The Recommended Reading Order
The Lawmen is a tight, sequential six-novel saga following rogue detective and expert tracker Lee Fisher. Because the series follows a linear path as Fisher and his partners hunt outlaws across a chaotic, post-Civil War American frontier, the best way to read the books is in their original publication order:
- Evil Breed (1977)
- Kansas, Bloody Kansas (1977)
- Judgment Day (1978)
- Vengeance Trail (1978)
- The Hanged Man (1979)
- One Way to Die (1980)
What to Know Before You Start
The Lawmen is unique due to its publishing history and the collaborative force behind it. Depending on where you look for these paperbacks, you will find them under two completely different names:
- The J.B. Dancer Pseudonym (UK): In the United Kingdom, the books were published under the pen name J.B. Dancer. This was a joint pseudonym used by British authors John Harvey (famous for his Charlie Resnick crime novels) and Angus Wells (a prolific fantasy and Western writer).
- The Lee Davis Willoughby Pseudonym (US): In the United States, Dell published the books under the collective house name Lee Davis Willoughby. This pseudonym was shared by dozens of ghostwriters working on the massive "Making of America" historical fiction line.
The two authors actively alternated writing duties, which gives the series a dynamic but cohesive flavor. John Harvey penned the odd-numbered books (1, 3, and 5), while Angus Wells took charge of the even-numbered entries (2, 4, and 6).
Understanding the Continuity and Characters
The series centers on Lee Fisher, a half-white tracker who was raised by a tribe of Blackfoot Indians after the death of his mother. Recruited by the St. Louis Detective Agency, Fisher is a morally gray anti-hero who frequently walks a fine line between enforcing the law and seeking brutal, personal vengeance. Armed with exceptional tracking skills and lethal gunmanship, Fisher is not your typical clean-cut sheriff.
In the opening novel, Evil Breed, Fisher is introduced hunting down the ruthless Stillwell gang. By the second book, Kansas, Bloody Kansas, he is paired with Bradford "Brad" McGarry, a seasoned ex-Pinkerton detective who becomes his primary partner, alongside recurring undercover allies like Emma Wright.
Publication Order vs. Chronological Order
Unlike some sprawling Western franchises, there are no timeline jumps, prequels, or confusing flashbacks in The Lawmen. The chronological order matches the publication order exactly. Reading the books out of order is not recommended, as character relationships develop and recurring adversaries appear across the entries.
Practical Reader Advice
While each book features a distinct main case or hunt, the overarching narrative of Lee Fisher’s career and his evolving partnership with McGarry binds the series together. It is highly recommended to start with Evil Breed to ground yourself in Fisher's origin, Native American upbringing, and unorthodox methods. The series is self-contained at six books, with no spin-offs, tie-in short stories, or film adaptations. If you enjoy the style of J.B. Dancer, you can seek out other collaborative Western lines from Harvey and Wells, such as those written under the names William S. Brady or J.D. Sandon.