David Putnam Books in Order

Where to Begin: The Ultimate David Putnam Reading Path

David Putnam's decades of real-world experience in law enforcement—ranging from narcotics and SWAT to serving as a U.S. Marshal—infuse his writing with a gritty, uncompromising authenticity. If you are diving into his work for the first time, your primary focus will be the long-running Bruno Johnson series. However, navigating this series is not as straightforward as reading from Book 1 to Book 11, because the series features a major timeline shift midway through.

You have two primary ways to approach the Bruno Johnson series: Publication Order (which lets you experience the series as the author wrote it, starting with Bruno as a seasoned 48-year-old before diving into his youth) or Chronological Order (which groups the later-written prequel novels first so you can watch Bruno grow from a 24-year-old rookie into the hard-boiled veteran he becomes).

Beyond Bruno, Putnam has written the Dave Beckett police procedurals, the humorous Misadventures of Imogene Taylor, and standalone crime thrillers. Below, we break down every series, subseries, and chronological transition so you can build the perfect reading checklist.

Bruno Johnson Series: Publication Order vs. Chronological Order

The Bruno Johnson books follow an ex-cop and ex-con in Los Angeles who is willing to bend and break the law to rescue abused, neglected, and discarded children. Because the author decided to write a series of prequels after the first four books, the timeline splits. Books 5 through 8 function as prequels, taking the reader back to Bruno's early days, while Book 9 jumps back to the present day to continue the story where Book 4 left off.

Option 1: Publication Order (Recommended for First-Time Readers)

Reading in publication order is highly recommended by fans. It allows you to understand the high stakes of Bruno's present-day life before traveling back in time to discover how his moral compass and street-smart instincts were forged. Note that while some databases list The Replacements as a 2015 release, it was originally published in late 2014 shortly after the debut of the series.

• The Disposables (2014) - Also published under the title Dead Run.
• The Replacements (2014) - Also published under the title Final Witness.
• The Squandered (2016) - Also published under the title Fatal Justice.
• The Vanquished (2017)
• The Innocents (2018) - Prequel 1: Introduces a 24-year-old Bruno.
• The Reckless (2019) - Prequel 2.
• The Heartless (2020) - Prequel 3.
• The Ruthless (2021) - Prequel 4.
• The Sinister (2022) - Returns to the modern-day timeline following the events of The Vanquished.
• The Scorned (2023)
• The Diabolical (2024)

Option 2: Chronological Reading Order

If you prefer a linear progression where characters age naturally and events unfold in sequence, the chronological path is the way to go. By starting with the prequels, you get Bruno's full backstory from age 24 before he enters the darker, high-stakes scenarios of the main timeline. The chronological order is structured as follows:

1. The Innocents (2018) - Bruno's early days on the force as a rookie.
2. The Reckless (2019)
3. The Heartless (2020)
4. The Ruthless (2021)
5. The Disposables (2014) - The original entry point where we meet Bruno at age 48.
6. The Replacements (2014)
7. The Squandered (2016)
8. The Vanquished (2017)
9. The Sinister (2022)
10. The Scorned (2023)
11. The Diabolical (2024)

Dave Beckett ("Bone Dick") Series

If you are looking for a break from Bruno Johnson but want to stay within Putnam’s gritty crime sandbox, the Dave Beckett series (frequently referred to as the "Bone Dick" series) is an excellent choice. These books are heavily inspired by Putnam’s own early career in law enforcement during the late 20th century. They feature a raw, autobiographical edge that police procedural enthusiasts will appreciate.

• A Fearsome Moonlight Black (2022)
• A Lonesome Blood-Red Sun (2023)

The Misadventures of Imogene Taylor Series

Showcasing his versatility, Putnam created a lighter, more comedic crime-themed series focusing on Imogene Taylor, an elderly woman in her seventies who finds herself trying to adjust to civilian life after being paroled from prison. These books offer a distinct shift in tone from his high-octane police procedurals.

• The Blind Devotion of Imogene (2024)
• Imogene's Grand Fiasco (2025)

Standalone Novels and Side Projects

Putnam has also penned standalone stories and shorter spin-offs that flesh out his literary universe. These do not require any prior reading of the Bruno Johnson books and can be picked up at any time.

• Fire at Will (2017) - The first and only entry in the Bad Bill series.
• The Bun Boy of Baker (2017) - A quirky standalone crime story.
• The Obsessions of Harvey Usher (2025) - A standalone thriller centering on an 80-year-old recluse forced to confront his dark past when an impostor claims to be his wife.

What to Know Before You Start

David Putnam's crime novels are not for the faint of heart. Bruno Johnson is a deeply flawed but fiercely moral protagonist who has spent time on both sides of the bars. He frequently works outside the law to protect children who have slipped through the cracks of the foster and judicial systems. Key recurring characters, such as Bruno's wife Marie and his cunning nemesis Robby Wicks, bring a rich continuity to the books. While each novel features a self-contained case and can technically be read as a standalone, the evolving dynamics between Bruno, Marie, and their rescued children make reading in order far more rewarding.