Elmore Leonard published 46 novels, 1 novella, 8 short story collections, 1 children's book and 3 other books, beginning with Hombre (1961). The series is Raylan Givens (4 books, starting with Pronto). The best-known is Rum Punch (1992).
Updated September 2026
Raylan Givens books in order (4)Series page
Reading order: 1 Pronto (1993) · 2 Riding the Rap (1995) · 3 Raylan (2012) · 4 Raylan Goes to Detroit (2018)
- 1.
Pronto (1993)
- 2.
Riding the Rap (1995)
- 3.
Raylan (Dec 2012)
- 4.
Raylan Goes to Detroit (2018)
Where to start with Elmore Leonard
Start here
Rum Punch
Elmore Leonard's most-read book.
Shortest way in
Pronto
One of the most-read, at about 292 pages.
Standalone novels in order
The Bounty Hunters (1953)
Escape from Five Shadows (1956)
Last Stand at Saber River (1959)
Hombre (1961)
The Big Bounce (1969)
The Moonshine War (1969)
Valdez Is Coming (1970)
52 Pick-Up (1974)
Mr. Majestyk (1974)
Swag (1976)
The Hunted (1977)
Unknown Man No. 89 (May 1977)
The Switch (1978)
City Primeval (1980)
Gold Coast (1980)
Split Images (1981)
Cat Chaser (1982)
Stick (1983)
LaBrava (Jan 1983)
Dutch Treat (1985)
Glitz (1985)
Gunsights (1985)
The Law at Randado (1985)
Bandits (1987)
Touch (1987)
Freaky Deaky (1988)
Killshot (Mar 1989)
Get Shorty (1990)
Maximum Bob (1991)
Rum Punch (1992)
Naked Came the Manatee (1996), with Dave Barry and Carl Hiaasen
Out of Sight (1996)
Cuba Libre (1998)
Be Cool (1999)
Forty Lashes Less One (2000)
Pagan Babies (2000)
Tishomingo Blues (2002)
Mr. Paradise (2004)
The Hot Kid (May 2005)
Up in Honey's Room (2007)
Road Dogs (2009)
Djibouti (2010)
Novellas in order
10 Rules of Writing (2007)
Short story collections in order
The Tonto Woman and Other Western Stories (1998)
Western Roundup #1 (1998)
When the Women Come Out to Dance (2002)
Blood Money and Other Stories (2006)
Moment of Vengeance and Other Stories (2006)
Three-Ten to Yuma and Other Stories (2006)
Trail of the Apache and Other Stories (2007)
Comfort to the Enemy and Other Carl Webster Tales (2009)
Children's books in order
A Coyote's in the House (2004)
Other books in order
Assorted Elmore Leonard (1999)
The Elmore Leonard Collection (2000)
Raylan Givens 3-Book Collection (2012)
Film and TV adaptations
- Last Stand at Saber River (1997)TV · from Last Stand at Saber River
- Hombre (1967)Film · from Hombre
- The Big Bounce (1969)Film · from The Big Bounce
- The Big Bounce (2004)Film · from The Big Bounce
- The Moonshine War (1970)Film · from The Moonshine War
- Valdez Is Coming (1971)Film · from Valdez Is Coming
- The Ambassador (1984)Film · from 52 Pick-Up
- 52 Pick-Up (1986)Film · from 52 Pick-Up
- Life of Crime (2013)Film · from The Switch
- Justified: City PrimevalTV · from City Primeval
- Cat Chaser (1989)Film · from Cat Chaser
- Stick (1985)Film · from Stick
- Touch (1997)Film · from Touch
- Freaky Deaky (2013)Film · from Freaky Deaky
- Killshot (2008)Film · from Killshot
- Get Shorty (1995)Film · from Get Shorty
- Get ShortyTV · from Get Shorty
- Jackie Brown (1997)Film · from Rum Punch
- Out of Sight (1998)Film · from Out of Sight
- Be Cool (2005)Film · from Be Cool
About Elmore Leonard
Elmore John Leonard Jr. was an American novelist, short story author and screenwriter. He was, according to British journalist Anthony Lane, "hailed as one of the best crime writers in the land". His earliest novels, published in the 1950s, were Westerns, but he went on to specialize in crime fiction and suspense thrillers, many of which have been adapted into motion pictures. Among his best-known works are Hombre, Swag, City Primeval, LaBrava, Glitz, Freaky Deaky, Get Shorty, Rum Punch, Out of Sight and Tishomingo Blues.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Elmore Leonard FAQ
- How many books has Elmore Leonard written?
- Elmore Leonard published 46 novels, 1 novella, 8 short story collections, 1 children's book and 3 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Elmore Leonard's books in?
- Read each series in its own order: start Raylan Givens with Pronto. The other books stand alone and can be read in any order.
- What is Elmore Leonard's last book?
- Raylan (2012).
- What is Elmore Leonard's most famous book?
- Rum Punch (1992) is Elmore Leonard's most widely read book.
- Are Elmore Leonard's books connected?
- 4 books belong to 1 series (Raylan Givens); the other 55 books stand alone.
- Does Elmore Leonard write under a pen name?
- Yes: Elmore Leonard has also published as «Голландец».
- Which Elmore Leonard books have been adapted?
- 17 books have been adapted for film or TV, including Last Stand at Saber River (TV, 1997), Hombre (film, 1967), The Big Bounce (film, 1969) and The Moonshine War (film, 1970).
Authors like Elmore Leonard
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.