How to Read the Tubby Dubonnet Series
If you love legal thrillers with a side of Creole cooking, local New Orleans color, and self-deprecating humor, Tony Dunbar’s Tubby Dubonnet series is a must-read. The books follow Tubby, a laid-back defense attorney who would rather be fishing, eating po'boys, or sipping an Old Fashioned, but constantly gets dragged into murder investigations, political scams, and mob disputes. To get the most out of his adventures, you need to know how the books fit together.
Recommended Reading Order
For the best experience, we recommend reading the Tubby Dubonnet books in publication order. While there is a short prequel story, reading the books as they were written allows you to watch the characters and their relationships evolve naturally. Most importantly, it lets you experience the historical timeline of New Orleans, dividing the series into distinct pre-Katrina and post-Katrina eras.
- Crooked Man (1994) – The debut novel where Tubby takes on a client smuggling marijuana, only to get caught up in a chaotic million-dollar cash grab and a murder trial.
- City of Beads (1996) – Tubby investigates a casino scam amidst the colorful chaos of Mardi Gras parades.
- Trick Question (1997) – A classic courtroom drama where Tubby defends a medical lab janitor accused of a gruesome murder.
- Shelter from the Storm (1997) – Tubby seeks a quiet escape but is quickly pulled into another web of crime and corruption.
- The Crime Czar (1998) – Tubby goes head-to-head with the seedy criminal underbelly of the Crescent City.
- Lucky Man (1999) – The award-nominated sixth installment, where a simple case spirals into high-stakes danger.
- Tubby Meets Katrina (2005) – The pivotal seventh book, which captures the immediate, chaotic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
- Envision This (2012) – A short story prequel (often listed as Book 0.5) that offers a quick introductory glimpse into Tubby's world.
- Night Watchman (2015) – Tubby returns to navigate the changing post-storm landscape of New Orleans.
- Fat Man Blues (2016) – Another case of legal intrigue mixed with local music, food, and humor.
- Flag Boy (2017) – The final core novel in the series, tying up Tubby's case files with classic Crescent City style.
Publication Order vs. Chronological Order
The only variation between chronological and publication order centers on the short story Envision This. Published in 2012, this piece is set before the events of Crooked Man and is frequently categorized as Book 0.5. If you prefer to read chronologically, you can start with Envision This before diving into the main novels. However, because it is a brief introductory story, starting with the first full-length novel, Crooked Man, remains the most satisfying entry point for new readers.
The Hurricane Katrina Dividing Line
One of the most unique aspects of the Tubby Dubonnet series is how it mirrors real-world history. The series took a multi-year hiatus after 1999's Lucky Man. When the series returned with 2005's Tubby Meets Katrina, the tone shifted. The book acts as both a time capsule and a survival story, placing Tubby directly in the flooded streets and lawless environment following the storm. This dividing line splits the series into the classic, breezy pre-Katrina era (Books 1–6) and the grittier, rebuilding era (Books 7–10).
What to Know Before You Start
Author Tony Dunbar is himself a practicing New Orleans attorney and civil rights advocate. This background shines through in the authentic courtroom procedures, legal maneuvers, and systemic corruption depicted in the series. Beyond the legal details, New Orleans acts as a primary character. Readers can expect detailed descriptions of local neighborhoods, jazz bars, and especially local cuisine—from crab étouffée to oyster po'boys—making the books as much a culinary tour as they are legal thrillers. The novels can generally be read as standalones, but the recurring cast of family members, love interests, and eccentric clients makes sequential reading highly rewarding.