David Slaton Books in Order

How to Read the David Slaton Series

If you love high-stakes international espionage, highly calculated tactical action, and characters who battle both global threats and their own moral limits, Ward Larsen's David Slaton series is a must-read. Slaton is a Kidon—a legendary, elite assassin trained by Israel's Mossad. Over the course of the series, Slaton attempts to escape his bloody trade, build a quiet family life, and find redemption, only to be repeatedly pulled back into action by global crises.

While author Ward Larsen has stated that the books are designed to be enjoyed as standalone novels, reading them in sequence reveals a rich, satisfying character arc. The relationships Slaton builds, particularly with Dr. Christine Palmer, and his evolution from a rogue operative to a family man cooperating with Western intelligence agencies are best experienced in order. Readers have two primary paths to explore this thrilling universe: the Publication Order or the Chronological Order.

Recommended Reading Order: Publication Order

For the best reading experience, we recommend starting with the book that launched the series, The Perfect Assassin, and following the publication sequence. Reading in this order allows you to experience David Slaton's world exactly as the author unveiled it, preserving the mystery of his past and the natural growth of his relationships. The prequel novella, Assassin's Dawn, can be read as a flashback after you are already invested in the character, or saved for the end.

1. The Perfect Assassin (2006)
2. Assassin's Game (2014)
3. Assassin's Silence (2016)
4. Assassin's Code (2017)
5. Assassin's Run (2018)
6. Assassin's Revenge (2019)
7. Assassin's Strike (2020)
8. Assassin's Dawn (Novella, 2021)
9. Assassin's Edge (2022)
10. Assassin's Mark (2023)
11. Dark Vector (2025) — First book in the David Slaton & Tru Miller spin-off series

The Chronological Reading Order

If you prefer to follow David Slaton's life in strict chronological order, you should start with the prequel novella, which details his very first mission as a young trainee, before diving into the main novels. The chronological order is as follows:

1. Assassin's Dawn (Novella) — Set before the events of the first novel, detailing Slaton's recruitment and training.
2. The Perfect Assassin — The debut novel where Slaton is rescued by Dr. Christine Palmer.
3. Assassin's Game — Slaton attempts to live a quiet life but is pulled back for a mission in Iran.
4. Assassin's Silence — Slaton must protect his family and stop a hijacked airliner plot.
5. Assassin's Code — Slaton tracks an ISIS plot and a ghost from his past in France and Syria.
6. Assassin's Run — Slaton is framed for the assassination of a Russian oligarch.
7. Assassin's Revenge — Slaton's family is kidnapped, forcing him to track down a nuclear conspiracy.
8. Assassin's Strike — A CIA-sanctioned rescue mission inside war-torn Syria.
9. Assassin's Edge — An investigation into a downed spy plane in the Arctic and a naval clash in the Black Sea.
10. Assassin's Mark — Slaton works to stop a conspiracy following the shootdown of Marine One.
11. Dark Vector — Slaton teams up with Tru Miller for a high-tech naval chase in the South China Sea.

David Slaton Series: Book-by-Book Guide

Assassin's Dawn (2021)

Though published later in the series, this prequel novella takes readers back to the beginning of Slaton's career. Traumatized by the loss of his wife and daughter in a terrorist attack, a young Slaton is recruited out of university into Mossad's elite Kidon unit. When a mission in Luxembourg goes wrong, Slaton goes rogue to hunt down the man responsible for his family's tragedy. It provides crucial background on Slaton's skills and the psychological scars that drive him.

The Perfect Assassin (2006)

This is where it all began. Dr. Christine Palmer, sailing in the Atlantic, rescues a man clinging to a piece of wreckage. The man is David Slaton, an assassin who has just completed a high-stakes mission and was left for dead. As Christine gets drawn into his dangerous world, the two must evade intelligence agencies and assassins. This book establishes the core relationship of the series and the technical, authentic style Ward Larsen is known for.

Assassin's Game (2014)

Years after the events of the first book, Slaton is married to Christine and trying to live a peaceful, retired life. However, his past catches up to him when Mossad tracks him down. He is forced to accept a mission to eliminate an Iranian nuclear scientist. Slaton must navigate a web of betrayal, including a mole inside Mossad, while trying to ensure he can return to his family alive.

Assassin's Silence (2016)

When Slaton's family is targeted by a deadly hit squad, he has no choice but to vanish into the shadows. While evading his enemies, Slaton uncovers a plot involving a modified airliner that could have catastrophic global consequences. The novel showcases Larsen's expertise as a pilot, delivering realistic aviation details that heighten the tension.

Assassin's Code (2017)

Slaton's quiet life is disrupted again when he discovers a photo of a man set to become the head of France's counterterrorism unit. Slaton recognizes the man as a terrorist he believed he killed fifteen years ago. Slaton must travel from Tel Aviv to Paris and Syria to uncover the truth and stop an apocalyptic ISIS plot targeting Europe.

Assassin's Run (2018)

A Russian oligarch is assassinated on his yacht off the Isle of Capri, and Slaton is framed for the murder. To clear his name, Slaton must emerge from hiding and track down the real killers. His investigation reveals a global conspiracy involving advanced drone technology and Russian officials, taking him from Switzerland to the Red Sea.

Assassin's Revenge (2019)

The stakes become deeply personal when Christine and their son are kidnapped from their sailboat. The kidnappers demand that Slaton assassinate a scientist working for the International Atomic Energy Agency. Slaton must race against time in Vienna to save his family and stop a nuclear plot involving North Korea.

Assassin's Strike (2020)

Slaton is recruited by the CIA for a dangerous mission inside Syria. A Russian interpreter has fled a meeting between the Russian and Syrian presidents after witnessing a murder. Slaton must locate the interpreter before rival intelligence services do, uncovering a plot that could reshape the geopolitics of the Middle East.

Assassin's Edge (2022)

When a U.S. spy plane crashes off the Russian coast and a Navy destroyer is sunk in the Black Sea, Slaton is dispatched to investigate a remote Arctic island. He uncovers a conspiracy orchestrated by a shadowy enemy using cutting-edge military hardware to spark a war between superpowers.

Assassin's Mark (2023)

Following a brazen attack that downs Marine One in Washington, D.C., Slaton is sent on a worldwide hunt to find the conspirators. While pursuing the leaders of the Trident organization, Slaton is hunted by a deadly young assassin, leading to a high-stakes duel where only one can survive.

Dark Vector (2025)

This book marks a new chapter for David Slaton. He teams up with Tru Miller, a former CIA officer, in a spin-off series. When a highly advanced automated cargo ship is hijacked in the South China Sea, Slaton and Miller are sent to investigate, facing modern naval piracy and high-tech corporate warfare.

What to Know Before You Start

Ward Larsen’s background as a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot and airline captain shines through in his writing. The technical descriptions of aircraft, military operations, and tactical gear are highly authentic, drawing comparisons to Tom Clancy. However, the emotional core of the series is Slaton's desire to protect his family and escape the cycle of violence, which sets it apart from more standard, action-only thrillers.

While the first book, The Perfect Assassin, was optioned for a film, the books remain the definitive way to experience Slaton's journey. Starting with the first book is highly recommended, as it establishes Slaton's background and his meeting with Christine, which defines his motivations throughout the subsequent novels.