Is there a difference between The Pattern of Fear and The Ascendant?

No. The Pattern of Fear and The Ascendant are the exact same novel. The book was titled The Pattern of Fear in the UK and some international markets, while it was published as The Ascendant in the United States and Canada.

Should I read Drew Chapman's books in order?

Yes, you should read them in order. The King of Fear builds directly on the events, character dynamics, and government alliances established in The Ascendant .

Do I need to read the three parts of The King of Fear separately?

No. The three parts were a digital serialization experiment released in 2015 and early 2016. The complete, single-volume novel of The King of Fear contains all three parts compiled together, which is the easiest way to read the story today.

Why does the author use two different names?

The author publishes his novels under the pen name Drew Chapman , but he is credited under his legal name, Andrew Chapman , for his television and film work, including shows like The Assets , Legends , and The Resident .

Will there be a third Garrett Reilly book?

There is currently no news regarding a third book in the series. The author has been working extensively as a writer and executive producer in television, leaving the Garrett Reilly series as a completed duology for the time being.

Drew Chapman Books in Order

The Recommended Garrett Reilly Reading Order

Drew Chapman's thrillers are built on tight, chronological continuity that maps directly to their publication dates. Because the character development of protagonist Garrett Reilly and the unfolding economic conspiracies carry over from one book to the next, you should read them in order. Skipping ahead will spoil the major plot points of the debut.

Here is the recommended reading path for Drew Chapman's books:

The Ascendant (also published as The Pattern of Fear) (2014)
The King of Fear (2016)

What to Know About the Series Titles

If you are looking for Drew Chapman's debut novel, you might run into two different titles: The Ascendant and The Pattern of Fear. These are the exact same book. The title The Pattern of Fear was used for certain international and UK editions, whereas The Ascendant is the title under which it was primarily published in North America by Simon & Schuster. You only need to read one of them to start the series.

The Core Books: A Closer Look

1. The Ascendant / The Pattern of Fear (2014)

The series kicks off with a high-stakes premise that shifts the battlefield of global espionage from physical borders to financial networks. We are introduced to Garrett Reilly, a twenty-six-year-old bond trader working on Wall Street. Garrett is not a typical hero; he is a rebellious, self-destructive genius with a photographic memory and an uncanny, almost supernatural ability to spot hidden patterns within massive streams of digital data.

While staring at his screens, Garrett notices an anomalous, highly coordinated two-billion-dollar sell-off of U.S. Treasury bonds. Realizing that this is not a normal market fluctuation but a deliberate attack aimed at destabilizing the United States economy, he raises the alarm. His discovery quickly makes him a target of both domestic intelligence agencies and foreign operatives. Recruited by the U.S. military to lead a highly specialized team, Garrett must transition from analyzing numbers in a cozy office to surviving a deadly game of cat-and-mouse that spans the globe.

2. The King of Fear (2016)

In the second installment, Garrett Reilly returns to face an even more dangerous adversary. A mysterious and shadowy cabal launches a series of attacks designed to trigger a total collapse of the global financial system. As financial markets descend into chaos and widespread paranoia takes hold, Garrett is forced back into action to trace the source of the disruption.

This novel ramps up the geopolitical tension, focusing heavily on economic warfare, algorithm-driven combat, and the modern realities of cybersecurity. Garrett must push his pattern-recognition skills to the absolute limit while trying to determine who he can trust in a world where governments and corporations are puppeted by hidden players.

The King of Fear Digital Serialization Experiment

When Drew Chapman and his publisher, Simon & Schuster, prepared to release The King of Fear, they decided to try an experimental digital release strategy. Instead of dropping the massive print novel all at once, they divided the book into three digital installments (e-novellas) that were released sequentially to build anticipation among digital readers:

The King of Fear: Part One (Released in June 2015)
The King of Fear: Part Two (Released in September 2015)
The King of Fear: Part Three (Released in January 2016)

Shortly after the release of the third digital installment, the complete compiled novel was published in physical hardcover, paperback, and audiobook formats on February 16, 2016. If you are picking up the series today, you do not need to hunt down the individual digital parts. Simply buy or borrow the full novel of The King of Fear, which contains all three parts seamlessly integrated into a single book.

From Screenplays to Thrillers: Drew Chapman's Background

Drew Chapman’s fast-paced, highly visual prose style is heavily influenced by his long career in Hollywood. Writing under his legal name, Andrew Chapman, he has worked extensively as a screenwriter, producer, and showrunner. Understanding his television and film work gives readers a great sense of the style they can expect in his novels:

The Assets: Andrew Chapman served as the showrunner and executive producer for this acclaimed eight-part Cold War miniseries on ABC, which detailed the real-life hunt for CIA mole Aldrich Ames.
Legends: He worked as a writer and co-executive producer on this TNT spy drama starring Sean Bean, which focused on deep-cover operatives.
Standoff: In the late 1990s, Chapman wrote and directed this independent action-drama film starring Robert Sean Leonard and Dennis Haysbert.
Studio Screenplays: Throughout his career, Chapman has written screenplays and developed projects for major studios including Disney, Fox, and Sony.

This extensive television background translates directly onto the page. The Garrett Reilly novels read like cinematic thrillers, utilizing rapid-fire dialogue, short chapters, multiple shifting perspectives, and a relentless narrative drive reminiscent of hit television shows like 24 and Homeland.

What to Know Before You Start

Before you dive into Chapman's books, keep these helpful reading tips in mind:

Standalone or Continuity? While the main financial mystery of the first book is resolved, the character relationships, Garrett's personal struggles, and his ongoing friction with government agencies carry over directly into the sequel. We highly recommend reading the books in order to appreciate the full character arc.
Tone and Themes: Expect a narrative focused on technological paranoia, algorithm-based economic threats, and the hidden mechanics of global finance. It's a perfect match for fans of tech-thrillers, political conspiracies, and financial suspense.
Is the series complete? Currently, the Garrett Reilly series is a duology. Drew Chapman has focused primarily on his high-profile television writing and producing career in recent years, meaning no third book is currently scheduled. However, the two existing novels tell a satisfying, action-packed story.