Reading the Colter Shaw books in order is the best way to experience the series. Whether you came here because of CBS’s Tracker or because you’re working through Jeffery Deaver’s thrillers, publication order gives you the cleanest path through Colter’s cases, the family story, and the threads that keep building from book to book.
This page keeps the focus on Colter Shaw, with the novels and short fiction all in one place. Readers who want Deaver’s full catalog can also head over to Jeffery Deaver Books in Order.
- Where to Start with Colter Shaw
- Colter Shaw Books in Order
- Tracker and the Colter Shaw Books
- Colter Shaw FAQ
Where to Start with Colter Shaw
Captivated comes first in publication order, but The Never Game is the best place to begin for almost everyone. It introduces Colter the right way and gives you the clearest feel for how the series works.
That’s also the best entry point for Tracker viewers. The show uses the same character and setup, but the books give you more of Colter’s voice, more of his work, and a much fuller look at the family story running underneath everything.
Colter Shaw Books in Order
Here’s the full Colter Shaw publication-order list, with the novels and short fiction in one place. Read it straight through if you want the complete Colter Shaw experience.
- Captivated (2019) (Short Story)
- The Never Game (2019)
- The Second Hostage (2020) (Short Story)
- The Goodbye Man (2020)
- Forgotten (2021) (Short Story)
- The Final Twist (2021)
- The Deadline Clock (2022) (Short Story)
- Hunting Time (2022)
- South of Nowhere (2025)
- The Bookkeeper (2026) (Short Story)
The novels are the core of the series, but the short stories fit neatly between them and give you a little more time with Colter along the way. Follow the list as written and everything falls into place naturally.
Tracker and the Colter Shaw Books
Tracker is the CBS adaptation of Jeffery Deaver’s Colter Shaw books, with Justin Hartley playing Colter. The show keeps the core idea that makes the books so much fun: Colter is a lone, highly skilled reward seeker who moves from case to case, using his tracking skills, survival training, and instincts to find missing people and solve dangerous problems.
The show takes its starting point from The Never Game, but it does not follow the books scene for scene. So if you liked Tracker and want the book version of Colter, start with The Never Game and go forward from there.
That gives you the strongest version of the character, along with the family threads and recurring details that have more room to grow on the page.
Colter Shaw FAQ
Do you need to read the Colter Shaw books in order?
Yes. Each book has its own case, but Colter’s family story and the personal threads running through the series build from one release to the next.
Which Colter Shaw book should Tracker viewers start with?
Start with The Never Game. It gives you the clearest foundation for everything that follows.
Is Tracker based on The Never Game?
Yes. Tracker uses The Never Game as its starting point, then branches into its own television version of Colter Shaw.
Are the Colter Shaw short stories necessary?
No. You can follow the main story through the novels alone, but the short fiction is worth adding if you want the full Colter Shaw experience.
Looking for more books like Colter Shaw?
If you want more thriller authors and reading-order guides like this one, start with my Thriller Books in Order index.