Start Here: The Recommended Reading Path
If you are new to the adrenaline-fueled worlds of Andrew Grant (the pen name of New Zealand adventurer and author Grant Shanks), you have two distinct paths to choose from. Unlike authors with sprawling, decades-long series, Grant’s bibliography is composed of a tight, punchy selection of novels. You can either dive into his two-part international spy series or pick up one of his standalone action thrillers that draw heavily on survival, wilderness hunting, and rugged environments.
For the best overall experience, we recommend beginning with Hawks (1999). It is not only his debut novel but also his most acclaimed work, capturing the raw energy of New Zealand's wild landscapes and the danger of the venison recovery trade. If you prefer international espionage with a gritty, flawed protagonist, start with Death in the Kingdom (2007), which initiates the Daniel Swann duology.
The Daniel Swann Thriller Series
Daniel Swann is a former British secret agent and assassin whose past constantly catches up with him. Set against the vivid, sweaty backdrops of Southeast Asia, these novels offer a visceral and fast-paced look at the criminal underworld, drug trafficking, and international intelligence agencies.
1. Death in the Kingdom (2007)
In this series opener, Swann is forced out of hiding by his former employers in the British government. He must return to Thailand—a territory he fled after killing the son of a powerful local crime lord—to retrieve a highly classified black box resting at the bottom of the Andaman Sea. The mission quickly spirals out of control, resulting in the deaths of close friends and putting him in the crosshairs of the CIA. To survive, Swann must navigate the complex and lethal web of the Thai underworld.
2. Singapore Sling-Shot (2009)
Picking up after the events of the first book, Swann is living in semi-retirement in Hong Kong. His peace is shattered when he is called upon to assist an old contact, the powerful Thai drug lord Sami Somsak. Somsak’s ambitious construction projects are threatened by an encroaching and extremely violent conflict involving a Colombian drug cartel. Swann is drawn back into the path of danger, utilizing his lethal skillset to survive a lethal gang war.
Standalone Adventure and Crime Thrillers
Grant's standalone novels cover a wide geographical and thematic range, shifting from the sub-Antarctic oceans to the desert borders of Texas and Mexico.
Hawks (1999)
Set during the highly competitive and dangerous era of helicopter-based venison recovery in New Zealand's rugged Southwest, this thriller follows Gray, a Vietnam War-scarred SAS veteran. Gray finds himself caught in a web of greed, romance, and lethal rivalries in the deep wilderness. The novel is celebrated for its authentic action sequences, vivid depiction of New Zealand's back country, and emotional depth.
Tyler's Gold (1999)
This high-seas adventure thriller features Tyler Smith, a legendary New Zealand climber, salvage expert, and adventurer. Armed with rumors regarding the location of the gold-laden historic shipwreck of the General Grant, Tyler and his salvage crew aboard the vessel Skua head into the treacherous, stormy sub-Antarctic waters of the Auckland Islands. They must battle both the elements and a ruthless rival salvage operator, Rhys Baron, who is determined to claim the gold at any cost.
Mesquite Smoke Dance (2004)
Shifting focus to the American Southwest, this dark psychological police thriller stars Inspector Mac Benton of the National Homicide Task Force. Stationed along the Texas-Mexico border, Benton is haunted by personal tragedies and the ghosts of his past as he leads a high-pressure investigation to track down a sadistic serial killer known to the authorities as "The Gynecologist." The novel won the prestigious Richard Webster Popular Fiction Award in 2004.
Andrew Grant (Grant Shanks) Books in Publication Order
Because there are no complex chronological prequel novels in Grant's bibliography, reading his books in publication order is a perfectly viable and satisfying way to experience his evolution as a storyteller. This order is as follows:
- Hawks (1999)
- Tyler's Gold (1999)
- Mesquite Smoke Dance (2004)
- Death in the Kingdom (2007)
- Singapore Sling-Shot (2009)
What to Know Before You Start
The "Other" Andrew Grant Confusion
When searching for books by Andrew Grant, it is incredibly easy to run into a case of mistaken identity. This page covers Andrew Grant (born 1948), the New Zealand-born author whose real name is Grant Shanks. He is entirely separate from the British thriller author Andrew Grant (born 1968), who is the younger brother of Lee Child, co-writes the Jack Reacher series under the name Andrew Child, and wrote the David Trevellyan series. Make sure you are looking at the right author profile when purchasing these books!
Authentic Action Drawn from a Wild Life
Readers frequently comment on the intense realism of the combat, hunting, and maritime scenes in these books. This authenticity is directly linked to the author's own colorful life. Grant Shanks grew up on rural Otago and Southland farms, hunting rabbits solo by the age of six. His younger years were spent hunting deer and pigs in the Fiordland wilderness, followed by careers as a merchant seaman, radio voice-over artist, and UK-based bodyguard. When he writes about firearms, survival, or tracking in the wilderness, he is drawing on real-world expertise.