How to Read Brian Panowich's Books
Brian Panowich's novels are set in the fictional McFalls County, Georgia, building a unified country-noir universe. While each book introduces a fresh layer of local crime, characters, and family secrets, they are deeply interconnected. To get the best reading experience, you have two primary options: publication order or chronological order.
Option 1: Publication Order (Recommended)
Reading in publication order is the best way to experience Panowich's universe. This path allows you to see how the author expands the scope of McFalls County, shifting focus from the central Burroughs family to wider criminal investigations, before diving back into the county's history with the prequels.
- Bull Mountain (2015) - The debut novel that introduces the Burroughs family crime empire and Clayton Burroughs, the family's black sheep who chose a badge over the family business.
- The Broken King (2019) - A prequel novella focusing on family patriarch Gareth Burroughs and the early days of the mountain empire.
- Like Lions (2019) - The direct sequel to Bull Mountain, following the power vacuum left on the mountain and Clayton's struggle to control the fallout.
- Hard Cash Valley (2020) - A spin-off novel focusing on Dane Kirby, a former arson investigator who is dragged into a brutal double homicide with ties to McFalls County.
- Nothing But the Bones (2024) - A prequel novel focusing on Nelson 'Nails' McKenna, the Burroughs family's fearsome enforcer, and his flight from Gareth Burroughs.
Option 2: Chronological Reading Order
If you want to follow the history of McFalls County and the Burroughs family from the very beginning, follow this chronological timeline:
- The Broken King (Set before the main events of the novels)
- Nothing But the Bones (Set when Clayton Burroughs is young and Gareth is at the height of his power)
- Bull Mountain (The core story of Clayton Burroughs and the downfall of the family empire)
- Like Lions (The immediate aftermath of Bull Mountain)
- Hard Cash Valley (Set later, shifting focus to Dane Kirby)
Deep Dive into the McFalls County Novels
Panowich's work is celebrated for its lyrical yet brutal prose, complex family dynamics, and a setting that feels like a character in its own right. Here is what you need to know about each entry in the saga:
Bull Mountain (2015)
This is where the story begins. Bull Mountain has been ruled by the Burroughs family for generations, transitioning from moonshine to marijuana and finally to meth. Clayton Burroughs is the sheriff of McFalls County, having distanced himself from his family's illegal trade. When a federal agent arrives with a plan to shut down the mountain empire for good, Clayton is caught in the middle of a violent clash of loyalties.
The Broken King (2019)
This prequel novella is a quick but essential read. It offers crucial backstory on Gareth Burroughs, the tyrannical patriarch who built the modern incarnation of the family empire. It highlights the brutal environment that shaped Clayton and his brothers, explaining the deep-seated trauma that drives the events of the subsequent books.
Like Lions (2019)
Picking up after the destructive climax of the first book, Clayton Burroughs is trying to keep the peace on the mountain. With a power vacuum threatening to bring outside cartels and rival factions into McFalls County, Clayton must protect his wife, Kate, and his newborn son from the ghosts of his family's past. This book shifts focus slightly to highlight the resilience of the family's women, particularly Kate.
Hard Cash Valley (2020)
This book moves away from the Burroughs family to focus on Dane Kirby, a broken ex-arson investigator living in the shadow of a personal tragedy. Drawn into a federal investigation involving a murdered public defender and a missing bag of cash, Dane's journey takes him deep into the criminal underbelly of the region. While it stands on its own, it features familiar locales and minor character overlaps that enrich the overall series.
Nothing But the Bones (2024)
This prequel novel focuses on Nelson 'Nails' McKenna, a towering enforcer with a club hand who has worked for Gareth Burroughs since he was a teenager. When Nails kills a man to protect a young woman named Dallas, the two must go on the run. The book provides a fascinating look at the Burroughs family during their peak, showing Clayton as a young man struggling with his identity, and Gareth at his most ruthless.
Early Anthologies and Short Stories
Before achieving mainstream success with his novels, Brian Panowich contributed short stories to several indie crime anthologies. While these stories are not directly connected to the McFalls County continuity, they showcase the development of his signature country-noir style:
- C'mon and Do the Apocalypse Volume 1 (2012)
- Hey, That Robot Ate My Baby Volume 1 (2013)
- Reloaded (2013)
- Five Broken Winchesters (2013)
- Maybe I Should Just Shoot You In The Face (2014)
- Trouble in the Heartland (2014) - Features his Springsteen-inspired crime story, "Wreck on the Highway."
What to Know Before You Start
Panowich writes in a subgenre often called 'country noir' or 'grit lit,' alongside authors like Daniel Woodrell and David Joy. The stories deal with heavy themes including drug manufacturing, generational trauma, domestic violence, and systemic crime. Despite the bleak setting and high body count, the narrative is grounded by themes of redemption, sibling bonds, and the search for peace. While Hard Cash Valley can be enjoyed as a standalone, you will get much more out of the characters and setting if you read the trilogy of Bull Mountain, Like Lions, and Nothing But the Bones in order.