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Bill Brooks Books in Order

Explore Bill Brooks books in order, with concise summaries, series background, and simple suggestions for where to begin with his Western fiction.

Last updated: July 14, 2026

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Bill Brooks books in publication order

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39 books

The Badmen

by Bill Brooks

1992

In a lawless West, a bank heist in Deadwood brings desperate outlaws and dangerous consequences together. The novel sets the tone for Brooks's frontier fiction, where violence and ambition leave no easy escape.

Buscadero

by Bill Brooks

1993

A gambler and killer named Johnny Montana pulls Katie Swensen into a life she never expected. Their path crosses a Texas Ranger, a ruthless tracker, and other people chasing justice, freedom, or revenge.

Longing for Home

by Bill Brooks

1994

A Western drama about people caught between the freedom of the trail and the need for somewhere to belong. Loss, love, and hard choices shape their search for a life that can finally feel like home.

Moon's Blood

by Bill Brooks

1994

Legendary gunfighter Ben Moon is tired of killing when dying Jane asks him to find the daughter she gave up years before. His search sends him back among enemies who still want him dead.

Old Times

by Bill Brooks

1995

Retired lawman Nate Love turns back to violence after his son is murdered. With old comrade Monroe Hawks beside him, Nate follows the killer into a painful reckoning with grief, friendship, and revenge.

The Last Law There Was

by Bill Brooks

1995

After an outlaw kills Ivory Cade's father, Ivory and his friend Albert Sand seek revenge. Their only hope may be Augustus Monroe, a legendary lawman whose reputation could be greater than his ability.

Deadwood

by Bill Brooks

1997

Three prostitutes are murdered in the rough town of Deadwood, and the killer remains free. The investigation unfolds among frontier legends including Doc Holliday, Wild Bill Hickok, and Calamity Jane.

Dust on the Wind

by Bill Brooks

1998

Quint McCannon reaches Cheyenne to learn that his best friend and partner has been murdered. Torn between love and revenge, he follows a mad-dog killer across the frontier with an unlikely band of companions.

Leaving Cheyenne

by Bill Brooks

1998

Quint McCannon buys a ranch hoping to leave detective work behind after his partner's murder. When a deputy marshal seeks his help locating a former lover accused of killing a judge's son, he rides again.

Pistolero

by Bill Brooks

1998

A hard-edged Western about a man shaped by the gun and the reputation that comes with it. Old enemies, dangerous choices, and the cost of survival press him toward a final confrontation.

Return to No Man's Land

by Bill Brooks

2000

Grieving the loss of his family, Quint McCannon accepts a near-suicidal mission in lawless Oklahoma Territory. To stop a killer beyond federal reach, he must cross No Man's Land and confront his own bitterness.

The Stone Garden

by Bill Brooks

2001

Twenty-seven years after Billy the Kid's supposed death, old rumors say Pat Garrett shot the wrong man. This alternate-history Western follows Billy and Manuella as the past, and Garrett, catch up with them.

Bonnie and Clyde

by Bill Brooks

2003

Bonnie Parker dreams of something bigger than her Texas life until she meets Clyde Barrow. Their devotion turns into a violent crime spree across the Southwest, with lawmen and fate closing in.

Defending Cody

by Bill Brooks

2003

Buffalo Bill Cody needs protection while leading a hunting party for prospective investors. An assassin's threat turns the expedition into a dangerous test of nerve, skill, and who can be trusted outdoors.

Pretty Boy

by Bill Brooks

2003

This fictional portrait follows Charles Arthur "Pretty Boy" Floyd from poverty toward the fast, violent life of a Depression-era outlaw. Bank robberies, family ties, and fame all pull him toward an inevitable reckoning.

Protecting Hickok

by Bill Brooks

2003

Wild Bill Hickok's name may inspire fear, but it also attracts trouble. When danger closes in, hired protection becomes essential in a frontier world where old grudges and quick guns can settle any score.

Saving Masterson

by Bill Brooks

2004

Bat Masterson finds himself at the center of a dangerous frontier assignment where reputation offers little protection. Hired defenders must sort allies from enemies before an old-style Western conflict turns deadly.

Killing Mr. Sunday

by Bill Brooks

2005

Jake Horn wants to disappear in Sweet Sorrow until gunfighter William Sunday arrives with a price on his head. Bounty hunters and killers follow, forcing Jake to stand beside a man already marked for death.

Last Stand at Sweet Sorrow

by Bill Brooks

2005

Fugitive healer Jake Horn reluctantly becomes marshal of Sweet Sorrow, a town drowning in crime. As violence rises, a bounty hunter arrives determined to claim the reward on Jake's own head.

