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Bruno Johnson Books in Order

11 Books
2014 – 2024 Published
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How to Read the Bruno Johnson Series

Former law enforcement officer David Putnam has crafted a hard-boiled crime saga following Bruno Johnson, an ex-cop and ex-con who risks everything to rescue abused children from a broken system. Because Putnam paused the main timeline after four books to write a four-part prequel arc, readers can choose between two distinct entry points.

Option 1: Publication Order (The Recommended Path)

Reading in the order the books were published is the most popular way to experience the series. This allows you to experience the organic growth of the characters and the evolution of the underlying vigilante network as the author originally conceived it. In this path, you start with Bruno at age 48 and dive into his backhistory later.

  1. The Disposables (2014)
  2. The Replacements (2014)
  3. The Squandered (2016)
  4. The Vanquished (2017)
  5. The Innocents (2018) (Prequel)
  6. The Reckless (2019) (Prequel)
  7. The Heartless (2020) (Prequel)
  8. The Ruthless (2021) (Prequel)
  9. The Sinister (2022)
  10. The Scorned (2023)
  11. The Diabolical (2024)

Option 2: Chronological Order (The Story Timeline Path)

If you prefer to follow Bruno's life story sequentially from his early career, you should read the prequels first. This timeline starts with Bruno as a 24-year-old rookie deputy in the L.A. County Sheriff's Department before transitioning into his later, vigilante years.

  1. The Innocents (2018) (Bruno at age 24)
  2. The Reckless (2019)
  3. The Heartless (2020)
  4. The Ruthless (2021)
  5. The Disposables (2014) (Bruno at age 48)
  6. The Replacements (2014)
  7. The Squandered (2016)
  8. The Vanquished (2017)
  9. The Sinister (2022)
  10. The Scorned (2023)
  11. The Diabolical (2024)

Spin-Offs and Other David Putnam Series

While David Putnam has written other crime series, they do not feature crossovers or share plotlines with the Bruno Johnson books. If you finish Bruno's story and want more of Putnam's authentic cop dialogue, check out these standalone series:

  • Dave Beckett (The Bone Detective) Series: Follows a homicide detective solving cold cases in the Mojave Desert. Books include A Fearsome Moonlight Black (2022) and A Lonesome Blood-Red Sun (2023).
  • Bad Bill Series: Features the crime thriller Fire at Will (2017).
  • Imogene Taylor Series: Follows the comedic historical adventures of Imogene Taylor, beginning with The Blind Devotion of Imogene (2024).

Frequently Asked

QWhat is the recommended starting book for the Bruno Johnson series?

Most readers recommend starting with The Disposables (2014), the first published book, to learn the core premises of Bruno's vigilante crusade. Alternatively, you can start with the prequel The Innocents (2018) to follow his life chronologically.

QWhich books are prequels in the Bruno Johnson series?

The prequels are The Innocents, The Reckless, The Heartless, and The Ruthless. They cover Bruno's early career as a young deputy decades before the events of the first book.

QCan the Bruno Johnson novels be read as standalones?

Yes. Author David Putnam has stated that the books are crafted to work as standalone thrillers. However, reading them in sequence helps track the long-term relationships and character arcs.

QHow many books are in the Bruno Johnson series?

As of 2024, there are 11 books in the Bruno Johnson series, ending with the release of The Diabolical.

QDo David Putnam's other series cross over with Bruno Johnson?

No. The Dave Beckett cold-case mystery novels and the Bad Bill series are set in separate universes and do not feature crossovers with Bruno Johnson.

QWhere does the Bruno Johnson series take place?

The novels are primarily split between the gritty streetscapes of Los Angeles, California, and the tropical hideouts of Costa Rica, where Bruno shelters rescued children.