Where to Start: The Recommended Reading Path
For readers diving into Chris Allen's high-octane intelligence operations, the clear and undisputed starting point is Defender, the debut novel of the Alex Morgan Intrepid series. Because the series relies heavily on character development, escalating political stakes, and the evolving internal dynamics of the black-ops division, reading the books in publication order is the best way to experience the saga.
While there is a prequel novella that steps back into Alex Morgan's military past, attempting to read the series chronologically first can spoil major character beats, alliances, and the structural secrets of the agency that are gradually unveiled across the main novels. Stick to the order in which the missions were deployed to the shelves.
The Intrepid Series in Publication Order
The core of Chris Allen’s bibliography centers on the exploits of Alex Morgan, a policeman, soldier, and spy operating under the banner of INTREPID (the Intelligence, Recovery, Protection, and Infiltration Division), a fictional ultra-secret black-ops arm of Interpol. The series includes the following mainline novels and companion stories:
- Defender (2012) – The series opener sets the stage. Alex Morgan is sent on his first solo black-ops mission to an African nation on the brink of a coup. Tasked with evacuating expatriates, Morgan is quickly caught in a deadly web involving a rogue British agent, taking the chase from the heart of Africa all the way to Sydney, Australia.
- Hunter (2012) – Morgan is granted "weapons free" authority to pursue fugitive Serbian war criminals who have kidnapped the daughter of the presiding judge of the International Criminal Tribunal. The chase spans Europe and dials up the tactical action, forcing Morgan to make impossible moral compromises.
- Avenger (2015) – Redirected from an operation in Africa to the neon-drenched streets of Hong Kong, Morgan works with local Interpol agents on a sting that goes horribly wrong. The fallout leads him to the jungles of Belize as he hunts a ruthless human trafficking syndicate run by a shadowy mastermind known as the Night Witch.
- Helldiver (2015) – A critical turning point for the agency. Morgan and his close ally, agent Elizabeth Reigns, find themselves caught in a conspiracy that threatens the very existence of INTREPID. Facing betrayal from within their own ranks, they must fight to protect the organization's secrets from being sold to the highest bidder.
- Ranger (2017) – This release is a standalone novella (often referred to as Book 4.5) that takes a step back from global espionage to focus on a deeply personal mission. When John Nash, a former US Army Ranger who saved Morgan’s life in Afghanistan, reaches out for help, Morgan travels to America to rescue his old friend, confronting the heavy toll of war and combat stress.
- Shapeshifter (Upcoming) – The highly anticipated fifth full-length novel in the series. While tease material has promised the return of Alex Morgan, the book is currently marked as "coming soon" with no official release date announced yet.
Chronological Order vs. Publication Order
If you prefer to read the series in absolute chronological order based on the timeline of Alex Morgan’s life, the order shifts slightly due to the prequel elements in the novella:
- Ranger (Sets up Alex Morgan's history and military bonds prior to his full-time intelligence career)
- Defender
- Hunter
- Avenger
- Helldiver
Why Publication Order Wins: Reading Ranger first is not recommended for newcomers. The novella acts as a character study that carries much more emotional weight after you have spent four books watching Morgan operate as a hardened, cynical black-ops spy. Furthermore, reading the mainline books first helps you appreciate the contrast between Morgan’s institutional support in INTREPID and the rogue, unsupported nature of his personal mission in Ranger.
What to Know Before You Start
What sets Chris Allen apart from many contemporary spy thriller novelists is the gritty, lived-in realism of his prose. Allen is an Australian Army veteran who served as a Major in military intelligence and was attached to the British Parachute Regiment. Following his military career, he managed security for CARE International in East Timor, worked on counter-terrorism at Sydney Airport, and served as the Sheriff of New South Wales. This background means the tactical movements, the smell of cordite, the logistical headaches of international operations, and the psychological toll of combat are drawn directly from real-world experience rather than Hollywood movies.
His writing style is heavily influenced by classic thriller masters such as Ian Fleming, Alistair MacLean, Jack Higgins, and Frederick Forsyth. As a result, the Intrepid series combines the high-stakes global reach of James Bond with the gritty, grounded tactical action of Jason Bourne.
The Future: The Benjamin Rhett & Kat Thomas Series
In addition to the Intrepid universe, Chris Allen has been developing a second thriller series centered around a new duo of operatives: Benjamin Rhett, a former Commando and MI6 veteran, and Kat Thomas, a former Army Intelligence officer and ASIO agent. The planned titles for this upcoming series include Emerald Beach and Storm Point. Like the Alex Morgan series, this project draws heavily on Allen’s real-world insights into intelligence, security, and military operations, promising a fresh installment of localized Australian and global espionage fiction once published.