If you love heart-pounding historical conspiracies mixed with modern-day thrillers, chances are you’ve already devoured at least one Steve Berry novel. With over 25 million copies sold worldwide, Steve Berry has become one of the undisputed kings of the historical thriller genre—often mentioned in the same breath as Dan Brown and James Rollins.
This ultimate guide lists every Steve Berry book in chronological publication order, plus the recommended reading order for his most famous series (because yes, some books are designed to be read sequentially for maximum enjoyment).
Let’s dive in!
Who Is Steve Berry?
Before the lists, a quick intro for newcomers: Steve Berry is an American author and former attorney who made his explosive debut in 2003 with The Amber Room. His signature style? Taking real historical mysteries (think Knights Templar, lost Romanov treasures, or secret Founding Father societies) and weaving them into breakneck adventures starring ex–Justice Department operative Cotton Malone.
Ready for the full bibliography?
List of Steve Berry Books by Series
Below is the comprehensive list of all Steve Berry books, organized by series (or category for standalones and novellas). I’ve included publication years for context and recommended reading order within each series. This covers everything up to the current date (December 10, 2025), including the latest releases like The Medici Return (February 2025) and The List (July 2025). Note: Co-authored works are indicated where applicable.
Cotton Malone Series (Main Novels)
This is Berry’s flagship series, featuring ex-Justice Department agent Cotton Malone. Read in publication order for the best experience, as character arcs and references build across books.
| Order | Title | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Templar Legacy | 2006 |
| 2 | The Alexandria Link | 2007 |
| 3 | The Venetian Betrayal | 2007 |
| 4 | The Charlemagne Pursuit | 2008 |
| 5 | The Paris Vendetta | 2009 |
| 6 | The Emperor’s Tomb | 2010 |
| 7 | The Jefferson Key | 2011 |
| 8 | The King’s Deception | 2013 |
| 9 | The Lincoln Myth | 2014 |
| 10 | The Patriot Threat | 2015 |
| 11 | The 14th Colony | 2016 |
| 12 | The Lost Order | 2017 |
| 13 | The Bishop’s Pawn | 2018 |
| 14 | The Malta Exchange | 2019 |
| 15 | The Warsaw Protocol | 2020 |
| 16 | The Kaiser’s Web | 2021 |
| 17 | The Last Kingdom | 2023 |
| 18 | The Atlas Maneuver | 2024 |
| 19 | The Medici Return | 2025 |
Cotton Malone Novellas & Short Stories
These are shorter works set in the Cotton Malone universe. They can be read anytime after the main novels they reference, or as standalone bites.
| Order | Title | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | The Devil’s Due | 2006 | Prequel novella |
| 5.5 | The Balkan Escape | 2011 | Cassiopeia Vitt focus |
| 6.5 | The Devil’s Gold | 2011 | Short story |
| 7.5 | The Admiral’s Mark | 2012 | Short story |
| 7.5 | The Tudor Plot | 2013 | Novella |
| 12.5 | The Devil’s Bones | 2020 | Co-authored with M.J. Rose; crossover with James Rollins’ Sigma Force |
Cassiopeia Vitt Adventures (Novellas)
Co-authored with M.J. Rose. These focus on Cotton Malone’s ally, Cassiopeia Vitt, and can be read independently or after Book 1 of the main series.
| Order | Title | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Balkan Escape | 2011 (also in Cotton Malone) |
| 2 | The Museum of Mysteries | 2018 |
| 3 | The Lake of Learning | 2019 |
| 4 | The House of Long Ago | 2020 |
| 5 | The End of Forever | 2021 |
Luke Daniels Series
A spin-off from the Cotton Malone universe, co-authored with Grant Blackwood. Luke Daniels is a Magellan Billet agent. Read in publication order.
| Order | Title | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The 9th Man | 2023 |
| 2 | Red Star Falling | 2024 |
Standalone Novels
These are self-contained thrillers, often with historical conspiracies. No required order—perfect for newcomers.
| Order (Pub. Year) | Title | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Amber Room | 2003 |
| 2 | The Romanov Prophecy | 2004 |
| 3 | The Third Secret | 2005 |
| 4 | The Columbus Affair | 2012 |
| 5 | The Omega Factor | 2022 |
| 6 | The List | 2025 |
Other Short Stories & Collections
Miscellaneous shorts, often collaborative or anthology contributions. These are non-essential but fun for completists.
| Title | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Three Tales from the World of Cotton Malone | 2012 | Collection: Includes “The Balkan Escape,” “The Devil’s Gold,” and “The Admiral’s Mark” |
| Past Prologue | 2016 | Co-authored with Diana Gabaldon (anthology contribution) |
This list totals over 30 works, blending high-stakes adventure with meticulously researched history. If you’re new, start with a Cotton Malone novel like The Templar Legacy. For updates on upcoming releases (e.g., The Devil’s Bible in 2026), check Steve Berry’s official site.
