Looking for the 39 Clues books in order? This multi-author adventure series follows Amy and Dan Cahill as they race around the world, uncover family secrets, and face rivals who are willing to do almost anything to control the Cahill legacy.
The main story is split across several connected arcs, so the order matters. Start with the original series, continue through Cahills vs. Vespers, Unstoppable, and Doublecross, then finish with Outbreak. The short stories, companion books, and graphic novels are optional.
Jump to:
- Where to Start
- Original 39 Clues Series
- The 39 Clues Books by Series
- 39 Clues Short Stories and Cahill Files
- 39 Clues Companion Books and Graphic Novels
- About 39 Clues Books
Where to Start
I recommend starting with The Maze of Bones. It introduces Amy and Dan, the rival branches of the Cahill family, and the worldwide hunt that drives the original series.
For the complete main storyline, read the arcs in this order:
- Original series, beginning with The Maze of Bones
- Cahills vs. Vespers, beginning with The Medusa Plot
- Unstoppable, beginning with Nowhere to Run
- Doublecross, beginning with Mission Titanic
- Outbreak
The connected novels should be read in order because relationships, betrayals, and family discoveries carry from one book to the next. The supplemental stories add background, but you don’t need them to understand the main plot.
Original 39 Clues Series
The original arc is also known as The Clue Hunt. Amy and Dan join other Cahill relatives in choosing a clue instead of a cash inheritance, sending the competing teams across the world in search of the secret behind their family’s power.
Read these books in publication order. Vespers Rising is a collection of connected stories set during different periods of Cahill history, but it works best after Into the Gauntlet because it also bridges the original series and the conflict with the Vespers.
- The Maze of Bones (2008)
- One False Note (2008)
- The Sword Thief (2009)
- Beyond the Grave (2009)
- The Black Circle (2009)
- In Too Deep (2009)
- The Viper’s Nest (2010)
- The Emperor’s Code (2010)
- Storm Warning (2010)
- Into the Gauntlet (2010)
- Vespers Rising (2011)
The 39 Clues Books by Series
Cahills vs. Vespers
The Vespers kidnap members of the Cahill family and force Amy, Dan, and their allies to complete a series of dangerous demands. This arc continues directly from the events and revelations of the original series.
- The Medusa Plot (2011)
- A King’s Ransom (2011)
- The Dead of Night (2012)
- Shatterproof (2012)
- Trust No One (2012)
- Day of Doom (2013)
Unstoppable
The Cahill serum falls into the wrong hands after Cahills vs. Vespers. Amy and Dan must stop their enemies from using it while searching for an antidote that can undo its effects.
- Nowhere to Run (2013)
- Breakaway (2014)
- Countdown (2014)
- Flashpoint (2014)
Doublecross
A banished Cahill known as the Outcast challenges the younger generation to prevent four disasters modeled on tragedies from history. The four books form one connected arc and should be read in order.
- Mission Titanic (2015)
- Mission Hindenburg (2015)
- Mission Hurricane (2016)
- Mission Atomic (2016)
Superspecial
Outbreak is a standalone Superspecial that continues the story after Doublecross. It is separate from that four-book series and serves as the final published novel in the connected prose storyline.
- Outbreak (2016)
39 Clues Short Stories and Cahill Files
Rapid Fire
The Rapid Fire ebooks are short, connected stories that explore Grace Cahill’s past and lead into a larger family revelation. They are optional, but they should be read in sequence.
- Legacy (2011)
- Ignition (2011)
- Hunted (2011)
- Crushed (2011)
- Turbulence (2011)
- Invasion (2011)
- Fireworks (2011)
The Cahill Files
The Cahill Files move through different periods of history and reveal how earlier Cahills protected the Clues. These stories add background to the family mythology without becoming part of the main Amy and Dan reading order.
- Operation Trinity (2012)
- The Submarine Job (2012)
- The Redcoat Chase (2012)
- The Houdini Escape (2012)
- Silent Night (2012)
Spymasters (2013) is a print bind-up containing The Submarine Job, The Redcoat Chase, and The Houdini Escape. It doesn’t add a new story, so readers who already own those ebooks don’t need to count it as another installment.
Other 39 Clues Stories
- Midnight Ride (2013) is a short holiday prequel set before The Maze of Bones.
- Worlds Collide: Tales from an Awesomesauce Party (2014) is a fan-created Scholastic crossover featuring characters from The 39 Clues, Infinity Ring, and Spirit Animals.
39 Clues Companion Books and Graphic Novels
Companion Books
The companion books collect background information about the Cahill branches, the Clue Hunt, and the methods used by the competing teams. They are bonus material rather than required parts of the story.
- The 39 Clues: Agent Handbook (2010)
- The Black Book of Buried Secrets (2010)
Graphic Novels
The graphic novels adapt the opening books of the original series. They retell Amy and Dan’s existing adventures in illustrated form rather than continuing the story beyond Outbreak.
- The Maze of Bones: A Graphic Novel (2023)
- One False Note: A Graphic Novel (2024)
- The Sword Thief: A Graphic Novel (2025)
About 39 Clues Books
Who Wrote The 39 Clues?
The 39 Clues is a collaborative series written by several authors. Rick Riordan launched the story with The Maze of Bones, while Gordon Korman, Peter Lerangis, Jude Watson, Patrick Carman, Linda Sue Park, Margaret Peterson Haddix, and others returned for different installments and later arcs.
How Many 39 Clues Books Are There?
The answer depends on what you count. The connected storyline contains 26 core novels from The Maze of Bones through Outbreak. The larger catalog also includes digital short stories, companion books, a print compilation, a crossover story, and graphic-novel adaptations.
Cards and the Online Game
The original books were part of a multimedia experience that paired the novels with collectible cards and online missions. The cards added puzzles and bonus material, but they aren’t required to read or understand the books.
Is There a 39 Clues Movie?
No movie or television adaptation of The 39 Clues has been released. Film rights were acquired and different versions of the project were discussed, but the adaptation never reached production.
Looking for more books in order?
If you want more authors and reading-order guides like this one, start with my Books in Order index.