Hap and Leonard books in order

The Hap and Leonard series by Joe R. Lansdale in reading order — 30 crime fiction novels and novellas following Hap Collins and Leonard Pine through East Texas, starting with Savage Season (1990).

Reading order

# Title Published Author Buy on Amazon
1 Julma aika 1990 Joe R. Lansdale N/A
2 Savage Season 1990 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
3 Mucho Mojo 1994 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
4 The Two-Bear Mambo 1995 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
5 Bad Chili 1997 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
6 Rumble Tumble 1998 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
7 Captains Outrageous 2001 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
8 Veil’s Visit 1999 Joe R. Lansdale N/A
9 Vanilla Ride 2009 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
10 Devil Red 2010 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
11 Dead Aim 2012 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
12 Hyenas 2011 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
13 Honky Tonk Samurai 2015 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
14 Coco Butternut 2017 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
15 Hap und Leonard: Die Storys 2016 Joe R. Lansdale N/A
16 Hap and Leonard 2016 Joe R. Lansdale N/A
17 Hoodoo Harry 2016 Joe R. Lansdale N/A
18 Rusty Puppy 2017 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
19 Blood and Lemonade 2017 Joe R. Lansdale N/A
20 Cold Cotton 2017 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
21 Briar Patch Boogie 2016 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
22 Jackrabbit Smile 2018 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
23 Miracles Ain’t What They Used to Be 2016 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
24 Sugar on the Bones 2024 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
25 Hatchet Girls 2025 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
26 The Elephant of Surprise 2019 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
27 Of Mice and Minestrone 2020 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
28 Born for Trouble 2022 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
29 Batman, Captured by the Engines 1991 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
30 Terror on the High Skies 1992 Joe R. Lansdale Buy

Hap and Leonard is Joe R. Lansdale’s best-known series, following two East Texas friends — Hap Collins, a white working-class laborer and former Vietnam War protester, and Leonard Pine, a gay Black Vietnam veteran — as they stumble into dangerous situations that require both their wits and their fighting skills. The series launched with Savage Season in 1990 and has grown to include twelve novels, several novellas, and short story collections.

The books are set in the fictional town of LaBorde, Texas, and mix crime fiction plotting with Lansdale’s trademark dark humor and sharp dialogue. Hap and Leonard’s friendship is the heart of the series — they argue, fight alongside each other, and share a loyalty that drives every story. The Sundance Channel adaptation, starring James Purefoy and Michael Kenneth Williams, brought the characters to a wider audience starting in 2016.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Hap and Leonard series?

There are 30 books in the Hap and Leonard series, published between 1990 and 2025.

What is the first book in the Hap and Leonard series?

The first book in the Hap and Leonard series is Julma aika, published in 1990.

Were the Hap and Leonard books adapted for TV?

Yes, the Sundance Channel adapted the series into a TV show that premiered in March 2016, starring James Purefoy as Hap and Michael Kenneth Williams as Leonard. The show ran for three seasons.

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