David Baldacci's books in order: a complete guide

Book one in the Walter Nash series

Dive into the high-stakes world of Walter Nash, a successful, mild-mannered businessman whose life is turned upside down when the FBI reveals the company he works for is actually a criminal organisation and that they need his help to bring it down. To join this quest for justice (and revenge), he must transform himself into a man he barely recognises. But can he actually do it? 

Book two in the Walter Nash series

Walter Nash has lost everything and is out for revenge. His mission: take down Victoria Sheers, the ruthless leader of a global criminal empire. But as he gets closer to infiltrating her inner circle, Nash finds himself drawn to Steers in ways he had not planned for. And what he uncovers will change everything. 

Book one in the Travis Devine series

Travis Devine leaves the Army under a cloud of suspicion and turns instead to New York's financial district where greed, jealousy and ambition result in the financial abuse of the masses and the enrichment of an elite few. But on his daily commute on the 6:20 a.m. train, he passes a house where he sees something that sounds alarm signals. His close friend and colleague is the first victim, and as the deaths pile up and the major players show their hands, he must question who he can trust and who he must fight.

Book two in the Travis Devine series

The Edge is the hotly anticipated follow-up to David Baldacci's The 6:20 Man, featuring Travis Devine: ex-special ops, now an elite Homeland Security member. When Jennifer Silkwell, a high-ranking CIA analyst with dangerous knowledge, is found dead in Maine, Devine is drawn into a complex investigation. Her past connections and an unspoken bond between her senator father and agent Emerson Campbell deepen the case's intrigue. As Devine prods into the quiet town of Putnam, a killer lurks in the shadows, and he soon discovers that small-town silence can mask deadly secrets.

Book three in the Travis Devine series

When Dwayne and Alice Odom are killed, the police report states clearly that it was a drug overdose. So why is their daughter, Betty, claiming that’s not the truth? Entangled in a web of disbelief and danger, Betty Odom's only ally comes in the form of Travis Devine, a bodyguard on the run from a skilled predator. But when an informant is found murdered, Devine knows this job is perhaps even more dangerous than the one he’s running from . . . and the true enemy may be on his side. With Baldacci's signature blend of suspense and revelation, To Die For promises a journey fraught with risk, secrets, and the quest for justice.

Book one in the Amos Decker series

When ex-detective Amos Decker returned home eighteen months ago to find the bodies of his wife and only daughter, he didn't think he could carry on living. Overwhelmed with grief, his life spirals out of control, losing his job, his house and his self-respect. But when his former partner in the police, Mary Lancaster, visits to tell him that someone has confessed to the murder of his family, he knows he owes it to his wife and child to seek justice for them. As Decker comes to terms with the news, tragedy strikes at the local school. Thirteen teenagers are gunned down, and the killer is at large. When new evidence links the murders, Decker is left with only one option.

Book two in the Amos Decker series

Melvin Mars awaits his fate on Death Row. He was one of America's most promising football stars until, aged twenty years old, he was convicted for the murder of his parents. When Decker, newly appointed special agent with the FBI, hears the news that Melvin was saved in the final seconds before his execution because someone has confessed to the killings, he persuades his boss to allow him to carry out an investigation. As Decker goes deeper, he and his team uncover layer upon layer of lies and deception which are rooted at a time in American history which most would rather forget, but some seem keen to remember.

Book three in the Amos Decker series

Walter Dabney is a family man. A loving husband and the father of four grown daughters, he’s built a life many would be proud of. But then the unthinkable happens. Standing outside the FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C, Dabney shoots school teacher Anne Berkshire in cold blood before turning the gun on himself. One of the many witnesses is Amos Decker; a man who forgets nothing and sees what most miss. Baffled by what appears to be a seemingly senseless and random killing, Decker is thrust into the investigation to determine what drove this family man to pull the trigger.

Book four in the Amos Decker series

The mysterious events in Baronville, Pennsylvania, are raising the highly-tuned antennae of agent Amos Decker and his FBI partner, Alex Jamison. What was supposed to be a relaxing vacation turns into a murder investigation when two bodies are found in a nearby deserted house. With the body count rising, Decker and Jamison dig deep to uncover a sinister truth in Baronville. But even the duo’s skills and Amos Decker’s infallible memory may not be enough to save this town, or them, from becoming the next victims.

Book five in the Amos Decker series

Four years on from the brutal murders of his beloved wife and daughter, FBI consultant Amos Decker is finally ready to return to his hometown and tackle his grief. The last thing he was expecting was to be confronted by a man from his past, Meryl Hawkins, his first-ever homicide arrest. Recently released from a life sentence, due to a terminal illness diagnosis, Hawkins is determined to prove that he was innocent all along. Suddenly, Decker finds himself questioning the case – did he help put an innocent man behind bars? Was Hawkins truly innocent? And is the real killer still out there?

