want to reread Track of the Cat.
New Editions Coming Soon
The new media tie-in paperback and ebook will be published on June 30th. It looks like the original edition is still available to order. The original mass-market paperback is priced at $8.99, and the new paperback is priced at $15. I imagine it is the larger, trade-sized book. On Kobo’s website, the original ebook is priced at $3.99, and the new digital edition is $8.99.
2026 is shaping up to be an interesting year for crime & mystery series adaptations that feature strong, independent, and professional women. First, Patricia Cornwell’s Scarpetta finally made it to the screen, and now Nevada Barr’s Anna Pigeon.
If you’ve already enjoyed Barr’s series and are looking for another series featuring the great outdoors and a kick-ass woman sleuth, check out Alice Henderson’s Alex Carter series. Carter is a wildlife biologist whose work takes her to remote locations to study endangered species. The first is A Solitude of Wolverines.
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This is exciting news indeed. I have read all but one of this series and like you, have recommended it to many over the years.
How did I happen to become a fan? One of our long ago trips found us in Sequoia & Kings Canyon, CA, where we signed up for a Crystal Cave evening crawl. I was a little worried about this but it turned out to be such a fun adventure. My husband and I were the only ones on the cave crawl that night and I’ll never forget it. The Ranger told me I might like to read Nevada Barr’s Blind Descent and reader that I am, I immediately picked it up when I got home. Holy moley! Talk about a thriller that made me squirm. If I had read that book before the crawl, I would never have gone. Taking place in Carlsbad Caverns National Park It is very claustrophobic and finds Anna Pigeon 800 feet underground. I loved it!
As this was the 6th in the series I then went back and found read the first five and was hooked. I love our National Parks and enjoyed learning and the series entertaining and informative too.
I can’t wait to watch to watch this TV series. Thanks for the heads-up, Chris.
Hi Carol! I love that a Ranger recommended her to you. I’ve heard that Rangers tend to love her books not just because she is one of their own and knows what’s what, but because the parks are more than just back drops for her books. I remember Blind Descent VERY WELL. Still makes me shudder!
I read a review of Track of the Cat in an outdoorsy magazine and although I wasn’t into mysteries at the time, it sounded interesting. It was one of my most memorable reading experiences. I’m hoping the TV series will do it justice.
Hi Chris,
It’s good to hear how you came across Nevada Barr.
I, too, hope the TV series does the books justice. Can you imagine the beauty of our National Parks being shown, portraying the life of Rangers, and then adding the addition of sinister mysteries? Even if done well, some of the best mystery series have not been able to grab the attention of the streaming audience. I hope this one gets lots of good publicity.