[lmt-post-modified-info] Brad Thor is a New York Times bestselling author that needs no introduction. He is writing the popular Scot Harvath spy thriller novels which made him the internationally renowned bestselling author he is today.
With around 20 novels written to date in his two series (Scot Harvath and The Athena Project), most of the Brad Thor novels have been published around the world as well.
Here are the Brad Thor books in order for his thrillers involving Scot, who has saved the world from so many evils, including a plague, and countless terrorist attacks.
New Brad Thor Book
Near Dark (Scot Harvath #19), 2020
Scot Harvath Series
- The Lions of Lucerne (Scot Harvath #1), 2002
- Path of the Assassin (Scot Harvath #2), 2003
- State of the Union (Scot Harvath #3), 2004
- Blowback (Scot Harvath #4), 2005
- Takedown (Scot Harvath #5), 2006
- The First Commandment (Scot Harvath #6), 2007
- The Last Patriot (Scot Harvath #7), 2008
- The Apostle (Scot Harvath #8), 2009
- Foreign Influence (Scott Harvath #9), 2010
- Full Black (Scot Harvath #10), 2011
- Black List (Scot Harvath #11), 2012
- Free Fall (Scot Harvath #11.5), 2013 (Prelude to Hidden Order)
- Hidden Order (Scot Harvath #12), 2013
- Epilogue II (Scot Harvath #12.5), 2013 (to be read after Hidden Order)
- Act of War (Scot Harvath #13), 2014
- Code of Conduct (Scot Harvath #14), 2015
- The Athens Solution (Scot Harvath #14.5), 2015
- Foreign Agent (Scot Harvath #15), 2016
- Use of Force (Scot Harvath #16), 2017
- Spymaster (Scot Harvath #17), 2018
- Backlash (Scot Harvath #18), 2019
- Near Dark (Scot Harvath #19), 2020
Athena Project Series
- The Athena Project (Athena Project #1), 2010
Who is Scot Harvath?
Scot Harvath is a former Navy SEAL who is now a secret agent whose first loyalty is with his country. A son of a highly decorated Navy veteran, Scot left school in order to become a professional skier, which he was very good at.
After his father died, however, Scot decided to go back to school and get his college degree. He was a very bright student, intelligent, always with top marks.
After graduating from college, he joined the Navy and was accepted as a SEAL, serving in the SEAL Team 2 (Polar SEAL) program. Scot loved his father very much that it was his father’s death whcih pushed him to enroll in the Army, to follow in his dad’s footsteps.
When he wanted a career change, he left the Navy and started working for the Secret Service as a secret agent where he eventually got promoted to protect the First Family, a position he holds during the first book in the list, The Lions of Lucerne.
Over the years and the course of the books, his services are more and more demanded to protect the country and save it from a dire fate. Even after he is no longer working officially for the government, his agent services are still required every now and then, with him being a true patriot above all.
As an agent and a patriot, Scot Harvath has a strong sense of loyalty for his country and he is very dedicated to everything he is doing. As a highly dependable person, people know they can trust him and rely on him fully.
He is uniquely equipped with a set of skills most suitable for the highly dangerous secret agent jobs he is tasked with. He not only learned a lot during his time as a Navy SEAL, but after that, he was literally in the middle of the world of espionage.
In an interview, Mr. Thor mentioned that Scot Harvath was created based on several Special Ops, CIA and Delta Force people that the author knew, and he mashed them together to create the almost superhero agent that we are still reading about today.
Should I Read the Brad Thor Books in Order?
Since we most likely speak about the New York Times author Brad Thor books as the Scot Harvath books (except for the Athena Project, which is in the same universe with Scot Harvath), we really do think about Scot’s continuity in the books.
Mr. Thor has mentioned numerous times that each Scot Harvath book is written as a standalone novel. So a new reader to the series can pick up the latest Brad Thor book in the list, start reading, and will enjoy the book just like someone who has been reading the series from the start.
The author, however, also mentions that in each new book in the list, he unveils a bit more about the patriot agent Scot Harvath. He peels off another layer of the onion and lets us see another aspect of his very complex character.
So while the books are standalone in terms of plot, for the sake of really learn Scot from inside out, I would suggest that you read the series in proper chronological order (which is also the order of publication). You will learn so much more about what makes Scot tick and why he takes on the craziest of assignments. He is a real American patriot and hero, one that we all desperately need (but do we really deserve him?).
My favorites in the Scot Harvath series are probably Foreign Agent and Code of Conduct. Mr.
As for the Athena Project, there is currently only one novel included, which is only partially related to the Scot Harvath series. It can be read as a standalone.
Brad Thor Biography
Brad Thor was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1969, where he also grew up.
