Project Books in Order

Where to Start Reading The Project Series

For the best experience, readers should start The Project series with the first novel, White Jade (2011). Because the books feature ongoing character development, personal relationship milestones, and overarching political plots, reading them in order is highly recommended. Witnessing Nick Carter’s struggle with PTSD and the team's evolution is central to the series' charm.

The Project Books in Publication and Chronological Order

Alex Lukeman has written the series in a straightforward timeline. The order of publication matches the chronological events, making it easy for readers to follow along. Here is the complete list of all 24 novels in the series:

1. White Jade (2011): Former Marine Nick Carter and linguist Selena Connor team up to retrieve an ancient text linked to immortality, uncovering a conspiracy that could trigger nuclear war.
2. The Lance (2011): The team races to find the legendary Spear of Destiny before a group of fanatics uses its symbolic power to rally a neo-Nazi movement.
3. The Seventh Pillar (2012): When a fanatical organization targets religious sites in the Middle East, the Project must intervene to prevent global instability.
4. Black Harvest (2012): Elizabeth Harker's unit faces a bio-terrorist threat targeting the global food supply with a genetically engineered blight.
5. The Tesla Secret (2012): The search for Nikola Tesla's lost energy weapon plans pits the team against a ruthless cabal seeking world domination.
6. The Nostradamus File (2013): The discovery of a lost set of predictions leads the team into a web of prophecies and modern-day nuclear blackmail.
7. The Ajax Protocol (2014): A highly sophisticated cyber-espionage conspiracy threatens to dismantle the infrastructure of the United States.
8. The Eye of Shiva (2014): An ancient Indian artifact is tied to a plot involving nuclear theft and regional conflict in South Asia.
9. Black Rose (2015): Operatives uncover a shadow organization plotting to resurrect the Third Reich using modern financial networks.
10. The Solomon Scroll (2015): A hunt for a scroll hidden beneath Jerusalem's Temple Mount brings the team face-to-face with ancient secrets and modern terrorists.
11. The Russian Deception (2015): Tensions flare as the Project goes head-to-head with rogue elements inside Russian intelligence.
12. The Atlantis Stone (2016): The hunt for a mysterious substance of incredible energy output sends the team on a dangerous global chase.
13. The Cup (2016): A sacred relic becomes the target of multiple factions, threatening to ignite a holy war unless the Project stops them.
14. High Alert (2017): The team scrambles to prevent a coordinated attack designed to push nuclear-armed nations into mutual destruction.
15. Solomon's Gold (2017): Legendary gold reserves are discovered, triggering a deadly struggle among sovereign powers and mercenary groups.
16. Phoenix (2018): A rogue military contractor develops weaponized technology, forcing the Project to go outside the law to neutralize the threat.
17. The Last Option (2018): Trapped and cut off from support, Nick and Selena must rely on pure survival instincts against a vengeful enemy.
18. The Black Templar (2019): The team investigates a modern financial conspiracy rooted in the secret traditions of the Knights Templar.
19. The Sword (2019): A major turning point in the series where political pressure forces the Project to go private, rebranding as the Harker Group.
20. The Lair of Anubis (2020): Working as a private security entity, the team goes to Egypt to investigate a tomb excavation that harbors a lethal biological secret.
21. End Game (2020): An explosive showdown that brings long-running conflicts to a head and tests the loyalty of the Harker Group.
22. City of Gold (2021): The team goes to South America to find a legendary city before a violent cartel uses its treasures to fund their operations.
23. The Enemy (2022): The Harker Group faces a neuroscientist who has developed a genetically modified protein weapon that can be remotely triggered.
24. Joshua's Trumpet (2025): An ancient Egyptian sonic artifact attracts a dangerous French adversary, forcing the team into action to save a wealthy excavation donor.

The Evolution of the Team: From The Project to the Harker Group

For the first eighteen books, the team operates as a deep black, covert intelligence unit reporting directly to the President of the United States, led by Director Elizabeth Harker. This setup allows them to bypass the traditional bureaucracy of the CIA and FBI. However, starting with The Sword (2019), the unit loses government backing. Elizabeth Harker transition the team into a private consulting entity known as the Harker Group, allowing them to continue their missions as independent operators.

What to Know Before You Start

Alex Lukeman’s writing style is highly cinematic, featuring short chapters, direct dialogue, and fast-paced sequences. Drawing on his background as a former Marine, Lukeman imbues the tactical and military operations with realistic detail. The series blends modern military hardware and espionage with ancient myths, lost relics, and historical secrets, appealing to fans of James Rollins, Steve Berry, and Vince Flynn.