James Lee Burke is an American author who specializes in mysteries. Burke is best known for his Dave Robicheaux series, two of which have been adapted to film. Burke has also written seven crime novels.

James Lee Burke has been writing ever since 1965 and continues to this day. Below is a list of James Lee Burke’s work in order of when it was published:

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Publication Order of Dave Robicheaux Books

The Neon Rain (1987)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Heaven's Prisoners (1988)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Black Cherry Blues (1989)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
A Morning for Flamingos (1990)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
A Stained White Radiance (1992)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead (1993)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Dixie City Jam (1994)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Burning Angel (1995)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Cadillac Jukebox (1996)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Sunset Limited (1996)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Purple Cane Road (2000)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Jolie Blon's Bounce (2002)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Last Car to Elysian Fields (2003)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Crusader's Cross (2005)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Pegasus Descending (2006)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Tin Roof Blowdown (2007)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Swan Peak (2008)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Glass Rainbow (2010)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Creole Belle (2012)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Light of the World (2013)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Robicheaux (2018)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The New Iberia Blues (2019)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
A Private Cathedral (2020)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Clete (2024)Description / Buy at Amazon.com

Publication Order of Holland Family Universe Books

Lay Down My Sword and Shield (1971)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Two for Texas (1982)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Cimarron Rose (1997)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Heartwood (1999)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Bitterroot (2001)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
In the Moon of Red Ponies (2004)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Rain Gods (2009)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Feast Day of Fools (2011)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Wayfaring Stranger (2014)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
House of the Rising Sun (2015)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Jealous Kind (2016)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Another Kind of Eden (2021)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Every Cloak Rolled in Blood (2022)Description / Buy at Amazon.com

Publication Order of Hackberry Holland Books

Lay Down My Sword and Shield (1971)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Rain Gods (2009)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Feast Day of Fools (2011)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
House of the Rising Sun (2015)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Another Kind of Eden (2021)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Every Cloak Rolled in Blood (2022)Description / Buy at Amazon.com

Publication Order of Billy Bob Holland Books

Cimarron Rose (1997)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Heartwood (1999)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Bitterroot (2001)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
In the Moon of Red Ponies (2004)Description / Buy at Amazon.com

Publication Order of Weldon Holland Books

Wayfaring Stranger (2014)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Jealous Kind (2016)Description / Buy at Amazon.com

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Half of Paradise (1965)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
To the Bright and Shining Sun (1970)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Two for Texas (1982)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Lost Get-Back Boogie (1986)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
White Doves at Morning (2002)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Flags on the Bayou (2023)Description / Buy at Amazon.com

Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas

Texas City, 1947 (1992)Description / Buy at Amazon.com

Publication Order of Short Story Collections

The Convict and the Other Stories (1985)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Jesus Out to Sea (2007)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Harbor Lights (2024)Description / Buy at Amazon.com

Publication Order of Anthologies

Louisiana Stories(1990)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Best American Mystery Stories 2006(2006)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Best American Mystery Stories 2008(2008)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Delta Blues(2009)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Best American Mystery Stories 2009(2009)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
Books to Die For(2012)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Best American Mystery Stories 2014(2014)Description / Buy at Amazon.com
The Best American Mystery Stories 2018(2018)Description / Buy at Amazon.com

If You Like James Lee Burke Books, You’ll Love…

James Lee Burke Synopsis: In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead is the sixth novel in the Dave Robicheaux mystery series, where Dave is having a series of visions involving Confederate soldiers under General John Bell Hood. A severely mutilated body belonging to a young woman is found in a ditch of New Iberia, Louisiana and then busts a movie star for drunk driving. The movie star (Elrod Sykes) tells Robicheaux about a skeleton they found while filming a movie back in 1957 – exactly where Robicheaux had witnessed a black man being murdered by two white men. Now, a guilt-ridden Robicheaux must identify the victim while at the same time, more young women are being killed. In The Electric Mist with Confederate Dead was adapted to film (dropping the “with Confederate Dead” part of the title) in 2009. The film was a co-production between France and the United States. The film starred Tommy Lee Jones as Robicheaux and John Goodman.

James Lee Burke Reader Reviews:

Submitted by Mariana D.

After reading Purple Cane Road, I’m hooked! This is one of the most elegantly written crime novels I’ve ever read. He has introduced me to the Louisiana that is cloaked in mystique and a false enchantment that hides generations of hidden sins. I can’t put down the Dave Robicheaux books. A Big thanks to James Lee Burke for writing this truly satisfying, thoroughly engrossing page turner.

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Order of Books » Authors » Order of James Lee Burke Books

9 Responses to “Order of James Lee Burke Books”

  1. james: 4 years ago

    I guess I am very blessed to have read every word that Mr. Burke has written and also his daughter Alafair. When I check about once a month to see if he has written anything new. I feel like I know all of his characters

    Reply

  2. a donselman: 5 years ago

    I could only dream of writing like Mr. Burke; you can see and smell everything he describes.

    Reply

  3. pierre: 6 years ago

    I now own all of the books in this series very pleased and looking for many years of enjoying these books .thank-you

    Reply

  4. guest: 8 years ago

    I, too, am so pleased to find this chronological list of Burkes’ books. His Robicheaux character is so humble and exciting. I can see the fireflies, smell the magnolias and taste bbq chicken and ribs. Love James Lee Burke. Keep them comin’.

    Reply

  5. Guest: 9 years ago

    It’s been a long time since I stumbled on an author whose EVERY book I intend to read. Many thanks to this site for the chronological list (and to our Public Libraries for the books that hooked me!)

    Reply

  6. MichaelKirkby: 9 years ago

    I can smell they bayou every time I read a Dave Robichaud novel. A big thanks James Lee. Not so fond of those hard dirt, dusty hot Texas border towns though.

    Reply

  7. Guest: 9 years ago

    Amazing stuff. Stand alone or whole series of novels with the same lead characters. So descriptive, Can see,smell,feel and hear everything. Even background noises. Top Notch.

    Reply

  8. Jack Bludis: 9 years ago

    His writing is as good as writing gets.

    Reply

  9. Debtak: 12 years ago

    Some of the best descriptive writing I have ever read!

    Reply

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