Book six in the Amos Decker series

Amos Decker and Alex Jamison are called to the remote North Dakota Badlands when the remains of a woman are discovered on the Great Plains. The woman was a teacher at a school managed by a mysterious male-run sect, and no one seems to know who she is or where she came from. As they seek information from London, the local town at the centre of the fracking industry, they find that jealousy and deep rivalries exist between its richest investors. But it is the highly classified Air Force facility nearby that may really hold the answers. 

Book seven in the Amos Decker series

Decker is in crisis following the suicide of a close friend. In this action-packed thriller he must investigate case of a federal judge who seemingly had no enemies and yet was found brutally murdered in her home. Together with the prospect of working with a new partner, Frederica White, Amos knows that this case will take all of his special skills to solve.

Book one in the Aloysius Archer series

Murder, secrets, revenge, and just a touch of romance combine with the twist of all twists in this noir-inspired thriller which is sure to keep you gripped until the very end. Aloysius Archer is looking to start a new, peaceful life after serving a prison sentence for a crime he didn’t commit. But Archer takes on more than he bargained for when he starts work as a debt collector for local business tycoon Hank Pittleman . . .

Book two in the Aloysius Archer series

Evoking the golden age of crime writing with its 1940s California-setting, this is the second book in Baldacci's Aloysius Archer series. It's 1949 and Aloysius Archer is on his way to start a new job as a private investigator when he meets aspiring actress, Liberty Callaghan in a casino, and together they head west. Arriving in Bay Town, Archer discovers that the appointment of a top official is in jeopardy, and when two seemingly unrelated people are murdered at a burlesque club Archer must try to find out the truth from a tight-lipped community. 

Book three in the Aloysius Archer series

1952, Los Angeles. It is New Year’s Eve and Archer is approached by Eleanor Lamb, a screenwriter who would like to hire him as she suspects someone is trying to kill her. Archer’s investigation takes him from the rich, glamorous and glitzy LA to the seedy, dark side of the city, and onward to the gambling mecca of Las Vegas; a place where cops and crooks work hand in hand. In this must-read thriller, Archer will risk everything and leave no stone unturned in order to bring justice to killers who would love nothing better than to plant him six feet under.

Book one of the Atlee Pine series

It is thirty years since FBI special agent Atlee Pine’s twin sister, Mercy, was taken from the room they shared as young children. Notorious serial killer Daniel James Tor was caught and convicted of other murders, and while there’s no proof, Atlee believes he knows what happened to Mercy. Now, assigned to the remote wilds of the western United States, Atlee is called in to investigate a case in the Grand Canyon. She knows about killers and perhaps understands them better than any profiler in the FBI, but it soon becomes clear that she will need to put her skills to the ultimate test in this investigation.

Book two of the Atlee Pine series

In A Minute to Midnight Atlee Pine continues her search for the truth as she returns to the town where her sister disappeared all those years ago. When she’s given a leave of absence after she oversteps the mark during the arrest of a dangerous criminal, it’s the perfect chance to finally find some answers. But the return to the past brings murder, long-buried secrets and lies, and a revelation so shocking that Atlee feels everything she believed slipping away.

Book three of the Atlee Pine series

The third book in the Atlee Pine series from bestselling thriller writer David Baldacci sees Atlee teaming up with her old friend, military investigator John Puller. As they work together to investigate Ito Vincenzo, the man responsible for kidnapping Atlee’s sister, they uncover the lies and deceit that strike at the very heart of democracy. And the truth of what happened to Atlee’s sister will shock her to her core.  

Book four of the Atlee Pine series

FBI agent Atlee Pine and her assistant Carol Blum come to the end of a long and painful journey, discovering what happened to Pine's twin sister Mercy, who was abducted when they were just six years old. This incident broke Pine's family apart, and untangling the strands of deception and revenge that followed is more dangerous than she could ever have anticipated.

Book one of the Will Robie series

Back in DC after successful missions in Edinburgh and Tangier, assassin Will Robie sees his latest assignment, to eliminate a US government employee, go badly wrong. What had she done, or what did she know? Robie is now a wanted man. But it seems that he's not the only one on the run. Young teenager Julie Getty is devastated by the inexplicable murder of her parents in their home, but is smart enough to believe that their killer will come after her too . . .

