🎯 Where Should I Start?
ⓘ About James Lee Burke
About James Lee Burke James Lee Burke is a celebrated American author best known for his Dave Robicheaux series. Winner of two Edgar Awards and the Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America, his work has even been adapted into films with stars like Alec Baldwin and Tommy Lee Jones. Burke’s talent for crafting memorable characters and gripping narratives keeps readers hooked from start to finish. Burke’s writing has been praised by The New York Times, with comparisons to greats like Jean-Paul Sartre, Ernest Hemingway, and Thomas Hardy. His first novel, ‘Half of Paradise,’ was published in 1965, and another celebrated work, ‘Two for Texas,’ was turned into a TV movie in 1998. His ability to weave engaging and complex stories has earned him a dedicated following.
All Book Series by James Lee Burke
Don't Forget Me, Little Bessie
Latest in the series · book 14 of 14 · published 2025
Don't Forget Me, Little Bessie
Latest in the series · book 7 of 7 · published 2025
The Best American Mystery Stories 2018
Latest in the series · book 8 of 8 · published 2018
? Frequently Asked Questions
Who is James Lee Burke?
About James Lee Burke James Lee Burke is a celebrated American author best known for his Dave Robicheaux series. Winner of two Edgar Awards and the Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America, his work has even been adapted into films with stars like Alec Baldwin and Tommy Lee Jones. Burke's talent for crafting memorable characters and gripping narratives keeps readers hooked from start to finish.
Which James Lee Burke series should I start with?
The best place to start is the Holland Family Universe series, the earliest of James Lee Burke's multi-book series: it opens with Lay Down My Sword and Shield (1971) and runs to 14 books across 1971–2025, ending with Don't Forget Me, Little Bessie (2025). James Lee Burke's other series stand alone, so they can be read in any order.
How many books has James Lee Burke written?
James Lee Burke has 70 books catalogued in this guide, published between 1965 and 2026. 52 of them belong to 5 named series — the largest being the Dave Robicheaux series with 25 books — and 18 are standalone titles, collections or anthologies.
In what order should James Lee Burke's series be read?
Read each series in publication order — the numbered entries in each series follow the year each book first appeared. James Lee Burke's series do not depend on one another, so they can be started in any order; by start date they are Holland Family Universe (1971–2025, 14 books), Hackberry Holland (1971–2025, 7 books) and Dave Robicheaux (1987–2026, 25 books), plus 2 more.
How are James Lee Burke's books organised into series?
This guide splits James Lee Burke's 70 books into 5 named series and 18 titles that stand alone or appear only in collections: Dave Robicheaux (25 books, 1987–2026); Holland Family Universe (14 books, 1971–2025); Hackberry Holland (7 books, 1971–2025); Billy Bob Holland (4 books, 1997–2004); Weldon Holland (2 books, 2014–2016).