Nelson DeMille Books In Order – Nelson Richard DeMille, born in Jamaica (Queens) on August 23, 1943, lived a life shaped by service and creativity before passing in September 2024. Raised in Long Island, he excelled at Elmont Memorial High School before studying at Hofstra University. From 1966 to 1969, he served in Vietnam as a First Lieutenant, earning the Bronze Star, Air Medal, and Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.
Returning to Hofstra, he graduated in 1970 and credited his college years with inspiring his celebrated career as a novelist.
Nelson DeMille Books In Order
Nelson DeMille’s novels have captivated readers for decades with their mix of suspense, military themes, and sharp humor. He is best known for his John Corey series, but his earlier works and other series such as Paul Brenner and Joe Ryker also showcase his talent for building tension and creating memorable protagonists.
Listing his books in order of publication makes it easier to follow the timeline of each series while also exploring his stand-alone thrillers, giving readers a complete picture of his body of work.
Publication Order of Joe Ryker Books
| Book Title | Year | Buy at Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| The Sniper | (1974) | Buy Now |
| The Hammer of God | (1974) | Buy Now |
| The Terrorists | (1974) | Buy Now |
| The Agent of Death / The Death Squad | (1975) | Buy Now |
| Cannibal | (1975) | Buy Now |
| The Smack Man | (1975) | Buy Now |
| The Night of the Phoenix | (1975) | Buy Now |
Publication Order of John Corey Books
| Book Title | Year | Buy at Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| Plum Island | (1997) | Buy Now |
| The Lion’s Game | (2000) | Buy Now |
| Night Fall | (2004) | Buy Now |
| Wild Fire | (2006) | Buy Now |
| The Lion | (2010) | Buy Now |
| The Panther | (2012) | Buy Now |
| The Book Case | (2012) | Buy Now |
| Radiant Angel / A Quiet End | (2015) | Buy Now |
| The Maze | (2022) | Buy Now |
Publication Order of John Sutter Books
Publication Order of Paul Brenner Books
| Book Title | Year | Buy at Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| The General’s Daughter | (1992) | Buy Now |
| Up Country | (2002) | Buy Now |
| The Panther | (2012) | Buy Now |
Publication Order of Scott Brodie & Maggie Taylor Books
| Book Title | Year | Buy at Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| The Deserter | (2019) | Buy Now |
| Blood Lines | (2023) | Buy Now |
| The Tin Men | (2025) | Buy Now |
Publication Order of Standalone Novels
| Book Title | Year | Buy at Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| The Quest | (1975) | Buy Now |
| By the Rivers of Babylon | (1978) | Buy Now |
| Mayday(With: Thomas Block) | (1979) | Buy Now |
| Cathedral | (1981) | Buy Now |
| The Talbot Odyssey | (1984) | Buy Now |
| Word of Honor | (1985) | Buy Now |
| The Charm School | (1988) | Buy Now |
| Spencerville | (1994) | Buy Now |
| The Cuban Affair | (2017) | Buy Now |
Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas
| Death Benefits | (2012) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| Rendezvous | (2012) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
Publication Order of The MatchUp Collection Books
| Book Title | Year | Buy at Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| Honor & . . . | (2017) | Buy Now |
| Deserves to Be Dead | (2017) | Buy Now |
| Getaway | (2017) | Buy Now |
| Midnight Flame | (2018) | Buy Now |
| Short Story | (2019) | Buy Now |
| Past Prologue | (2019) | Buy Now |
| Faking a Murderer | (2019) | Buy Now |
| Dig Here | (2019) | Buy Now |
| Taking the Veil | (2019) | Buy Now |
| Rambo on Their Minds | (2019) | Buy Now |
| Footloose | (2019) | Buy Now |
Publication Order of Bibliomysteries Books
| Book Title | Year | Buy at Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| The Book of Virtue(By: Ken Bruen) | (2012) | Buy Now |
| Pronghorns of the Third Reich(By: C.J. Box) | (2012) | Buy Now |
| The Book Thing(By: Laura Lippman) | (2012) | Buy Now |
| The Book Case | (2012) | Buy Now |
| An Acceptable Sacrifice(By: Jeffery Deaver) | (2012) | Buy Now |
| Death Leaves a Bookmark(By: William Link) | (2012) | Buy Now |
| The Final Testament(By: Peter Blauner) | (2013) | Buy Now |
| Rides a Stranger(By: David Bell) | (2013) | Buy Now |
| The Long Sonata of the Dead(By: Andrew Taylor) | (2013) | Buy Now |
| The Book of Ghosts(By: Reed Farrel Coleman) | (2013) | Buy Now |
| The Compendium of Srem(By: F. Paul Wilson) | (2014) | Buy Now |
| What’s in a Name?(By: Thomas H. Cook) | (2014) | Buy Now |
| Remaindered(By: Peter Lovesey) | (2014) | Buy Now |
| The Sequel(By: R.L. Stine) | (2014) | Buy Now |
| The Gospel of Sheba(By: Lyndsay Faye) | (2014) | Buy Now |
| Book Club(By: Loren D. Estleman) | (2014) | Buy Now |
| The Nature of My Inheritance(By: Bradford Morrow) | (2014) | Buy Now |
