Joe Ryker books in order

Q: "How many books are in the Joe Ryker series?"

"There are twelve books in the Joe Ryker series, published between 1974 and 1976."

Q: "What is the first book in the Joe Ryker series?"

"The first book in the Joe Ryker series is The Sniper, published in 1974."

Q: "Are the Joe Ryker books still in print?"

"Many of the Joe Ryker books are available as used copies or digital editions, though they have been out of print for decades. DeMille originally published them under pseudonyms in the mid-1970s. They represent his earliest work and are quite different from his later, more polished thrillers."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	The Sniper	1974	Nelson DeMille	Buy
2	The Hammer of God	1974	Nelson DeMille	Buy
3	The Terrorists	1974	Nelson DeMille	Buy
4	The Agent of Death / The Death Squad	1975	Nelson DeMille	Buy
5	Child Killer	1975	Nelson DeMille	Buy
6	The Night of the Phoenix	1975	Nelson DeMille	Buy
7	Ryker the Sadist	1975	Nelson DeMille	Buy
8	The Death Squad	1975	Nelson DeMille	N/A
9	Motive For Murder	1975	Nelson DeMille	Buy
10	Cannibal	1975	Nelson DeMille	Buy
11	The Smack Man	1975	Nelson DeMille	Buy
12	The Slasher	1976	Nelson DeMille	Buy

The Joe Ryker series was Nelson DeMille’s first published work, with twelve books released between 1974 and 1976. Written under pseudonyms early in DeMille’s career, these are gritty crime novels set in New York City. Ryker is a no-nonsense detective who takes on violent cases involving snipers, terrorists, and serial killers.

The books are products of their era, written quickly for the paperback market. Titles like The Sniper, Cannibal, and The Slasher give a sense of the pulpy tone. While they lack the sophistication of DeMille’s later work, they show the early development of a writer who would go on to become one of America’s top thriller authors.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Joe Ryker series?

There are twelve books in the Joe Ryker series, published between 1974 and 1976.

What is the first book in the Joe Ryker series?

The first book in the Joe Ryker series is The Sniper, published in 1974.

Are the Joe Ryker books still in print?

Many of the Joe Ryker books are available as used copies or digital editions, though they have been out of print for decades. DeMille originally published them under pseudonyms in the mid-1970s. They represent his earliest work and are quite different from his later, more polished thrillers.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order