The Recommended Reading Order for John Hardin
If you want to experience the full character development of Phil Bowie’s rugged protagonist, there is only one way to fly: follow the publication order. Fortunately, the chronological timeline and the publication order of the series are completely identical. The story begins with a pilot running from a dark past under a coastal alias and follows him as he relocates to the mountains to build a new life, constantly looking over his shoulder. Reading the books out of order will spoil major plot points, including character transitions and key relationship developments.
- Guns (2006)
- Diamondback (2007)
- KLLRS (2008)
- Deathsman (2015)
The John Hardin Books in Detail
Guns (2006)
The series kicks off with Guns, introducing readers to the protagonist under the alias of Sam Bass. Sam is a tall, lanky charter pilot who has carved out a peaceful, quiet life on the remote shores of Ocracoke Island, North Carolina. He lives with Valerie, a Cherokee widow, and her young son, indulging his love for old Western movies, wearing cowboy boots, and driving a beat-up Jeep Wrangler. However, Sam's peaceful existence is a carefully constructed lie. He is a former associate of arms dealers who turned government informant and entered the Witness Security Program (WITSEC) to escape retribution.
His quiet life is shattered when he performs a heroic rescue of a couple stranded in a violent storm. The rescue makes local headlines, and the resulting media exposure alerts his former criminal associates to his location. A hit team is dispatched to eliminate him, leading to a violent clash that claims Valerie's life. Devastated and fueled by a desire for vengeance, Sam must shed his identity once again. He takes the name John Hardin and embarks on a dark quest for retribution, setting the stage for the rest of the series.
Diamondback (2007)
In the second novel, Diamondback, the action shifts to the misty peaks of the Great Smoky Mountains. Now living under the name John Hardin, the protagonist is trying to establish a new life. He has formed a connection with Kitty Birdsong, a strong and fiercely independent Cherokee woman who shares his adventurous spirit. The plot begins when Moses Kyle, a solitary prospector, discovers a lost Cherokee gold mine dating back to the 1838 Trail of Tears—and then suddenly vanishes without a trace.
John and Kitty set off into the rugged mountain wilderness to search for the missing prospector. Their search quickly becomes a race for survival as they are pursued by two dangerous groups: a murderous local family clan and a cult of religious fanatics led by a snake-handling preacher. Bowie masterfully weaves authentic Cherokee history and mountain lore into this fast-paced thriller, establishing John and Kitty as a formidable team.
KLLRS (2008)
The third entry, KLLRS (originally published in 2008, with later reprints in 2011), forces John Hardin to confront the reality that he can never truly run from his past. A mysterious and desperate man approaches John, demanding his services as a pilot to help rescue his younger brother, who has been captured by a notorious motorcycle gang. To ensure John's cooperation, the man uses blackmail, threatening to reveal John's true identity and WITSEC history to the dangerous criminals hunting him.
Faced with no choice, John and Kitty are drawn into a web of crime and betrayal. They must outsmart both the blackmailers and the violent motorcycle gang while trying to keep John's past hidden. The novel focuses heavily on the theme of loyalty and the psychological toll of living under a false identity, showcasing John's resourcefulness under extreme pressure.
Deathsman (2015)
After a seven-year publishing hiatus, the series returned in 2015 with Deathsman. John Hardin is now operating a small aerial photography business out of Asheville, North Carolina, and living with Kitty in a restored log cabin. Their quiet routine is disrupted when their biker friend, Brandon Doyle, crosses paths with a powerful drug kingpin involved in the illegal synthetic drug trade.
To save their friend, John and Kitty enter the fray, drawing the attention of the kingpin's legendary, cold-blooded hitman—referred to as the "Deathsman" after historical executioners. Featuring high-speed chases, including Kitty riding her signature lipstick-red motorcycle, and tense aviation sequences, the novel is a high-stakes thriller that tests the couple's survival instincts to their absolute limits.
Themes and Practical Reader Advice
Aviation, Settings, and Authenticity
One of the standout features of the John Hardin series is its authenticity. Author Phil Bowie is a licensed pilot, former boat captain, and a long-time resident of North Carolina. His real-life experiences deeply influence the books, from the technical descriptions of aircraft and flight maneuvers to the geography of the Outer Banks and the Great Smoky Mountains. The settings are not mere backdrops; they function as active characters in the narrative, offering both beauty and danger.
The Role of Cherokee Lore and Culture
Bowie's respect for Cherokee history and culture is central to the series' identity. Rather than using native culture as a superficial plot device, Bowie embeds Cherokee lore, traditions, and historical trauma—such as the Trail of Tears in Diamondback—directly into the plots and character motivations. The characters of Valerie in the first book and Kitty Birdsong in the subsequent novels are portrayed with depth, independence, and agency, avoiding common tropes.
Can the Books Be Read Standalone?
While the mystery and suspense plots of each novel (such as finding the lost prospector in Diamondback or rescuing the kidnapped brother in KLLRS) are resolved by the end of each book, the series is best enjoyed in order. The evolution of John's character, his journey from the grief-stricken Sam Bass to the resilient John Hardin, and the progression of his relationship with Kitty Birdsong build continuously from book to book. Starting with Guns is essential to understanding the emotional weight of John's actions in the later novels.