The Recommended Reading Order
Because James Lee Burke developed Billy Bob Holland's story chronologically over a span of seven years, the best and most natural way to read this series is in publication order. Spanning four novels, the series moves Billy Bob from his legal practice in Deaf Smith, Texas, up to the Bitterroot Valley of Montana.
- Cimarron Rose (1997) – Introduces Billy Bob Holland as he defends his estranged son against a murder charge in Texas. This book won the Edgar Award for Best Novel in 1998.
- Heartwood (1999) – Billy Bob remains in Texas, taking on a corrupt local kingpin while facing ghosts from his romantic past.
- Bitterroot (2001) – The setting shifts to the majestic valleys of Montana, where a simple vacation turns into a struggle against corporate greed and violence.
- In the Moon of Red Ponies (2004) – Continuing in Montana, Billy Bob defends a Native American activist and clashes with old enemies, wrapping up his dedicated series.
Connecting to the Broader Holland Family Saga
While Billy Bob's personal story is contained within these four books, he is actually part of a massive, multi-generational saga spanning nearly two centuries of American history. If you want to expand your reading, here is how Billy Bob connects to the rest of the Holland universe:
- The Cousins: Billy Bob is a cousin to Hackberry Holland, a border-county sheriff who stars in his own series starting with Lay Down My Sword and Shield (1971), and continuing in Rain Gods (2009) and Feast Day of Fools (2011).
- The Next Generation: The Holland family saga also follows characters like Aaron Holland Broussard, who stars in The Jealous Kind (2016), Another Kind of Eden (2021), and Every Cloak Rolled in Blood (2022).
For the ultimate experience of James Lee Burke's expansive universe, you can read the Holland family books in order of their release, though sticking to Billy Bob's four-book run first is highly recommended for a cohesive and tightly-plotted character arc.