Craig DiLouie Books in Order

Where to Start with Craig DiLouie

Craig DiLouie is an incredibly versatile writer whose books span military historical fiction, apocalyptic horror, paranormal thrillers, and dark sci-fi. Because his catalog transitions between distinct genres, the best place to start depends entirely on what you enjoy reading most:

• For Apocalyptic and Zombie Horror Fans: Start with Tooth and Nail (2010) or The Infection (2011). Both novels are widely praised for bringing realistic military tactics, raw human emotion, and terrifying pacing to the classic zombie apocalypse scenario.
• For Modern Ghost Story and Supernatural Lovers: Start with Episode Thirteen (2023). This epistolary, found-footage-style novel follows a team of reality TV ghost hunters who discover something far more real—and far more terrifying—than they ever expected.
• For Gripping, Emotionally Intense Horror: Start with Suffer the Children (2014). This Bram Stoker Award-nominated novel asks a chilling question: how far would parents go to keep their children alive if they returned from the dead needing blood?
• For Military History Buffs: Start with the Crash Dive series (2015), which delivers highly authentic, action-packed adventures following a U.S. Navy submarine crew during World War II.

The Infection Trilogy

DiLouie's breakthrough zombie series must be read in order. The narrative follows a viral outbreak that transforms infected humans into brutal, mutated monsters and pits survivors against a collapsing society. While the first two books were published back-to-back, DiLouie later reclaimed the rights to the series to write a definitive, long-awaited conclusion in 2021.

1. The Infection (2011)
2. The Killing Floor (2012)
3. The Final Cut (2021)

Crash Dive Series (WWII Submarines)

The Crash Dive series follows the battles, tension, and camaraderie of the crew aboard the USS Saberfish. These books should be read in chronological publication order to follow the career of Jack Knapp and his crew mates through the Pacific theater.

1. Crash Dive (2015)
2. Silent Running (2016)
3. Battle Stations (2016)
4. Contact! (2017)
5. Hara-Kiri (2018)
6. Over the Hill (2018)

Armor Series (Sherman Tank Campaigns)

Similar to his submarine saga, the Armor series focuses on WWII military operations, but shifts the perspective to an M4 Sherman tank crew. Published entirely in 2020, this five-book series details the grueling progression of land warfare across key European fronts.

1. The Battle of North Africa (2020)
2. The Fight for Sicily (2020)
3. Fortress Europe (2020)
4. The Bulge (2020)
5. Reich's Fall (2020)

Collaborative Apocalyptic Series

Craig DiLouie has partnered with fellow horror and military authors to build two separate, action-oriented apocalyptic series. These books should be read in order.

The Retreat Series

Co-authored with Stephen Knight and Joe McKinney, this six-book series chronicles a military unit's fighting retreat during a sudden, global zombie outbreak.

1. Pandemic (2013)
2. Slaughterhouse (2014)
3. Die Laughing (2015)
4. Alamo (2016)
5. Crucible (2018)
6. Forlorn Hope (2022)

The Front Series

Co-authored with David Moody and Timothy W. Long, this trilogy mixes military history and zombie horror, following Allied soldiers battling undead forces in WWII Europe.

1. Screaming Eagles (2015)
2. Red Devils (2017)
3. Berlin or Bust (2018)

The Aviator: Stories of Future Wars

A two-part near-future military sci-fi series following Navy fighter pilot Jack Knapp as he navigates high-stakes modern aerial combat, media propaganda, and geopolitical instability.

1. The Aviator of the Sino-American War (2021)
2. The Warfighter of the Second Korean War (2021)

Standalone Novels

For readers who prefer self-contained stories, Craig DiLouie has written several highly acclaimed standalone horror and speculative novels. While they do not share a single universe, reading them in publication order shows his evolution as an author.

• Paranoia (2001): His earliest sci-fi thriller exploration.
• The Thin White Line (2008): A post-apocalyptic survival tale.
• The Great Planet Robbery (2008): An imaginative space opera.
• Tooth and Nail (2010): A military-versus-zombies novel that established his reputation for realistic action.
• Suffer the Children (2014): A deeply emotional Bram Stoker Award nominee exploring parental love and horror.
• The Alchemists (2017): A dark sci-fi thriller about memory modification.
• One of Us (2018): A poignant, dark fantasy exploring prejudice and rebellion among mutated children in the American South.
• Our War (2019): A gritty, near-future look at a second American civil war through the eyes of two siblings.
• The Children of Red Peak (2020): A psychological horror novel focusing on the trauma of cult survivors years later.
• Strike (2022): A tense military thriller.
• Episode Thirteen (2023): A paranormal ghost-hunt mystery told via diaries, transcripts, and footage logs.
• Djinn (2023): A supernatural thriller investigating ancient entities.
• Q.R.F. (2023): Fast-paced military action.
• How to Make a Horror Movie and Survive (2024): A meta-horror love letter to the slasher genre, focusing on a director who will stop at nothing to capture real terror on film.

What to Know Before You Start

DiLouie's stories are known for their emotional weight. Whether he is writing about zombies or haunted houses, he places a high priority on character development and the psychological toll of survival. You won't find flat, disposable characters here; expect moral grey areas and heavy choices. Additionally, his military thrillers are heavily researched, ensuring that weapons, jargon, and tactics feel authentic to both modern and historical settings.