During his childhood, he attended the Sacred Heart Schools, and after graduation, he went to the Francis W. Parker School. Next, he enrolled at the University of Southern California, first studying for a major in business, but soon switching major and studying creative writing with novelist and short-story writer T.C. Boyle, knowing that was not meant for a 9-5 desk job as a corporate manager.
Growing up, he read thrillers by Tom Clancy and David Morrell, and after graduating cum laude from the University of Southern California in 1992, he moved to Paris for a while to try to write a novel. However, he temporarily gave up on that dream after a few chapters.
Next, in the mid-1990s he started his own TV show called Traveling Lite, a show about budget travel that ran for a couple of years until he met the woman who would become his wife.
During their honeymoon, in 1999, she asked him what would be his biggest regret before he died. To this, he replied that not having a published book would be his deepest regret. And this is when he decided that he will go after his life-long dream, that of writing a book that would be actually published.
Currently, New York Times bestselling author Brad Thor has written over 20 novels, most in his Scot Harvath spy thriller series. The books have been published in more than 20 countries.
For his books, the author does extensive research. He admits that he is a voracious news reader from and abroad, so he has the pulse on what is going on at any given time.
He also admits that the genre he is writing is called faction because there is a lot of factual information in the books, but there is a lot of fiction as well. Often, readers are not quite sure where one ends and the other starts.
Over the years, Brad Thor has served as a member of the Department of Homeland Security’s Analytic Red Cell Unit, and he is also a fellow of the Alexandrian Defense Group.
As part of his research for one of his books, The Apostle, Mr. Thor shadowed a Black Ops team in Afghanistan in 2008.
The author is currently an active supporter of the USO, Disabled American Veterans, the Yellow Ribbon Fund, the Wounded Warrior Project, and the Salvation Army groups.
What not many readers about him, however, is that in April 2018, Mr. Thor, who is also a Republican, has made his 2020 run for presidential candidacy know as running against the current president, Donald Trump. Soon after, however, by July, he said he is no longer running for president, and he doesn’t even consider himself a Republican anymore, being so disillusioned with the entire GOP under the current presidency.
Praise for Brad Thor
Thor convincingly portrays Russia as a reborn Cold War-era evil empire hellbent on reconquering its former territory. (The Washington Post)
Brad Thor writes like a high-octane mix of Tom Clancy and Robert Ludlum. (Andrew Mayne)
When you pick up a novel by Brad Thor, you should prepare to become fully immersed in the machinations and inner workings of modern-day counterterrorism operations (Bookreporter)
Thor has mastered thriller storytelling with fast pacing and plots that are relevant to American readers. (The Miami Herald)
Thor nails it. A thriller both men and women will love. (James Rollins in The Athena Project)
References
Books Reading Order » Thriller Authors »
I’m looking forward to reading the Brad Thor books in order!
I’ve been reading in order and just finished Hidden Order. At the end of book you get a lookat his next book Black Ice. Which is not released until 2021. Hw does he go from his perfect love of Lara to some girl named Solvi. Plus there’s newer books that doesn’t fit in the list series of books
Brad Thor books are must reads for me. I started with Lions of Lucerne. Black Ice is waiting to be read. Bu,t I like to read them in order. So, it will have to wait till I read the book that comes before it.
Brilliant writer. Ludlumesk! I blundered onto Use of Force 10 days ago and have now read Near Dark as well. He is more “readable” and compelling than Clancy and his “faction” is remarkably displayed without heavy detail. Looking to start with Lions of Lucerne and work my way through. Other things are being put aside … but that’s ok as I am retired and have time ….
I love Brad Thor’s books. My husband gave me the Athena Project book for Christmas this past year. I liked that book so much, I started reading the author’s other books. I started reading at the start of the series and I’ve loved each book. Great characters in each book. I’ve only read 6 books so far. Love them!!
Almost had me.Was going to order the first in the series, but then read that this author is now “disillusioned with the entire GOP under the current presidency.” Yes the GOP is basically a corrupt and feckless, but 45 is a part of the reason we know that. He exposed them as the last line of your Bio exposed you.
I have read ALL of his books and sometimes two or three times! I love the plots, the mystery, the action, and his main character! Waiting for his next book to come out…Black Ice!
Just finished “Black Ice”. Outstanding !!
Brad Thor is a fantastic writer! Read all of his books and loved them!!!
They are great!!! Love it every books.
Teresa F white from Sun Lakes Arizona
Love them. I can’t wait each time for the newest adventure. Brad, please don’t give up on the Republican ideals and values just because a fringe Republican like Trump has embarassed our party at so many turns. You have my vote in 2024.
I took the book, Black List, on vacation not knowing that it was part of a series. I loved the book and I am now hooked. I had my daughter pick up 8 of the books that they had at the second hand book store. If it fit our budget I would have bought all the books new. I was very excited to see that one of the books that my daughter found was the first book in the series. I am in for some great late night reading.