Reading Order List — Book Series Reading Order Guide
Robert Ludlum

Robert Ludlum Reading Order

8 series · 66 books · Born 1927-05-25

Mystery & Thriller

Robert Ludlum is an American thriller author whose intricate espionage novels have sold hundreds of millions of copies worldwide and been translated into dozens of languages. His prolific career spanning five decades produced iconic series including the Jason Bourne franchise, along with the Covert-One, Matarese Dynasty, and Paul Janson sequences that showcase his mastery of international intrigue and complex plotting. Known for layered narratives featuring resourceful protagonists facing shadowy conspiracies, Ludlum's work established the template for modern spy thrillers and continues to influence the genre.

Blackbriar Series

Complete

1 book (2022–2022)

#Title
1
Cover of The Blackbriar Genesis(By: Simon Gervais)
The Blackbriar Genesis(By: Simon Gervais)
2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Covert-One Series

Complete

12 books (2000–2016)

Start with The Hades Factor(With: Gayle Lynds), the first of 12 books in the Covert-One series.

Start this series with The Hades Factor(With: Gayle Lynds)

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of The Hades Factor(With: Gayle Lynds)
The Hades Factor(With: Gayle Lynds)
2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of The Cassandra Compact(With: Philip Shelby)
The Cassandra Compact(With: Philip Shelby)
2001Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of The Paris Option(By: Gayle Lynds)
The Paris Option(By: Gayle Lynds)
2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
Cover of The Altman Code(By: Gayle Lynds)
The Altman Code(By: Gayle Lynds)
2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5
Cover of The Lazarus Vendetta(By: Patrick Larkin)
The Lazarus Vendetta(By: Patrick Larkin)
2004Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6
Cover of The Moscow Vector(By: Patrick Larkin)
The Moscow Vector(By: Patrick Larkin)
2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7
Cover of Robert Ludlum's The Arctic Event(By: James H. Cobb)
Robert Ludlum's The Arctic Event(By: James H. Cobb)
2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8
Cover of The Ares Decision(By: Kyle Mills)
The Ares Decision(By: Kyle Mills)
2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9
Cover of The Janus Reprisal(By: Jamie Freveletti)
The Janus Reprisal(By: Jamie Freveletti)
2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10
Cover of The Utopia Experiment(By: Kyle Mills)
The Utopia Experiment(By: Kyle Mills)
2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11
Cover of The Geneva Strategy(By: Jamie Freveletti)
The Geneva Strategy(By: Jamie Freveletti)
2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12
Cover of The Patriot Attack(By: Kyle Mills)
The Patriot Attack(By: Kyle Mills)
2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Jason Bourne Series

Ongoing

22 books (1980–2026)

Start with The Bourne Identity, the first of 22 books in the Jason Bourne series.

Start this series with The Bourne Identity

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of The Bourne Identity
The Bourne Identity
1980Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of The Bourne Supremacy
The Bourne Supremacy
1986Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of The Bourne Ultimatum
The Bourne Ultimatum
1990Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
Cover of The Bourne Legacy(By: Eric Van Lustbader)
The Bourne Legacy(By: Eric Van Lustbader)
2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5
The Bourne Betrayal(By: Eric Van Lustbader)
2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6
The Bourne Sanction(By: Eric Van Lustbader)
2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7
The Bourne Deception(By: Eric Van Lustbader)
2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8
The Bourne Objective(By: Eric Van Lustbader)
2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9
The Bourne Dominion(By: Eric Van Lustbader)
2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10
The Bourne Imperative(By: Eric Van Lustbader)
2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11
Cover of The Bourne Retribution(By: Eric Van Lustbader)
The Bourne Retribution(By: Eric Van Lustbader)
2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12
The Bourne Ascendancy(By: Eric Van Lustbader)
2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13
The Bourne Enigma(By: Eric Van Lustbader)
2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14
Cover of The Bourne Initiative(By: Eric Van Lustbader)
The Bourne Initiative(By: Eric Van Lustbader)
2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
15
Cover of The Bourne Evolution(By: Brian Freeman)
The Bourne Evolution(By: Brian Freeman)
2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
16
Cover of The Bourne Treachery(By: Brian Freeman)
The Bourne Treachery(By: Brian Freeman)
2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
17
Cover of The Bourne Sacrifice(By: Brian Freeman)
The Bourne Sacrifice(By: Brian Freeman)
2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
18
The Bourne Defiance(By: Brian Freeman)
2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
19
The Bourne Shadow(By: Brian Freeman)
2024Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
20
The Bourne Escape(By: Brian Freeman)
2025Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
21
The Bourne Vendetta(By: Brian Freeman)
2025Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
22
The Bourne Revenge(By: Brian Freeman)
2026Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Matarese Dynasty Series

Complete

2 books (1979–1997)

Start with The Matarese Circle and read in order.

