Craig Dirgo Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Craig Dirgo

If you are new to Craig Dirgo, your entry point depends on whether you prefer collaborative adventure epics or solo espionage thrillers. We recommend starting with one of these two paths:

• The Collaborative Path (High-Seas Action): Start with Golden Buddha (2003). Co-written with adventure legend Clive Cussler, this novel launches the massive Oregon Files universe. It introduces readers to Juan Cabrillo and his mercenary crew operating under the guise of an old, rusted tramp steamer. It is fast, cinematic, and the perfect showcase for the style Dirgo helped define.
• The Solo Path (Classic Espionage): Start with The Einstein Papers (1999). This is Dirgo's debut solo novel and the first book in his John Taft series. If you like classic spy tropes, secret government organizations, and high-stakes scientific conspiracies, this is the book to grab first.

The John Taft Series

The John Taft series centers on a special agent working for the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), a highly secretive government entity. Taft is a classic thriller protagonist—patriotic, lethal, and capable of operating under extreme pressure. In these books, Dirgo combines real historical mysteries and speculative science with modern tactical espionage.

Here is the recommended reading order for the John Taft books:

1. The Einstein Papers (1999): Taft is sent to recover lost papers belonging to Albert Einstein, which contain a completed Unified Field Theory capable of creating a catastrophic weapon.
2. The Tesla Documents (2013): Taft chases a terrorist group that has acquired Nikola Tesla's long-lost designs for an earthquake-generating weapon. Note: This book was originally published in 2006 under the title Tremor, then revised and updated in 2013 as The Tesla Documents.
3. The Cristos Parchment (2016): Taft returns to investigate an ancient religious secret with modern geopolitical implications.

The Oregon Files (Collaborations with Clive Cussler)

Craig Dirgo's most famous career milestone was co-creating The Oregon Files with Clive Cussler. The series follows the crew of the Oregon, a high-tech state-of-the-art spy vessel disguised as a decrepit merchant ship. While the ship travels the world taking on covert contracts, the crew uses advanced surveillance, weaponry, and tactical gear to handle threats that standard intelligence agencies cannot touch.

Important Note for Readers: Craig Dirgo only co-authored the first two books in this series: Golden Buddha and Sacred Stone. After these two books, Jack Du Brul took over as Cussler's co-author, followed later by authors like Boyd Morrison and Mike Maden. However, because the series forms a single continuous narrative, we have listed the full series order below so you can see where Dirgo's contributions fit in the larger saga.

1. Golden Buddha (2003) – Co-authored by Craig Dirgo
2. Sacred Stone (2004) – Co-authored by Craig Dirgo
3. Dark Watch (2005) – Written by Clive Cussler and Jack Du Brul
4. Skeleton Coast (2006) – Written by Clive Cussler and Jack Du Brul
5. Plague Ship (2008) – Written by Clive Cussler and Jack Du Brul
6. Corsair (2009) – Written by Clive Cussler and Jack Du Brul
7. The Silent Sea (2010) – Written by Clive Cussler and Jack Du Brul
8. The Jungle (2011) – Written by Clive Cussler and Jack Du Brul
9. Mirage (2013) – Written by Clive Cussler and Jack Du Brul
10. Piranha (2015) – Written by Clive Cussler and Boyd Morrison
11. The Emperor's Revenge (2017) – Written by Clive Cussler and Boyd Morrison
12. Typhoon Fury (2017) – Written by Clive Cussler and Boyd Morrison
13. Shadow Tyrants (2018) – Written by Clive Cussler and Boyd Morrison
14. Final Option (2019) – Written by Clive Cussler and Boyd Morrison
15. Marauder (2020) – Written by Clive Cussler and Boyd Morrison
16. Hellburner (2022) – Written by Clive Cussler and Mike Maden
17. Fire Strike (2023) – Written by Clive Cussler and Mike Maden
18. Ghost Soldier (2024) – Written by Clive Cussler and Mike Maden

The Eli Cutter Novellas

In 2016, Craig Dirgo introduced a lighter, mystery-oriented direction with the Eli Cutter series. These quick-paced novellas feature Eli Cutter, a quirky protagonist who solves crimes alongside his loyal Weimaraner companion. Published as seasonal installments, they blend Dirgo's signature plotting with humor and small-town charm.

1. Eli Cutter: Winter (2016)
2. Eli Cutter: Spring (2016)

The Sea Hunters (Non-Fiction Wreck Hunting)

Before writing novels together, Craig Dirgo served as the Special Projects Director for Clive Cussler’s real-life organization, the National Underwater and Marine Agency (NUMA). Together, Cussler and Dirgo co-authored two non-fiction books chronicling their real-world expeditions to locate historically significant shipwrecks.

• The Sea Hunters (1994): Details the search for and discovery of famous historical vessels, including the Confederate submarine Hunley.
• The Sea Hunters II (2002): Continues the real-life adventure with accounts of finding the wrecks of the Carpathia (the ship that rescued Titanic survivors) and other famous lost ships.

Craig Dirgo's Standalone Novels

For readers looking for self-contained stories outside of espionage and shipwrecks, Dirgo has published two distinct standalone novels:

• Gunnison Grit (2012): A sweeping historical fiction epic set in Gunnison County, Colorado. Drawing on Dirgo's own love of the Rocky Mountains, the novel traces a century of local history, charting the lives of miners, railroad workers, and ski pioneers who shaped the region.
• New South Britain (2013): A thriller exploring alternate history themes, packed with high-stakes adventure and dramatic survival scenarios.