How to Read the Thomas Caine Series: The Recommended Order
For the best reading experience, it is highly recommended to read the primary Thomas Caine novels in their publication order. While there are several prequel novellas and short stories that dive into Caine's backstories, starting with the first full-length novel, Tokyo Black, allows you to discover Caine's character, his betrayal, and the mystery of the 'Company' the way the author intended. Once you are hooked, you can pepper in the novellas or read them as a standalone block to uncover his history.
Thomas Caine Main Novels in Publication Order
The core of the series is a collection of full-length international espionage thrillers that take Thomas Caine across neon-lit cities, frozen tundras, and war-torn landscapes. Here is the order of the main novels:
- Tokyo Black (2016) - The book that started it all. Living off the grid in Pattaya, Thailand, former CIA assassin Thomas Caine is forced by the agency into a deadly hunt for a missing girl in Tokyo, leading him straight into a Yakuza-linked terror plot.
- Red Phoenix (2017) - Caine is sent to the heart of China to hunt down a dangerous traitor, only to find himself caught in a conspiracy that threatens to spark a global war.
- Fire and Forget (2017) - Taking the action to South Sudan, Caine must protect a doctor who holds a lethal biological weapon, while fighting off ruthless warlords and mercenaries.
- Code Green (2022) - Caine finds himself in a desperate race against time to stop an eco-terrorist plot that could devastate the global food supply.
- Hell and Ice (2025) - Hiding out in Thailand, Caine is pulled into a brutal mission that takes him to the freezing Siberian wilderness to face a deadly squad of Russian mercenaries.
- White Tiger (2025) - Caine returns to Japan to settle an old score, coming face-to-face with a ruthless Yakuza boss and a conspiracy involving a viral outbreak.
- Hunting Ground (2026) - Trying to leave his violent past behind, Caine is forced back into action after a brutal assault strikes too close to home.
- Gold Dragon (Scheduled for November 2026) - The upcoming eighth installment that promises to test Caine's survival instincts to their absolute limit.
The "Caine: Rapid Fire" Novellas and Side Stories
Alongside the main novels, Andrew Warren writes the Caine: Rapid Fire series. These are shorter, fast-paced novellas that fill in the gaps of Caine's past as a CIA paramilitary officer before he was burned, or follow him on quick-strike side missions. They include:
- Devil's Due (2017) - A prequel novella that introduces Caine's ruthless efficiency during his active CIA days.
- Cold Kill (2018) - A short, high-velocity mission showing Caine operating in the shadows of Eastern Europe.
- Sandfire (2018) - Co-authored with Aiden L. Bailey, this thriller flashes back to Caine tracking down a rogue agent in the Middle East.
- Depth Charge (2019/2020) - A rapid-fire tale that pits Caine against threats in a high-stakes maritime environment.
- Riptide (2026) - Co-authored with Ross Sidor, this novella brings Caine into a fast-paced conflict alongside new allies.
Chronological Order vs. Publication Order
If you prefer to read the events in the order they happened in Thomas Caine's life, you should start with the prequel novellas. A chronological reading path looks like this:
- Devil's Due (Prequel novella)
- Cold Kill (Prequel novella)
- Sandfire (Prequel novella)
- Tokyo Black (Main Book 1)
- Red Phoenix (Main Book 2)
- Fire and Forget (Main Book 3)
- Depth Charge (Novella)
- Code Green (Main Book 4)
- Hell and Ice (Main Book 5)
- White Tiger (Main Book 6)
- Hunting Ground (Main Book 7)
- Riptide (Novella)
- Gold Dragon (Main Book 8)
Caveats for Chronological Readers
While the chronological order gives you a linear look at Caine's descent from a loyal CIA operative to a hunted rogue, starting here can spoil some of the mystery. The main novels—especially Tokyo Black—deliberately leave pieces of Caine's past shroud in mystery, which is slowly peeled back. Reading the prequels first removes this tension. Therefore, most thriller enthusiasts recommend starting with the main books first, and then reading the Caine: Rapid Fire novellas as companion pieces.
What to Know Before You Start
Andrew Warren's background in film and television heavily influences the Thomas Caine series. The books are known for their cinematic pacing, highly descriptive action sequences, and vivid international settings. If you enjoy authors like Mark Greaney (The Gray Man) or Barry Eisler (John Rain), you will feel right at home. The series carries a darker, noir-inspired atmosphere, showcasing a flawed, cynical protagonist who has to make morally complex choices to survive.
While the main books are written solely by Andrew Warren, he occasionally collaborates with other thriller authors for the novellas, such as Aiden L. Bailey on Sandfire and Ross Sidor on Riptide, adding fresh dynamics to Caine's universe without disrupting the core timeline.