Start this series with The Matarese Circle

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of The Matarese Circle
The Matarese Circle
1979Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of The Matarese Countdown
The Matarese Countdown
1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Paul Janson Series

Complete

4 books (2002–2015)

Start with The Janson Directive, the first of 4 books in the Paul Janson series.

Start this series with The Janson Directive

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of The Janson Directive
The Janson Directive
2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of The Janson Command(By: Paul Garrison)
The Janson Command(By: Paul Garrison)
2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of The Janson Option(By: Paul Garrison)
The Janson Option(By: Paul Garrison)
2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
Cover of The Janson Equation(By: Douglas Corleone)
The Janson Equation(By: Douglas Corleone)
2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Road to Series

Complete

2 books (1975–1992)

Start with The Road to Gandolfo and read in order.

Start this series with The Road to Gandolfo

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of The Road to Gandolfo
The Road to Gandolfo
1975Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of The Road To Omaha
The Road To Omaha
1992Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Standalone Novels Series

Complete

19 books (1971–2005)

Start with The Scarlatti Inheritance, the first of 19 books in the Standalone Novels series.

Start this series with The Scarlatti Inheritance

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
The Scarlatti Inheritance
1971Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of The Osterman Weekend
The Osterman Weekend
1972Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of The Matlock Paper
The Matlock Paper
1973Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
Cover of Trevayne(As: Jonathan Ryder)
Trevayne(As: Jonathan Ryder)
1973Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5
Cover of The Cry of the Halidon(As: Jonathan Ryder)
The Cry of the Halidon(As: Jonathan Ryder)
1974Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6
Cover of The Rhinemann Exchange
The Rhinemann Exchange
1974Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7
Cover of The Gemini Contenders
The Gemini Contenders
1976Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8
Cover of The Chancellor Manuscript
The Chancellor Manuscript
1977Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9
Cover of The Holcroft Covenant
The Holcroft Covenant
1978Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10
Cover of The Parsifal Mosaic
The Parsifal Mosaic
1982Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11
Cover of The Aquitaine Progression
The Aquitaine Progression
1984Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12
Cover of The Icarus Agenda
The Icarus Agenda
1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13
Cover of The Scorpio Illusion
The Scorpio Illusion
1993Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14
Cover of The Apocalypse Watch
The Apocalypse Watch
1995Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
15
Cover of The Prometheus Deception
The Prometheus Deception
2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
16
Cover of The Sigma Protocol
The Sigma Protocol
2001Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
17
Cover of The Tristan Betrayal
The Tristan Betrayal
2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
18
Cover of The Bancroft Strategy
The Bancroft Strategy
2004Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
19
Cover of The Ambler Warning
The Ambler Warning
2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Treadstone Series

Likely Complete

4 books (2020–2023)

Start with The Treadstone Resurrection(By: Joshua Hood), the first of 4 books in the Treadstone series.

Start this series with The Treadstone Resurrection(By: Joshua Hood)

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of The Treadstone Resurrection(By: Joshua Hood)
The Treadstone Resurrection(By: Joshua Hood)
2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of The Treadstone Exile(By: Joshua Hood)
The Treadstone Exile(By: Joshua Hood)
2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of The Treadstone Transgression(By: Joshua Hood)
The Treadstone Transgression(By: Joshua Hood)
2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
Cover of The Treadstone Rendition(By: Joshua Hood)
The Treadstone Rendition(By: Joshua Hood)
2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Robert Ludlum written?
Robert Ludlum has written 66 books across 8 series. Their published works span from 1971 to 2026.
What is the first book in each Robert Ludlum series?
Here are the first books in Robert Ludlum's series: Covert-One: The Hades Factor(With: Gayle Lynds); Jason Bourne: The Bourne Identity; Matarese Dynasty: The Matarese Circle; Paul Janson: The Janson Directive; Road to: The Road to Gandolfo.
What order should I read Robert Ludlum's books?
We recommend reading Robert Ludlum's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
Is Robert Ludlum still writing new books?
Yes, Robert Ludlum has 1 ongoing series: Jason Bourne.

You might also like