Adrian Magson books

Adrian Magson is a British crime and thriller author of over 40 novels, best known for the Inspector Lucas Rocco series set in 1960s France and the Marc Portman spy thrillers.

Anthologies

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Killer Fiction: 11 Short Stories of Killers, Fixers, and P.I.s 2010 Buy
The Mammoth Book of Best British Crime 8 2011 Buy
True Brit Grit 2011 Buy

Cruxys Solutions Investigations Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
The Locker 2016 Buy
The Bid 2017 Buy

Gonzales & Vaslik Investigations Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
The Locker 2016 Buy
The Drone 2021 Buy

Harry Tate Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Red Station 2010 Buy
Tracers 2011 Buy
Deception 2011 Buy
Retribution 2013 Buy
Execution 2013 Buy
Terminal Black 2020 Buy

Inspector Lucas Rocco Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Death on the Marais / Rocco and the Echoes of War 2011 Buy
Death on the Rive Nord 2011 N/A
Death on the Rive Nord / Rocco and the Stranger 2011 Buy
Death on the Pont Noir / Rocco and the Black Bridge 2012 Buy
Death at the Clos Du Lac / Rocco and the Lake of Secrets 2013 Buy
Death at the Clos du Lac: 4 2013 N/A
Rocco and the Snow Angel 2015 N/A
Rocco and the Nightingale 2017 Buy
Rocco and the Price of Lies 2019 Buy
Death at the Old Asylum 2021 Buy
Death on the Marais 2011 N/A
Death on the Pont Noir 2012 N/A
Death at the Clos Du Lac 2013 N/A

Marc Portman Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
The Watchman 2014 Buy
Close Quarters 2015 Buy
Hard Cover 2016 Buy
Dark Asset 2017 Buy
A Hostile State 2021 Buy

Marc Portman / The Lone Mercenary Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
The Watchman 2014 Buy
Close Quarters 2015 Buy
Hard Cover 2016 Buy
Dark Asset 2017 Buy
A Hostile State 2021 Buy

Non-Fiction

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Write On!: The Writer’s Help Book 2011 Buy

Riley Gavin & Frank Palmer Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
No Peace for the Wicked 2004 Buy
No Help for the Dying 2005 Buy
No Sleep for the Dead 2007 Buy
No Tears for the Lost 2007 Buy
No Kiss for the Devil 2008 Buy
No Time for Regrets 2024 Buy

Short Story Collections

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Shades of Mayhem, Vol. 1 2012 Buy
Shades of Mayhem, Vol. 2 2012 Buy

Standalone Novels

Title Published Buy on Amazon
The Lost Patrol 2002 Buy
Smart Moves 2013 Buy
Killing Waters 2023 Buy

Adrian Magson is a British author who has built a reputation for well-crafted crime fiction and spy thrillers since his first novel appeared in 2002. He lives in the Forest of Dean and has written across several series, each with a distinct flavor. His Inspector Lucas Rocco books are police procedurals set in 1960s rural France, often compared to the Maigret novels for their atmospheric settings and methodical detective work. The Marc Portman thrillers follow an American shadow operative who protects spies in dangerous situations, while the Harry Tate series features an MI5 agent dealing with the fallout of botched operations.

Before turning to novels, Magson wrote extensively for magazines, producing short stories and features for national and international publications. He was shortlisted for the Crime Writers’ Association Debut Dagger Award. His earlier Riley Gavin and Frank Palmer series paired a young investigative journalist with a former military policeman turned private investigator, establishing the character-driven approach he has carried through all his work.

With over forty books across crime, spy, and thriller genres, Magson has proven he can handle very different kinds of stories. Whether the setting is a muddy village in Picardy, the backstreets of London, or a hostile foreign capital, his writing stays grounded and focused on the people caught up in dangerous situations.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Adrian Magson written?

Adrian Magson has written 48 books across eleven series.

What was Adrian Magson's first book?

Adrian Magson’s first book is The Lost Patrol, published in 2002.

What is Adrian Magson's writing background before novels?

Before publishing novels, Adrian Magson wrote short stories and features for women’s magazines and had countless pieces published in national and international publications. He was also shortlisted for the Crime Writers’ Association Debut Dagger Award, which helped launch his novel-writing career.

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