David Donachie Reading Order

1 book (2022–2022)

#	Title
1	Every Second Counts 2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (2009–2010)

David Donachie's Conquest Trilogy is a three-book historical fiction series published between 2009 and 2010. The complete series consists of Mercenaries, Warriors, and Conquest, and should be read in publication order to fully experience the narrative. This concluded trilogy offers historical fiction readers a self-contained story arc across its three volumes.

Start with Mercenaries and read in order.

#	Title
1	Mercenaries 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Warriors 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Conquest 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (2017–2020)

David Donachie's Contraband Shore trilogy is a complete historical fiction series consisting of three books published between 2017 and 2020. The novels should be read in publication order: The Contraband Shore, A Lawless Place, and Blood Will Out. This finished series offers a self-contained narrative best experienced from beginning to end.

Start with The Contraband Shore and read in order.

#	Title
1	The Contraband Shore 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	A Lawless Place 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Blood Will Out 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (2012–2013)

David Donachie's Crusades Trilogy is a complete historical fiction series consisting of three books published between 2012 and 2013. The trilogy should be read in publication order, beginning with Soldier of Crusade, followed by Son of Blood, and concluding with Prince of Legend. This series offers a three-book narrative arc set within the context of the Crusades era.

Start with Soldier of Crusade and read in order.

#	Title
1	Soldier of Crusade 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Son of Blood 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Prince of Legend 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

18 books (2005–2023)

This 18-book historical fiction series follows John Pearce across two decades of naval adventures, beginning with A Shot Rolling Ship in 2005 and concluding in 2023. The novels should be read in publication order to experience the character's development and the interconnected storylines that span from the early chapters through the final entries. David Donachie's complete series features recurring characters and ongoing plot threads that build throughout the sequence, making sequential reading essential for full appreciation of the narrative arc.

Start with A Shot Rolling Ship, the first of 18 books in the John Pearce series.

#	Title
1	A Shot Rolling Ship 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	By the Mast Divided 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	An Awkward Commission 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	A Flag of Truce 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	The Admiral's Game 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	An Ill Wind 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Blown Off Course 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	A Sea of Troubles 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	Enemies at Every Turn 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	A Divided Command 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	The Devil to Pay 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12	A Treacherous Coast 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13	The Perils of Command 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14	On a Particular Service 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
15	A Close Run Thing 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
16	HMS Hazard 2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
17	A Troubled Course 2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
18	Droits of the Crown 2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (1996–1998)

The Markham of the Marines series by David Donachie consists of three historical fiction novels published between 1996 and 1998. The complete trilogy should be read in publication order, beginning with A Shred of Honour, followed by Honour Be Damned, and concluding with Honour Redeemed. This closed series follows the character of Markham through military adventures spanning the late eighteenth century.

Start with A Shred of Honour and read in order.

#	Title
1	A Shred of Honour 1996Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Honour Be Damned 1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Honour Redeemed 1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

4 books (2019–2020)

David Donachie's Midshipman Wormwood series comprises four historical fiction novels published between 2019 and 2020. The complete series should be read in publication order, beginning with All at Sea and continuing through A Fleet to Command, The Corsican Sisters, and concluding with The Hero's Curse. This compact series follows a continuous narrative across its four installments.

Start with All at Sea, the first of 4 books in the Midshipman Wormwood series.

3 books (2000–2004)

David Donachie's Nelson and Emma series consists of three historical fiction novels published between 2000 and 2004, following the lives of Admiral Nelson and Emma Hamilton. The complete trilogy should be read in publication order, beginning with On a Making Tide, followed by Breaking the Line, and concluding with Tested By Fate. These books offer a fictional exploration of this famous historical relationship set against the backdrop of naval history.

Start with On a Making Tide and read in order.

#	Title
1	On a Making Tide 2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Breaking the Line 2004Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Tested By Fate 2004Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

6 books (1993–1997)

The Privateersman Mysteries is a complete historical fiction series comprising six books published between 1993 and 1997. These novels should be read in publication order, beginning with The Devil's Own Luck and continuing through The Dying Trade, A Hanging Matter, An Element of Chance, The Scent of Betrayal, and concluding with A Game of Bones. David Donachie's series follows a connected narrative across all entries.

Start with The Devil's Own Luck, the first of 6 books in the Privateersman Mysteries series.

#	Title
1	The Devil's Own Luck 1993Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Dying Trade 1993Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	A Hanging Matter 1994Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	An Element of Chance 1995Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	The Scent of Betrayal 1996Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	A Game of Bones 1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (2007–2011)

David Donachie's Republic trilogy spans from 2007 to 2011 and follows a complete story arc across three historical fiction novels. The three books—The Pillars of Rome, The Gods of War, and The Sword of Revenge—should be read in publication order to experience the full narrative. This series is now complete and requires no further releases.

Start with The Pillars of Rome and read in order.

#	Title
1	The Pillars of Rome 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Gods of War 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Sword of Revenge 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (2011–2012)

David Donachie's Road to War trilogy spans 2011 to 2012 and follows publication order, beginning with A Broken Land and continuing through The Burning Sky and A Bitter Field. This complete three-book series represents historical fiction set during a period of conflict and upheaval. Readers should approach the books sequentially to experience the story's full arc.

Start with A Broken Land and read in order.

#	Title
1	A Broken Land 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Burning Sky 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	A Bitter Field 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (1998–1998)

David Donachie's two-book SAS Boat Troop series, completed in 1998, consists of historical fiction novels following the exploits of an elite military unit. Both Blood Money and Boat Troop should be read in publication order to follow the narrative progression. This compact series offers a complete story arc for readers interested in military historical fiction.

Start with Blood Money and read in order.

#	Title
1	Blood Money 1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Boat Troop 1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (1999–2024)

David Donachie has written two historical fiction standalone novels published over a span of 25 years, with Direct Action appearing in 1999 and If I'd Known You in a Better Time in 2024. Each book stands alone and can be read independently, though reading them in publication order provides the most natural approach to experiencing Donachie's work. The series remains ongoing, leaving room for future additions to this collection of separate stories.

Start with Direct Action and read in order.

#	Title
1	Direct Action 1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	If I'd Known You in a Better Time 2024Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (2014–2015)

David Donachie's Last Roman Trilogy is a three-book historical fiction series completed between 2014 and 2015. The novels should be read in publication order, beginning with Honour, followed by Vengeance, and concluding with Triumph. This complete series explores themes of military valor and retribution across its tightly structured narrative arc.

Start with Honour and read in order.

#	Title
1	Honour 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Vengeance 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Triumph 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible