Christopher Nicole Books in Order

Where to Start: Finding Your Path Through Nicole's Sagas

Christopher Robin Nicole was one of the most prolific storytellers of the 20th century. Writing under his own name as well as famous pseudonyms like Andrew York, Leslie Arlen, Alan Savage, and Caroline Gray, he built massive multi-generational worlds. Because his bibliography spans dozens of standalone series, there is no single overarching reading order. Instead, readers should choose their starting point based on their preferred genre:

• For Espionage and Action Fans: Start with the Jonas Wilde (Eliminator) series, published under the pen name Andrew York. It is a sleek, classic Cold War spy series that kicks off with The Eliminator.
• For Epic Historical Fiction Fans: Start with the Caribee of the Hiltons series. Written under his own name, this multi-volume saga explores the colonial history of the West Indies and remains one of his most celebrated historical works.
• For Russian Historical Sagas: Start with The Borodins series, written under the pseudonym Leslie Arlen. It is a multi-generational romance and drama saga following a Russian noble family during tumultuous historical shifts.

The Jonas Wilde (Eliminator) Series (As Andrew York)

Written under the Andrew York pseudonym, this series follows Jonas Wilde, an elite assassin codenamed 'The Eliminator' who works for a secret branch of the British government. The books are best read in order of publication, though readers should note a common listing quirk: the very first novel, The Eliminator (1966), is sometimes listed separately or under later reprint dates, while the remaining books follow a standard sequence from 1967 onward.

1. The Eliminator (1966)
2. The Co-Ordinator (1967)
3. The Predator (1968)
4. The Deviator (1969)
5. The Dominator (1969)
6. The Infiltrator (1971)
7. The Expurgator (1972)
8. The Captivator (1973/1974)
9. The Fascinator (1975)

The Caribee Sagas: Hilton Family vs. Colonial Caribee

One common point of confusion for readers is distinguishing between the Caribee of the Hiltons series and the Colonial Caribee series. Although both deal with the West Indies (drawing on Nicole's own youth in Guyana), they are completely separate narrative lines written decades apart.

Caribee of the Hiltons Series (As Christopher Nicole)

This is the classic, sweeping historical saga following the Hilton family from the early 17th-century colonization of the Caribbean through the abolition of slavery. It is highly recommended to read these in order:

1. Caribee (1974) (also published as Seas of Passion)
2. The Devil's Own (1975)
3. Mistress of Darkness (1976)
4. Black Dawn (1977)
5. Sunset (1978)

Colonial Caribee Series (As Caroline Gray)

Written under the pseudonym Caroline Gray, this is a separate mid-20th-century family saga focused on the Grain family and their shipping empire. It has no character crossover with the Hilton books:

1. The Promised Land (1997)
2. The Phoenix (1998)
3. The Torrent (1999)
4. The Inheritance (1999)

The McGann Saga: Chronological vs. Publication Order

The McGann Saga is a military and naval adventure series that follows the McGann family through major global conflicts, beginning with the birth of the American Navy and running through World War II. For this series, the chronological timeline differs slightly from the order in which the books were published.

Recommended Chronological Order

If you want to follow the historical timeline seamlessly, read the books in this order:

1. Old Glory (1986) — Set during the birth of the American Navy.
2. The Sea and the Sand (1986) — Following conflicts with Barbary pirates.
3. Iron Ships, Iron Men (1987) — Centered on the American Civil War.
4. Wind of Destiny (1987) — Set during the War of Cuban Independence.
5. Raging Sea, Searing Sky (1990) — Covering World War I and the lead-up to World War II.
6. The Passion and the Glory (1988) — Following the events of World War II, starting with Pearl Harbor.

Note: The Passion and the Glory was published before Raging Sea, Searing Sky, but historically takes place after it. Reading in chronological order is generally preferred by military fiction enthusiasts to maintain historical continuity.

Other Major Historical Sagas

Nicole was a master of the multi-book historical saga. Below are several of his other popular series that are highly self-contained and best read in publication order:

The Borodins Saga (As Leslie Arlen)

A six-book historical romance series following the Borodin family against the backdrop of the Russian Revolution and early 20th-century history.

• Love and Honor (1980)
• War and Passion (1981)
• Fate and Dreams (1981)
• Hope and Glory (1982)
• Rage and Desire (1982)
• Fortune and Fury (1984)

Anna Fehrbach / Angel Series (As Christopher Nicole)

This series centers on Anna Fehrbach, an Austro-Irish woman forced into WWII German espionage who later becomes an MI6 double agent. It is an adventurous, fast-paced spy series.

• Angel from Hell (2006)
• Angel in Red (2006)
• Angel of Vengeance (2007)
• Angel in Jeopardy (2007)
• Angel of Doom (2008)
• Angel Rising (2008)
• Angel of Destruction (2009)
• Angel of Darkness (2009)

Murdoch Mackinder Trilogy / The Regiment Series (As Christopher Nicole)

A military trilogy set around the Royal Western Dragoon Guards during the First World War.

• The Regiment (1988)
• The Command (1989)
• The Triumph (1989)

What to Know Before You Start

Because Christopher Nicole wrote over 200 books, finding physical copies of some of his older titles can be difficult. Many of his historical sagas and spy novels have been re-released as ebooks under his various pen names, so looking up digital catalogs is often the easiest way to source his work. Sagas like the Amyot Saga (covering colonial West Indies) and his espionage thrillers hold up remarkably well for readers who enjoy detailed historical settings and fast-paced narratives.