David  Putnam

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David Putnam

Goodreads Author


Born
in The United States
Website

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Member Since
May 2011

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Best-selling author David Putnam comes from a family of law enforcement. During his career, he did it all: worked in narcotics, served on FBI-sponsored violent crimes teams, and was cross-sworn as a US Marshall, pursuing murder suspects and bank robbers in Arizona, Nevada, and California. Putnam did two tours on the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s SWAT team. He also has experience in criminal intelligence and internal affairs and has supervised corrections, patrol, and a detective bureau. In Hawaii, Putnam was a member of the real-life Hawaii Five O, serving as Special Agent for the Attorney General investigating smuggling and white-collar crimes.

Putnam lives in Southern California with his wife, Mary.

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Popular Answered Questions

David Putnam I start my day writing by rereading the last twenty pages. This helps me get back into the voice and tone and forward movement of the story. I write a…moreI start my day writing by rereading the last twenty pages. This helps me get back into the voice and tone and forward movement of the story. I write a thousand words a day no matter what. I never have writer's block per se. I do however get stuck usually in what I call the belly of the book (the four c's, conflict, complication, crisis, conclusion. The belly is the complication). Usually it is a transition or a motivation I'm stuck on. As far as your standard everyday writer's block if there is ever a question, an option in which way to proceed, I always, always choose the path with the most conflict.(less)
David Putnam Great hearing from you and this is a great question. I wrote four books in current day when Bruno was 48yrs. old. And in sequence they are: The Dispos…moreGreat hearing from you and this is a great question. I wrote four books in current day when Bruno was 48yrs. old. And in sequence they are: The Disposables, The Replacements, The Squandered, The Vanquished. Then I went back and wrote four books that are prequels and start when Bruno is 24yrs. old. That sequence is The Innocents, The Reckless, The Heartless (which comes out Feb 2020), and The Ruthless (which comes out Feb 2021).
So you can start with The Disposables if you want to go in sequence in the way I wrote all the books or you could start Chronologically with Bruno's age and start with the Innocents.
My favorite book in the series right now is The Reckless because it was the most emotional book for me to write. I'd tell you why but it would be a spoiler. In most of my books I put an Author's note to help explain what happened in real life.
Thanks again for the great question. Hope this helps. I'm happy to answer any others.
d.(less)
Average rating: 4.18 · 3,409 ratings · 1,362 reviews · 20 distinct worksSimilar authors
The Disposables (Bruno John...

3.93 avg rating — 804 ratings — published 2014 — 10 editions
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The Replacements  (Bruno Jo...

4.17 avg rating — 372 ratings — published 2014 — 4 editions
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The Innocents (Bruno Johnso...

4.18 avg rating — 254 ratings — published 2018 — 5 editions
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The Ruthless (Bruno Johnson...

4.35 avg rating — 238 ratings — published 2021 — 4 editions
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The Reckless (Bruno Johnson...

4.40 avg rating — 207 ratings — published 2019 — 5 editions
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The Heartless (Bruno Johnso...

4.30 avg rating — 211 ratings — published 2020
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The Sinister (Bruno Johnson...

4.39 avg rating — 184 ratings — published 2022 — 5 editions
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The Squandered (Bruno Johns...

4.37 avg rating — 181 ratings — published 2016 — 4 editions
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The Vanquished (Bruno Johns...

4.35 avg rating — 161 ratings — published 2017
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A Fearsome Moonlight Black

4.26 avg rating — 160 ratings3 editions
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More books by David Putnam…

A review for the new Bruno book

This is a review I found on Goodreads and it looks like it's going to be published in Suspense magazine.

The Diabolical
David Putnam
reviewed by Lou Jacobs


readersremains.com | Goodreads


Embark on a thrilling roller coaster ride through the streets and alleys of Tamarindo, Costa Rica with David Putnam’s eleventh Bruno Johnson novel. In this gripping tale, Bruno will stop at nothing to ensure justice fo Read more of this blog post »
3 likes ·   •  2 comments  •  flag
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Published on January 21, 2024 04:16
The Disposables The Replacements The Squandered The Vanquished The Innocents The Reckless The Heartless
(11 books)
by
4.19 avg rating — 2,948 ratings

A Fearsome Moonlight Black A Lonesome Blood-Red Sun
(2 books)
by
4.11 avg rating — 304 ratings

