D.V. Berkom Books in Order

Where to Start with D.V. Berkom

D.V. Berkom is best known for her high-stakes, fast-paced thrillers featuring independent women who know how to survive. For newcomers, there are two main entry points, depending on your preferred style of thriller:

• For gritty spy espionage and action: Start with the Leine Basso Thriller Series. You can begin chronologically with the prequel novel, A Killing Truth, or start with the first published book, Serial Date.
• For runaway-on-the-road suspense: Start with the Kate Jones Thriller Series. The best starting point is Kate Jones Thrillers, Vol. 1, which compiles the four original novellas that establish Kate's backstory.
• For historical adventure: If you prefer a historical setting, start with the Claire Whitcomb Western Series, starting with Retribution.

Leine Basso Thriller Series Reading Order

The Leine Basso series follows a former assassin who tries to leave her past behind but repeatedly gets pulled back into the world of espionage, human trafficking, and international crime. Leine Basso is often described by fans as a female counterpart to Jack Reacher.

While most books feature self-contained plots, the character development and recurring relationships build from book to book. Here is the recommended reading order, starting with the prequel:

1. A Killing Truth (2016) - The prequel that explores Leine's origin story.
2. Serial Date (2012)
3. Bad Traffick (2012)
4. The Body Market (2015)
5. Cargo (2015)
6. The Last Deception (2017)
7. Dark Return (2018)
8. Absolution (2019)
9. Dakota Burn (2019)
10. Shadow of the Jaguar (2020)
11. A Plague of Traitors (2021)
12. Fatal Objective (2022)
13. Terminal Threat (2023)
14. Final Encounter (2024)

Chronological vs. Publication Order for Leine Basso

A Killing Truth was published in 2016 (after Cargo) but takes place chronologically before the events of Serial Date. Readers who want to understand Leine’s mindset, training, and early career path from the very beginning should read the prequel first. However, reading in publication order is also completely viable, as the author wrote the prequel specifically to satisfy fans' curiosity about Leine's past.

Kate Jones Thriller Series Reading Order

The Kate Jones series blends travel, exotic locations (especially Mexico), and high-stakes survival as Kate runs from a powerful drug lord and tries to rebuild her life. The series began as short serialized novellas that were later consolidated. For the best experience, read them in this order:

1. Kate Jones Thriller Series, Vol. 1 (2012) - This collection contains the four essential introductory novellas: Bad Spirits, Dead of Winter, Death Rites, and Touring for Death.
2. Cruising for Death (2012)
3. Yucatán Dead (2013)
4. A One Way Ticket to Dead (2014)
5. Vigilante Dead (2016)

Claire Whitcomb Western Series Reading Order

Stepping away from modern spy thrillers, Berkom also writes historical fiction. This series centers on Claire Whitcomb, a tough-as-nails gunslinger in the late 19th-century American West who seeks vengeance and justice. The books should be read in chronological order:

1. Retribution (2020)
2. Gunslinger (2020)
3. Legend (2021)

Mackenzie Reynolds Thriller Series Reading Order

This series introduces Mackenzie "Mac" Reynolds, a close protection specialist who survives a black-ops conspiracy and goes on a quest for revenge across the globe. This fast-moving trilogy includes:

1. False Dawn (2026)
2. Fractured Dawn (2026)
3. Final Dawn (2026)