If you love high-stakes thrillers with a brilliant, unconventional tracker who lives by his own rules, Jeffery Deaver’s Colter Shaw series is pure adrenaline on the page. Colter Shaw is the “reward seeker” who uses his unique survivalist upbringing and razor-sharp instincts to find missing people—and collect the reward money that keeps him moving from town to town in his Winnebago.
Since the series launched in 2019, it has exploded in popularity (especially after the hit CBS TV show Tracker starring Justin Hartley). Whether you’re a longtime fan or just discovered Colter thanks to the screen adaptation, here’s your definitive, up-to-date guide to reading the Colter Shaw books in order.
Colter Shaw Series: All Books in Reading Order
The Colter Shaw series by Jeffery Deaver blends high-octane thrillers with deep character arcs, following the nomadic “reward seeker” as he tracks down missing persons and unravels dark secrets. Below is the complete list of all books in the series, including novellas and short stories, presented in the recommended publication order for reading. This ensures you experience the evolving family mysteries without spoilers.
Novellas and shorts are marked with an asterisk (*) for easy spotting—they’re quick reads that bridge the main novels.
| # | Title | Year | Type | Brief Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | Captivated | 2019 | Novella | A prequel e-book/audiobook showing Colter’s early days on a Kansas reward case—perfect after the first novel. |
| 1 | The Never Game | 2019 | Novel | Colter hunts a kidnapper in Silicon Valley whose crimes mimic a deadly survival video game. Series launch with backstory hooks. |
| 1.5 | The Second Hostage | 2020 | Novella | Colter races to rescue a hostage in a high-rise siege—another e-book exclusive thriller. |
| 2 | The Goodbye Man | 2020 | Novel | Infiltrating a dangerous cult in Washington state, Colter uncovers a web of manipulation and murder. |
| 2.5 | Forgotten | 2021 | Short Story | A quick crossover tale in which Colter aids Lincoln Rhyme on a cold case gone forgotten. |
| 3 | The Final Twist | 2021 | Novel | Colter dives into his family’s past, solving the riddle of his father’s death amid a high-stakes chase. |
| 3.5 | The Deadline Clock | 2022 | Novella | A tense, clock-ticking story of Colter thwarting a killer in a small-town conspiracy. |
| 4 | Hunting Time | 2022 | Novel | Protecting a targeted engineer and her daughter, Colter navigates forests, floods, and betrayal. |
| 5 | South of Nowhere | 2025 | Novel | The latest: Colter heads to the desert Southwest for a case blending corporate greed, revenge, and survival—twists galore. |
Colter Shaw Books in Publication Order (Recommended Reading Order)
- The Never Game (2019). The one that started it all. Colter is in Silicon Valley hunting a kidnapper who’s trapping victims inside the terrifying world of a survival video game. This standalone-style introduction sets up Colter’s backstory, his “percentage of survival” philosophy, and his complicated family history. ★ Perfect starting point – you’ll be hooked by chapter two.
- The Goodbye Man (2020) Colter investigates two runaway teens who’ve fallen under the spell of a charismatic cult leader known as “The Goodbye Man.” Dark, twisty, and full of Deaver’s trademark misdirection.
- The Final Twist (2021) The past finally catches up. Colter returns to California to unravel the decades-old mystery of what really happened to his father—and who wanted the Shaw family silenced forever. This book ties directly into the first two and delivers massive payoffs.
- Hunting Time (2022) Colter is hired to protect a brilliant engineer and her daughter from her ruthless ex-husband. Non-stop action with some of the best chase sequences in the entire series.
- The Deadline (2024) A journalist about to expose corruption in a small town disappears days before her big story breaks. Colter’s race against time uncovers layers of betrayal and a killer who’s always one step ahead.
- Dead Ends (2025) – Brand new! Released October 2025. Colter takes on two seemingly unrelated cases: a missing college student and a cold-case murder from twenty years ago. As always with Deaver, nothing is what it seems, and the final twist will leave your jaw on the floor.
Short Stories & Novellas (Optional but Awesome)
- Captivated (2019) – A 100-page prequel novella originally published as an e-book/audiobook. Shows Colter on an early reward case in Kansas. Great bonus read after The Never Game.
- Ninth Life (2024) – A short story included in the anthology Nothing Good Happens After Midnight. Features Colter crossing paths with Lincoln Rhyme (yes, THAT Lincoln Rhyme) in a rare Deaver universe crossover.
Should You Read in Chronological or Publication Order?
Publication order is the only way to go. While each book works as a standalone thriller, there’s an ongoing arc involving Colter’s family secrets that builds across the first three books, especially. Starting with The Never Game gives you the full emotional impact when revelations land later.
Quick FAQ About the Colter Shaw Series
Q: Do I need to read them in order? A: Not strictly, but you’ll thank yourself if you do—especially books 1–3.
Q: Are the TV show and books the same? A: No. The CBS series Tracker uses the basic premise and Colter’s character, but every episode is an original story, not taken from the books.
Q: How many Colter Shaw books will there be? A: Jeffery Deaver has said he plans to keep writing Colter “as long as readers want him.” With Dead Ends just out and strong sales, we’re probably looking at many more reward-seeking adventures ahead.
Q: Which book should I start with if I loved the TV show? A: Jump straight into The Never Game. You’ll recognize the vibe immediately, and you’ll get way more of Colter’s backstory than the show provides.
Final Verdict
The Colter Shaw series is Jeffery Deaver at his absolute best: breakneck pacing, jaw-dropping twists every 50 pages, and a hero who’s equal parts brilliant, damaged, and impossible not to root for.
Ready to start tracking? Grab The Never Game today and thank me later when you’re up until 3 a.m. yelling “ONE MORE CHAPTER!”
Happy reading—and never bet against Colter Shaw.