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David’s Recent Updates

David Putnam entered a giveaway
Skin and Bones by Paul Doiron
Skin and Bones: And Other Mike Bowditch Short Stories
by Paul Doiron (Goodreads Author)
20 copies available, ends on April 27, 2025 Enter to win »
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The One by John Marrs
The One
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10 copies available, ends on April 12, 2025 Enter to win »
Imogene's Grand Fiasco by David  Putnam
"Imogene Taylor is back with even more problems than in the first novel of this series. Imogene has spent the last few weeks in a cheap motel while the police search her house for evidence from the three murders that occurred there. She finds herself " Read more of this review »
The Ruthless by David  Putnam
"I did not read the previous books in the series but that did not impair my understanding of the story. Although ´The Ruthless` is a work of fiction, there are so many similarities to the real world and the news we see on TV or news sites, and unlikel" Read more of this review »
The Innocents by David  Putnam
"Before L.A. cop Bruno Johnson had to break numerous laws, become a fugitive from the U.S. government to save the lives of a dozen children, and flee to Costa Rica with his girlfriend and elderly father, he was just a young, tough, idealistic cop in t" Read more of this review »
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You Killed Me First by John Marrs
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Quotes by David Putnam  (?)
Quotes are added by the Goodreads community and are not verified by Goodreads. (Learn more)

“No one is emotionally prepared to have their child predecease them. No one should ever have to experience it.”
David Putnam, The Ruthless

Polls

What should we read for our March/April book of the month?

 
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“Never touch your idols: the gilding will stick to your fingers."

(Il ne faut pas toucher aux idoles: la dorure en reste aux mains.)
Gustave Flaubert, Madame Bovary

“I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve (or save) the world and a desire to enjoy (or savor) the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.”
E. B. White

“Never tell the truth to people who are not worthy of it.”
Mark Twain

“Don’t walk in front of me… I may not follow
Don’t walk behind me… I may not lead
Walk beside me… just be my friend”
Albert Camus

“I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living.”
Dr. Seuss

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Hi guys in this group v could discuss the books and recommend it each other 😍😍💖
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Comments (showing 1-25)    post a comment »
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message 25: by David

David Putnam Thank you. I see we have some books in common including my favorite of all time Lonesome Dove. :-)


message 24: by Luci

Luci Hi David~
Thanks for friending!


message 23: by David

David Putnam Hasan wrote: "Hey David! Thanks for the friendvite :) Looking forward to talking and learning more about awesome books with you."

Thank you. :-)


message 22: by Hasan

Hasan Hey David! Thanks for the friendvite :) Looking forward to talking and learning more about awesome books with you.


Wendy'sThoughts David, thank you for your kind words and for inviting me to join your happy friends. I wish you all the best, stay safe and healthy. :DDDD


message 20: by Annie

Annie Thanks for adding me. I love some good Bach :)


message 19: by David

David Putnam Carol wrote: "Thank you for all the nice likes you've shared with me. I really appreciate it. Hope you are having fun reading. Best wishes, Carol"

Thank you. :-)


message 18: by Carol

Carol Jones-Campbell Thank you for all the nice likes you've shared with me. I really appreciate it. Hope you are having fun reading. Best wishes, Carol


message 17: by Majenta

Majenta Hello, David! Thank you for contacting me. Congratulations on your books! Happy reading, writing, and everything else. Keep safe and well. Blessings!
Best wishes from Majenta


message 16: by Tani

Tani Thanks for answering and friend invite. Looking forward for your bookish updates. Stay safe and healthy. Happy Reading!


message 15: by David

David Putnam Would love to. How do I join?


message 14: by Sean

Sean Peters Thanks for the friend request, I hope you will join my group "A Good Thriller"

I do enjoy action/thrillers.


message 13: by David

David Putnam ;)


message 12: by Erin

Erin Thanks for the friend request.


message 11: by David

David Putnam Your welcome.
Thank you.


message 10: by Kay

Kay Hi David, I am so excited. I received your ARE of The Heartless today. I look forward to reading another of your Bruno Johnson novels. And I especially thank you for your note. Yes, I am sure I will enjoy, will spread the word to my reader friends, and you will certainly be seeing an honest review from me soon.
Blessings, Kay


message 9: by David

David Putnam Thank you.


Sandra Hi David,
Thanks for the friend-invite! :)


William Thank you for the friendship!

I look forward to reading your reviews.


Carolyn Hi David - nice to meet you! Thanks for your friend request. I can see I'll have to check out your Bruno Johnson series. We seem to have read a lot of the same books and rated them similarly so I'll be interested to see what you think of The Warehouse.


Martin Hi David,

Thank you for your Goodreads friend invitation.

Cheers,
Martin


message 4: by Mike

Mike Thanks for your friend invite the other day, David. Always nice to connect with someone who reads extensively in a variety of genres. Historical fiction offers a lot of things I look forward in a book, especially when you can feel immersed in that sense of time and place. I see I added a number of your Bruno Johnson books recently and given your extensive and varied career I'm rather excited about seeing what you had to say in that series. Looking forward to poking around in your shelves and seeing what you had to say. Happy reading & writing in the meantime.


message 3: by David

David Putnam Kris wrote: "Hey, Dave. Good to reconnect with you here.

Kris
Nice to hear from you. Hope all is well with you.

d.

Kris Neri
Revenge on Route 66"



message 2: by Kris

Kris Neri Hey, Dave. Good to reconnect with you here.

Kris

Kris Neri
Revenge on Route 66


message 1: by Simon

Simon Thanks for looking me up, David.


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