Where to Start Reading Ben Sanders
Ben Sanders writes fast-paced, cinematic crime fiction that fits squarely into the gritty noir and high-stakes thriller categories. For readers new to his work, there are two primary starting paths, depending on the vibe you prefer:
- The Sean Devereaux Series (Auckland Trilogy): Start here if you want a classic police procedural with a dark, local flavor. Set in Auckland, New Zealand, these books follow an detective navigating urban corruption. Start with The Fallen.
- The Marshall Grade Series: Start here if you prefer American neo-noir, witness protection thrillers, and a lone-wolf protagonist reminiscent of Jack Reacher. Set in the desolate landscapes of New Mexico, this series should be read starting with American Blood.
The Sean Devereaux Series (The Auckland Trilogy)
This is where Ben Sanders launched his career, writing the first book while still an engineering student. The series features detective Sean Devereaux and John Hale, an ex-cop turned private security specialist. The books should be read in order of publication to follow the character development and the escalating stakes of Auckland's criminal underbelly.
- The Fallen (2010): Introduces detective Sean Devereaux as he investigates a hit-and-run and a series of murders that lead back to corrupt elements within his own department.
- By Any Means (2011): Devereaux and security specialist John Hale cross paths again when a kidnapping case unravels a larger, deadly conspiracy.
- Only the Dead (2013): The final book in the trilogy pits Devereaux against a ruthless crime boss in a high-stakes finale.
The Marshall Grade Series
After wrapping up his Auckland trilogy, Sanders shifted his setting to the United States for a high-intensity series following Marshall Grade, a former NYPD undercover agent living under an alias in witness protection in New Mexico. Because of the overarching threat of assassins and cartels searching for Grade, this series must be read in chronological order.
- American Blood (2015): Marshall Grade's cover is blown when he gets involved in the search for a missing woman in Santa Fe, drawing the attention of both cartels and a deadly contract killer.
- Marshall's Law (2017): Now on the run, Marshall is forced back into the open to rescue a former associate from a dangerous drug lord.
- Sometimes at Night / Exit .45 (2021): In this third installment, Marshall is dragged back to New York to investigate the murder of a former colleague, facing ghosts from his NYPD past.
Understanding the Exit .45 vs. Sometimes at Night Confusion
If you are looking at listings for the Marshall Grade series, you might notice two books listed with a 2021 release date: Exit .45 (sometimes stylized as Exit .45 or Exit 45) and Sometimes at Night. It is important to know that these are the exact same book. The novel was published as Sometimes at Night in North America and under the title Exit .45 in international markets like New Zealand and the UK. You only need to purchase one of these titles to complete the trilogy.
The Standalone Novels
In addition to his recurring series, Sanders has written two highly acclaimed standalone crime thrillers. These can be read in any order at any time, as they do not share continuity with either Devereaux or Grade.
- The Stakes (2018): A fast-paced heist novel focusing on Miles Keller, a professional thief who tries to rob wealthy criminals in New York, only to find himself hunted by a brutal hitman.
- The Devils You Know (2021): Set in Santa Barbara, California, this thriller follows Vincent, a former covert operative working as a security chief for a wealthy supermarket tycoon, who becomes target number one when a dark conspiracy unfolds.
What to Know Before You Start
Sanders' transition from New Zealand settings to American noir was inspired by his love for authors like Michael Connelly, Lee Child, and James Ellroy. While the Sean Devereaux books capture the distinct geography and atmosphere of Auckland, the Marshall Grade books offer a highly authentic view of the American Southwest and East Coast, which Sanders researched extensively. All of his novels are stand-alone-accessible in terms of immediate plotting, but the emotional arcs and long-running subplots in both the Auckland Trilogy and the Marshall Grade books make reading in publication order highly recommended.