How to Read Andrew Kaplan's Books: The Quick Summary
For readers diving into Andrew Kaplan's intense world of international espionage, there are two primary entry points depending on your thriller preferences:
- The Scorpion Series (Recommended Start): Start with Scorpion (1985) if you want a classic, globetrotting spy thriller featuring an ex-CIA agent raised by a Bedouin tribe. Alternatively, you can start with the modern relaunch, Scorpion Betrayal (2012), which brings the character into the post-9/11 landscape.
- The Homeland Prequels: Start with Homeland: Carrie's Run (2013) if you are a fan of the hit television show and want to discover the official backstory of Carrie Mathison and Saul Berenson.
Kaplan's standalones, including the historic WWII thriller War of the Raven and the action-packed Dragonfire, can be read at any time as they do not connect directly to either series.
The Scorpion Series in Order
The Scorpion series is Kaplan's signature contribution to the espionage genre, centered around a nameless intelligence operative codenamed 'Scorpion.' Raised by Bedouins and trained by the CIA, Scorpion is a clinical, detached, and highly lethal weapon. The series is best read in order of publication, though there is a significant real-world time jump between the original 1985 release and the 21st-century sequels.
1. Scorpion (1985)
The book that introduced the world to the enigmatic freelancer. When Kelly Ormont, the daughter of a prominent American, is abducted, Bob Harris of the CIA tracks down Scorpion. What starts as a rescue mission quickly spirals into a conspiracy to assassinate the King of Saudi Arabia and destabilize the global oil supply. This novel establishes Scorpion's origins, his Bedouin upbringing, and his cold, calculating efficiency.
2. Scorpion Betrayal (2012)
Relaunching the character for the modern era, this novel pits Scorpion against a deadly terrorist mastermind known as 'the Palestinian.' Moving from the deserts of the Middle East to the capitals of Europe, this entry highlights how the landscape of espionage shifted post-Cold War while keeping the character's signature grit intact.
3. Scorpion Winter (2012)
In this high-stakes installment, Scorpion is pulled into a conspiracy involving political assassinations, Russian influence, and the volatile geopolitics of Ukraine. As the web of betrayal tightens, Scorpion must navigate shifting alliances where old enemies become temporary allies.
4. Scorpion Deception (2013)
The stakes reach a boiling point as Scorpion goes up against an Iranian mastermind determined to spark a global conflict. The pursuit spans several continents, demonstrating Kaplan's trademark ability to combine detailed geopolitical knowledge with relentless, cinematic action.
The Homeland Prequels in Order
Commissioned as the official prequels to the award-winning television series Homeland, these novels are essential reading for fans of the show. Kaplan worked closely with the show's creators to ensure the tone and continuity matched the screen perfectly, detailing Carrie Mathison's early career before the events of Season 1.
1. Homeland: Carrie's Run (2013)
Set in 2006, this novel follows a younger Carrie Mathison as she operates undercover in Damascus, Syria. Struggling to manage her bipolar disorder while tracking an Iraqi terrorist, Carrie is forced to make split-second decisions that define her future with the CIA.
2. Homeland: Saul's Game (2014)
Building on the events of the first book, this thriller focuses on the complicated relationship between Carrie and her mentor, Saul Berenson. Pitted against a mastermind who has infiltrated the highest levels of national security, the novel won the 2015 Scribe Award for Best Tie-In Novel.
Andrew Kaplan's Standalone Novels & Memoirs
Kaplan's standalones range from historical espionage to contemporary thrillers, showing off his versatility beyond his recurring characters.
- Hour of the Assassins (1987): A tense thriller centered around a deadly plot to assassinate a political figure, forcing an operative to navigate a maze of double-crosses.
- Dragonfire (1987): A New York Times bestseller that follows a dangerous search for a missing nuclear weapon in Southeast Asia, showcasing Kaplan's fast pacing and vivid, atmospheric locations.
- War of the Raven (1989): Selected as one of the 100 best World War II books by the American Library Association, this novel takes place in Argentina, exploring the shadowy espionage battles between Allied and Axis agents.
- Rogue Warfare (2005): A standalone military-espionage thriller focusing on modern counter-terrorism and special operations units.
- Chronology (2007): A fast-paced thriller exploring high-stakes political intrigue and conspiracy.
- Blue Madagascar (2021): Introducing Special Agent Casey Ramirez of Homeland Security, this thriller follows her race against time to stop a catastrophic plot unfolding in East Africa and Madagascar.
- Once Upon a Villa (2024): A departure from his fiction, this non-fiction memoir recounts the years Kaplan and his family spent living on the French Riviera in the early 1980s, offering a lighter, personal glimpse into the author's real life.
What to Know Before You Start
Andrew Kaplan's thrillers stand out because of their profound sense of authenticity. A veteran of both the U.S. Army and the Israeli Army during the 1967 Six-Day War, and a former war correspondent for the International Herald Tribune, Kaplan draws heavily on his real-world experiences. His fluency in Arabic and Hebrew, coupled with his firsthand knowledge of the Middle East, gives his novels a gritty realism that matches or surpasses classic espionage writers like Robert Ludlum.
While the Scorpion series spans almost three decades between the first and second books, the central character remains functionally consistent, though the setting transitions seamlessly from Cold War-era proxy conflicts to post-9/11 counter-terrorism campaigns.