Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 Months to Live | 2023 | Mike Lupica | Buy |
| 2 | Hard To Kill / 8 Months Left | 2024 | Mike Lupica | Buy |
| 3 | Hard to Kill | 2024 | Mike Lupica | N/A |
| 4 | Never Say Die | 2025 | Mike Lupica | N/A |
| 5 | The Hamptons Lawyer / Never Say Die | 2025 | Mike Lupica | Buy |
The Jane Smith series is Mike Lupica’s most recent thriller creation. Starting with 12 Months to Live in 2023, the series follows a protagonist whose cases come with life-or-death urgency. Hard to Kill and Never Say Die continue the momentum, with titles that emphasize Smith’s resilience and the danger she faces. The Hamptons setting adds a layer of wealth and privilege to the crime fiction.
Lupica spent most of his career as a sports columnist and author of sports novels for young readers. The Jane Smith books represent a shift into adult crime fiction. 12 Months to Live sets a literal countdown for the protagonist, giving the first book a ticking-clock structure that drives the pace. The series has been published through James Patterson’s imprint.
Five entries have appeared between 2023 and 2025, with some titles released under alternate names for different markets. Hard To Kill / 8 Months Left (2024) and The Hamptons Lawyer / Never Say Die (2025) are dual-titled editions. Readers new to the series should start with 12 Months to Live, as the later books build on relationships and events established there.