John Harding Books in Order

How to Read the John Harding Series

Bernard Lee DeLeo’s John Harding series is a high-octane journey into the world of black-ops intelligence, vigilante justice, and heavy artillery. The series follows John Harding, an ex-Marine cage fighter turned CIA operative, and his lethal team—the "Monster Squad"—as they hunt terrorists, drug cartels, Russian mobsters, and international traffickers. Because the characters evolve and the team roster grows, the recommended way to read the series is in publication order, which also matches the chronological sequence of events.

John Harding Books in Publication Order

Starting with Harding’s introduction as a cage fighter, the narrative flows continuously across 18 core novels. Here is the complete list of John Harding books in order:

1. Hard Case (2012) - John Harding is recruited to protect a young girl from Russian mobsters, establishing the core team.
2. The Lure of Hell (2013) - The team targets the Zeta cartel and introduces key allies Clint Dostiene and Lynn Montoya.
3. Voyage of the Damned (2013) - The squad goes head-to-head with international human traffickers.
4. A Violent Life (2014) - Focuses on domestic threats and expanding the team’s global operations.
5. Blood and Fear (2015) - A high-stakes hunt that tests the team's limits.
6. The Killer Inside (2015) - Harding trains for a UFC fight while dealing with nuclear threats and Russian mobsters.
7. Red Waves (2016) - The first official Harding and McCarty crossover event.
8. Kingdom of Hell (2016) - The third installment of the Harding and McCarty crossover event.
9. Isle of Darkness (2017) - The team faces isolation on a deadly covert mission.
10. No Mercy (2018) - The Monster Squad takes on entrenched criminal networks.
11. Killing Field (2018) - High-threat tactical operations in hostile territory.
12. Climate of Chaos (2019) - Political intrigue meets raw vigilante action.
13. Raging Fury (2019) - The team fights back against personal threats.
14. Cold Harbor (2019) - A cold-weather mission involving military-grade operations.
15. Hard Choices (2020) - Harding navigates moral grey areas on a rescue mission.
16. Live by the Feud (2021) - Explores blood feuds and long-standing vendettas.
17. Political Genocide (2021) - The squad targets corrupt political actors.
18. Homefront Nightmare (2022) - The final novel in the series, bringing the threat to American soil.

Understanding the Harding and McCarty Crossover Universe

One of the unique features of Bernard Lee DeLeo’s bibliography is his crossover events. He frequently crosses the path of John Harding and his "Monster Squad" with Nick McCarty, the protagonist of DeLeo’s Cold Blooded Assassin series. These crossovers are major plot events rather than minor cameos, and they are woven directly into the main numbering of both series.

For readers who want to experience the complete crossover storyline, the books should be read in this sequence:

• Red Waves (Harding & McCarty Crossover Event #1 / John Harding #7)
• Red Horizon (Harding & McCarty Crossover Event #2 / Nick McCarty #6) - Note: This is primarily a Nick McCarty book, but highly recommended for Harding fans to bridge the gap.
• Kingdom of Hell (Harding & McCarty Crossover Event #3 / John Harding #8)
• Hell on Earth (Harding & McCarty Crossover Event #4) - Note: Another crossover entry that connects the storylines.

What to Know Before You Start

Bernard Lee DeLeo’s writing style is heavily inspired by classic pulp fiction and action cinema. The books feature explicit violence, dark humor, and a very high body count. If you enjoy authors like Lee Child (Jack Reacher) or Vince Flynn (Mitch Rapp) but prefer a squad-focused narrative with a more unapologetic, vigilante edge, the John Harding series will be right up your alley.

While each book resolves its main tactical conflict, the interpersonal relationships, romantic arcs, and the backstories of the Monster Squad (particularly Lynn Montoya) develop over time. Skipping books can lead to confusion regarding why certain characters are working together or how they obtained their resources.

Practical Reader Advice

If you are looking to dip your toes in, Hard Case is the absolute best starting point and should not be skipped. The early books lay the groundwork for how Harding transitions from a troubled past into the leader of an elite unit. While some books can function as standalones due to the self-contained nature of the central missions, you will miss out on the character growth and inside jokes that make the Monster Squad so engaging to fans.