Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The 9th Man / The Ninth Man | 2023 | Grant Blackwood | Buy |
| 2 | The Ninth Man | 2023 | Grant Blackwood | N/A |
| 3 | Red Star Falling | 2024 | Grant Blackwood | Buy |
The Luke Daniels series is a thriller spin-off co-written by Steve Berry and Grant Blackwood. The character Luke Daniels first appeared in Berry’s popular Cotton Malone series before being given his own set of adventures. The 9th Man (2023) launched the series, throwing Luke into a conspiracy that tests his skills as a former intelligence operative. Red Star Falling (2024) continued the action with a new international threat.
Berry and Blackwood bring complementary strengths to the collaboration. Berry is known for his historical thrillers, while Blackwood has co-written books with Tom Clancy and other major thriller authors. Together they keep the Luke Daniels books fast-paced and grounded in real-world espionage tradecraft. The series is a good entry point for readers who enjoy spy fiction and want shorter, focused stories compared to the longer Cotton Malone novels.