Looking for the Jack Carr books in order? This guide covers Jack Carr’s fiction and nonfiction so you can find the best place to start, whether you came to his work through The Terminal List TV series or the books first.
Carr writes military thrillers built around espionage, action, and modern warfare, with James Reece at the center of much of his fiction. This list breaks down the full reading order and the wider Terminal List universe in a clear, straightforward way.
Jump to:
- The Terminal List Books
- Chris Walker Books
- Jack Carr Non-Fiction Books
- The Terminal List on TV
- Who Is Jack Carr?
- Jack Carr Books FAQ
The Terminal List Books
Jack Carr’s best-known books follow James Reece, beginning with The Terminal List. These novels are best read in publication order, which is also the clearest way to follow Reece’s story as the stakes, world, and supporting cast expand from book to book. While each thriller has its own central mission, the series works best as an ongoing arc rather than a set of true standalones.
Another thing readers notice in Carr’s fiction is the use of redacted passages. Carr has written about submitting his manuscripts for prepublication review, and those blacked-out lines are an intentional part of the reading experience rather than a formatting mistake.
- The Terminal List (2018)
- True Believer (2019)
- Savage Son (2020)
- The Devil’s Hand (2021)
- In the Blood (2022)
- Only the Dead (2023)
- Red Sky Mourning (2024)
Tom Reece Books
Jack Carr has also expanded the Terminal List universe through Tom Reece. Cry Havoc is positioned as both the first Tom Reece thriller and an origin story within the larger James Reece universe, which makes it a better fit here than in a general standalone section.
- Cry Havoc (2025)
Chris Walker Books
Carr’s next fiction line centers on Chris Walker, a former Navy SEAL and CIA ground branch operative. At the moment, The Fourth Option is the first book in that lane, but official materials already frame it as the start of something new rather than a one-off standalone.
- The Fourth Option (2026)
Jack Carr Non-Fiction Books
Carr has also moved into nonfiction with the Targeted series, written with historian and Pulitzer Prize finalist James M. Scott. The series examines major terrorist attacks and their long-term impact, with Targeted: Beirut covering the 1983 Marine barracks bombing through interviews, military records, and other historical sources.
- Targeted: Beirut (2024)
The Terminal List on TV
Jack Carr’s fiction has expanded into a full Prime Video franchise. The first adaptation, The Terminal List, premiered on July 1, 2022 and starred Chris Pratt as James Reece. Like most book-to-screen adaptations, it does not follow the novel scene for scene, but it keeps the core premise, characters, and overall tone that made the book popular in the first place.
The screen side of the franchise has since grown beyond the original series. The Terminal List: Dark Wolf, a Ben Edwards prequel origin story starring Taylor Kitsch, premiered in August 2025, and Jack Carr’s official site says an adaptation of True Believer is coming to Prime Video in 2026. That means readers who came to Carr through television still have the clearest path by starting with The Terminal List and then following the books in publication order.
Who Is Jack Carr?
Jack Carr is a former Navy SEAL and bestselling thriller author whose military background shapes the realism of his fiction. After serving for 20 years in naval special operations, he retired from the military and launched his writing career with The Terminal List, the first James Reece novel.
Carr grew up reading action and military thrillers, and that influence shows in his work. His books are fiction, but his experience helps give them an authentic sense of military culture, tactics, and high-stakes operations. He now lives in Utah with his family.
Jack Carr Books FAQ
Is The Terminal List based on a true story?
No. The Terminal List is fiction, not a true story. That said, Carr’s official site repeatedly describes his novels as being inspired by real experiences serving in conflict areas, which is part of why the books feel grounded in military realism.
Is James Reece a real person?
No. James Reece is a fictional character created by Jack Carr. Carr’s official site describes Reece as the protagonist of the novels and frames the books as fiction shaped by real-world experience rather than biography.
What genre are Jack Carr books?
Jack Carr writes political and military thrillers. His official books page describes his work as political thriller fiction with a heavy focus on modern warfare, espionage, and special operations, which is why his books appeal to readers who like action-driven suspense with a strong military angle.
Is The Terminal List: Dark Wolf based on a Jack Carr book?
Not exactly. The Terminal List: Dark Wolf is a prequel series built from Jack Carr’s characters and world, but Carr’s official site presents it as a Ben Edwards origin story rather than a direct adaptation of one specific novel.
Looking for more books in order?
If you want more thriller authors and reading-order guides like this one, start with my Thriller Books in Order index.
6 thoughts on “Jack Carr Books in Order: Full Terminal List Reading Order”
Finished The Terminal List and now reading True Believer. Jack Carr has truly nailed a great fiction character James Reece, or is he fiction…… I would choose to think we have all have Jack Carr’s and James Reeves and many more protecting our lives everyday. Thank you Mr Carr for your service!🇺🇲
Thank you so much Mr Carr for James Reece. Your books are brilliant reads and I and my family look always look forward to the next chapter of Reece’s missions. It is a joy to read an author who has had “boots on the ground” as had Andy McNab and Chris Ryan. Thank you once again for the unable to put down books you recreate. With all best wishes, Elizabeth Branchflower
Is James Reece in From Paris with Love the same James Reece in Terminal List?
It is not the same character. Reece in Terminal List is with a “c” and Reese in From Paris with Love is with an “s”
Did you mean Taylor Kitsch as Ben Edwards, and not the other way around (when you were giving actor’s names in the roles)? The other references had the actor’ name first followed by the character name.
Just watched Terminal List. Good movie but book so much better. I was hooked the first chapter. Loved the opening.