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James Reece Books in Order.

Quick Answer

Start with The Terminal List (2018), which is book 1, and read in publication order. Cry Havoc (2025) is an optional prequel.

The complete reading order for the James Reece series by Jack Carr. Below you'll find the authoritative guide on how to read the books in order, including publication dates and chronological timeline placements.

Where to start

Start with The Terminal List (2018), which is book 1, and read in publication order. Cry Havoc (2025) is an optional prequel.

  • •Cry Havoc (2025) is an optional prequel about James Reece's father, Tom Reece, a Navy SEAL attached to MACV-SOG in Vietnam in 1968. The Chronological view places it first.

Complete Series Reading Order

Publication Reading Order8 Titles

Why Publication Order?We recommend reading in Publication Order (default). This follows the author's release schedule, ensuring you experience plot twists, character growth, and world-building exactly as intended without spoilers.
Best Start Here
1

The Terminal List

Pub: 2018
2

True Believer

Pub: 2019

Plot details hidden until you finish "The Terminal List".

When a string of horrific terrorist attacks plagues the Western world during the holiday season, the broader markets fall into a tailspin. The attacks are being coordinated by a shadowy former Iraqi commando who has disappeared into Europe’s underground. The United States government has an asset who can turn the Iraqi against his masters: James Reece, the most-wanted domestic terrorist alive. After avenging the deaths of his family and team members, Reece emerges deep in the wilds of Mozambique, protected by the family of his estranged best friend and former SEAL Team member. When a series of events uncovers his whereabouts, the CIA recruits him, using a Presidential pardon for Reece and immunity for the friends who helped him in his mission of vengeance. Now a reluctant tool of the United States government, Reece travels the globe, targeting terrorist leaders, unraveling a geopolitical conspiracy that exposes a traitorous CIA officer, and uncovering a sinister assassination plot with worldwide repercussions.

3

Savage Son

Pub: 2020

Plot details hidden until you finish "True Believer".

4

The Devil's Hand

Pub: 2021

Plot details hidden until you finish "Savage Son".

"It's been twenty years since 9/11. Two decades since the United States was attacked on home soil and embarked on twenty years of war. The enemy has been patient, learning, and adapting. And the enemy is ready to strike again. A new president offers hope to a country weary of conflict. He's a young, popular, self-made visionary...but he's also a man with a secret. Halfway across the globe a regional superpower struggles with sanctions imposed by the Great Satan and her European allies, a country whose ancient religion spawned a group of ruthless assassins. Faced with internal dissent and extrajudicial targeted killings by the United States and Israel, the Supreme Leader puts a plan in motion to defeat the most powerful nation on earth."--Dust jacket flap.

5

In the Blood

Pub: 2022

Plot details hidden until you finish "The Devil's Hand".

6

Only the Dead

Pub: 2023

Plot details hidden until you finish "In the Blood".

7

Red Sky Mourning

Pub: 2024

Plot details hidden until you finish "Only the Dead".

8

Cry Havoc

Pub: 2025Optional

Plot details hidden until you finish "Red Sky Mourning".

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Frequently Asked Questions

What order should I read James Reece in?

Start with The Terminal List (2018), which is book 1, and read in publication order. Cry Havoc (2025) is an optional prequel.

How many books are in James Reece?

7 main books, published 2018–2024, plus 1 side story.

Can I read James Reece out of order?

It's best not to. The books build on each other, so reading out of order spoils earlier twists.

Which books in James Reece are prequels, novellas or side stories?

"Cry Havoc" (prequel). Each is placed in the reading order below.

Is there a chronological order for James Reece?

Yes. In story order the series begins with "Cry Havoc" rather than "The Terminal List". Switch the list below to Chronological to see the full timeline.

Has James Reece been adapted for TV or film?

Prime Video's The Terminal List (2022), starring Chris Pratt, adapts book 1. Season 2, titled True Believer after book 2, premiered on 21 October 2026.