If you love heart-pounding military thrillers packed with authentic detail, explosive action, and characters who feel like they just stepped off a battlefield, then John McCrae (a.k.a. the writing team of Larry Bond and Jim DeFelice) needs to be on your radar. Best known for co-authoring the legendary Red Phoenix and the blockbuster Red Storm Rising with Tom Clancy, the duo later launched their own adrenaline-fueled series under the “John McCrae” pen name.
Here’s your ultimate cheat sheet to reading every John McCrae book in both publication order and the recommended chronological reading order (especially helpful for the interconnected series).
List of John McCrae Books in Series Order
John McCrae, the pseudonym for the acclaimed writing duo of Larry Bond and Jim DeFelice, delivers pulse-pounding military thrillers rooted in geopolitical tension and tactical realism. Below is a comprehensive table of all books written under this pen name (or closely associated collaborations), organized by series for easy reading. Publication years are included for context. Note: The “John McCrae” branding primarily covers their early standalones, but I’ve included connected series like First to Fight and Red Dragon Rising for a full overview, as they stem from the same collaborative vein.
| Series Name | Book Title | Publication Year |
|---|---|---|
| Standalones (Core John McCrae Works) | Red Phoenix | 1989 |
| Vortex | 1991 | |
| Cauldron | 1993 | |
| The Enemy Within | 1996 | |
| Day of Wrath | 1998 | |
| First to Fight (Brian “Brick” Mitchell Subseries; co-authored with Harold Coyle under “Keith Douglass” but tied to McCrae universe) | First to Fight | 1997 |
| Red Dragon Rising (Near-Future U.S.-China Conflict) | Shadows of War | 2009 |
| Edge of War | 2010 | |
| Shock of War | 2012 | |
| Blood of War | 2013 | |
| Jerry Mitchell (Submarine Thrillers; later solo Bond works, spiritual successors to McCrae style) | Dangerous Ground | 2005 |
| Cold Choices | 2008 | |
| Exit Plan | 2012 | |
| Shattered Trident | 2013 | |
| Fatal Thunder | 2016 | |
| Arctic Gambit | 2018 | |
| Burial at Sea | 2024 |
John McCrae Books in Publication Order
- Red Phoenix (1989): The standalone masterpiece that put the team on the map. A terrifyingly realistic “what-if” scenario of a second Korean War. Many fans still call this their best work—ever.
- Vortex (1991) War erupts in South Africa as apartheid collapses. Fast-paced, politically charged, and packed with Bond’s signature techno-thriller detail.
- Cauldron (1993). Europe descends into chaos when a Franco-German alliance tries to dominate the continent. Think Tom Clancy but with even more hardware porn.
- The Enemy Within (1996)is A domestic terrorism thriller set in the United States. One of their grittiest and most underrated novels.
- Day of Wrath (1998) A Saudi prince and a rogue U.S. general team up in a terrifying terrorist plot. Written before 9/11—it’ll make you shiver at how prescient it feels.
First to Fight Series (Jerry Mitchell’s father, Brian “Brick” Mitchell)
- First to Fight (1997) – co-written with Harold Coyle under the “Keith Douglass” name, but officially part of the McCrae universe.
Red Dragon Rising Series (co-authored with Jim DeFelice)
- Larry Bond’s Red Dragon Rising: Shadows of War (2009)
- Larry Bond’s Red Dragon Rising: Edge of War (2010)
- Larry Bond’s Red Dragon Rising: Shock of War (2012)
- Larry Bond’s Red Dragon Rising: Blood of War (2013) A near-future conflict between the U.S. and China over resources and climate collapse. Major Jon Masters from earlier Bond novels makes appearances.
Jerry Mitchell Submarine Series (written solely as Larry Bond after the partnership shifted)
While technically just “Larry Bond” now, most fans consider these the spiritual successors:
- Dangerous Ground (2005)
- Cold Choices (2009)
- Exit Plan (2012)
- Shattered Trident (2013)
- Fatal Thunder (2016)
- Arctic Gambit (2018)
- Burial at Sea (2024) – the long-awaited conclusion!
Recommended Reading Order for New Readers
If you’re just discovering John McCrae/Larry Bond, here’s the perfect path:
- Start with Red Phoenix – It’s standalone and widely considered their peak.
- Vortex → Cauldron → The Enemy Within → Day of Wrath (the classic 90s run)
- Jump to the Red Dragon Rising quartet for modern near-future warfare
- Finish with the Jerry Mitchell submarine series (pure naval thriller goodness)
Why Readers Are Still Obsessed 30+ Years Later
- Real-world accuracy: Bond is a former naval officer and wargame designer—every weapon, tactic, and scenario is scarily plausible.
- Breakneck pacing: These books move like a Tomahawk missile.
- Characters you root for: From Army grunts to submarine captains, they feel real.
Where to Grab the Books Today
Good news—most of these are available in ebook, audiobook, and fresh paperback editions. The entire back catalog was re-released with new covers in the 2010s, and the Jerry Mitchell books are still coming out strong.
Pro tip: If you love audiobooks, the Jerry Mitchell and Red Dragon Rising narrators (Dick Hill and Luke Daniels) are phenomenal.
Final Verdict
Whether you read strictly in publication order or hop around by series, one thing’s certain: once you start a John McCrae/Larry Bond thriller, clearing your weekend is basically mandatory.
Ready to dive in? Start with Red Phoenix tonight—you won’t regret it.
Which John McCrae book is your favorite? Drop it in the comments—let’s argue about whether anything tops Red Phoenix! 🔥
Happy reading, thriller junkies!
This guide was last updated in November 2025 – we’ll keep it fresh as new books drop.
