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King and Maxwell Reading Order.

Quick Answer

Start King and Maxwell by David Baldacci with "Split Second", then follow the publication sequence. This order preserves the intended narrative twists and world-building progression.

A crime novel series by David Baldacci featuring two main protagonists, former Secret Service agents Sean King and Michelle Maxwell.

Reader's Guide

This series spans 6 main titles released between 2003 and 2013. For the best experience, we recommend following the Publication Order below to preserve key plot reveals.

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Official Verdict

Short Answer:
Start with "Split Second"

To experience the narrative as intended, read the main sequence in Publication Order.Ignore novellas and side stories until you finish the first 3 core novels. This resolves all timeline confusion and preserves every major twist.

Community Consensus

Low Debate

"The provided Reddit comments do not contain any discussion, recommendations, or information regarding the "King and Maxwell" reading order. The comments focus heavily on other series, particularly Discworld (recommending starting points like Mort, Guards, Guards, Witches Abroad, or Going Postal instead of The Color of Magic), The Locked Tomb (Gideon, Harrow, Nona the Ninth), and general reading lists/Bingo cards."

Key Reddit Advice

No advice regarding "King and Maxwell" can be extracted from these comments.

Why This Order Is Confusing

Many reading lists for King and Maxwell conflict because early publishers often labeled short story collections as standalone novels, or rearranged internal chronologies for marketing. This guide follows original author intent and narrative continuity to settle the debate for good.

Can I skip the short stories?

Technically yes, but we strongly advise against it for King and Maxwell. The shorter volumes often establish the core character motivations and world-building that the main saga assumes you already know.

I watched the show/movie first — where should I start?

Ignore the screen adaptations' timeline. Start with "Split Second" to see the original depth of the world. The books offer a significantly different (and usually more complete) experience than the on-screen versions.

Why do people disagree on the order?

Disagreement usually stems from the conflict between purely chronological order and publication order. Most long-term fans recommend publication order to preserve the emotional arc and mystery reveals.

Curator's Strategy

Recommended Reading Order Strategy

The authoritative way to read the "King and Maxwell" series is in Publication Order. Start with the first published book. It's the way the author intended the world to be revealed.This ensures you experience character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended.

Complete Series Reading Order

Publication Reading Order6 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

Split Second

Pub: 20035

Two Secret Service agents—one disgraced, one haunted—are forced together to investigate a series of mysterious assassinations linked to their past failures.

2

Hour Game

Pub: 2004

Plot details hidden until you finish "Split Second".

He's copying famous serial killers and the game has just begun. A woman is found murdered in the woods. It seems like a simple case but it soon escalates into a terrible nightmare. Someone is replicating the killing styles of the most infamous murderers of all time. No one knows this criminal's motives...or who will die next. Two ex-Secret Service agents, Sean King and Michelle Maxwell, have been hired to defend a man's innocence in a burglary involving an aristocratic, dysfunctional family. Then a series of secrets leads the partners right into the frantic hunt that is confounding even the FBI. Now King and Maxwell are playing the Hour Game, uncovering one horrifying revelation after another and putting their lives in danger. For the closer they get to the truth, the closer they get to the most shocking surprise of all.

3

Simple Genius

Pub: 2007

Plot details hidden until you finish "Hour Game".

Two private investigators probe mysterious deaths at a high-tech government campus, uncovering a terrifying classified secret that jeopardizes national security.

4

First Family

Pub: 2021

Plot details hidden until you finish "Simple Genius".

Following the instant #1 New York Times bestseller Simple Genius, Sean King and Michelle Maxwell return in David Baldacci's most heart-pounding thriller to date . . . FIRST FAMILYIt began with what seemed like an ordinary children's birthday party. Friends and family gathered to celebrate. There were balloons and cake, games and gifts. This party, however, was far from ordinary. It was held at Camp David, the presidential retreat. And it ended with a daring kidnapping . . . which immediately turned into a national security nightmare. Sean King and Michelle Maxwell were not looking to become involved. As former Secret Service agents turned private investigators, they had no reason to be. The FBI doesn't want them interfering. But years ago, Sean King saved the First Lady's husband, then a senator, from political disaster. Now, Sean is the one person the First Lady trusts, and she presses Sean and Michelle into the desperate search to rescue the abducted child. With Michelle still battling her own demons, and forces aligned on all sides against her and Sean, the two are pushed to the absolute limit. In the race to save an innocent victim, the line between friend and foe will become impossible to define . . . or defend.

5

The Sixth Man

Pub: 2011

Plot details hidden until you finish "First Family".

Edgar Roy – an alleged serial killer – is awaiting trial. He faces almost certain conviction. Sean King and Michelle Maxwell are called in by Roy’s attorney, Sean’s old friend and mentor Ted Bergin, to help work the case. But their investigation is derailed when Sean and Michelle find Bergin murdered. It is now up to them to ask the questions no one seems to want answered: Is Roy a killer? Who murdered Bergin? The more they dig into Roy’s past, the more they encounter obstacles, half-truths, dead-ends, false friends, and escalating threats from every direction. Their persistence puts them on a collision course with the highest levels of the government and the darkest corners of power. In a terrifying confrontation that will push Sean and Michelle to their limits, the duo may be permanently parted.

6

Plot details hidden until you finish "The Sixth Man".

"Sean King and Michelle Maxwell return in the latest blockbuster thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author David Baldacci. Watch King & Maxwell, TNT's new series based on David Baldacci's blockbuster novels, on Mondays at 10 p.m. (ET/PT) "--

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it okay to skip books in the King and Maxwell series?

We recommend ignoring novellas and short stories until you finish the core sequence. However, main sequence novels should never be skipped as they contain critical character development and plot progression.

What is the best order to read King and Maxwell?

The final answer for the best experience is to start with "Split Second" and proceed in publication order. This sequence preserves character developments and plot reveals exactly as David Baldacci intended.

Can I read King and Maxwell books in any order?

No. The main narrative is strictly sequential. Skipping volumes or reading out of order will lead to significant plot spoilers and confusion regarding character arcs.

Are there spin-offs or companion books?

Yes, the King and Maxwell universe includes several companion works. These are marked as 'Optional' in our guide and can be read at any time without disrupting the main storyline.