Alistair MacLean's UNACO books in order

The complete Alistair MacLean's UNACO series in reading order. Ten action thrillers written by Alastair MacNeill, based on outlines by Alistair MacLean.

Reading order

# Title Published Author Buy on Amazon
1 Hostage Tower 1980 Alastair MacNeill Buy
2 Air Force One Is Down 1981 Alastair MacNeill Buy
3 Death Train 1988 Alastair MacNeill Buy
4 Night Watch 1989 Alastair MacNeill Buy
5 Red Alert 1990 Alastair MacNeill Buy
6 Time of the Assassins 1991 Alastair MacNeill Buy
7 Dead Halt 1992 Alastair MacNeill Buy
8 Code Breaker 1993 Alastair MacNeill Buy
9 Prime Target 1997 Alastair MacNeill Buy
10 Borrowed Time 1998 Alastair MacNeill Buy

The UNACO series, published under the “Alistair MacLean’s” banner, is a ten-book action thriller series written by Alastair MacNeill. UNACO stands for the United Nations Anti-Crime Organization, a fictional covert agency whose agents tackle international threats. The series began with Hostage Tower (1980) and Air Force One Is Down (1981), both based on story outlines by the famous Scottish thriller writer Alistair MacLean.

After MacLean’s death in 1987, MacNeill continued writing the series on his own, producing eight more novels through Borrowed Time (1998). The books feature globe-spanning plots involving hijackings, assassinations, terrorism, and espionage. They are written in the fast-paced style of MacLean’s own thrillers, with short chapters and frequent action set pieces. Each book is a standalone story featuring the UNACO team, so they can be read in any order, though the reading order above follows publication sequence.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Alistair MacLean's UNACO series?

There are ten books in the Alistair MacLean’s UNACO series, published between 1980 and 1998.

What is the first book in the Alistair MacLean's UNACO series?

The first book in the Alistair MacLean’s UNACO series is Hostage Tower, published in 1980.

What does UNACO stand for?

UNACO stands for the United Nations Anti-Crime Organization. It is a fictional covert task force created by Alistair MacLean for this series. The agents of UNACO handle international threats ranging from hostage situations to terrorist plots.

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