David Gilman Books in Order

Where Should You Start Reading David Gilman?

David Gilman has built a reputation for writing deeply researched, action-packed fiction across three distinct genres. Because his series are very different in tone and setting, your ideal starting point depends on what you enjoy most:

• For Historical Fiction Fans: Start with Master of War (2013). This is the book that launched Gilman's signature series following Thomas Blackstone during the Hundred Years' War. It is gritty, realistic, and perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell or Conn Iggulden.
• For Modern Espionage and Thriller Fans: Start with The Englishman (2020). Introducing Dan Raglan, a former French Foreign Legionnaire, this series is a high-octane modern thriller in the vein of Jack Reacher, Jason Bourne, or Gregg Hurwitz's Orphan X.
• For Younger Readers (YA): Start with The Devil's Breath (2007). This is the first book in the Danger Zone trilogy, an award-winning adventure series featuring teenage hero Max Gordon that spans remote global locations.

For all of Gilman's series, chronological order matches publication order. Each main series is best read in sequence, as characters age, develop, and carry the scars of their previous encounters throughout the overarching narrative.

The Master of War Series (Thomas Blackstone Order)

Gilman's flagship historical series follows Thomas Blackstone, a young English stonemason forced to take up the longbow to avoid execution. Thrust onto the battlefields of 14th-century France during the Hundred Years' War, Blackstone evolves from a reluctant conscript into a legendary knight, commander, and feared champion. The series is celebrated for its unflinching depiction of medieval combat, political maneuvering, and the heavy emotional toll of war.

You should read the Master of War series in strict publication order to follow Blackstone's life journey:

1. Master of War (2013 - also published in some markets as The Blooding): Thomas Blackstone travels to France and faces his trial by fire at the Battle of Crécy.
2. Defiant Unto Death (2015): Set in 1356, Blackstone must defend his holdings in Normandy against relentless French forces and internal betrayal.
3. Gate of the Dead (2015): Blackstone finds himself fighting in the harsh winters of Italy, serving as a mercenary while pursuing a personal quest.
4. Viper's Blood (2017): Returning to France in 1360, Blackstone navigates the fragile peace of the Treaty of Brétigny and a deadly conspiracy.
5. Scourge of Wolves (2018): Plunged into the savage conflict of the Spanish campaigns alongside the Black Prince, Blackstone faces old enemies and new betrayals.
6. Cross of Fire (2020): In the late 1360s, Blackstone fights to maintain his stronghold in Aquitaine as the war flares up with renewed brutality.
7. Shadow of the Hawk (2021): Blackstone is sent on a high-stakes mission to the Mediterranean and the Byzantine Empire, facing new threats far from home.
8. To Kill a King (2024): Blackstone returns to England, caught in the shifting, dangerous alliances surrounding the final years of King Edward III's reign.
9. Rage of Swords (2025): The latest entry finds Blackstone dealing with the brutal realities of the early reign of Richard II as conflict with France continues to simmer.

The Englishman Series (Dan Raglan Order)

If you prefer contemporary black-ops thrillers, David Gilman's Dan Raglan series is an exceptional choice. Dan Raglan is "The Englishman," an orphan who joined the French Foreign Legion, acquired a lethal skillset, and now works as an off-the-books intelligence asset. These books are globally scoped, gritty, and deeply informed by Gilman's own military background in the Parachute Regiment.

Read the Dan Raglan books in order:

1. The Englishman (2020): Raglan travels deep into Russia's penal colonies to locate a missing MI6 agent and expose a conspiracy that goes to the heart of the Kremlin.
2. Betrayal (2022): When a former Legion cohort is murdered in Honduras, Raglan seeks vengeance, pulling him into a web of cartel violence and intelligence cover-ups.
3. Resurrection (2023): Raglan is pulled out of hiding when a deadly threat from his past resurfaces, requiring him to navigate a treacherous landscape of European espionage.

The Danger Zone Series (Max Gordon Order)

Designed for young adults and teenagers, the Danger Zone trilogy is a fast-paced, eco-adventure thriller series. It follows Max Gordon, a boarding school student who must survive in some of the most extreme environments on Earth while investigating the mysterious disappearance of his archaeologist father.

The Danger Zone trilogy should be read in order:

1. The Devil's Breath (2007): Max travels to the wilderness of Namibia, dodging assassins and uncovering a plot to destroy an ancient ecological sanctuary.
2. Ice Claw (2008): Set in the freezing peaks of the French Alps, Max runs for his life after witnessing a murder, eventually uncovering a global climate conspiracy.
3. Blood Sun (2009): The trilogy wraps up in the volcanic jungles of Central America, where Max searches for his father and fights a powerful, ruthless industrialist.

David Gilman's Standalone Novels

In addition to his series, Gilman has written several acclaimed standalone novels that explore different eras of historical conflict and personal adventure. These can be read in any order:

• Monkey and Me (2014): A heartwarming and adventurous children's story about a young girl named Becca and her companion, a runaway chimpanzee.
• The Last Horseman (2016): An epic adventure set during the Second Anglo-Boer War. The story follows an Irish lawyer who travels to South Africa to find his missing brother, capturing the harsh, unforgiving realities of the conflict. This book was shortlisted for the prestigious Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Award.
• Night Flight to Paris (2018): A tense World War II espionage thriller. The story follows French-English academic Harry Mitchell, who is recruited by the SOE for a dangerous undercover mission in occupied Paris to rescue his family and secure critical intelligence.
• The Knife Maker of Venice (August 2026): Set in 1604, this historical adventure follows Richard Sheriff, a young English blacksmith sold into servitude in Venice, who apprenticed to a master knife maker while searching for his lost sister.

What to Know Before You Start

David Gilman’s writing is heavily shaped by his own adventurous life. Before becoming a full-time author, he worked as a firefighter, a soldier in the British Army’s Parachute Regiment, a professional photographer, and a marketing manager. His real-world familiarity with firearms, tactical operations, and survival techniques gives both his medieval combat scenes and his modern military thrillers a palpable sense of authenticity and grit.

Additionally, Gilman was a successful television screenwriter for many years before writing novels. Most notably, he was a principal writer on the acclaimed ITV detective drama A Touch of Frost between 2000 and 2009, and also wrote for Dalziel and Pascoe. This screenwriting background is evident in the cinematic pacing, sharp dialogue, and highly visual descriptions that characterize all of his books.