Where to Start with the Jack Howard Series
For readers ready to dive into the pulse-pounding world of Jack Howard, the absolute best place to start is the debut novel, Atlantis (2005). This book introduces Jack Howard, his loyal diving partner and marine engineer Costas Kazantzakis, and the International Maritime University (IMU) team. Starting here establishes the foundational dynamics of the team and sets the tone for the series' signature blend of deep-sea diving, historical mystery, and high-stakes survival.
While the novels are written as self-contained adventures that resolve their main historical mysteries, reading them out of order will spoil significant character developments. In later books, recurring characters face life-changing events, and Jack's family dynamic shifts significantly with the introduction of his daughter, Rebecca, who eventually joins the team as a brilliant young archaeologist in her own right. For the most rewarding journey, follow the publication timeline.
Jack Howard Books in Publication Order
David Gibbins has published eleven novels featuring Jack Howard. Below is the complete sequence of books in the order they were released:
- Atlantis (2005) – Jack Howard and his diving team uncover the location of the legendary lost city of Atlantis in the Aegean Sea, but their discovery attracts dangerous modern adversaries who want to exploit the ancient technology.
- Crusader Gold (2006) – The search for the lost golden Menorah of the Temple of Jerusalem leads the team from the cold waters of Scandinavia to the shores of the Americas, linking Viking history with Crusader secrets.
- The Lost Tomb (2008, also published as The Last Gospel) – The discovery of a codex written by Jesus Christ himself sparks a chase across the globe as powerful forces try to suppress the find.
- The Tiger Warrior (2009) – A mystery involving a lost Roman legion in China and a Victorian-era diary leads Jack and Costas into the depths of the ocean and the heart of the jungle.
- The Mask of Troy (2010) – Chasing the truth behind the fall of Troy and a hidden Nazi conspiracy, Jack travels from the ruins of Homer's legendary city to a subterranean research bunker.
- Atlantis God (2011, also published as The Gods of Atlantis) – The team returns to the mystery of Atlantis, tracing clues left by ancient priests and a sunken nuclear submarine containing potentially world-altering secrets.
- Pharaoh (2013) – An underwater excavation in the Nile reveals clues about a lost pharaoh and a massive treasure, sending the team on a perilous race through Egypt and Sudan.
- Pyramid (2014) – Connecting a Red Sea fossil discovery with Moses' exodus, Jack Howard must navigate the chaotic streets of Cairo and ancient underground passages to stop a modern-day threat.
- Testament (2016) – Jack is drawn into a mystery that connects the library of Alexandria, the founding of the Byzantine Empire, and the ultimate secrets of the Templars.
- Inquisition (2017) – Uncovering the truth about the Spanish Inquisition and a long-hidden map, the team travels across Europe and the Americas to prevent a historical catastrophe.
- Atlantis Legacy (2024) – Returning to his career-defining mystery, Jack Howard explores the concept of immortality and ancient myths, blending history and modern cutting-edge science.
Chronological Order and Continuity Caveats
Unlike some thriller series where chronology jumps around, the Jack Howard novels follow a linear path in modern times. The internal chronology of the series aligns perfectly with the order of publication. Each story begins months or years after the conclusion of the previous book, reflecting the time required for major archaeological expeditions to be planned, funded, and executed.
However, the series presents a unique chronological dynamic due to its extensive historical flashbacks. Nearly every novel features dual storylines: the modern-day quest led by Jack Howard and a parallel historical narrative set centuries or millennia in the past. These historical segments explain how the treasures were hidden or how the ancient mysteries began. While you follow Jack in the 21st century, you will also jump back to the Bronze Age, the Roman Empire, the Crusades, or World War II. For this reason, trying to read the books chronologically based on their historical eras is impossible, as the flashbacks are woven directly into the modern plots.
What to Know Before You Start: Authenticity and Style
What sets Jack Howard apart from typical action heroes is the background of his creator. David Gibbins holds a PhD in archaeology from Cambridge University and spent decades conducting real-world underwater excavations. This academic expertise shines through on every page. The diving procedures, archaeological tools, and marine technology used by Jack and Costas are highly authentic.
Readers should expect a slightly different pace than a standard thriller. Gibbins often pauses the action to deliver rich, detailed historical context and archaeological explanations. If you enjoy learning about ancient shipbuilding, Roman military tactics, or linguistic translations alongside your action sequences, you will love this style. It is best to approach the series as an intellectual puzzle wrapped in an adventure story.
Companion Works and Co-Authored Projects
While David Gibbins has not written any direct spin-offs starring other members of Jack Howard's team, he has explored similar historical themes in other projects that fans of the series will appreciate:
- The Total War: Rome Series – Gibbins authored two official tie-in novels for the popular strategy game franchise: Destroy Carthage (2013) and The Sword of Attila (2015). These books feature the same rigorous historical detail found in the Jack Howard series but are set entirely in antiquity.
- A History of the World in Twelve Shipwrecks (2024) – For readers who want to separate fact from fiction, Gibbins' non-fiction book explores actual historical shipwrecks, sharing the real-world science and discoveries that inspired Jack Howard's fictional dives.