Ward Larsen Books in Order

Ward Larsen is an American thriller author best known for the David Slaton spy novel series, which follows a former Mossad assassin in assignments around the world. What sets Larsen apart from many thriller writers is that he is a former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot who flew twenty-two combat missions in Operation Desert Storm, a trained aircraft accident investigator, a federal law enforcement officer, and an airline captain. His background shows. The books are technically specific without being dry, and the aviation and intelligence details feel real-life like, and not researched. An eight-time winner of the Florida Book Award, Ward Larsen has also been nominated for the Macavity and Silver Falchion Awards.

This page lists all Ward Larsen books in order, including the David Slaton series, the Jammer Davis series, the David Slaton and Tru Miller spin-off, standalone novels, and his collaborations with Brad Thor and Tom Clancy.

Latest Ward Larsen Book

 

Rules of Engagement (Jack Ryan Universe #45), May 2026

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

David Slaton Series (Books in Order)

The David Slaton series follows former Mossad Kidon (assassin) David Slaton, who is pulled out of hiding again and again despite trying to build a quiet life with his wife and son. Trained to operate without backup and to leave no trace, he becomes an off-the-books asset for the CIA, running solo missions that range from eliminating rogue nuclear scientists to uncovering geopolitical conspiracies before they start. The series has a clear, tactical feel with a protagonist who is more methodical chess player than action hero.

Reading Order

  1. Assassin’s Dawn, 2021
  2. The Perfect Assassin, 2008
  3. Assassin’s Game, 2014
  4. Assassin’s Silence, 2016
  5. Assassin’s Code, 2017
  6. Assassin’s Run, 2018
  7. Assassin’s Revenge, 2019
  8. Assassin’s Strike, 2020
  9. Assassin’s Edge, 2022
  10. Assassin’s Mark, 2023

David Slaton and Tru Miller Series (Books in Order)

The David Slaton and Tru Miller series is a David Slaton spin-off, starting with Dark Vector. The series follows Tru Miller, a rookie CIA operator and Slaton’s protégé working with Slaton, who now has a more senior role as chief of CIA clandestine operations. In the first book, Miller travels to Siberia to retrieve a Russian test pilot who is trying to defect with a classified fighter jet, while Slaton pulls the strings from a distance.

Reading Order

Jammer Davis Series

The Jammer Davis series follows Frank “Jammer” Davis, a former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot turned NTSB accident investigator, who keeps finding that plane crashes are not always due mechanical failure. Davis is big, blunt, and relentless, a simple guy who can figure out fast what went wrong, and is very hard to stop once he has a lead.

Collaborations

Standalone Novels

Co-authored with Brad Thor

Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan Universe

This novel was written by Ward Larsen as part of the Jack Ryan Universe created by Tom Clancy.

  1. Rules of Engagement, 2026

Standalone Novels

Anthologies

Ward Larsen Biography

Ward Larsen books in order

Ward Larsen is an American thriller author whose work includes the long-running David Slaton series, the Jammer Davis series, and several standalone thrillers. He has published more than twenty books since his debut in 2004.
Official website: wardlarsen.com

Born on March 14, 1961 in South Florida, Ward Larsen grew up near the water and around aircraft. He studied at the University of Central Florida before joining the U.S. Air Force, where he trained as a fighter pilot and eventually flew the A-10 Warthog. During Operation Desert Storm in the early 1990s he flew twenty-two combat missions. After leaving active duty, he moved into civilian aviation and started a complex career that not only included being an airline captain on domestic and international routes, but also working in federal law enforcement, and aircraft accident investigation. All these jobs directly influenced his novels.

He began writing during layovers and long trips, and his debut novel, The Perfect Assassin, introduced Israeli assassin David Slaton in 2004. The book won the Florida Book Award and the Military Writers Society of America Gold Medal for Fiction, and was optioned for film. A string of Slaton sequels followed, along with the Jammer Davis aviation thriller series and several standalone novels. In 2026 he co-authored Cold Zero with Brad Thor — a standalone espionage thriller optioned by Netflix — and published Rules of Engagement, his entry into the Tom Clancy Jack Ryan universe. Larsen lives in Florida, still flies, and remains an active author.

Ward Larsen Book Adaptations

  • The Perfect Assassin – optioned for film adaptation by Amber Entertainment
  • Cold Zero (co-authored with Brad Thor) – optioned for film by Netflix

Ward Larsen Awards and Honors

Awards

  • The Perfect Assassin – Florida Book Award, Silver Medal, Popular Fiction (2007)
  • The Perfect Assassin – Royal Palm Literary Award, First Place, Mystery/Suspense (2007)
  • The Perfect Assassin – Military Writers Society of America Gold Medal, Fiction
  • The Perfect Assassin – ForeWord Book of the Year, Silver Medal
  • Stealing Trinity – ForeWord Book of the Year, Gold Medal
  • Stealing Trinity – IndieFab Award, Mystery Fiction (2008)
  • Fly by Night – Florida Book Award, Gold Medal
  • Passenger 19 – Florida Book Award, Silver Medal
  • Florida Book Award (multiple additional wins, eight total as of 2026)

Edited by

Marika

Founder of Mystery Sequels, a reference site focused on listing mystery and thriller books in the correct reading order. I maintain and update the site’s bibliographies as new titles are released, ensuring accuracy and consistency across author and series pages.

Readers Also Like

Last verified: