James Lee Burke Books in Order

James Lee Burke is a New York Times bestselling American crime author best known for the Dave Robicheaux series.

This page list all James Lee Burke books in order, including his crime series, standalone novel, short stories, and collections, organized primarily by publication order.

Latest James Lee Burke Books

The Hadacol Boogie
The Hadacol Boogie (Dave Robicheaux #25), February 2026

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Dave Robicheaux Series (Books in Order)

The Dave Robicheaux series follows a Louisiana-based detective and former New Orleans homicide officer, as he investigates crimes in the local region.

Publication Order

  1. The Neon Rain, 1987
  2. Heaven’s Prisoners, 1988
  3. Black Cherry Blues, 1989
  4. A Morning For Flamingos, 1990
  5. A Stained White Radiance, 1992
  6. In Electric Mist With Confederate Dead, 1993
  7. Dixie City Jam, 1994
  8. Burning Angel, 1995
  9. Cadillac Jukebox, 1996
  10. Sunset Limited, 1998
  11. Purple Cane Road), 2000
  12. Jolie Blon’s Bounce), 2002
  13. Last Car To Elysian Fields, 2003
  14. Crusader’s Cross, 2005
  15. Pegasus Descending, 2006
  16. The Tin Roof Blowdown, 2007
  17. Swan Peak, 2008
  18. The Glass Rainbow, 2010
  19. Creole Belle), 2012
  20. Light of the World, 2013
  21. Robicheaux: You Know My Name, 2018
  22. The New Iberia Blues, 2019
  23. A Private Cathedral, 2020
  24. Clete, 2024
  25. The Hadacol Boogie, 2026

Holland Family Universe

The Holland family universe includes multiple crime series and standalone novels connected through generations of the Holland family.

Hackberry Holland Series (Books in Order)

The Hackberry Holland series follows Hackberry Holland, a Texas lawman who solves gruesome murders and fights corruption.

Publication Order

  1. Lay Down My Sword And Shield, 1971
  2. Rain Gods, 2009
  3. Feast Day of Fools, 2011
  4. House of the Rising Sun, 2015

Billy Bob Holland Series (Books in Order)

The Billy Bob Holland series follows Billy Bob Holland, a lawyer who becomes involved in criminal investigations.

Publication Order

  1. Cimarron Rose, 1997
  2. Heartwood, 1999
  3. Bitterroot, 2001
  4. In The Moon Of Red Ponies, 2004

Holland Family Series (Books in Order)

The Holland Family series consists of crime novels centered on members of the Holland family across different time periods.

Publication Order

  1. Wayfaring Stranger, 2014
  2. The Jealous Kind, 2016
  3. Another Kind of Eden, 2021
  4. Every Cloak Rolled In Blood, 2022
  5. Don’t Forget Me, Little Bessie, 2025

Standalone Novels

Novellas and Short Stories

Short Story Collections and Anthologies

Non-Fiction Books

James Lee Burke Biography

James Lee Burke books

James Lee Burke is an American author whose work includes the Dave Robicheaux series, and the Holland Family universe. He has published more than 20 novels since his debut, Half of Paradise, in 1965.
Official website: jamesleeburke.com

James Lee Burke was born 1936, in Houston, Texas, and grew up along the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast. He graduated from the Southwestern Louisiana Institute, after which he earned a BA and MA in English from the University of Missouri.

Before becoming a full-time author, he held a wide range of jobs including land surveyor, truck driver for the U.S. Forest Service, pipeliner, newspaper reporter, English college professor, clerk, and social worker.

James Lee Burke became a bestselling author with the Dave Robicheaux novels, which are his most enduring work. In addition to his series, he has also written novels centered around the Family, standalone novels and historical crime novels.

James Lee Burke Book Adaptations

  • Heaven’s Prisoners – adapted into the movie Heaven’s Prisoners (1996)
  • Two for Texas – adapted into the TV movie Two for Texas (1998)
  • In the Electric Mist – adapted into French-American TV Film In the Electric Mist (2009)
  • Winter Light – adapted into the film God’s Country (2022)

James Lee Burke Awards and Honors

Awards

  • John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship for Creative Arts in Fiction (1988)
  • Black Cherry Blues – Edgar Award for Best Novel (1990)
  • Cimarron Rose – Edgar Award for Best Novel (1998)
  • Sunset Limited – CWA Gold Dagger (1998)
  • Edgar Award Grand Master (2009)
  • CWA Diamond Dagger (2024)
  • Flags on the Bayou Edgar Award for Best Novel (2024)

Nominations and Shortlists

  • Black Cherry Blues – Macavity Award for Best Novel (1990)
  • Cimarron Rose – Barry Award for Best Novel (1998)
  • Sunset Limited – Dilys Award for Best Book (1999)
  • Purple Cane Road – Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Mystery/Thriller (2000)
  • Purple Cane Road – CWA Gold Dagger (2000)
  • Jolie Blon’s Bounce – CWA Gold Dagger (2002)
  • Jolie Blon’s Bounce – Macavity Award for Best Novel (2003)
  • Jolie Blon’s Bounce – Edgar Award for Best Novel (2003)
  • Pegasus Descending – ILP John Creasey First Novel Award (2007)
  • Pegasus Descending – CWA Gold Dagger (2007)
  • The Tin Roof Blowdown – CWA Gold Dagger (2008)
  • The Tin Roof Blowdown – BCA Crime Thriller of the Year (2008)
  • The Tin Roof Blowdown – Anthony Award for Best Novel (2008)
  • The Glass Rainbow – Macavity Award for Best Novel (2011)
  • A Private Cathedral – CrimeFest: eDunnit Award (2021)
  • Flags on the Bayou – CWA Historical Dagger (2024)

Edited by

Marika

Founder of Mystery Sequels, a reference site focused on listing mystery and thriller books in the correct reading order. I maintain and update the site’s bibliographies as new titles are published, ensuring accuracy and consistency across author and series pages.

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8 Comments

  1. I have totally enjoyed JLB’s books, all of them, his use of the americanised English language is formidable, absolutely.
    Will probably start from the beginning before hit 75 years young again.
    Dave,Clete, and the Holland’s plus all the ‘extras ‘,,keep up the good work Jamie.

  2. I believe it would be hard to find two authors who create more believable and memorable literary characters than James Lee Burke and Larry McMurtry.

  3. Did you know that many of your stories were inspired by my life and that of LeRoy Hartley and Shrieff Foitti? These are stories I heard growing up. I also heard Parin hit someone in a friend circle, and could have gotten a court-martial. He threatened him years later with the other chin. Great man, if you ask me. He saved my life in 1973 when my father was working the graveyard shift at EJ, and he was on Lake Pontchartrain. I am that baby everyone has been hiding. Please help me. I want to tell my story, but I hound my grandfather, who is an admiral in the Navy; he would not admit he was my grandfather, and my mother is dead. That is how I found out I was thrown away. Foti was involved, and Leroy is my godfather. Jack Anderson was my Grandfather, and I was born without hip sockets. Mafia has been a part of my life since I was born and raised. I don’t check email often, so my phone is 985=960-1995. FYI, you give stories only to people who are in the know. My maiden name was Harmon, and my mother’s name was Anderson. You can check me out, but I’m contacting you because your stories are too real in my life. Maybe you are him

  4. One more thing!!! My favorite Robicheaux book is “The Tin Roof Blow Down”!! My favorite character besides Clete and Dave…Smiley.

  5. I became a J.L.B. fan by accident. It was the year 1988 and I was nineteen years old. I just started my law enforcement career and was working as a correctional deputy for the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office. I was assigned to the Community Correctional Center on Gravier St. At that point in my life, I may have read two books (Where the Red Fern Grows, The Old Man in the Sea). I found myself bored to tears after the inmates went to sleep. I was sitting in a metal folding chair looking through the thick glass at a vacant tier. I noticed a book on the counter in my line of sight, that was left there by the previous deputy. It was Neon Rain…From that moment on, to this present day I have been a fan. I’m in my 37th year as a law enforcement officer. I’m still reading J.L.B. and still plying my trade in law enforcement. I picked up Burke’s latest Robicheaux book, a signed copy of Clete, from the famous Faulkner House, on Pirate Alley, while in the French Quarter for Lundi Gras. Burke inserts you into the book as you read his words. I absolutely love him…

  6. 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.

  7. 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

  8. 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.

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