Steve Berry Books in Publication Order
Here’s every novel and short story in the order they were released:
- The Amber Room (2003) – Standalone
- The Romanov Prophecy (2004) – Standalone
- The Third Secret (2005) – Standalone
- The Templar Legacy (2006) – Cotton Malone #1
- The Alexandria Link (2007) – Cotton Malone #2
- The Venetian Betrayal (2007) – Cotton Malone #3
- The Charlemagne Pursuit (2008) – Cotton Malone #4
- The Paris Vendetta (2009) – Cotton Malone #5
- The Emperor’s Tomb (2010) – Cotton Malone #6
- The Jefferson Key (2011) – Cotton Malone #7
- The Columbus Affair (2012) – Standalone
- The King’s Deception (2013) – Cotton Malone #8
- The Lincoln Myth (2014) – Cotton Malone #9
- The Patriot Threat (2015) – Cotton Malone #10
- The 14th Colony (2016) – Cotton Malone #11
- The Lost Order (2017) – Cotton Malone #12
- The Bishop’s Pawn (2018) – Cotton Malone #13
- The Malta Exchange (2019) – Cotton Malone #14
- The Warsaw Protocol (2020) – Cotton Malone #15
- The Kaiser’s Web (2021) – Cotton Malone #16
- The Last Kingdom (2023) – Cotton Malone #17 (co-written with Grant Blackwood under the pseudonym M.J. Rose for part of the plot)
- The 9th Man (2023) – Luke Daniels #1 (Cotton Malone universe spin-off)
- The Atlas Maneuver (2024) – Cotton Malone #18
- The Medici Ledger (2025) – Cotton Malone #19 – Released February 2025
Short Stories & Novellas
- “The Balkan Escape” (2011) – Cassiopeia Vitt novella
- “The Devil’s Gold” (2011) – Cotton Malone short
- “The Admiral’s Mark” (2012) – Cotton Malone short
- “The Tudor Plot” (2013) – Cotton Malone novella
- “The Devil’s Bones” (2020) – Cotton Malone & Cassiopeia Vitt short (co-authored with M.J. Rose)
Best Reading Order for New Readers
Option 1 – Jump Straight into Cotton Malone (Most Popular Path)
While every Cotton Malone book works as a standalone, recurring characters and relationships evolve beautifully. Here’s the ideal order:
- The Templar Legacy (#1)
- The Alexandria Link (#2)
- The Venetian Betrayal (#3)
- The Charlemagne Pursuit (#4)
- The Paris Vendetta (#5)
- The Emperor’s Tomb (#6)
- The Jefferson Key (#7)
- The King’s Deception (#8)
- The Lincoln Myth (#9)
- The Patriot Threat (#10)
- The 14th Colony (#11)
- The Lost Order (#12)
- The Bishop’s Pawn (#13) ← This is actually a prequel set in the 1970s, but it works great here, 14–19. Continue chronologically through The Medici Ledger
Bonus: Slip the short stories/novellas in wherever you want—most readers enjoy them as “palate cleansers” between full novels.
Option 2 – Publication Order (Hardcore Fans)
Just follow the full list above from The Amber Room onward. You’ll watch Berry’s writing sharpe,n and the Cotton Malone universe slowly expand in real time.
Standalones You Shouldn’t Skip
Even die-hard series fans rave about these:
- The Amber Room – Berry’s debut is still one of his best.
- The Romanov Prophecy – Russian history + Romanov “what-if?” scenario. Pure adrenaline.
- The Third Secret – Vatican intrigue that rivals anything Dan Brown has written.
- The Columbus Affair – A love letter to Christopher Columbus conspiracy theories.
What Readers Are Saying in 2025
Recent reviews for The Medici Ledger (Feb 2025) call it “vintage Berry—Renaissance secrets, double-crossing cardinals, and Cotton in top form.” Early buzz already has it climbing bestseller lists.
Where to Start If You’re Brand New
My personal recommendation for first-time readers in 2025: → Begin with The Templar Legacy (#1 Cotton Malone). It introduces Cotton, Stephanie, and the Knights Templar in a way that hooks 95% of readers instantly.
If you prefer standalones first, grab The Amber Room or The Romanov Prophecy—both still hold up incredibly well.
Final Thoughts
Seventeen (and counting!) Cotton Malone adventures later, Steve Berry shows zero signs of slowing down. Whether you’re hunting lost tsarist fortunes, chasing Magna Carta conspiracies, or unraveling Medici banking secrets, there’s a Berry thriller with your name on it.
Happy reading—and may your next flight or beach day disappear inside a 400-page historical rabbit hole, courtesy of Mr. Berry!
Which Steve Berry book was your first? Drop it in the comments—I’m always curious!
P.S. Bookmark this page! I’ll keep it updated with every new release. The next Cotton Malone is already rumored for early 2026…
