The Recommended Reading Order for the Patriots Series
The Patriots series follows a straightforward, linear chronology that aligns perfectly with its publication order. Because the narrative functions like a historical soap opera—with continuous character arcs, ongoing romantic subplots, and escalating wartime stakes—you must read the books in order to understand the family dynamics and espionage threads.
Here is the recommended reading order for the Patriots series:
- Sons of Liberty (1992)
- Rebel Guns (1992)
- The Turncoat (1992)
- Life and Liberty (1993)
- Cannon's Call (1993)
- Stars and Stripes (1994)
Publication Order vs. Chronological Order
For some long-running series, readers must choose between the order books were published and the timeline of the fictional universe. Fortunately, the Patriots series presents no such dilemma. Author James Reasoner wrote the books sequentially to mirror the timeline of the American Revolutionary War. The series begins in 1773 Boston on the eve of rebellion and progresses year-by-year, culminating around the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Reading out of order will spoil major character deaths, romantic pairings, and spy reveals, so sticking to the list above is highly recommended.
What to Know Before You Start: The BCI Legacy
To fully appreciate the Patriots series, it helps to understand how the books came to be. The series was produced by Book Creations, Inc. (BCI), a book-packaging firm famous for generating highly successful, multi-volume historical family sagas (such as the Wagons West series). BCI created the outlines and recruited prolific Western and historical fiction author James Reasoner to write the books under the house pseudonym Adam Rutledge.
As a result, Patriots has a distinct flavor that fans of 1980s and 1990s paperback series will recognize. It blends meticulous, well-researched military history with highly dramatic personal subplots—featuring kidnappings, intense romances, deep family rivalries, and sudden betrayals. Additionally, Reasoner injected a heavy dose of pulp-style espionage, featuring a complex network of colonial spies set up by Benjamin Franklin. If you enjoy historical accuracy mixed with fast-paced, soap-operatic plotting, this series is right up your alley.
Detailed Breakdown of the Patriots Books
1. Sons of Liberty (1992)
The saga begins in 1773 Boston as tensions between the American colonists and the British Crown reach a boiling point. The story introduces the Reed family, focusing on Daniel Reed, a studious Virginian bound for Harvard, and his younger, more impetuous brother Quincy Reed. When Quincy joins the secret rebellion and participates in the Boston Tea Party, both brothers are swept into the conflict. Meanwhile, Daniel falls for the fiery patriot Roxanne Darragh, and their cousin Elliot Markham finds himself caught between opposing loyalties.
2. Rebel Guns (1992)
Picking up immediately after the initial sparks of rebellion, the second volume thrusts the Reed brothers directly into the early military actions of the war. They head north to aid Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys in their historic, audacious raid to capture Fort Ticonderoga. The book highlights the transition from localized protests to organized armed conflict, balancing military action with the brothers' personal struggles.
3. The Turncoat (1992)
The third installment splits the primary characters across different fronts of the expanding war. Daniel Reed experiences the brutal reality of trench warfare firsthand during the famous Battle of Bunker Hill. Simultaneously, Quincy Reed travels west into the Ohio Valley, where he must navigate dangerous political waters and shifting tribal alliances, particularly with the Mohawk, as British agents attempt to secure native support against the rebels.
4. Life and Liberty (1993)
As the war intensifies, the personal stakes for the Reed family reach new heights. This volume focuses heavily on the espionage networks operating in the shadows of the revolution. Daniel and Quincy find themselves entangled in Benjamin Franklin's fledgling spy rings, attempting to outmaneuver British agents while dealing with romantic complications and threats close to home.
5. Cannon's Call (1993)
This book centers on one of the most famous and logistically challenging feats of the early Revolutionary War: Colonel Henry Knox's noble mission. General George Washington needs heavy artillery to break the British siege of Boston. The plot follows the heroic effort to transport massive captured cannons from Fort Ticonderoga across the snow-covered Berkshire Mountains in the dead of winter, with the Reed brothers playing key roles in protecting the expedition from saboteurs.
6. Stars and Stripes (1994)
The series finale brings the overarching storylines to a dramatic climax in 1776. The Reed family's personal conflicts merge with the historical destiny of the colonies. Roxanne Darragh finds herself in a deadly confrontation with England's top spy, while the brothers witness the political maneuvering that leads directly to the drafting and signing of the Declaration of Independence, bringing their wartime journey to a satisfying, patriotic conclusion.
The Wagons West Connection: A Shared Universe
One of the most exciting aspects of the Patriots series for fans of historical paperbacks is its connection to a much larger universe. Author James Reasoner has noted that he loved crossing over characters between his books to build a consistent, shared historical landscape. Because he also wrote the prequel novels for the famous Wagons West franchise under the house name Dana Fuller Ross, he was able to link the two universes. Characters and descendants from the Patriots series make crossover appearances in the Wagons West prequel trilogies, specifically the Frontier Trilogy (Westward!, Expedition!, and Outpost!) and the Empire Trilogy (Honor!, Vengeance!, and Justice!). Reading Patriots first provides excellent background context for these expansive Western family sagas.
Practical Reader Advice
Since the series is out of print, finding copies can be a bit of a treasure hunt. The books were originally published as mass-market paperbacks by Bantam Books, and they have not received official digital ebook releases. If you want to read them, your best bet is to check used book websites, thrift shops, and library sales. Fortunately, because Bantam printed large runs in the early 1990s, copies are relatively inexpensive on the secondary market. If you are a fan of American Revolutionary War fiction or family sagas, the effort to track down all six books is well worth it.