The Recommended Reading Order for Tom Dugan
If you want to dive into R. E. McDermott’s high-seas thriller series, the best path is simple: follow the order in which they were published. Because the character of Tom Dugan develops across the books, starting at the beginning gives you the best appreciation for the recurring cast of characters, including Dugan’s business partner Alex Kairouz and his Russian Spetsnaz allies.
Here is the recommended reading order for the Tom Dugan series:
- Deadly Straits (2011)
- Deadly Coast (2012)
- Deadly Crossing (2014)
Publication Order vs. Chronological Order
For the Tom Dugan series, the publication order and the chronological order are identical. R. E. McDermott wrote and released the books in chronological sequence, with each novel picking up some time after the events of the previous one. While each book is structured as a self-contained story with a complete resolution, there is a clear progression in Tom Dugan's life, his reputation with intelligence agencies, and his international relationships.
1. Deadly Straits (2011)
The series begins with Deadly Straits, introducing Tom Dugan as a practical, middle-aged marine engineer and port surveyor who occasionally assists the CIA. The action kicks off when a merchant ship contracted by the U.S. Navy is hijacked in the crucial Strait of Malacca. When evidence is planted to frame both Dugan and his close friend, shipping magnate Alex Kairouz, Dugan is forced into a corner. Coerced by government handlers, he must go undercover within his friend's company. Doubting Kairouz's guilt, Dugan goes rogue, traveling from Singapore to London, Panama, and Russia. Along the way, he allies with a Russian Spetsnaz unit to stop a catastrophic terrorist plot targeting global shipping chokepoints.
2. Deadly Coast (2012)
The second novel, Deadly Coast, focuses heavily on the modern crisis of Somali piracy. When a tanker carrying jet fuel is hijacked by terrorists with ties to Al Qaeda, the U.S. and British governments halt all negotiations, leaving the hostages in extreme danger. After witnessing the brutal execution of one of his crewmen on a live video feed, Dugan bypasses bureaucratic red tape. He gathers a crew of Russian mercenaries and boards an aging tanker to launch his own rescue operation. The stakes grow higher as Dugan uncovers a rogue salvage crew attempting to recover a deadly World War II-era biological weapon from a sunken ship, turning a rescue mission into a fight to prevent a global catastrophe.
3. Deadly Crossing (2014)
The third installment, Deadly Crossing, shifts the focus from cargo ships and tankers to a more personal, character-driven story. Settled in London, Dugan is contacted by the Russian Spetsnaz veterans who helped him in the previous books. The niece of one of the soldiers has been kidnapped by the Bratstvo, a brutal Russian organized crime syndicate heavily involved in drug smuggling and human trafficking. Dugan and Kairouz join forces with their old allies, embarking on a rescue mission that takes them from the streets of London to Prague. What starts as a localized search quickly becomes a hazardous effort to dismantle the syndicate's entire smuggling network.
What to Know Before You Start
R. E. McDermott's thrillers stand out in the genre due to their exceptional realism. As a graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy and a professional with over three decades of experience as a ship's officer, shipping manager, and marine consultant, McDermott writes about maritime operations with technical accuracy. Readers will find realistic depictions of ship mechanics, cargo handling, and the complex geopolitics of global maritime shipping lanes.
Unlike many espionage novels, Tom Dugan is not an invincible superhero. He is a flawed, middle-aged professional who relies on practical problem-solving, industry knowledge, and his network of allies rather than high-tech gadgets or superhuman combat skills. The supporting cast, particularly his business partner Alex Kairouz and the recurring Russian mercenaries, provide a strong anchor of loyalty and camaraderie throughout the trilogy.
Beyond Tom Dugan: The Disruption Trilogy
If you finish the Tom Dugan series and want more of R. E. McDermott's realistic writing, you should check out his post-apocalyptic series, The Disruption Trilogy. This series explores survival in a post-electric America following a devastating solar event. The trilogy includes:
- Under a Tell-Tale Sky (2015)
- Push Back (2016)
- Promises to Keep (2017)
While the Disruption series is not a direct spin-off of the Tom Dugan books and features a different cast of characters, it carries over McDermott's signature style of placing realistic, fallible human protagonists in high-stakes, meticulously researched survival situations.