Book one of the John Puller series

In the first book of this series, Puller is called to a remote area in West Viginia to investigate the brutal murders of a family. Teaming up with local homicide detective Samantha Cole, it soon becomes clear that the case is part of a complex web of deceit as the body count rises, and Puller discovers that in this investigation, nothing is as it seems and nothing can be taken at face value.

Book one of the King and Maxwell series

When something distracts Secret Agent Sean King for a split second, it costs him his career and presidential candidate, Clyde Ritter, his life. But what stole his attention? And why was Ritter shot? Eight years later Michelle Maxwell is on the fast track through the ranks of the Secret Service when her career is stopped short: presidential candidate John Bruno is abducted from a funeral home while under her protection. The similarity between the two cases drives Michelle to re-open investigations into the Ritter fiasco and join forces with attractive ex-agent King.

Book one of the Shaw and Katie James series

Nicolas Creel, a super-rich arms dealer, decides that the best way to boost his business is to start a new cold war - and he won't let anything or anyone get in his way. As international tensions rise and the superpowers line up against each other, the lives of three very different people will never be the same again. As intelligence agent Shaw, academic Anna Fischer and ambitious journalist Katie James are all drawn into Creel's games, can anything stop the world from spiraling out of control?

Book two of the Shaw and Katie James series

Evan Waller is a monster. He has built a fortune from his willingness to buy and sell anything . . . and anyone. In search of new opportunities, Waller has just begun a new business venture: one that could lead to millions of deaths all over the globe. On Waller's trail is Shaw, the mysterious operative from The Whole Truth, who must prevent Waller from closing his latest deal. But Waller's depravity and ruthlessness go deeper than Shaw knows. And now, there is someone else pursuing Waller in Provence - Reggie Campion, an agent for a secret vigilante group headquartered in a musty old English estate - and she has an agenda of her own.

Oliver Stone spends most days camped opposite the White House, hoping to expose corruption wherever he finds it. But the stakes are raised when he and his friends, a group of conspiracy theorist misfits known as The Camel Club, accidentally witness the murder of an intelligence analyst. While The Camel Club is poised to expose a conspiracy that reaches into the heart of Washington's highly secretive corridors of power, agent Alex Ford finds out that his worst nightmare is about to happen. 

Full of monsters, magic, danger and mystery, Vega Jane and the Secrets of Sorcery (previously published as The Finisher) is the first title in the thrilling Vega Jane children's fantasy adventure series. Welcome to Wormwood: a place where curiosity is discouraged and no one has ever left. Until one girl, Vega Jane, discovers a map that suggests a mysterious world beyond the walls. A world with possibilities and creatures beyond her imagining. But she will be forced to fight for her freedom. And unravelling the truth may cost Vega her life.

Why read this: Every second counts in this London-set wartime drama. David Baldacci's latest standalone novel takes us to a city left unrecognisable by the Second World War. Orphan Charlie lives a day-to-day existence, waiting until he is old enough to sign up. Molly is an evacuee, just returning to the city after five years and unable to find her parents. They both find solace at a bookshop and allies in each other, and the bookshop's owner, widower Ignatius Oliver. But they all have secrets, and they are beginning to catch up with them. 

If you’re looking for: Second World War setting, the Blitz, historical thriller.

Why read this: A personal travesty of justice reveals itself to be a high level conspiracy in this tense courtroom drama. Rufus Harms has served twenty-five years for a murder he didn't commit, but a secret appeal reveals a secret shared by some of Washington's most powerful leaders. Fearing for his life, Harms seizes his one chance to escape.

If you’re looking for: Legal thriller, wrongful conviction, government cover-up, escape narrative.

Why read this: Set in Virginia in 1968, this gripping courtroom drama tackles a deeply unfair justice system. Jack Lee is a white lawyer who has never challenged the status quo until he takes on the defence of Jerome Washington, a Black man charged with killing a white couple. Desiree DuBose is a Black lawyer who has devoted her life to furthering the causes of justice and equality for everyone. Lee and DuBose could not be more dissimilar. And on their own, neither one can stop the prosecution’s deliberate march towards a guilty verdict and the electric chair. But together, the pair fight for a chance for a fair trial and true justice.

If you’re looking for: Courtroom drama, historical thriller.

Why read this: A tender and absorbing portrait of a family rebuilding itself after being torn apart by grief. When thirty-four-year-old army veteran Jack Armstrong is told he has only weeks to live, he is devastated at the thought of leaving his wife Lizzie and their three children behind. Then on Christmas Eve, while Jack prepares to say goodbye to his family, tragedy strikes again and Lizzie is killed in a car accident. The future looks bleak, but the family inherits Lizzie's beautiful oceanfront childhood home, and during one unforgettable summer Jack and the children begin to rebuild their lives.

