Dave Lloyd Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Dave Lloyd’s Novels

For readers looking to dive into the authentic, gritty world of nineteenth-century Montana and the Old West, Dave Lloyd offers some of the most historically detailed fiction in the genre. Because his work is divided into distinct, self-contained series, you have a few excellent options for where to begin your journey. The best starting point depends on what aspect of frontier history you want to explore first.

Option 1: The Ben Hite Series (Recommended). If you love character-driven stories with high stakes, start with Sharpshooter. This series follows a Civil War veteran and former sniper who brings his lethal skills to the Montana goldfields. It is the perfect introduction to Lloyd's blend of action, historical detail, and emotional depth as Hite navigates outlaws, harsh winters, and the responsibility of protecting orphans on the frontier.

Option 2: The Montana Saga. If you prefer epic family dramas that span generations and track the broad developmental history of the West, begin with The Rebels. This series tracks its characters from the battlefields of the Civil War all the way through a century of Montana gold rushes and cattle ranching.

Option 3: The Riverboat Books. If you are fascinated by the trade and transport networks that opened up the frontier, start with the prequel War Cry or the first volume Fort Sarpy. This sequence focuses on the perilous steamboat trade and fur trapping along the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers.

Important: The Dave Lloyd Author Conflation

Before diving into the books, it is crucial to clear up a common point of confusion found across many online bookstores and cataloging sites. There are actually two distinct authors named Dave (or David) Lloyd whose bibliographies are frequently merged:

• Dave Lloyd (The Western Author): A fourth-generation Montanan, former working cowboy, assistant ranch manager, teacher, principal, and school superintendent. He is the author of all the Western historical novels discussed in this guide, including the Ben Hite series, the Montana Saga, the Riverboat Books, the Buffalo series, and The Pistol. His official website is lloydsbooks.com.
• David Lloyd (The Poet and Academic): A Welsh-American writer, Professor of English, and Director of the Creative Writing Program at Le Moyne College. He is the author of the young adult collection Boys: Stories and a Novella, and poetry collections such as Warriors and The Gospel According to Frank.

This reading guide focuses strictly on the Western and historical fiction catalog of Dave Lloyd the Montana novelist, sorting out his interconnected series and publication timelines.

The Ben Hite Series

The Ben Hite series is a classic Western adventure centering on a Civil War sharpshooter who heads west to carve out a life in the Montana Territory. Throughout the series, Ben faces the harsh realities of the frontier, from brutal winter survival to violent outlaws, while trying to maintain his humanity. The books should be read in their chronological and publication order for the best character progression.

Ben Hite Books in Recommended Order:

1. Sharpshooter (2014) – We meet Ben Hite as he leaves the Civil War behind to seek his fortune in the goldfields, only to find himself protecting orphaned children from ruthless outlaws.
2. The Hunters (2014) – Ben's saga continues as he travels through growing frontier hubs like Salt Lake City, facing new threats and expanding his frontier horizons.
3. Legacy (2015) – The stakes grow personal as Ben must secure his future and protect those he loves against lingering shadows of the past.
4. Outlaw (2017) – Ben's path crosses with rising tensions and conflicts on the frontier. Note: Some library catalogs group Outlaw as part of the Buffalo series due to overlapping character details, but local records place it as the concluding chapter of the Ben Hite sequence.

The Montana Saga

Dave Lloyd's Montana Saga is a sweeping, multi-part epic that follows two main characters, Frank and Matthew. The narrative begins during the American Civil War in the 1860s and follows them through the gold rushes and ranching booms of Montana, ultimately tracking a hundred years of regional history. The series is best read in order of publication.

Montana Saga Books in Recommended Order:

1. The Rebels (2013) – The saga opens on the battlefields of the Civil War, establishing the bond and conflicts between Frank and Matthew before they head west.
2. Pardners (2013) – The characters navigate the goldfields of the Montana Territory, learning what it takes to survive and build a life in a lawless land.
3. T. S. Grounds (2013) – The transition from mining to early ranching begins, introducing new territorial conflicts and the establishment of local order.
4. Home Ranch (2013) – The saga concludes by exploring the permanent settlement and cattle ranching empires that shaped modern Montana.

The Riverboat Books

This series moves away from the goldfields to focus on the busy, dangerous waterways of the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers during the nineteenth-century fur trade era. The books follow characters like Caleb Shaw, James Palmer, and the American Fur Company's attempts to establish trading posts in hostile territories. Readers can choose between reading in publication order or chronological order.

Chronological Reading Order:

1. War Cry (2017) – A prequel novel following James Hamilton (who later becomes James Palmer), a cashiered British officer who flees to the American wilderness to reinvent himself as a fur trader.
2. Fort Sarpy (2014) – The narrative moves to 1850 as the American Fur Company attempts to establish a dangerous trading post in Crow Indian territory along the Yellowstone River.
3. Upriver (2014) – Caleb Shaw transitions from the mountains to work on the steamboats transporting cargo and livestock along the Missouri River.
4. The Captains (2014) – The final installment brings the riverboat adventures to a dramatic close as the era of early steam transport evolves.

Publication Reading Order:

• Fort Sarpy (2014)
• Upriver (2014)
• The Captains (2014)
• War Cry (Prequel - 2017)

The Buffalo Books & Standalone Works

Beyond his three main series, Dave Lloyd has written standalone historical fiction and short stories that capture different corners of American history.

The Buffalo Books

While often listed as a standalone series, the primary entry in the local database is Buffalo Ranch (2019). In this story, characters Bill and Limpy Jim use their wealth to buy a ranch and raise buffalo, while Wells Fargo agent Lynn Sloan tracks down elusive outlaws. Some bibliographies include the novel Outlaw and Winchester '76 in this sequence, tracing the early adventures of Bill McCarthy and Boots Axelbee.

Standalone Novels and Collections

• The Pistol (2015) – A standalone military historical novel focusing on Sergeant Print Davis, an MP who becomes a devotee of the Colt 1911 semi-automatic pistol during its selection trials. The story spans his service from tracking Pancho Villa in Mexico through World War I.
• Tales (2016) – A collection of short Western fiction and historical vignettes detailing life on the frontier.