Christopher Reich Books in Order

Where Should You Start Reading Christopher Reich?

For readers new to Christopher Reich, his bibliography presents several excellent entry points depending on your preferred style of thriller. Because Reich transitioned from writing standalone financial thrillers to serialized spy action, you have a few pathways to choose from:

• The Modern Espionage Route (Recommended): Start with The Take (2018). This kicks off the Simon Riske series, featuring a high-end investigator who recovers stolen luxury assets. It is fast-paced, glamorous, and represents Reich’s most polished series writing.
• The Financial Conspiracy Route: Start with Reich's blockbuster debut, Numbered Account (1998). It introduces the world of Swiss bank secrecy and remains a benchmark for the financial thriller genre.
• The Geopolitical Action Route: Start with Rules of Deception (2008), the opening volume of the Jonathan Ransom trilogy. It is a classic spy hunt featuring a surgeon dragged into a web of international deceit.
• The Alpine Operative Route: Start with Matterhorn (2024), the beginning of the Mac Dekker series. This features a retired CIA operative pulled out of hiding in the Swiss Alps, offering a gritty, mature look at the espionage genre.

Simon Riske Series in Publication Order

Simon Riske is an ex-car thief turned elite private investigator who specializes in reclaiming stolen assets for the ultra-wealthy. This series moves away from pure finance and dives headfirst into high-octane international intrigue across European locales like Monaco, Singapore, and Paris. Readers should follow the publication order for Riske's character development and recurring subplots:

1. The Take (2018): Simon Riske is hired to recover a stolen letter containing a multi-billion dollar secret, which pits him against a brilliant gangster and his own former partner.
2. Crown Jewel (2019): Riske heads to the French Riviera to recover a massive fortune stolen by a corrupt Russian oligarch, leading to a deadly game of cat-and-mouse.
3. The Palace (2020): Set in Singapore, Riske attempts to clear the name of an old friend accused of a massive casino heist, uncovering a conspiracy that reaches the highest levels of global finance.
4. Once a Thief (2022): Riske goes after a legendary heist target, forcing him to confront his past as a car thief and the people he left behind.

Jonathan Ransom "Rules" Trilogy

The Jonathan Ransom series, often referred to as the "Rules" trilogy, follows a dedicated Doctors Without Borders surgeon who discovers that his late wife Emma was not who she claimed to be. The trilogy is a continuous narrative and must be read in order:

1. Rules of Deception (2008): Following his wife’s death in a skiing accident, Ransom receives a mysterious package that reveals her secret life as a covert operative, turning him into a target for multiple intelligence agencies.
2. Rules of Vengeance (2009): Ransom is pulled back into the world of espionage following a bombing in London, forcing him to navigate a maze of betrayal to find Emma.
3. Rules of Betrayal (2010): Ransom tries to prevent a nuclear threat while uncovering the final, devastating truths about Emma's allegiance and past.

Mac Dekker Series

The Mac Dekker series marks a return to Reich's signature Swiss settings, combining classic cold-war-style espionage with modern global conflicts. These books should be read in order:

1. Matterhorn (2024): Retired CIA operative Mac Dekker lives a quiet life in hiding in the Swiss Alps until his son, also an agent, is killed in the line of duty. Dekker returns to the field to hunt down the killer.
2. The Tourists (2025): Mac Dekker travels to Paris to propose to his partner, Ava Attal. When she suddenly vanishes, Dekker is drawn into a fresh international conspiracy involving high-level government betrayal.

Standalone Novels & The Nick Neumann Connection

Reich’s standalone novels are masterclasses in the financial thriller genre, blending insider Wall Street knowledge with geopolitical danger. Although written as standalones, there is a minor character connection to look out for:

• Numbered Account (1998): Reich’s debut novel follows Nick Neumann, a Wall Street analyst who takes a job at a Swiss bank in Geneva to investigate the unsolved murder of his father.
• Assassins (2017 / Originally 2006): This short story was originally published in the 2006 anthology Thriller: Stories to Keep You Up All Night. It features Nick Neumann from Numbered Account, who has transitioned into a professional assassin in Switzerland. It is a quick read that functions as a fascinating epilogue to his debut.
• The Runner (2000): A post-WWII historical thriller following a former American soldier chasing a notorious Nazi war criminal in occupied Europe.
• The First Billion (2002): A high-stakes adventure focusing on the investigation of a corrupt, mercurial telecommunications tycoon.
• The Devil's Banker (2003): A forensic accountant tracks the financial pipelines of a terrorist network, highlighting the mechanics of modern terror financing.
• The Patriots Club (2005): Winner of the International Thriller Writers Award, this novel features a financial analyst framed for a crime, who uncovers a secret society of powerful global elites.
• The Prince of Risk (2013): A deep dive into the world of high-frequency trading and financial manipulation, where a young hedge fund manager uncovers a plot to crash the US economy.
• Invasion of Privacy (2015): A modern thriller that shifts focus to data privacy, tracking a woman who discovers that her late husband's tech company was involved in massive surveillance operations.

Publication Order vs. Chronological Order

For Christopher Reich’s books, there is no complex timeline manipulation. His series are written in strict chronological order matching their publication dates. Thus, the best way to read his work is in order of release. If you want to experience the evolution of Reich's style from dense financial puzzles to swift, character-driven action, follow this complete chronological publication list:

1. Numbered Account (1998)
2. The Runner (2000)
3. The First Billion (2002)
4. The Devil's Banker (2003)
5. The Patriots Club (2005)
6. Assassins (Short Story, originally published 2006)
7. Rules of Deception (2008)
8. Rules of Vengeance (2009)
9. Rules of Betrayal (2010)
10. The Prince of Risk (2013)
11. Invasion of Privacy (2015)
12. The Take (2018)
13. Crown Jewel (2019)
14. The Palace (2020)
15. Once a Thief (2022)
16. Matterhorn (2024)
17. The Tourists (2025)

What to Know Before You Start

Reich’s novels are highly regarded for their technical accuracy. Because Reich worked as an investment banker in Switzerland, his depictions of offshore accounts, financial transactions, and Swiss banking culture are grounded in real-world experience. However, as his career progressed, his focus shifted from the ledger to the gun, moving toward espionage thrillers like the Simon Riske and Mac Dekker books. Expect a heavy dose of international settings, especially Europe, with Switzerland serving as a recurring backdrop for his most suspenseful sequences.