South Dakota Badlands Books in Order
Part ofDana Mentink Books in OrderFind Dana Mentink’s South Dakota Badlands books in order, with short summaries, series background, and help choosing where to begin.
Last updated: July 13, 2026
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South Dakota Badlands books in publication order
3 books
Betrayal in the Badlands
by Dana Mentink
2010
In South Dakota’s badlands, old violence and fresh suspicion pull two hurting people into the path of a determined killer. Buried secrets, rugged country, and second chances keep the tension high from the start.
Buried Truth
by Dana Mentink
2011
Former tribal agent Bill Cloudman learns the murderer who destroyed his career is back in the South Dakota badlands. When a reporter he once loved returns chasing the same story, both of them become vulnerable.
Escape from the Badlands
by Dana Mentink
2012
Shane Mason enters South Dakota’s brutal Desert Quest race to clear his brother’s name and finds Kelly Cloudman in the middle of the case. The reunion is painful enough before a killer makes Kelly the next target.
South Dakota Badlands books in chronological order
Betrayal in the Badlands
by Dana Mentink
2010South Dakota Badlands, Book 1
Buried Truth
by Dana Mentink
2011South Dakota Badlands, Book 2
Escape from the Badlands
by Dana Mentink
2012South Dakota Badlands, Book 3
Series background & context
These books use the South Dakota badlands well. The landscape feels exposed, harsh, and hard to escape, which suits Dana Mentink’s style. The stories are rooted in local communities, old grudges, and cases where the people involved all seem to know more than they are saying.
The series includes law enforcement, reporters, medics, and people trying to clear family names or survive the return of violent men they thought were gone. Buried Truth and Escape from the Badlands make that pattern especially clear, with escaped killers, unresolved murders, and relationships strained by old hurt.
This is a good series for readers who want romantic suspense with a sense of place and a slightly rougher edge. The badlands setting, reservation-adjacent community tensions, and family loyalty questions give these books more grit than the average category romance thriller.
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