The Recommended Reading Path
For readers diving into the work of Dan Eaton, the choice of where to start depends on whether you prefer a multi-book intellectual adventure or a fast-paced standalone crisis. Because Eaton's bibliography is lean and focused, navigating his books is straightforward. We highly recommend starting with his debut, The Secret Gospel. It establishes his signature style, marrying dense historical research with the pacing of a modern espionage thriller, and introduces his recurring protagonist, Alex Fisher.
If you prefer a self-contained story set in New Zealand's dramatic landscapes, No White Lies is an excellent alternative starting point. It features a different protagonist and a more localized, high-tension kidnapping plot, meaning it can be read completely independently from the Fisher novels.
Dan Eaton Books in Order of Publication
Reading Dan Eaton's novels in the order they were published allows you to appreciate his evolution as a writer. Because his series books were released a decade apart, reading chronologically also aligns perfectly with the timeline of his recurring character's life.
1. The Secret Gospel (2015)
Eaton’s debut novel is a religious conspiracy thriller centered around the discovery of a controversial, ancient fragment of the Gospel of Mark in 1958. The story follows Cairo-based journalist Alex Fisher as he gets swept into a dangerous conspiracy that bridges ancient history, Nazi-era secrets, and modern Middle Eastern geopolitical tension. It was highly praised for its meticulous historical research and received recognition as a quarterfinalist in the 2013 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award.
2. No White Lies (2019)
This standalone thriller shifts the focus to Queenstown, New Zealand. The story follows Will McCormick, an award-winning journalist who is also a compulsive liar. When his young daughter is kidnapped, Will is forced to confront a dark secret from his reporting past in Baghdad. The narrative spans from Queenstown to Iraq and Paris, exploring theme of media integrity, intelligence failures, and personal redemption. It was recognized as a finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards.
3. The Gospel of Echoes (2025)
The second entry in the Alex Fisher series picks up years after the events of the debut. Fisher has transitioned from a globetrotting journalist to a Cambridge theologian and theology professor who occasionally consults for MI5. Following the tragic death of his wife, Fisher retreats to Cornwall, only to be dragged into a fresh mystery involving a missing local boy, Nazi-era plunder, and a deep biblical conspiracy extending back to ancient Greece.
Deep Dive: The Alex Fisher Series
The core of Dan Eaton’s thriller writing is the Alex Fisher series. Unlike typical action-hero protagonists, Fisher relies on his intellect, his background in journalism, and his deep knowledge of ancient religion and theology to survive. The series transitions from a dusty, journalistic hunt in Cairo and Israel in The Secret Gospel to a more academic, yet no less dangerous, investigation in The Gospel of Echoes set against the backdrops of Cornwall and Greece.
For the best experience, the Alex Fisher books should be read in chronological order:
- Book 1: The Secret Gospel (2015)
- Book 2: The Gospel of Echoes (2025)
What to Know Before You Start
One of the most compelling aspects of Dan Eaton's fiction is the authenticity of his settings and plots. This is directly drawn from Eaton's real-life experiences. Raised by missionary parents in Tunisia and Egypt, Eaton spent over a decade working as a foreign correspondent in Southeast Asia for Reuters and Agence France-Presse. Later in life, his career shifted to roles within defense, law enforcement, and foreign intelligence in New Zealand.
As a result, his descriptions of intelligence operations, journalistic ethics, and Middle Eastern locales are deeply grounded in reality. Readers who enjoy the historical conspiracy puzzles of Dan Brown, combined with the detailed tradecraft of classic espionage writers, will find themselves right at home in Eaton's novels.