Andrew Peterson is the author of the Nathan McBride military thriller series. I came across this writer’s name while looking for books by authors in the same genre with similar characters as Lee Child’s Jack Reacher, Mark Greaney’s Gray Man, Ben Coes‘s Dewey Andreas, Tim Tigner‘s Kyle Achilles, and many others.
Once I got the first book, First to Kill, I couldn’t wait to read it. And by the end of the story, I ordered the rest of the series. I was hooked.
The author has an engaging writing style, the main character is tough as nails, with a lot of baggage in his past, and the stories in each book are quite addictive if you like this genre.
Here is the Andrew Peterson Nathan McBride series in order for his popular thriller series. The book list is updated with new releases as soon as we hear about them from the author or publisher.
New Andrew Peterson Book
Nathan McBride Series
- First to Kill (book 1), 2008
- Forced to Kill (book 2), 2009
- Option to Kill (book 3), 2012
- Ready to Kill (book 4), 2014
- Contract to Kill (book 5), 2015
- Right to Kill (book 6), 2016
- Hired to Kill (book 7), 2018
Nathan McBride Books Synopsis
First to Kill
Nathan McBride, an ex-CIA operative had his career end some 10 years ago due to a failed mission in Nicaragua. These days, Nathan he is working in the private sector. One day he gets a call from Frank Ortega, former FBI director, who wants Nathan to find a missing operative and some Semtex explosives that disappeared as well. Why the major favor? Because the missing agent is the director’s own grandson. Now Nathan will use all his prior knowledge to not only find the missing guy and explosives but also to detangle a major conspiracy, and he doesn’t shy away from torture to get what he wants either.
Forced to Kill
Fourteen years ago, Nathan was the sole survivor (a heavily mutilated at that) of Nicaraguan interrogator Montez de Oca, who tortured countless others before disappearing. Now it seems Montez is back and this time on US soil where he prepares for something big. And it’s up to Nathan to stop him once and for all before it’s too late.
Option to Kill
When 12-years-old Lauren sends Nathan a strange message, it looks like she has been kidnapped while being in the federal witness security program. Once Nathan rescues her, it is clear that a whole lot of people want her back. Does she know something that puts bad guys in danger? Or does she have something that belongs to them? Whatever it is, it is Nathan’s job to keep her safe before she is returned to her mother.
Ready to Kill
Nathan has a dire past with a mission in Nicaragua; after all, it is here that he was tortured over a decade ago by Montez de Oca. And maybe because of that past, current CIA director Rebecca Cantrell is asking him and his friend Harvey Fontana to go back to that horrible place to resolve a very sensitive situation. Nathan’s scars are not only physical but also psychological, so it will take him all his wits and courage to go back and face his demons once again.
Contract to Kill
Toby Haynes is at a loss. He not only witnessed a double murder, but he also his boss, Tanner Mason, is the one responsible for the killings. So he calls Nathan and asks for his help. What Nathan MacBride and his partner and friend, Harv, discover goes way above anyone’s paygrade. There is a hush-hush military contract for a top-secret operation to deal with a surge of crime around the US-Mexican border, and the double-killing was only part of a much larger plan. Some very powerful politicians are involved, which means Nathan and Harvey must go against some of the worst they’ve seen so far.
Right to Kill
Nathan and Harv have built a succcessul security firm, where they installed security alarms to lots of people, including Linda Genneken, retired CIA operative. When the alarm goes off in her home, Nathan and Harv arrive just on time to save her from being kidnapped.Some time ago, Nathan was on a mission with Genneken in South America, and her amost being kidnapped might be due to that old op. But it could also be related to some murders happening all around South America. Thankfully Linda hasn’t lost her skill, and she can defend herself and her husband quite well while being assisted by Nathan.
Hired to Kill
A terrorist cell is active in the United States, and it seems they are targeting Nathan’s family. Now with the help of Vincent Beaumont, an old friend and the CEO of America’s largest private military contractor, Nathan has to find and neutralize the terrorist cell before they do huge damage that could mean thousands of Americans’ deaths.
Andrew Peterson Biography
The bestselling author Andrew Peterson (not the musician with the same name) was born and raised in San Diego, California. He attended La Jolla High School, and after graduation, he enrolled at the University of Oklahoma, from where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Architecture.
He first started writing in 1990. He sold his first short story in 1992 to San Diego Writers Monthly. The story was titled Mr. Haggarty’s Stop.
It was only after 2005 when he met Ridley Pearson at the annual writer’s conference that he decided to become serious about writing books. He was looking at writing books about Nathan McBride, a tough Marine sniper and former CIA operations officer who was badly tortured years ago, and who was feeling the aftereffects of that torture even today.
