McFadden and Banks Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Path for McFadden and Banks

If you want to experience the story of Taylor McFadden and Niki Banks the way it was meant to be read, you shouldn't start with the first book of the McFadden and Banks series. Instead, their story actually begins in a prequel series called Cryptid Assassin. Reading the prequel first is highly recommended because it establishes how this mercenary duo met, how their unique chemistry and snarky banter developed, and why they eventually decided to form their own private security company.

The ideal reading path follows a simple two-step progression:

• Step 1: The Cryptid Assassin Series (Books 1–8): This series introduces Taylor McFadden, a survivor of the African alien infection zone known as the Zoo, who is recruited by the government to hunt down lethal monsters. Niki Banks is introduced as his high-strung FBI/DOD handler.
• Step 2: The McFadden and Banks Series (Books 1–8): Picking up directly after the events of the prequel, Taylor and Niki have transitioned from handler and operative into full partners, running their own mercenary firm to handle both alien and human threats.

McFadden and Banks Publication Order

Published rapidly between late 2020 and late 2021 under Michael Anderle's LMBPN Publishing imprint, the main McFadden and Banks series consists of eight core novels. To follow their corporate mercenary exploits, read them in this order:

1. An Assassin's Accord (2020)
2. Diplomatic Immunity (2020)
3. Hostile Negotiations (2021)
4. One Threat Too Real (2021)
5. No Time to Fear (2021)
6. One Decision Too Late (2021)
7. Cataclysmic Mistakes (2021)
8. Contained Apocalypse (2021)

The Prequel: Cryptid Assassin Publication Order

To fully grasp the character backgrounds, the origins of the alien containment wall, and the initial spark between the two protagonists, you should read the prequel series first. All eight books of Cryptid Assassin were published in 2020 in the following order:

1. Hired Killer (2020)
2. Silent Death (2020)
3. Sacrificial Weapon (2020)
4. Head Hunter (2020)
5. Mc'Mercs (2020)
6. This is B.S. (2020)
7. Learn to Live (2020)
8. Monster in Me (2020)

Understanding the Broader Zoo Universe Timeline

Both series are set inside Michael Anderle's sprawling Zoo Universe. In this sci-fi setting, an extraterrestrial virus has infected a vast region of Africa, creating a sealed-off zone known as the Zoo. The ecosystem inside is filled with mutated alien flora, fauna, and deadly monsters (cryptids) that offer the promise of immense wealth and biological immortality to those brave enough to extract them—but deliver horrific deaths to most who try.

While McFadden and Banks navigate this dangerous landscape, they are not the only ones. The Zoo Universe is home to several other parallel and concurrent series, including:

• Birth of Heavy Metal: A foundational series following Salinger Jacobs inside the Saharan sector of the Zoo.
• The BOHICA Chronicles: Centered around a tactical team of former military veterans taking on high-risk retrieval missions.
• Team Savage: Another military-oriented mercenary series operating deep within the containment zone.
• Soldiers of Fame and Fortune: A 12-book collaborative series co-authored with Michael Todd, starting with Nobody's Fool.

Chronological Order Caveats

Because these series overlap in timeline, there is a master chronological reading order maintained on the official LMBPN Catalog page. However, trying to read every single book across the entire Zoo Universe in chronological order can be overwhelming and disjointed. Fortunately, you do not need to read the other series to understand the plot of McFadden and Banks. The storyline of Taylor and Niki functions perfectly as a self-contained double-series. As long as you read Cryptid Assassin before starting McFadden and Banks, you will have all the context you need.

Meet the Characters: Brawn, Brains, and Digital Wit

The success of the series hinges on its core characters and their evolving dynamic:

• Taylor McFadden: An ex-soldier and survivor who carries a trace of the Zoo's alien infection inside him. This infection gives him enhanced capabilities but constantly threatens to turn him into the very monsters he hunts.
• Niki Banks: A former FBI and Department of Defense agent. She is sharp, tactical, and acts as the rational anchor to Taylor's chaotic, brute-force approach.
• DESK: A quirky, highly advanced AI ally that manages their digital operations, providing critical intelligence and comic relief during high-stakes missions.

What to Know Before You Start

The series is typical of Michael Anderle's signature writing style: fast-paced, action-heavy, and filled with military-style humor. Readers should expect an emphasis on firepower, high-tech gadgets, and snappy dialogue rather than slow-paced hard science fiction. The books are relatively short and designed to be read quickly, making them a great choice for fans of military sci-fi, urban fantasy-style monster hunting, and buddy-cop action dynamics.