Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Skydancer | 1987 | Geoffrey Archer | Buy |
| 2 | Shadow Hunter | 1989 | Geoffrey Archer | Buy |
| 3 | Eagle Trap | 1993 | Geoffrey Archer | Buy |
| 4 | Scorpion Trail | 1995 | Geoffrey Archer | Buy |
| 5 | Java Spider | 1996 | Geoffrey Archer | Buy |
| 6 | Dark Angel | 2004 | Geoffrey Archer | Buy |
Geoffrey Archer’s six standalone novels were published between 1987 and 2004, covering a span of Cold War and post-Cold War geopolitics that he knew well from his journalism career. Skydancer deals with nuclear weapons and Cold War espionage, while later books like Java Spider and Scorpion Trail move into the conflicts and instabilities of the 1990s.
Each novel is independent of the others, with its own cast of characters and a distinct setting that reflects a specific international tension or conflict. Eagle Trap is set against the backdrop of arms dealing in Germany; Shadow Hunter involves submarine warfare. Dark Angel, the last of the standalones, appeared in 2004 after the Sam Packer trilogy had concluded.
These books suit readers who want intelligent British thrillers grounded in real-world events. Archer brings a journalist’s eye for the political machinery behind the plots, and the standalone format means any of the six is a fine place to start.