Books On Board

E.R. Yatscoff Books in Order

  • 12 Books
  • 2001 – 2018 Published

Amazon links here are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reading order
1 of 1 reading orders shown

Where to Start Reading E.R. Yatscoff

For readers new to E.R. Yatscoff's high-stakes worlds, the best place to start is with the Firefighter Crime Series. Unlike traditional police procedurals, these stories center on the firefighters themselves. You can dive in with Fire Dream (sometimes associated with his early work, Old Flames), which introduces Vancouver fire captain Gerry Ormond. If you prefer high-intensity disaster settings, the standalone thriller Final Response makes an excellent alternative gateway, focusing on Fire Captain Jack Sellars navigating an evacuated Canadian city under a brutal polar vortex.

For readers who enjoy historical crime and coming-of-age grit, the standalone novel The Rumrunner's Boy is the recommended starting point. Drawing from Yatscoff's own family history, it offers a fascinating look at Prohibition-era smuggling in Canada.

Firefighter Crime Series in Order

This is Yatscoff's signature series, focusing on Gerry Ormond as he transitions from a Vancouver fire captain dealing with arson to the Fire Chief of Niagara Falls. The primary books should be read in sequence to follow Ormond's career and personal evolution:

  • Fire Dream (2023) / Old Flames (2013) – Gerry Ormond is thrust into a dangerous web of arson, blackmail, and media scrutiny. (Note: Old Flames serves as an early iteration or precursor to the revamped Fire Dream release).
  • Man on Fire – Gerry Ormond steps into his new role as the Niagara Falls Fire Chief, only to face fresh conspiracies and threats.

Although Final Response (2018) is often categorized within his firefighter crime fiction range, it features a different protagonist, Captain Jack Sellars, and functions as a standalone adventure.

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Beyond his primary firefighter series, E.R. Yatscoff has written several suspense thrillers, juvenile adventure stories, and historical mysteries. Reading them in order of publication shows the author's development, though they can all be enjoyed independently:

  • Odd Jobs (2001)
  • Gerry's War (2011) – A suspense thriller exploring extortion and the "Red Mafiya" in the life of a dive-tour operator along the Mayan Riviera.
  • Ransom (2011) – A juvenile adventure novel focusing on courage and grit in real-world conflicts.
  • The Far Bank (2012)
  • Archie's Gold (2013) – A youth mystery about twelve-year-old Archie Crane searching for his estranged father.
  • Voodoo Bully (2015)
  • Out On A Limb (2015)
  • The Blob...in My Shoes (2015)
  • Teeth of the Cocodrilo (2017) – An exotic suspense thriller set in the Mayan Riviera following Aaron Landers.
  • The Rumrunner's Boy (2018) – A Prohibition-era historical crime novel, which was named a finalist for the Arthur Ellis Award.

What to Know Before You Start

E.R. Yatscoff spent 32 years with Edmonton Fire Rescue, retiring as a station captain. Because of this background, his firefighter novels emphasize realistic protocols, gear, and psychological tolls rather than Hollywood-style action tropes. Additionally, Yatscoff's global adventures—including backpacking through more than two dozen countries—frequently influence the settings of his standalone thrillers, such as the Mayan Riviera backdrops in Teeth of the Cocodrilo and Gerry's War, or the Colombian jungle setting of The NIKE Birds.

Frequently Asked

What is E.R. Yatscoff's primary book series?

His primary series is the Firefighter Crime Series, which centers on the character of Gerry Ormond, a fire captain who encounters arson, corruption, and crime.

Are the firefighter novels realistic?

Yes. Yatscoff drew directly from his 32 years of experience as a firefighter and station captain with Edmonton Fire Rescue to ensure the technical details and hazards are highly authentic.

How are Old Flames and Fire Dream related?

Old Flames (originally published in 2013) and Fire Dream (released in 2023) both feature the protagonist Gerry Ormond and deal with the same core story of a firefighter facing secrets from his past. Fire Dream serves as the updated, official first book in his Firefighter Crime Series.

Is The Rumrunner's Boy based on a true story?

The book is a work of historical fiction, but it was highly inspired by Yatscoff's own family history, specifically his grandfather's exploits as a rumrunner during Prohibition.

Do you need to read E.R. Yatscoff's books in order?

No. Except for the direct continuation from Fire Dream to Man on Fire, almost all of Yatscoff's novels (including his firefighter thrillers like Final Response and juvenile mysteries like Archie's Gold) are designed to be read as standalones.