The Big Gundown

by Bill Brooks

2005

Jake Horn knows murder when he sees it, but asking questions in Sweet Sorrow draws the wrong attention. Skilled killers close in as a lawman with a past fights to uncover the truth.

Rides a Stranger

by Bill Brooks

2006

Drifter Jim Glass reaches Coffin Flats looking for work and agrees to help its marshal. A ruthless rancher threatens to destroy the town unless his runaway wife is returned, leaving Jim to find another way.

A Bullet for Billy

by Bill Brooks

2007

Dying Texas Ranger Gus Rodgers asks Jim Glass to free his grandson from a Mexican prison. The general holding the boy wants Billy's head, and Jim must uncover the truth before a border war erupts.

Vengeance Trail

by Bill Brooks

2008

Texas Ranger Henry Dollar must escort killer Johnny Montana across Indian Territory to Judge Parker's court. Other pursuers want Montana dead, turning the journey into a deadly contest over whose justice will prevail.

The Horses

by Bill Brooks

2009

Jim Glass finds his hard-won peace destroyed when someone slaughters the horses in his corral. Tracking the culprit pulls him toward a town threatened by murderous brothers and a fresh wave of violence.

The Messenger

by Bill Brooks

2009

After his son's death breaks his family apart, rancher Royce Blood becomes a drifting, drunken man. A job guarding a stage line puts him on the trail of a killer and offers one last chance at purpose.

Blood Storm

by Bill Brooks

2012

Frontier detective John Henry Cole heads to Deadwood after three young women are murdered. Surrounded by corrupt interests and dangerous suspects, he uncovers a case that makes every lead a possible death sentence.

Frontier Justice

by Bill Brooks

2012

When Ike Kelly is murdered and his detective agency burned, John Henry Cole wants answers. His pursuit of a suspect leads through Cheyenne and beyond, where revenge, betrayal, and a deeper mystery collide.

Ride the Man Down

by Bill Brooks

2013

Fifteen years after being badly wounded in Indian Territory, John Henry Cole is summoned by Judge Parker. A gang is murdering Indian law officers and their families, and Cole must return to the place he nearly died.

Winter Kill

by Bill Brooks

2013

A devastating Cheyenne winter destroys John Henry Cole's ranch and plans for a settled life. Then a Texas Ranger asks him to find Ella Mims, Cole's former lover and a suspect in a Denver murder.

Go and Bury Your Dead

by Bill Brooks

2014

John Henry Cole leaves his quiet life to find a rancher's young wife, taken by the outlaw Lucky Jack. Traveling with the rancher's sons, Cole enters a pursuit complicated by greed, cruelty, and old wounds.

Men of Violence

by Bill Brooks

2014

John Henry Cole opens an agency with former lawmen in the outlaw-ridden Cherokee Strip. Their hunt for Sam Starr and his gang tests whether Cole's small team can bring dangerous men to justice.

The Righteous Revenge of Lucy Moon

by Bill Brooks

2015

Lucy Moon abandons her honeymoon after learning her mother has been murdered in Oklahoma's Pistol Barrel country. Determined to find the killer, she enters a violent world where even her closest ally may be guilty.

American Tragedy

by Bill Brooks

2016

Tom Dooley returns from the Civil War to a tangled affair that draws in several women from the Melton family. When Laura is murdered, Tom and Ann are arrested, and a tragic case begins.

Bill Doolin

by Bill Brooks

2016

In the fading days of the Old West, outlaw Bill Doolin and his Wild Bunch are hunted across Oklahoma Territory. U.S. Marshal Bill Tilghman closes in as Doolin fights for freedom and survival.

Stolen Horses

by Bill Brooks

2016

An aging outlaw catches John Paul stealing a horse, then joins the troubled young man on a dangerous scheme. A Texas Ranger follows close behind, convinced John Paul is running from a far worse crime.

The Girl With the Flamenco Tattoo

by Bill Brooks

2017

A dead young woman is found on the shore of a Montana lake, marked by a distinctive tattoo. Sheriff Billy Ray Blanco must solve his first real murder before the town's secrets swallow the investigation.

The Young Desperados

by Bill Brooks

2018

Young friends Albert Sand and Ivory Cade set out to bury a murdered friend, then chase an outlaw gang for a banker's reward. Their risky journey brings them face-to-face with frontier legends and danger.

Catch Me, Kill Me

by Bill Brooks

2019

Nina kills the man holding her after her boyfriend uses her in a drug deal. Boxer Bobby Lee refuses to throw a fight, and the two fugitives race across the country with killers behind them.

The Pistoleros

by Bill Brooks

2021

This Western trio follows three men who live by the gun: soldiers pulled into danger, a fading gunslinger facing a challenger, and an ex-desperado forced to confront his murderous brother.

