Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Enemy Within | 2007 | Raymond Benson | Buy |
| 2 | Damnation | 2012 | Raymond Benson | Buy |
The Hitman novels bring the world of IO Interactive’s stealth video game series to the page. The games follow Agent 47, a cloned assassin with a barcode tattooed on the back of his head, as he carries out hits for a shadowy organization called the International Contract Agency. Raymond Benson’s novels expand on that premise, placing Agent 47 in original storylines that fit within the broader game continuity.
Enemy Within (2007) was the first Hitman novel, followed by Damnation in 2012. Unlike Benson’s Metal Gear Solid adaptations, which retold game plots directly, the Hitman books created new scenarios for Agent 47. This gave Benson more freedom to develop the character and explore the moral ambiguity of a protagonist who kills for a living. The books appealed to fans of the games who wanted more stories set in that world, as well as readers who enjoy assassin-focused thrillers.