At a Glance
Last Updated on May 12, 2022 Here are the James Lee Burke books in order of publication release date next to the series number for his Dave Robicheaux, and the Texas Sheriff Hackberry Holland and family stories. With books like Sunset Limited, The New Iberia Blues, The Tin Roof Blowdown, Black Cherry Blues, Jolie Blon’s Bounce, and Wayfaring Stranger, the author has made himself a name not only in the U.S. but also around the world among anyone who reads crime mystery novels.
New Book by James Lee Burke
Every Cloak Rolled In Blood, (Holland Family Saga #4) 2022
Dave Robicheaux Series In Order
- The Neon Rain (Dave Robicheaux #1), 1987
- Heaven’s Prisoners (Dave Robicheaux #2), 1988
- Black Cherry Blues (Dave Robicheaux #3), 1989
- A Morning For Flamingos (Dave Robicheaux #4), 1990
- A Stained White Radiance (Dave Robicheaux #5), 1992
- In Electric Mist With Confederate Dead (Dave Robicheaux #6), 1993
- Dixie City Jam (Dave Robicheaux #7), 1994
- Burning Angel (Dave Robicheaux #8), 1995
- Cadillac Jukebox (Dave Robicheaux #9), 1996
- Sunset Limited (Dave Robicheaux #10), 1998
- Purple Cane Road (Dave Robicheaux #11), 2000
- Jolie Blon’s Bounce (Dave Robicheaux #12), 2002
- Last Car To Elysian Fields (Dave Robicheaux #13), 2003
- Crusader’s Cross (Dave Robicheaux #14), 2005
- Pegasus Descending (Dave Robicheaux #15), 2006
- The Tin Roof Blowdown (Dave Robicheaux #16), 2007
- Swan Peak (Dave Robicheaux #17), 2008
- The Glass Rainbow (Dave Robicheaux #18), 2010
- Creole Belle (Dave Robicheaux #19), 2012
- Light of the World (Dave Robicheaux #20), 2013
- Robicheaux: You Know My Name (Dave Robicheaux #21), 2018
- The New Iberia Blues (Dave Robicheaux #22), 2019
- A Private Cathedral (Dave Robicheaux #23), 2020
Billy Bob Holland Series In Order
- Cimarron Rose (Billy Bob Holland #1), 1997
- Heartwood (Billy Bob Holland #2), 1999
- Bitterroot (Billy Bob Holland #3), 2001
- In The Moon Of Red Ponies (Billy Bob Holland #4), 2004
Hackberry Holland Series In Order
- Lay Down My Sword And Shield (Hackberry Holland #1), 1971
- Rain Gods (Hackberry Holland #2), 2009
- Feast Day of Fools (Hackberry Holland #3), 2011
- House of the Rising Sun (Hackberry Holland #4), 2015
Holland Family Saga Series In Order
- Wayfaring Stranger (Holland Family Saga #1), 2014
- The Jealous Kind (Holland Family Saga #2), 2016
- Another Kind of Eden (Holland Family Saga #3), 2021
- Every Cloak Rolled In Blood (Holland Family Saga #4), 2022
Other Books By James Lee Burke
- Half of Paradise, 1965
- To The Bright and Shining Sun, 1970
- Two for Texas, 1982
- The Convict, 1985 (short stories)
- The Lost Get-Back Boogie, 1986
- White Doves at Morning, 2002
- Jesus Out To Sea, 2007 (short stories)
James Lee Burke Biography
James Lee Burke is an American author best known for his Dave Robicheaux crime mystery novels.
The author was born in Houston in 1936, but he grew up in Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast. He graduated from the Southwestern Louisiana Institute, after which he also attended and graduated from the University of Missouri with a BA and MA in English.
While being a novelist is what we know him for best, he also had some interesting and odd jobs over the years, including being a land surveyor, pipeliner, reporter for a newspaper, college professor in English, a clerk, and social worker, to name just a few.
James’s books have received several awards, among others twice the Edgar award for best crime novel of the year. Heaven’s Prisoners and Two For Texas have been turned into movies.
For those authors who get discouraged by their books being rejected by publishers, here’s an interesting tidbit. His novel The Lost Get-Back Boogie was rejected for a total of 111 times before it was finally published by Louisiana State University Press. The book was nominated for a Pulitzer. Lesson to take away: never give up.
The author’s daughter, Alafair Burke is also an established crime mystery writer with two main series (Ellie Hatcher and Samantha Kinkaid). Her books are also worth checking out.
The journey to read the James Lee Burke books in order will take you through over 40 novels he has written over many decades, including 3 main series, with the most popular one being Dave Robicheaux.
I have to admit, I love the Dave Robicheaux tales the most, however, I know many readers enjoy his other stories, including his standalone novels as well. A New York Times bestselling novelist, James also wrote two short story collections that are worth reading. The Convict, released in 1985, features a dozen short tales set in the Deep South. Jesus Out to Sea, published in 2007, has an additional 10 American gripping tales. These two collections are well worth reading as well.
Needless to say, however, Dave Robicheaux, which currently consists of 22 published, with the latest book, The New Iberia Blues, released early 2020, is highly recommended if you like Southern mysteries with heavy baggage recovering alcoholic sheriffs solving murders in their own personal way.
If you’re new to the series, you might also want to check out the two movies made based on the novels, one with Alec Baldwin (called Heaven’s Prisoners) and the other one with Tommy Lee Jones (Electric Mist).
If you are reading the Robicheaux books in order, you should probably read the last published book, “A Private Cathedral” prior to “Robicheaux: You Know My Name,” as there are references to Alifair still going to school and Tripod is still alive.
Read or listened to all Burkes books most are autographed thru Books along the Teshe book store Always one of my favorite authors all are good reads
You cannot find a better author whose writing immediately grabs you like a snapping turtle and won’t let go. After reading his books starting in 1971, I need to reread them all. At 76 years old and never privileged to visit Arcadiana, I still am transported back to my younger years by Mr. Burke’s written words reminding me of the sordid life I also survived by God’s grace. Thank you can never begin to express the delight of reading a new book by Mr. Burke.