If you’re looking for: Emotional resilience, family drama, small-town settings, tragedy and hope.

Why read this: A gripping, pacy tale of a miscarriage of justice, revenge and redemption. Mace Perry, a cop on the DC police force, lost everything when she was framed for a crime she didn’t commit. Now she’s out of prison and trying to rebuild her life, but first, she needs to find the people who set her up. When a female lawyer is found murdered, her death seems entwined with Mace’s story, and the investigation deepens.

If you’re looking for: Maverick detectives, redemption arcs, Washington DC, police procedural, conspiracies.

Why read this: Even the most hardened action thriller fans appreciate a change of pace for the festive season, and The Christmas Train delivers a cinematic, cross-country adventure. Forced to take the train from Washington to LA after a slight 'misunderstanding' at airport security, disillusioned journalist Tom Langdon has no idea that the locomotives pulling him across America will actually take him into the rugged terrain of his own heart. A journey of self-discovery and rude awakenings, mysterious goings-on and thrilling adventures, screwball escapades and holiday magic.

If you’re looking for: A festive read, entertaining characters, cosy crime.

Why read this: Baldacci explores the essence of survival as a conspiracy of violence surrounds an FBI agent, who must engage in a visceral, fast-paced hunt for the truth. Web London is the elite of the elite, a member of the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team – until a high-tech ambush wipes out his entire unit. As the sole survivor, Web must navigate a world of suspicion and trauma to find out why he's the only man left alive, and who betrayed his team. 

If you’re looking for: Tactical combat, lone survivor trope, FBI thrillers.

Why read this: This is a dramatic and enthralling tale of family unity in the face of adversity, which sees Baldacci turn from the corridors of power to the rugged mountains of Virginia. When the Cardinal family are involved in a terrible car crash, twelve-year-old Lou and seven-year-old Oz lose their father, while their mother is left in a coma. Their world seems to be falling apart, until their great-grandmother agrees to raise the boys on her mountain farm. But when their idylic home is threatened by powerful corporate interests after the discovery of natural gas on the mountain, the Cardinal family face a battle to keep the only place they know as home.

If you’re looking for: Family saga, coming-of-age story, historical fiction.

Why read this: Saving Faith is a propulsive read that pits a lone witness against the full might of a corrupt establishment. Faith Lockhart knows enough to topple some of Washington DC’s most powerful individuals, making her the target of a ruthless assassination attempt. When the hit goes sideways, leaving an FBI agent dead, Faith is forced to flee into the night with a mysterious private investigator she barely knows. 

If you’re looking for: Action-packed thriller, political corruption, unlikely alliances.

Why read this: Mickey Gibson is a former detective and single mother who specializes in tracking down the assets of the ultra-wealthy on behalf of their creditors. One day she gets a call from a colleague, asking her to visit the home of a notorious arms dealer who has cheated some of ProEye’s clients in the past. Mickey arrives at the mansion to discover the body of a man hidden in a secret room and soon discovers that nothing is at it seems. 

If you’re looking for: Forensic investigation, female protagonist, psychological games.

Why read this: This book is packed with suspense-filled roller-coaster action as a woman's decision to turn down the opportunity of a lifetime puts her life at sudden risk. When LuAnn Taylor, poverty-stricken single parent, is offered a once in a lifetime opportunity – a guaranteed $100 million lottery win – it seems like an offer that no one could refuse. But she does. Less than a day later she’s on the run, accused of a murder she didn't commit. Will she be forced to take the money after all?

If you’re looking for: Chase thriller, survival skills, global locations.

Why read this: Jason Archer, rising star at Triton Global, the world’s leading technology company, is determined to give his family the very best. But when he disappears after a plane crash that shouldn't have happened, on the way to a job interview that didn't exist, his wife Sidney is thrown into a sinister and violent plot involving the country’s most powerful individual. What really happened to Jason Archer?

If you’re looking for: Action, suspense, corporate espionage, technology thrillers, missing people, amateur sleuth.

Why read this: Adapted into a major film starring and directed by Clint Eastwood, this was the explosive debut that launched Baldacci as a master of thrilling fiction. When professional burglar Luther Whitney gets trapped on a job, he witnesses a shocking crime that shakes his faith in justice and America. As he finds himself tangled in the crosshairs of the world’s most powerful men, will be be able to unravel a political conspiracy to goes all the way to the President of the United States?

If you’re looking for: Political thriller, conspiracies, corruption, cat-and-mouse chase, 'one man against the system', moral justice, high-stakes.