Where to Start Reading David Rich
For readers looking to dive into David Rich's bibliography, the recommended starting point depends on your preferred subgenre of thriller. If you enjoy contemporary military espionage, grit, and complex con-artist dynamics, the absolute best starting point is his debut novel, Caravan of Thieves (2012). This book introduces his recurring protagonist, Lieutenant Rollie Waters, and establishes the unique family history and psychological conflict that runs throughout the series. Reading the books out of order is not recommended, as the second book contains major spoilers for the resolution of the debut.
On the other hand, if you prefer historical fiction, exploration, and Victorian-era espionage, you should begin with his standalone novel, The Mirrored Palace (2020). This book is completely separate from his contemporary thrillers and focuses on a fictionalized spy mission involving the real-life historical figure Sir Richard Francis Burton. Because it stands alone, it can be read at any time without any prior context.
David Rich Books in Publication Order
Because David Rich’s contemporary thrillers follow a strict chronological timeline, reading his books in order of publication is the most logical path. This order also lets you trace his development from writing modern military suspense to historical fiction:
- Caravan of Thieves (2012) – Rollie Waters Book 1
- Middle Man (2013) – Rollie Waters Book 2
- New Haven Noir (2017) – Anthology featuring his short story "Sure Thing"
- The Mirrored Palace (2020) – Standalone historical novel
The Lieutenant Rollie Waters Series
The core of David Rich's novel writing is centered around Lieutenant Rollie Waters. Rollie is a fascinating protagonist: a U.S. Marine deep-cover specialist who has a deeply conflicted relationship with his past. He is the son of Dan Waters, an infamous, charismatic con artist. Growing up, Rollie was taught how to lie, read people, and assume false identities to help his father evade the law. While Rollie chose to join the military and enforce the law rather than break it, he finds that his father's training makes him the perfect deep-cover operative. The series explores this psychological tension as Rollie is repeatedly forced to use criminal methods for military ends.
Caravan of Thieves (2012)
In the first book of the series, Rollie is pulled from his undercover duties when the U.S. government discovers that millions of dollars have gone missing, and Dan Waters is the prime suspect. Rollie is tasked with tracking down his estranged father. To find him, Rollie must navigate a treacherous world of international thieves, con artists, and corrupt officials, utilizing the very grifting skills his father taught him. The book is highly praised for its rapid-fire pacing, cinematic transitions, and sharp dialogue that draws direct comparisons to Elmore Leonard.
Middle Man (2013)
The second installment sees Rollie recruited into an elite, off-the-books military intelligence organization called SHADE. His mission is to track down millions of dollars looted from Saddam Hussein's caches during the Iraq War, which was reportedly smuggled out of the country inside the coffins of dead soldiers. After a sniper attack devastates his team, Rollie goes deep undercover to find the mastermind behind the conspiracy, leading him from Houston, Texas, to the dangerous streets of Erbil, Iraq. The story deals heavily with the themes of war profiteering and the lingering legacy of Rollie's father.
Standalone Novels and Short Stories
David Rich has also used his storytelling background to write stories outside of the Rollie Waters timeline, exploring different eras and settings.
The Mirrored Palace (2020)
This standalone novel is an atmospheric historical adventure set in 1852. It centers on Sir Richard Francis Burton, the real-world explorer, spy, and linguist. At the start of the book, Burton is living in an opium den, grieving the tragic death of a Persian woman he loved. He is recruited by a British spymaster for a dangerous mission: to infiltrate the Hajj to Medina in disguise to rescue a woman from a high-security harem. Rich weaves real historical details from Burton's journals with a fictionalized, suspenseful espionage plot, creating a detailed and romantic mystery.
"Sure Thing" in New Haven Noir (2017)
For a shorter sample of Rich's crime writing, readers can look to the anthology New Haven Noir, edited by Amy Bloom and published by Akashic Books. Rich's contribution, a short story titled "Sure Thing", is set around the Long Wharf theatre and waterfront area in New Haven, Connecticut. The story is a classic noir piece that features an actress caught up in local crime, gambling, and deceit, showing the author's ability to create localized suspense.
What to Know Before You Start: The Screenplay Connection
When reading David Rich, it helps to understand how his professional background influences his prose. Before writing books, Rich had a successful career in Hollywood as a screenwriter and playwright. He wrote the screenplay for the 1989 action-buddy film Renegades, starring Kiefer Sutherland, and wrote episodes for popular action shows like MacGyver and Stargate SG-1. Additionally, he has an extensive legal background, having worked as an Assistant Attorney General and serving as a judge pro tem for the Maricopa County Superior Court. These experiences combine to give his books their distinctive style: the legal career provides realistic procedural details, while his screenwriting background ensures that his books are highly visual, rely heavily on snappy, character-revealing dialogue, and maintain a fast, cinematic pace.