In 2008, Dorchester Publishing picked up the first book and released it in the mass-market paperback edition. After the publisher went out of business, Andrew Peterson got back the rights of his book. A few years later, in 2011 the author started working with Thomas and Mercer. Next, in 2012, his debut novel was re-issued in multiple formats, including trade paperback, eBook, and audiobook.
First to Kill has been translated into at least seven languages and sold in other countries as well. So far each Nathan McBride book has featured the word “Kill” in the book title.
In 2011, bestselling author Andrew Peterson traveled with other authors like Sandra Brown, Kathy Reichs, Clive Cussler and Mark Bowden to Afghanistan as part of the 2011 USO tour, where he had a chance to thank the troops for their service.
As part of his contribution to the troops, Andrew is constantly donating books to those serving overseas, and so far he has sent over 3000 books to them. He is an accomplished marksman, and he has won many competitions throughout the Southwestern US.
Currently, he and his wife, Carla, live in Monterey County, California, with their two dogs, where he is busy writing his next thriller.
The Andrew Peterson series about Nathan McBride can be read out of order, although to get the gist of Nathan’s character traits and his evolution from book to book, it is best to read them in proper chronological (and publication order).
However, if you’ve started the series out of order, it’s no big deal. The author adds enough detail about Nathan (including his physical description) that you will be up to speed with the character in no time.
Who Is Nathan McBride
Nathan McBride is the hero of the Andrew Peterson book series featuring the complex character with a dark past. A trained marine, several years ago he was brutally tortured which left him both with physical and psychological scars. For example, his face has a huge scar in the shape of N, and that is a source of stares from everyone he comes across for the first time.
Also, he is often not sleeping well, has nightmares, and moments of his torture return at any given time.
At the same time, his deep torture gave birth to a dark entity within himself that he is now keenly aware of. That entity that Nathan called the Other thrives only on hatred and is only allowed out when the time is right.
Nathan can’t watch violent movies to this day.
Nathan was once a trained marine sniper in the Marine Corps, but he has retired from the CIA to start a private security company with his friend Harv. In the first book, a cryptic message gets back Nathan into action and to the very place he once was tortured at, in the jungles in Central America.
The Andrew Peterson books are fast-paced, and Nathan is always in the middle of some action – usually not initiated by him. People in need contact him, and his code of honor pushes him to help those people, usually with dire results for him.
Nathan’s best friend and partner is Harv, a person who is overprotective of Nathan, so much that he seems obsessive so. At the roots of his protectiveness is the very mission where Nathan was captured and tortured, while Harv got away. It took him several weeks until he found him and saved him; by then Nathan was at the brink of death.
Now, Harv is like a mother hen to Nathan, something that at times Nathan finds funny while other times annoying.
Their bond is so strong that each would be ready to die for the other one. Sometimes it feels like each knows more about the other than about himself.
Praise for Andrew Peterson
Andrew Peterson has created the most brutally effective thriller hero to appear in years. He handles a plot line like his hero might a well-oiled sniper rifle (Ridley Pearson)
Part Jack Reacher, part Jason Bourne, Nathan McBride is a compelling, conflicted hero. (Steve Berry)
Nathan McBride is a larger-than-life Rambo-type character, but he’s no less believable than Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan. (The San Luis Tribune)
First to Kill is fast-paced and written to keep you on the edge of your seat. (Fresh Fiction)
thriller readers will enjoy this fast-paced tale starring a wonderful hero whose escapades never seen to end. (The Mystery Gazette)
Nathan McBride is a truly memorable protagonist whose sense of honor and loyalty take him down dark paths. The breakneck pace and pulse-pounding action herald the arrival of a major new find. (RT Book Reviews)
References
Books Reading Order » Thriller Authors »
Jeannie says
Love them but have been waiting for Book 8 forever! When is it coming.
Jerry Will says
I just finished Hired To Kill, and I’ve read all the others. Will there be another soon?
I very much appreciate your books.
Jerry Will
Gwwpaw@hotmail.com
Sheila Duguid says
These books are phenomenal and I’m desperate for book 8 !!!
Please, Andrew, can you tell me when this is coming out?
Amie says
I’ve read all his books and love love love them! Will there be a book 8?
Margaret Pawlaczyk says
I really love his books, I have read all seven, when is book eight coming out.
Will he be at the BLCcon in August, the March one was postphoned so now the date is Aug.
Jeannie Harvey says
Absolutely love them and am desperate to know if, and when 5here will be a Book 8. Please can you put me out of my misery,