Joe Wilderness books in order

The complete reading order for John Lawton's Joe Wilderness Cold War spy series, following a London thief turned intelligence operative through divided Berlin and beyond.
Series · Spy Thriller · Historical Fiction · Espionage

Reading order

# Title Published Author Buy on Amazon
1 Sweet Sunday 2002 John Lawton Buy
2 An Italian Job 2016 John Lawton Buy

The Joe Wilderness series follows a working-class Londoner through the shadowy world of Cold War espionage. Joe Wilderness begins as a teenage thief during the Blitz, stealing from bombed-out buildings. His quick wits and talent for languages bring him to the attention of British intelligence, launching a career that takes him from the rubble of postwar Berlin to Moscow at the height of superpower tensions.

These novels combine spy thriller plotting with Lawton’s characteristic historical detail. The series depicts the Berlin Tunnel operation, the building of the Berlin Wall, and the dangerous game of trading captured agents between East and West. Wilderness is a morally ambiguous protagonist—a survivor who uses charm and cunning to navigate between the intelligence services of multiple nations.

The main series consists of four novels. Sweet Sunday and An Italian Job are shorter companion works featuring the same character.

Frequently Asked Questions

What order should I read the Joe Wilderness books?

Read the Joe Wilderness series starting with Then We Take Berlin (2013), followed by The Unfortunate Englishman (2016), Hammer to Fall (2020), and Moscow Exile (2023). Sweet Sunday and An Italian Job are shorter works that can be read after the main novels.

Who is Joe Wilderness?

Joe Wilderness is a young man from London’s East End who grew up as a petty thief during the Blitz. His street smarts and linguistic abilities catch the attention of British intelligence, leading to a career as a spy during the Cold War’s most dangerous years.

Is Joe Wilderness connected to Inspector Troy?

The Joe Wilderness books exist in the same fictional world as the Inspector Troy series, and some characters appear in both. However, the Wilderness books focus on espionage rather than police work, and can be read independently.

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