| It’s in the Book(By: Max Allan Collins,Mickey Spillane) | (2014) | Buy Now |
| The Scroll(By: Anne Perry) | (2014) | Buy Now |
| The Book of the Lion(By: Thomas Perry) | (2015) | Buy Now |
| The Little Men(By: Megan Abbott) | (2015) | Buy Now |
| Condor in the Stacks(By: James Grady) | (2015) | Buy Now |
| Mystery, Inc.(By: Joyce Carol Oates) | (2015) | Buy Now |
| Every Seven Years(By: Denise Mina) | (2015) | Buy Now |
| From the Queen(By: Carolyn Hart) | (2015) | Buy Now |
| From the Queen(By: Carolyn Hart) | (2015) | Buy Now |
| The Travelling Companion(By: Ian Rankin) | (2016) | Buy Now |
| Citadel(By: Stephen Hunter) | (2016) | Buy Now |
| Reconciliation Day(By: Christopher Fowler) | (2016) | Buy Now |
| Dead Dames Don’t Sing(By: John Harvey) | (2016) | Buy Now |
| The Haze(By: James W. Hall) | (2016) | Buy Now |
| Hoodoo Harry(By: Joe R. Lansdale) | (2017) | Buy Now |
| The Pretty Little Box | (2018) | Buy Now |
| Seven Years | (2018) | Buy Now |
| The Hemingway Valise | (2018) | Buy Now |
| The Last Honest Horse Thief | (2018) | Buy Now |
| The Caxton Private Lending Library & Book Depository | (2018) | Buy Now |
| The Girl Who Did Say No | (2020) | Buy Now |
| The Traitor | (2022) | Buy Now |
| The Dark Door | (2022) | Buy Now |
| The Honeymoon Trap | (2022) | Buy Now |
Chronological Order of Bibliomysteries Books
| Book Title | Year | Buy at Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| The Book of Virtue(By: Ken Bruen) | (2012) | Buy Now |
| The Scroll(By: Anne Perry) | (2014) | Buy Now |
| Pronghorns of the Third Reich(By: C.J. Box) | (2012) | Buy Now |
| An Acceptable Sacrifice(By: Jeffery Deaver) | (2012) | Buy Now |
| Death Leaves a Bookmark(By: William Link) | (2012) | Buy Now |
| Seven Years(By: Peter Robinson) | (2018) | Buy Now |
| The Book Thing(By: Laura Lippman) | (2012) | Buy Now |
| The Book of Ghosts(By: Reed Farrel Coleman) | (2013) | Buy Now |
| Book Club(By: Loren D. Estleman) | (2014) | Buy Now |
| The Long Sonata of the Dead(By: Andrew Taylor) | (2013) | Buy Now |
| The Final Testament(By: Peter Blauner) | (2013) | Buy Now |
| Rides a Stranger(By: David Bell) | (2013) | Buy Now |
| What’s in a Name?(By: Thomas H. Cook) | (2014) | Buy Now |
| It’s in the Book(By: Max Allan Collins,Mickey Spillane) | (2014) | Buy Now |
| The Nature of My Inheritance(By: Bradford Morrow) | (2014) | Buy Now |
| Remaindered(By: Peter Lovesey) | (2014) | Buy Now |
| The Compendium of Srem(By: F. Paul Wilson) | (2014) | Buy Now |
| The Gospel of Sheba(By: Lyndsay Faye) | (2014) | Buy Now |
| The Sequel(By: R.L. Stine) | (2014) | Buy Now |
| The Book of the Lion(By: Thomas Perry) | (2015) | Buy Now |
| The Little Men(By: Megan Abbott) | (2015) | Buy Now |
| From the Queen(By: Carolyn Hart) | (2015) | Buy Now |
| Every Seven Years(By: Denise Mina) | (2015) | Buy Now |
| Citadel(By: Stephen Hunter) | (2016) | Buy Now |
| Condor in the Stacks(By: James Grady) | (2015) | Buy Now |
| Mystery, Inc.(By: Joyce Carol Oates) | (2015) | Buy Now |
| The Travelling Companion(By: Ian Rankin) | (2016) | Buy Now |
| The Haze(By: James W. Hall) | (2016) | Buy Now |
| Dead Dames Don’t Sing(By: John Harvey) | (2016) | Buy Now |
| Reconciliation Day(By: Christopher Fowler) | (2016) | Buy Now |
| Hoodoo Harry(By: Joe R. Lansdale) | (2017) | Buy Now |
| The Pretty Little Box(By: Charles Todd) | (2018) | Buy Now |
| The Caxton Private Lending Library & Book Depository(By: John Connolly) | (2018) | Buy Now |
| The Hemingway Valise(By: Robert Olen Butler) | (2018) | Buy Now |
| The Last Honest Horse Thief(By: Michael Koryta) | (2018) | Buy Now |
| The Book Case | (2012) | Buy Now |
| From the Queen(By: Carolyn Hart) | (2015) | Buy Now |
| The Girl Who Did Say No(By: David Handler) | (2020) | Buy Now |
| The Traitor(By: Martin Edwards) | (2022) | Buy Now |
| The Dark Door(By: Lisa Unger) | (2022) | Buy Now |
| The Honeymoon Trap(By: Peter Swanson) | (2022) | Buy Now |
Publication Order of Anthologies
| Book Title | Year | Buy at Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| Tales of Terror | (1986) | Buy Now |
| The Plot Thickens | (1997) | Buy Now |
| A Poison That Leaves No Trace: With Mystery Jigsaw Puzzle | (2002) | Buy Now |
| In the Shadow of the Master | (2003) | Buy Now |
| The Best American Mystery Stories 2004 | (2004) | Buy Now |
| The Rich and the Dead | (2011) | Buy Now |
| MatchUp | (2017) | Buy Now |
Nelson DeMille Biography
Earlier Life – Nelson Richard DeMille, born in Jamaica (Queens) on August 23, 1943, lived a life shaped by discipline, service, and creativity before passing away in September 2024. The son of builder Huron DeMille and Antonia Panzera, he spent his early years in Queens until the family moved to Long Island. At Elmont Memorial High School, he thrived both academically and athletically, playing football and running track.
