Adrian Magson Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Adrian Magson?

Adrian Magson is a master of suspense, having penned over thirty crime novels and spy thrillers. Because his books are split across several distinct series, your best starting point depends entirely on what subgenre you prefer. We recommend choosing one of the following paths:

• For 1960s Historical Crime: Start with Death on the Marais, the first book in the Inspector Lucas Rocco series. Set in rural France, it combines local politics, historical secrets, and a classic police procedural feel.
• For Classic Espionage: Start with Red Station, the debut of the Harry Tate series. This is perfect for fans of MI5 conspiracies, remote outposts, and gritty rogue-agent action.
• For High-Stakes Black Ops: Start with The Watchman, which introduces Marc Portman. Portman is a specialist covert asset known as a 'watcher,' whose job is to protect deep-cover agents in hostile environments.
• For Classic Private Eye Partnerships: Start with No Peace for the Wicked, which kicks off the Riley Gavin and Frank Palmer series, featuring an investigative journalist and a former military policeman.
• For Modern Corporate Security & Tech: Start with The Locker, introducing private investigators Ruth Gonzales and Andy Vaslik of Cruxys Solutions.

Inspector Lucas Rocco Series

Set in Picardy, France, during the tense and changing landscape of the 1960s, this series follows Inspector Lucas Rocco. After being reassigned from Paris to a rural post, Rocco must navigate tight-knit village secrets, post-WWII tensions, and political friction. The books should be read in order of publication to follow Rocco’s personal history and his adapting relationship with the local community:

1. Death on the Marais (2011)
2. Death on the Rive Nord (2011)
3. Death on the Pont Noir (2012)
4. Death at the Clos Du Lac (2013)
5. Rocco and the Snow Angel (2015)
6. Rocco and the Nightingale (2017)
7. Rocco and the Price of Lies (2019)
8. Death at the Old Asylum (2021)

Harry Tate Spy Thrillers (Beware of Alternate Titles!)

Harry Tate is a former MI5 agent who finds himself hung out to dry and sent to a remote, bleak listening post in the Balkans in the series opener. As he fights to clear his name and survive, Tate uncovers layers of deep-state corruption and international conspiracies.

Crucial Reader Warning: Many books in this series were re-released as ebooks by Joffe Books under completely different titles. To avoid accidentally buying the same book twice, refer to this official title mapping before purchasing:

• Red Station (2010) – also published as Rogue Agent
• Tracers (2011) – also published as Silent Kill
• Deception (2011) – also published as Double Cross
• Retribution (2013) – also published as Deadly Pursuit
• Execution (2013) – also published as Close Call
• Terminal Black (2020) – also published as Lethal Target

Marc Portman Series

Marc Portman is 'The Watcher'—a highly trained security specialist hired to act as an invisible guardian angel for deep-cover intelligence officers, assets, and operations. When missions go wrong, Portman is the one who goes in to extract the targets. These fast-paced novels are best read in chronological order to witness the escalating complexity of Portman's contracts:

1. The Watchman (2014)
2. Close Quarters (2015)
3. Hard Cover (2016)
4. Dark Asset (2017)
5. A Hostile State (2021)

Riley Gavin & Frank Palmer Series

This series features the unlikely partnership between Riley Gavin, a sharp-witted investigative reporter, and Frank Palmer, a former Royal Military Policeman who now works as a private investigator. The series lay dormant for sixteen years after the fifth book, but Magson surprised fans by reviving the duo for a sixth adventure in 2024. Read them in order to watch their professional and personal bond develop:

1. No Peace for the Wicked (2004)
2. No Help for the Dying (2005)
3. No Sleep for the Dead (2007)
4. No Tears for the Lost (2007)
5. No Kiss for the Devil (2008)
6. No Time for Regrets (2024)

Gonzales & Vaslik Investigations (Cruxys Solutions)

Ruth Gonzales and Andy Vaslik are investigators for Cruxys Solutions, a specialist security company dealing in international assets and high-tech tracking. Much like the Harry Tate series, readers should watch out for alternate titles. The second book, The Bid, was later updated and published as The Drone. The order is:

1. The Locker (2016)
2. The Bid (2017) – also published as The Drone (2021)

The Isaac Jackson Series

Initially launched as a standalone thriller, the story of Isaac Jackson—a former HM Customs investigator and Military Police veteran trying to live a quiet life on a canal boat—has officially expanded into a series. The recommended order is:

1. Killing Waters (2023)
2. A Convenient Traitor (2025)

Standalone Novels and Collections

If you want a break from his multi-book series, Magson has written several standalone works, short story collections, and a writing guide:

• The Lost Patrol (2002) – Standalone Novel
• Smart Moves (2013) – Standalone Novel
• Write On!: The Writer's Help Book (2011) – Non-Fiction Guide
• Shades of Mayhem, Vol. 1 & 2 (2012) – Short Story Collections