Where to start with Bill Brooks

For frontier detective mysteries: Blood StormFrontier JusticeWinter KillRide the Man Down.
For a drifting Western hero: Rides a StrangerA Bullet for BillyThe Horses.
For troubled lawmen in Dakota Territory: The Big GundownKilling Mr. SundayLast Stand at Sweet Sorrow.
For historical outlaw fiction: The Stone GardenPretty BoyBonnie and Clyde.

Dakota Lawman books in order

Explore this series
  1. Book cover for "Killing Mr. Sunday"

    Killing Mr. Sunday

    by Bill Brooks

    2005Dakota Lawman, Book 2
  2. Book cover for "Last Stand at Sweet Sorrow"

    Last Stand at Sweet Sorrow

    by Bill Brooks

    2005Dakota Lawman, Book 1
  3. Book cover for "The Big Gundown"

    The Big Gundown

    by Bill Brooks

    2005Dakota Lawman, Book 3

Dakota Lawman books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "Last Stand at Sweet Sorrow"

    Last Stand at Sweet Sorrow

    by Bill Brooks

    2005Dakota Lawman, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "Killing Mr. Sunday"

    Killing Mr. Sunday

    by Bill Brooks

    2005Dakota Lawman, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "The Big Gundown"

    The Big Gundown

    by Bill Brooks

    2005Dakota Lawman, Book 3

Ivory and Albert books in order

Explore this series
  1. Book cover for "The Young Desperados"

    The Young Desperados

    by Bill Brooks

    2018Ivory and Albert, Book 1

Ivory and Albert books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "The Young Desperados"

    The Young Desperados

    by Bill Brooks

    2018Ivory and Albert, Book 1

John Henry Cole books in order

Explore this series
  1. Book cover for "Blood Storm"

    Blood Storm

    by Bill Brooks

    2012John Henry Cole, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "Frontier Justice"

    Frontier Justice

    by Bill Brooks

    2012John Henry Cole, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "Ride the Man Down"

    Ride the Man Down

    by Bill Brooks

    2013John Henry Cole, Book 4
  4. Book cover for "Winter Kill"

    Winter Kill

    by Bill Brooks

    2013John Henry Cole, Book 3
  5. Book cover for "Go and Bury Your Dead"

    Go and Bury Your Dead

    by Bill Brooks

    2014John Henry Cole, Book 6
  6. Book cover for "Men of Violence"

    Men of Violence

    by Bill Brooks

    2014John Henry Cole, Book 5

John Henry Cole books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "Blood Storm"

    Blood Storm

    by Bill Brooks

    2012John Henry Cole, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "Frontier Justice"

    Frontier Justice

    by Bill Brooks

    2012John Henry Cole, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "Winter Kill"

    Winter Kill

    by Bill Brooks

    2013John Henry Cole, Book 3
  4. Book cover for "Ride the Man Down"

    Ride the Man Down

    by Bill Brooks

    2013John Henry Cole, Book 4
  5. Book cover for "Men of Violence"

    Men of Violence

    by Bill Brooks

    2014John Henry Cole, Book 5
  6. Book cover for "Go and Bury Your Dead"

    Go and Bury Your Dead

    by Bill Brooks

    2014John Henry Cole, Book 6

Journey of Jim Glass books in order

Explore this series
  1. Book cover for "Rides a Stranger"

    Rides a Stranger

    by Bill Brooks

    2006Journey of Jim Glass, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "A Bullet for Billy"

    A Bullet for Billy

    by Bill Brooks

    2007Journey of Jim Glass, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "The Horses"

    The Horses

    by Bill Brooks

    2009Journey of Jim Glass, Book 3

Journey of Jim Glass books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "Rides a Stranger"

    Rides a Stranger

    by Bill Brooks

    2006Journey of Jim Glass, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "A Bullet for Billy"

    A Bullet for Billy

    by Bill Brooks

    2007Journey of Jim Glass, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "The Horses"

    The Horses

    by Bill Brooks

    2009Journey of Jim Glass, Book 3

Law For Hire books in order

Explore this series
  1. Book cover for "Defending Cody"

    Defending Cody

    by Bill Brooks

    2003Law For Hire, Book 2
  2. Book cover for "Protecting Hickok"

    Protecting Hickok

    by Bill Brooks

    2003Law For Hire, Book 1
  3. Book cover for "Saving Masterson"

    Saving Masterson

    by Bill Brooks

    2004Law For Hire, Book 3

Law For Hire books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "Protecting Hickok"

    Protecting Hickok

    by Bill Brooks

    2003Law For Hire, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "Defending Cody"

    Defending Cody

    by Bill Brooks

    2003Law For Hire, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "Saving Masterson"