In 1962, DeMille graduated high school and began studying at Hofstra University. After three years, he chose to serve his country by joining the U.S. Army. Between 1966 and 1969, he rose to the rank of First Lieutenant and deployed to Vietnam, where he fought in Quang from November 1967 to December 1968. His courage and leadership earned him several decorations, including the Bronze Star, the Air Medal, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.
After completing his service, DeMille returned to Hofstra in 1969. He graduated the following year with a degree in political science and history, earning the Estabrook Award for academic excellence. In 1999, Hofstra named him Alumnus of the Year. DeMille often reflected that his time at Hofstra deepened his love of literature and directly guided his path to becoming a novelist.
Writing Career – After completing his studies, Nelson DeMille explored different professions, working as a carpenter, house painter, and insurance investigator before committing himself to writing. He launched his literary career with a series of fast-paced crime novels that later evolved into more intricate thrillers, earning him recognition as a master storyteller.
In his personal life, DeMille married Ellen Wasserman in 1971. Together they raised two children, Lauren and Alexander, before their marriage ended in 1987. Years later, in 1998, he married Virginia “Ginny” Sindel Witte, though they divorced in 2004. Eventually, DeMille found lasting partnership with Sandra Dillingham. They settled in Long Island with their son, James, while his older children pursued their own careers—Alexander as a filmmaker and Lauren as a psychology PhD candidate.
Beyond writing, DeMille gave back to the academic and literary communities that shaped him. He served on the Hofstra University Board of Trustees and endowed a scholarship in his name to support students majoring in English. His commitment to literature extended further through leadership roles and professional associations. He served as president of the Mystery Writers of America and remained an active member of the Authors Guild, PEN American Centre, Poets & Writers, and American MENSA.
Short Notes on Nelson DeMille Books
1. The Maze
Nelson DeMille’s Plum Island, a #1 New York Times bestseller, introduced readers to NYPD Homicide Detective John Corey, who recovered from line-of-duty wounds on his uncle’s Long Island porch. Six novels later, The Maze returns Corey to the same porch, older, sharper, and as sarcastic as ever after a string of law enforcement roles and turbulent romances. Restless for action, Corey seizes an opportunity when former lover Detective Beth Penrose arrives with a job offer, forcing him to weigh both his career and the chance to reunite with Beth.
Drawing inspiration from the real-life Gilgo Beach murders, DeMille thrusts Corey into a chilling manhunt for a possible serial killer who has slain and hidden multiple sex workers in the tangled brush of a desolate beach. As Corey unravels the case, he suspects local police failures stem not from incompetence but from something far darker.
2. The SNIPER
The sniper randomly selects his victims and kills with the cold precision of a professional. Detective Sgt. Ryker hunts him down, determined to win a deadly battle that only one of them can survive. Nelson DeMille, writing under the pseudonym Jack Cannon, published the Jack Ryker series in 1974 and 1975 before gaining fame as the author of The Charm School.
FAQ on Nelson DeMille Books
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Who is Nelson DeMille?
Nelson DeMille (1943–2024) was an American novelist known for his suspenseful thrillers, rich characterizations, and sharp wit. He wrote bestselling novels including The Charm School, Plum Island, and The Gold Coast.
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What type of books does Nelson DeMille write?
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Which series is Nelson DeMille most famous for?
DeMille is best known for the John Corey series, which began with Plum Island. Corey, a witty and unorthodox NYPD detective, appears in several of DeMille’s bestselling thrillers.
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What are some of his most popular standalone novels?
His notable standalones include The Charm School, The Gold Coast, The General’s Daughter, and Word of Honor.
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