The Hackberry Holland Series First Editions Reference
The Hackberry Holland novels form Burke’s second major series, following a lawman whose family history stretches back to the Civil War. The series evolved from the Billy Bob Holland novels (Cimarron Rose, Heartwood, Bitterroot, In the Moon of Red Ponies) into the Hackberry Holland novels proper (Lay Down My Sword and Shield, Rain Gods, Feast Day of Fools, House of the Rising Sun), creating a multi-generational saga of the Holland family.
The Novels
The Holland novels range across Texas, Montana, and beyond, with Burke using the family’s long history to explore American violence across centuries. Rain Gods (2009) and Feast Day of Fools (2011) feature the elderly Hackberry Holland as a sheriff confronting cartel violence along the Texas-Mexico border — some of Burke’s most morally complex work.
Collecting the Holland Series
The Holland novels are generally more affordable than the Robicheaux series, as they were published during Burke’s period of maximum fame and larger printings. Signed copies are readily available for all titles. The series rewards readers and collectors with a broader perspective on Burke’s themes — the same moral seriousness and prose quality applied to different settings and historical periods.
Market Values
- Signed first editions: $30–$100 per title (most titles)
- Cimarron Rose (Edgar winner): $75–$200
- Complete signed Holland set: $400–$800