Andrew Gross Books in Order

Where to Start with Andrew Gross

For readers new to Andrew Gross, your starting point depends heavily on which subgenre of thriller you prefer. Gross's career is defined by three distinct phases: his high-profile early collaborations with James Patterson, his contemporary detective and standalone thrillers, and his acclaimed historical fiction. Here are the three best entry paths to choose from:

Path 1: The Historical Thrillers (The Critic's Choice)

If you love meticulously researched, emotionally heavy historical fiction set during World War II or the mid-20th century, start with The One Man (2016). Widely considered by fans and critics to be Gross's masterpiece, this novel follows a daring mission to infiltrate Auschwitz to rescue a physicist. Starting here showcases Gross at the absolute height of his solo writing powers, focusing on ordinary people facing extraordinary historical challenges.

Path 2: The Detective Ty Hauck Series (For Police Procedural Fans)

If you prefer classic law enforcement thrillers with recurring characters, start with The Dark Tide (2008). This is the first book in the Ty Hauck series, introducing a Greenwich, Connecticut investigator who tackles deep-seated financial corruption, murder, and international conspiracies. Reading this series in order is highly recommended to appreciate Hauck's personal growth and evolving relationships.

Path 3: The Patterson Collaborations (For Fast-Paced Suspense)

If you want the signature short chapters, relentless pacing, and high-octane suspense of early 2000s commercial thrillers, start with 2nd Chance (2002). This was Gross's first major publication, co-written with James Patterson, and it established his ability to deliver blockbusters.

The Ty Hauck Detective Series

The Ty Hauck series consists of four core novels. While each book features a self-contained mystery, they follow the continuous personal and professional life of detective Ty Hauck. To get the full experience of his character arc, it is best to read them in order of publication:

1. The Dark Tide (2008) – Ty Hauck investigates a seemingly straightforward hit-and-run that quickly uncovers a web of high-finance corruption, linking Greenwich, Connecticut to global markets.
2. Don't Look Twice (2009) – Hauck is pulled into a deadly conspiracy involving local law enforcement, illegal arms dealing, and a drive-by shooting at a suburban gas station.
3. Reckless (2010) – When a close friend's family is murdered in a brutal home invasion, Hauck uncovers a connection to a massive financial fraud scheme.
4. One Mile Under (2015) – Now working in the private sector, Hauck is drawn into a conflict in Colorado surrounding local water rights, fracking, and a suspicious death ruled as an accident.

The Ty Hauck Crossover Event

Fans of the series should also seek out "Dig Here", a short story published in the 2017 International Thriller Writers (ITW) anthology MatchUp. In this unique crossover, Andrew Gross partnered with bestselling author Charlaine Harris to team up Ty Hauck with Harris's psychic investigator character, Harper Connelly. While the local database lists all the individual e-singles from the MatchUp collection (such as "Honor &..." and "Deserves to Be Dead"), "Dig Here" is the only story in the anthology featuring Gross's work.

The Historical Thrillers

In 2016, Andrew Gross pivoted to historical fiction, producing four deeply moving standalones. Though they are not a series and do not share characters, they are thematic companion pieces. You can read them in any order, but looking at them chronologically by their historical settings gives a fascinating look at the mid-20th century:

• Button Man / The Last Brother (Set in the 1930s, Published 2018) – Inspired by the real-life history of Gross's grandfather, this novel follows Morris Raab as he rises in New York's garment industry and must stand up against the ruthless Jewish mob led by Lepke Buchalter.
• The Fifth Column (Set in 1939–1941, Published 2019) – Set in New York City on the brink of WWII, the story follows Charles Mossman, an outcast who discovers a conspiracy of Nazi sympathizers and spies active in his own neighborhood.
• The Saboteur (Set in 1943, Published 2017) – Set in occupied Norway, this novel is based on the real-world heroics of the Norwegian resistance sabotage missions to destroy the Nazi heavy water plant at Vemork.
• The One Man (Set in 1944, Published 2016) – A Polish-Jewish physicist is trapped inside Auschwitz, holding the keys to the atomic bomb. A young American soldier is sent on a suicide mission to get him out.

Collaborations with James Patterson

Before establishing his solo career, Andrew Gross spent several years working closely as a co-writer with James Patterson. While the complete list of Women's Murder Club books spans over two decades, Gross only co-authored two specific entries in that series. If you are reading to experience Gross's contribution to Patterson's universe, focus on the following titles:

The Women's Murder Club Co-Authorships

• 2nd Chance (2002) – The second installment of the series, focusing on a serial killer targeting families of police officers.
• 3rd Degree (2004) – The third installment, where the club must stop a domestic terrorist group called the August Spies.

Standalone Collaborations with Patterson

• The Jester (2003) – A historical adventure set during the Crusades.
• Lifeguard (2005) – A contemporary heist thriller set in Florida.
• Judge & Jury (2006) – A high-stakes trial thriller involving a powerful mob boss.

Solo Contemporary Standalone Thrillers

Gross has also written several standalone contemporary thrillers that feature everyday people thrust into dangerous situations. These are completely independent of each other and can be read in any order:

• The Blue Zone (2007) – Gross's solo debut. It follows a young woman whose father enters the witness protection program after testifying against a gold-smuggling cartel, only for his new life to fall apart.
• Eyes Wide Open (2011) – A psychological thriller following a man investigating the suspicious suicide of his nephew, leading him to a charismatic cult leader.
• 15 Seconds (2012) – A doctor's life is ruined in fifteen seconds during a routine traffic stop that spirals into a frame-up for murder.
• No Way Back (2013) – A woman finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time during a motel shootout, forced to go on the run from both the police and a cartel. Note that this book was also released in a serialized format split into three parts: No Way Back: Part 1, Part 2 of 3, and Part 3 of 3.
• Everything to Lose (2014) – A struggling mother stumbles upon a car crash containing a dead body and a bag filled with money, making a decision that puts her family in extreme danger.