Chris Bradford Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Chris Bradford

If you are new to Chris Bradford's action-packed, culturally rich, and highly authentic thrillers, you have two major entry points. The first is Young Samurai, a historical adventure series set in 17th-century Japan that blends martial arts with historical fiction. The second is Bodyguard, a contemporary, high-octane action thriller series centered on teenage close-protection agents. Both showcase Bradford's immersive 'method writing' style, where he personally trains in the combat and tactical skills of his protagonists to deliver gritty, realistic action.

For younger readers or those looking for quick, high-interest reads, the Ninja, Virtual Kombat, and Bulletcatcher series are excellent starting points. They offer fast-paced plots and shorter page counts without sacrificing the author's trademark suspense.

The Young Samurai Series: Jack Fletcher's Saga

The Young Samurai series follows Jack Fletcher, an English boy shipwrecked in 17th-century Japan who undergoes rigorous training to become a samurai. To read this series correctly, you should follow the publication order. However, there is a key novella, The Way of Fire, which chronologically fits right between the second and third main novels.

Young Samurai Recommended Reading Order:

• The Way of the Warrior (2008) – Jack is shipwrecked and taken in by legendary swordmaster Masamoto Takeshi.
• The Way of the Sword (2009) – Jack competes in the Circle of Three trials.
• The Way of Fire (2012) – (Chronological Book 2.5) A World Book Day novella set in the autumn of 1612, focusing on Jack's intense gasshuku training camp.
• The Way of the Dragon (2010) – Jack faces a massive invasion and defends his school. (Note: The local database contains a truncated entry titled 'The' from 2009, which corresponds to early U.S. editions of the first book or pre-release metadata, but the third main novel is indeed The Way of the Dragon.)
• The Ring of Earth (2010) – Jack becomes a fugitive fleeing across Japan.
• The Ring of Water (2011) – Jack seeks refuge and tries to navigate the treacherous rivers.
• The Ring of Fire (2011) – Jack learns the secrets of the ninja to survive.
• The Ring of Wind (2012) – The journey continues as Jack searches for a way to reach the port of Nagasaki.
• The Ring of Sky (2012) – The epic climax of Jack's initial quest to return home.
• The Return of the Warrior (2019) – Set years later, Jack finally makes it back to England only to find a new battle waiting for him.

The Bodyguard Series: Connor Reeves' Missions

The Bodyguard series stars teenage close-protection officer Connor Reeves. Navigating this series can be tricky because the books were released differently in the UK and the US, and there is a distinct difference between publication order and internal chronology.

The UK vs. US Editions (Split Books)

In the US, the original UK novels were split in half to create shorter, faster-paced volumes for a 'binge-read' experience. The relationship between the original UK books and the US split books is as follows:

• UK Book 1: Hostage (2013) is split into US Book 1: Recruit (2017) and US Book 2: Hostage (2017).
• UK Book 2: Ransom (2014) is split into US Book 3: Hijack (2017) and US Book 4: Ransom (2017).
• UK Book 3: Ambush (2015) is split into US Book 5: Ambush (2017) and US Book 6: Survival (2017).
• UK Book 4: Target (2016) is split into US Book 7: Target (2018) and US Book 8: Traitor (2018).

Subsequent UK books include Assassin (2017) and Fugitive (2018), which continue the primary publication timeline.

Chronological Reading Order vs. Publication Order

If you are reading the original UK editions, you can read them in publication order. However, the chronological timeline places Target first, as it details Connor's early assignment protecting a high-profile client before the major events of his protection detail for the President's daughter in Hostage.

Recommended Chronological Order (Original Editions):

1. Target (2016)
2. Hostage (2013)
3. Ransom (2014)
4. Ambush (2015)
5. Assassin (2017)
6. Fugitive (2018)

Ninja and Shadow Warriors Series

Set in a world of stealth and shadows, the Ninja series is designed for younger and reluctant readers, packed with quick chapters and intense martial arts action. The books should be read in order of release:

• Ninja: First Mission (2011)
• Ninja: Death Touch (2013)
• Ninja: Assassin (2014)
• Shadow Warriors (2016)

Virtual Kombat Trilogy

Mixing science fiction, gaming, and survival action, the Virtual Kombat series is a dystopian sci-fi thrill ride about street kids forced to fight in a hyper-realistic virtual reality game. The order is straightforward:

• Gamer (2012)
• Virus (2018)
• Cyborg (2019)

Bulletcatcher Series

The Bulletcatcher trilogy is a fast-paced sci-fi action series centered on individuals trained to shield others from gunfire using extraordinary kinetic reflexes. Read them in the following order:

• Bulletcatcher (2015)
• Sniper (2016)
• Blowback (2017)

The Soul Hunters Trilogy

In this dark fantasy thriller series, heroine Genna must navigate a world of ancient spirits, reincarnation, and soul-stealing cults. The available books in this cycle include:

• The Soul Hunters (2021)
• The Soul Prophecy (2022)

Jake & Jen, Children's, and Non-Fiction

For younger children, Bradford wrote the Jake & Jen Adventures, which are highly accessible illustrated books:

• Jake and Jen in the Tomb of Ice (2017)
• Jake and Jen and the Mission to Mars (2020)

Additionally, Bradford wrote the standalone children's sci-fi story Lunar (2023) about a boy surviving on a moonbase. Before transitioning to fiction, Bradford also authored several non-fiction books focused on music and songwriting, including Heart and Soul: Revealing the Craft of Songwriting (2005), Artist Management Out Loud (2006), Record Deals Out Loud (2006), Crash Course Songwriting (2007), and Music Publishing Out Loud (2007).

What to Know Before You Start

Chris Bradford’s books are famous for their relentless pacing, making them popular with reluctant readers. Because the author goes to great lengths to live the experiences of his characters—such as training in ninjutsu, earning a black belt in Zen Kyu Shin Taijutsu, and taking close-protection courses—the combat sequences and tactical details are highly accurate. Most of his series are designed to be read in order, although the standalone nature of the bodyguard missions allows readers to jump in at various points, particularly with Target or Hostage.