Burke was born in Houston, Texas, but spent most of his childhood on the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast. He attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and University of Missouri, receiving a BA and MA from the latter. He has worked in a wide variety of industries over the years, including oil, journalism and social care. He taught for the creative writing program at Wichita State University during the '80s, shortly before resettling in Montana.

Burke owns homes with his wife, Pearl, in Lolo, Montana, and New Iberia, Louisiana. They have four children, including their daughter Alafair Burke, who is also a prominent crime writer. They also have four grandchildren.

Dave Robicheaux

1. The Neon Rain (1987)
2. Heaven's Prisoners (1988)
3. Black Cherry Blues (1989)
4. A Morning for Flamingos (1990)
5. A Stained White Radiance (1992)
6. In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead (1993)
7. Dixie City Jam (1994)
8. Burning Angel (1995)
9. Cadillac Jukebox (1996)
10. Sunset Limited (1998)
11. Purple Cane Road (2000)
12. Jolie Blon's Bounce (2002)
13. Last Car to Elysian Fields (2003)
14. Crusader's Cross (2005)
15. Pegasus Descending (2006)
16. The Tin Roof Blowdown (2007)
17. Swan Peak (2008)
18. The Glass Rainbow (2010)

Billy Bob Holland

1. Cimarron Rose (1997)
2. Heartwood (1999)
3. Bitterroot (2001)
4. In the Moon of Red Ponies (2004)

Miscellaneous

1. Half of Paradise (1965)
2. To The Bright and Shining Sun
3. Two for Texas (1982)
4. The Lost Get-Back Boogie (1986)
5. White Doves at Morning (2002)

Hackberry Holland

1. Lay Down My Sword and Shield (1971)

2. Rain Gods (2009)

Short Story anthologies

1. The Convict (1985)
2. Jesus Out to Sea (2007)

Burke received the 2002 Louisiana Writer Award for his enduring contribution to the "literary intellectual heritage of Louisiana." The award was presented to him by then Lt. Governor of Louisiana, Kathleen Blanco, on November 2, 2002, at a ceremony held at the innaugural Louisiana Book Festival in Baton Rouge, LA.James Lee Burke has been recognized three times by the Mystery Writers of America (MWA). The MWA awarded its Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Novel of the year in 1990 for Black Cherry Blues. In 1998 the MWA again awarded its “Edgar” for Best Novel of the year for Burke’s Cimarron Rose. Then in 2009 James Lee Burke received the MWA’s Grand Master Award.