Anthologies#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Tales of Terror |
1986 |
Buy |
| The Plot Thickens |
1997 |
Buy |
| A Poison That Leaves No Trace: With Mystery Jigsaw Puzzle |
2002 |
Buy |
| In the Shadow of the Master |
2003 |
Buy |
| The Best American Mystery Stories 2004 |
2004 |
Buy |
| The Rich and the Dead |
2011 |
Buy |
| MatchUp |
2017 |
Buy |
Joe Ryker Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| The Sniper |
1974 |
Buy |
| The Hammer of God |
1974 |
Buy |
| The Terrorists |
1974 |
Buy |
| The Agent of Death / The Death Squad |
1975 |
Buy |
| Child Killer |
1975 |
Buy |
| The Night of the Phoenix |
1975 |
Buy |
| Ryker the Sadist |
1975 |
Buy |
| The Death Squad |
1975 |
N/A |
| Motive For Murder |
1975 |
Buy |
| Cannibal |
1975 |
Buy |
| The Smack Man |
1975 |
Buy |
| The Slasher |
1976 |
Buy |
John Corey Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| The Book Case |
2012 |
Buy |
| Plum Island |
1997 |
Buy |
| The Lion’s Game |
2000 |
Buy |
| Nachtflug |
2004 |
N/A |
| Night Fall |
2004 |
Buy |
| Wild Fire |
2006 |
Buy |
| The Lion |
2010 |
Buy |
| The Panther |
2012 |
Buy |
| Radiant Angel |
2015 |
N/A |
| Radiant Angel / A Quiet End |
2015 |
Buy |
| Maze |
2021 |
N/A |
| The Maze |
2022 |
Buy |
John Sutter Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| The Gold Coast |
1990 |
Buy |
| The Gate House |
2008 |
Buy |
Paul Brenner Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| The General’s Daughter |
1992 |
Buy |
| Up Country |
2002 |
Buy |
| The Panther |
2012 |
Buy |
Rosato & DiNunzio Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Accused |
2013 |
Buy |
| Betrayed |
2014 |
Buy |
| Corrupted |
2015 |
Buy |
| Damaged |
2016 |
Buy |
| Exposed |
2017 |
Buy |
| Feared |
2018 |
Buy |
Scott Brodie & Maggie Taylor Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| The Deserter |
2019 |
Buy |
| Blood Lines |
2023 |
Buy |
| The Tin Men |
2025 |
Buy |
Short Stories/Novellas#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Death Benefits |
2012 |
Buy |
| Rendezvous |
2012 |
Buy |
Standalone Novels#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| The Quest |
1975 |
Buy |
| By the Rivers of Babylon |
1978 |
Buy |
| Mayday |
1979 |
Buy |
| Cathedral |
1981 |
Buy |
| The Talbot Odyssey |
1984 |
Buy |
| Word of Honor |
1985 |
Buy |
| The Charm School |
1988 |
Buy |
| Spencerville |
1994 |
Buy |
| The Cuban Affair |
2017 |
Buy |
Nelson DeMille has been writing thrillers for over fifty years, starting with the Joe Ryker series in the mid-1970s and building a career that spans 56 books. His most well-known work is the John Corey series, which follows a wisecracking former NYPD homicide detective who takes on counterterrorism cases for the FBI. Starting with Plum Island in 1997, the Corey books mix procedural investigation with DeMille’s dry humor and a willingness to tackle real-world threats including Libyan terrorists and nuclear plots.
Beyond John Corey, DeMille has written several other series and a strong lineup of standalone novels. The Paul Brenner books follow a military investigator, beginning with The General’s Daughter, which was adapted into a 1999 film. The Gold Coast and The Gate House form the John Sutter duology, set among Long Island’s old-money families. His early Joe Ryker books were pulpy crime novels published under pseudonyms, a far cry from the polished thrillers that came later. DeMille also started the Scott Brodie & Maggie Taylor series in 2019 with The Deserter, co-written with his son Alex, carrying his legacy into a new generation of readers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many books has Nelson DeMille written?
Nelson DeMille has written 56 books across nine series.
What was Nelson DeMille's first book?
Nelson DeMille’s first book is The Hammer of God, published in 1974.
What is Nelson DeMille best known for?
Nelson DeMille is best known for his John Corey series, which follows a former NYPD detective turned FBI contract agent, and for standalone thrillers like The Charm School, Word of Honor, and The General’s Daughter. He has been writing since the 1970s and has sold millions of copies worldwide.