    Saving Masterson

    by Bill Brooks

    2004Law For Hire, Book 3

Bill Brooks collections, short stories, and related book types

Short Story Collections

  1. Book cover for "The Pistoleros"

    The Pistoleros

    by Bill Brooks

    2021

Standalone Bill Brooks books

  1. Book cover for "The Badmen"

    The Badmen

    by Bill Brooks

    1992
  2. Book cover for "Buscadero"

    Buscadero

    by Bill Brooks

    1993
  3. Book cover for "Longing for Home"

    Longing for Home

    by Bill Brooks

    1994
  4. Book cover for "Moon's Blood"

    Moon's Blood

    by Bill Brooks

    1994
  5. Book cover for "Old Times"

    Old Times

    by Bill Brooks

    1995
  6. Book cover for "The Last Law There Was"

    The Last Law There Was

    by Bill Brooks

    1995
  7. Book cover for "Deadwood"

    Deadwood

    by Bill Brooks

    1997
  8. Book cover for "Dust on the Wind"

    Dust on the Wind

    by Bill Brooks

    1998
  9. Book cover for "Leaving Cheyenne"

    Leaving Cheyenne

    by Bill Brooks

    1998
  10. Book cover for "Pistolero"

    Pistolero

    by Bill Brooks

    1998
  11. Book cover for "Return to No Man's Land"

    Return to No Man's Land

    by Bill Brooks

    2000
  12. Book cover for "The Stone Garden"

    The Stone Garden

    by Bill Brooks

    2001
  13. Book cover for "Bonnie and Clyde"

    Bonnie and Clyde

    by Bill Brooks

    2003
  14. Book cover for "Pretty Boy"

    Pretty Boy

    by Bill Brooks

    2003
  15. Book cover for "Vengeance Trail"

    Vengeance Trail

    by Bill Brooks

    2008
  16. Book cover for "The Messenger"

    The Messenger

    by Bill Brooks

    2009
  17. Book cover for "The Righteous Revenge of Lucy Moon"

    The Righteous Revenge of Lucy Moon

    by Bill Brooks

    2015
  18. Book cover for "American Tragedy"

    American Tragedy

    by Bill Brooks

    2016
  19. Book cover for "Bill Doolin"

    Bill Doolin

    by Bill Brooks

    2016
  20. Book cover for "Stolen Horses"

    Stolen Horses

    by Bill Brooks

    2016
  21. Book cover for "The Girl With the Flamenco Tattoo"

    The Girl With the Flamenco Tattoo

    by Bill Brooks

    2017
  22. Book cover for "Catch Me, Kill Me"

    Catch Me, Kill Me

    by Bill Brooks

    2019

Author bio

Bill Brooks was born in 1943 and came to writing by a long, indirect route. He grew up in a home without books, then discovered what libraries could do. They gave him a way to travel far beyond what his family could afford, and he began writing stories when he was eight.

The West got to him early, too. Brooks has spoken about growing up with the cowboy heroes of old films and television, including Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, and Lash LaRue. The history, the tall tales, and the hard choices behind the legends stayed with him.

At seventeen, he left home and spent time moving from place to place. He worked a string of ordinary jobs, including shoe salesman, gas station attendant, and shipyard worker. Those years gave him plenty of material, and a sense that a person's life can change quickly when money, weather, luck, or one bad decision gets in the way.

Before publishing fiction, Brooks built a career in health care. He worked as a respiratory therapist and later managed cardiopulmonary departments for sixteen years. Writing remained part of his life, but becoming a novelist still felt like a distant possibility.

Then he published his first novel at fifty. The Badmen arrived in 1992, beginning a career centered largely on Western and historical fiction. His books often bring together lawmen, outlaws, drifters, gamblers, and people trying to make a decent life in places where the law is thin and violence is never far away.

Brooks also likes to take well-known names off their pedestal and put them back into the mess of daily life. The Stone Garden imagines another possible fate for Billy the Kid, while Pretty Boy and Bonnie and Clyde turn to Depression-era criminals. His interest is usually in the people beneath the legend, their loyalties, fears, mistakes, and hopes.

For readers who prefer a continuing hero, the John Henry Cole novels follow a frontier detective and former lawman through murder cases, corrupt towns, and dangerous territory. The Jim Glass books take a more wandering route, following a tough but thoughtful Western man pulled into trouble wherever he lands. Brooks's stories tend to mix mystery, pursuit, revenge, and a strong sense of place.

Teaching has been another important part of his working life. Brooks has led novel-writing and fiction workshops at conferences and writing programs around the country, and he has also published short fiction and poetry. He has lived in several places, including Sedona, Arizona, and northeast Indiana.

His path was not a tidy one. That seems to be part of the point.

Brooks writes about people who keep going when the easy road has disappeared, whether they are holding a badge, running from one, or simply trying to get home.

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