Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vulcan’s Forge | 1998 | Jack Du Brul | Buy |
| 2 | Charon’s Landing | 1999 | Jack Du Brul | Buy |
| 3 | The Medusa Stone | 2000 | Jack Du Brul | Buy |
| 4 | Pandora’s Curse | 2001 | Jack Du Brul | Buy |
| 5 | River Of Ruin | 2002 | Jack Du Brul | Buy |
| 6 | Deep Fire Rising | 2003 | Jack Du Brul | Buy |
| 7 | Havoc | 2006 | Jack Du Brul | Buy |
| 8 | The Lightning Stones | 2015 | Jack Du Brul | Buy |
Philip Mercer is not your typical thriller hero. A mining engineer and geologist by training, he brings technical knowledge most action protagonists lack, whether that means understanding what a volcanic eruption will do to a region’s water supply or how to rig an explosion in a collapsed mine shaft. Du Brul grounds each novel in real geology and geography, giving the books a weight that sets them apart from more generic action fare.
The series opens with Vulcan’s Forge and moves Mercer through a run of increasingly ambitious scenarios over seven more books, ending with The Lightning Stones in 2015. The gaps between books grew longer toward the end of the run, but each novel stands up on its own while rewarding readers who follow the character from the beginning. Du Brul’s background in adventure fiction shows in how he manages pacing, keeping the action moving without sacrificing the technical detail that makes Mercer feel credible.
Fans of Clive Cussler’s Dirk Pitt novels or Vince Flynn’s Mitch Rapp books will find a lot to like here. Mercer shares their competence and resourcefulness without being a spy or soldier, which gives the series its own distinct flavour.