Warren C. Easley began his career as a research scientist and international business executive. He took the strengths of both when he turned to writing and created Cal Claxton, a former LA prosecutor grieving his wife.
The character moved to Oregon, where Cal currently lives, and his love for the state shines through in this series.
With eight books published and several more on the way, there’s no better time to dive into this award-winning series.
Here are all the books in Warren C. Easley 's Cal Claxton series—in order.
Matters of Doubt
After a personal tragedy, a former LA prosecutor moves to an old farmhouse in Oregon’s wine country. He’s determined to live a quieter life as a small-town lawyer.
But then a scruffy kid named Picasso asks for his help solving his mother’s murder. Cal should say no, but something about the kid strikes a chord with Cal. He takes Picasso on as a client, only for things to go from bad to worse.
Picasso is charged with murdering a businessman—and his mother’s former boyfriend.
Now, Cal is back to his old game, pitting himself against police, media, and powerful elites to defend his client.
Dead Float
Cal Claxton may be a practicing lawyer, but his passion is fishing.
When his friend asks him to guide a group of executives on a fly-fishing expedition to Oregon’s legendary fishing spot, Cal is elated. But the executives are there to do more than fish. They’re evaluating the health of their company.
Things start off complicated when the CEO brings his wife—the same woman Cal had an affair with—and get even worse when he’s murdered the first night.
Everyone is a suspect, but when Cal’s knife and vest are discovered missing, the police come down on Cal. Does the upcoming valuation play a role? Or is this a random tragedy? And more importantly, can Cal prove his innocence before it’s too late?
Never Look Down
Oregon lawyer Cal Claxton has a soft spot for wayward teens. His first case helped a street artist named Picasso. And now, another at-risk youth needs his help.
Thanks to a mountaineering father, Kelly Spence can reach all the impossible spots in the city.
But when she accidentally witnesses a murder, her life turns upside down and she goes on the run.
The victim was Cal’s friend and landlord’s fiancé. Her ex is the obvious suspect, but Cal’s instincts tell him that’s not quite right. He follows that feeling and finds Kelly.
Now, he has to figure out how to get her to talk before the killer catches her.
Not Dead Enough
Over fifty years ago, the Dalles Dam on the Columbia River washed away 10,000 years of Native history and fishing tradition.
The one man who stood in opposition to the dam mysteriously vanished the night the dam closed. Now, Cal Claxton is at the dam’s commemorative ceremony where he meets Winona Cloud, granddaughter of that defiant man.
She found old letters from her grandfather that point to murder. But when he agrees to take on the cold case, he never imagined he’d become the target of a killer.
Caught in a conflicting web of police jurisdictions, activist interests, Oregon politics, and powerful business interests, Cal has to figure out who’s trying to kill him—before they succeed.
Blood for Wine
Oregon’s Red Hills is home to acres of coveted land. It’s where the prized Pinot Noir grape is grown and there are many who would do anything to make it their own. Cal Claxton lives there and has grown fond of his quiet life and vintner neighbors.
When one of them is accused of murder, his property plays a key role in the crime. And then the property next door becomes the target of blackmail. With two vineyards under threat, Cal suspects foul play.
But when he tries to help, he gets wrapped in the blackmail scheme and risks losing his beloved piece of land.
As he digs deeper, Cal realizes that if he can’t find this devious killer, he may lose more than his home. He might lose his life.
Moving Targets
Taking walk-in clients is part of the job. But Cal Claxton has no idea how dangerous his next client will be.
Angela Wingate is the adopted daughter of a local power couple. After years of estrangement, she finally reconnected with her recently widowed mother—only to lose her in an accident.
But Angela doesn’t believe it’s an accident and she doesn’t understand why the police aren’t taking the investigation seriously.
Cal’s investigation quickly shows connections between Margaret’s will, a lucrative project, and a Russian crime ring. This is a fight he can’t win on his own.
Recruiting allies from all over Portland, Cal works to uncover the truth about Angela’s mother while also protecting his own beloved farmhouse back home.
No Way to Die
Cal Claxton is learning to appreciate a quieter life. Now that his law practice in small-town Oregon is steady, it’s time to take a vacation with his daughter, Claire.
But their perfect fishing trip gets derailed when a dead body is discovered. As the investigation begins, Cal and Claire busy themselves in the nearby town, where they meet a local bookstore owner and activist and become invested in her life story.
When her grandson was only sixteen, he was convicted of murder. A firm believer in his innocence, Cal and Claire agree to look into the case.
As they dig into the secrets of this small town, they threaten the already crumbling alliances keeping the community afloat. And if they don’t stop, it could mean trouble for them both.
No Witness
Timoteo Fuentes is a bright student who works hard. That’s why Cal Claxton hired him as his legal clerk and assistant. He hopes the job can help give Timoteo and his family stability.
Even though Timoteo is also an undocumented worker, his status as a “dreamer” protects him.
But when one of his family members is brutally murdered, justice seems impossible. The migrant community doesn’t want to talk to the police out of fear of deportation.
Cal knows some ruthless people target vulnerable populations for profit. The deeper he gets into his investigation, the larger the target on his back grows.
Now, he has to untangle the truth before he and Timoteo become the next victims.
