Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Secret Servant | 1980 | Gavin Lyall | Buy |
| 2 | The Conduct of Major Maxim | 1982 | Gavin Lyall | Buy |
| 3 | The Crocus List | 1986 | Gavin Lyall | Buy |
| 4 | Uncle Target | 1988 | Gavin Lyall | Buy |
The Harry Maxim series follows Major Harry Maxim, a battle-scarred former SAS officer assigned as intelligence adviser at 10 Downing Street. Working with George Harbinger, the Prime Minister’s private secretary, Maxim gets pulled into Cold War espionage operations involving MI5, MI6, and Soviet intelligence.
The four books were published between 1980 and 1988. The Secret Servant (1980) introduced Maxim, and the character was originally developed for a proposed BBC television series. The books are tighter and more plot-driven than Lyall’s earlier adventure thrillers, reflecting the shift in spy fiction during the 1980s.