The Complete List of Robert Ludlum Books in Order

Robert Ludlum was the legendary author of twenty-seven bestselling novels.

He’s most famous for his Jason Bourne trilogy, which inspired the blockbuster movie franchise starring Matt Damon. But this iconic writer penned a whole host of other critically acclaimed classics during his lifetime.

His novels sit firmly in the thriller genre, with themes of international espionage and conspiracy.

Ludlum sadly passed away in 2001, but in the years that have followed, several authors have continued writing in his name. His incredible legacy looks set to live on for generations to come.

Robert Ludlum’s Books in Order

Robert Ludlum has penned numerous high-octane thrillers, and knowing where to start isn’t easy. So, in this post, I’ll give you a full list of this incredible author’s work to help you decide where to begin your reading journey.

The Matarese Dynasty Books

This two-part series tells the story of the Matarese, an international ring of powerful, cold-blooded killers with their sights set on world domination. And, if left unchallenged, they’ll take complete control of the globe within two years. 

So, two rival secret agents must set aside their long-running feud and join forces to destroy the Matarese. Agent Brandon Scofield of the CIA and the KGB’s Vasili Talaniekov have been sworn enemies for years. But this pair of adversaries are the only ones skilled and ruthless enough to do the job. 

The Matarese Dynasty Books in Reading And Publication Order

In order to get the most out of the Matarese Dynasty books, it’s best to read them in the order they were published, listed below. 

1. The Matarese Circle (1979)
2. The Matarese Countdown (1997)

The Jason Bourne Books

This groundbreaking series follows the international adventures of Jason Bourne.

At the start of the series, Bourne awakens with amnesia. He has no idea who he is. With his remarkable survival skills and multi-million-dollar Swiss bank account, he knows he’s no ordinary man.

And so he embarks on a mission to discover his true identity and why a string of assassins want him dead.

The Jason Bourne series began in 1980, with the debut title The Bourne Identity. Over the next decade, Robert Ludlum penned a further two novels to complete the critically acclaimed Bourne Trilogy.

But after Ludlum’s death in 2001, author Eric Van Lustbader took over the reins. He published eleven new installments in the series, staying true to the original author’s style and ideas.

More recently, in 2020, author Brian Freeman took over Lustbader’s writing role. So far, he’s penned three more books in Ludlum’s epic Bourne series, and later this year, a brand new novel is due to hit the shelves.

The Jason Bourne Books in Reading And Publication Order

Below, you’ll find a list of Robert Ludlum’s original books, which form the Jason Bourne trilogy. Plus, I’ll include a full list of the continuation novels by Lustbader and Freeman.

Each book in the Bourne series tells a new story and can be read as a standalone. That being said, the characters’ lives evolve and intertwine with each new book. So, to get the most out of the series, it’s best to read these novels in the order they were published, listed below.

1. The Bourne Identity (1980)
2. The Bourne Supremacy (1986)
3. The Bourne Ultimatum (1990)

Continuation Novels by Eric Van Lustbader

4. The Bourne Legacy (2004)
5. The Bourne Betrayal (2007)
6. The Bourne Sanction (2008)
7. The Bourne Deception (2009)
8. The Bourne Objective (2010)
9. The Bourne Dominion (2011)
10. The Bourne Imperative (2012)
11. The Bourne Retribution (2013)
12. The Bourne Ascendancy (2014)
13. The Bourne Enigma (2016)
14. The Bourne Initiative (2017)

Continuation Novels by Brian Freeman

15. The Bourne Evolution (2020)
16. The Bourne Treachery (2021)
17. The Bourne Sacrifice (2022)
18. The Bourne Defiance (due to be published in July 2023)

The Covert-One Books

Shortly before his death, Robert Ludlum began the Covert-One thriller series about a top-secret government agency that tackles international crime, corruption, and conspiracy.

Ludlum penned the first three novels alongside authors Gayle Lynds and Philip Shelby. Then, after his death, Lynds, Shelby, and several other authors continued the series under the iconic Ludlum brand.

The Covert-One Books in Reading And Publication Order

Each book in the Covert-One series tells a new story and can be read as a standalone. That being said, the characters’ lives evolve and intertwine with each new book. So, to get the most out of the series, it’s best to read these novels in the order they were published, listed below.

1. The Hades Factor (Robert Ludlum and Gayle Lynds) (2000)
2. The Cassandra Compact (Robert Ludlum and Phillip Shelby) (2001)
3. The Paris Option (Robert Ludlum and Gayle Lynds) (2002)
4. The Altman Code (Gayle Lynds) (2003)
5. The Lazarus Vendetta (Patrick Larkin) (2004)
6. The Moscow Vector (Patrick Larkin) (2005)
7. The Arctic Event (James H. Cobb) (2007)
8. The Ares Decision (Kyle Mills) (2011)
9. The Janus Reprisal (Jamie Freveletti) (2012)
10. The Utopia Experiment (Kyle Mills) (2013)
11. The Geneva Strategy (Jamie Freveletti) (2015)
12. The Patriot Attack (Kyle Mills) (2015)

The Paul Janson Books

This nail-biting spy thriller series tells the tale of former US government assassin Paul Janson.

When we first meet Janson in book one, ‘The Janson Directive,’ he’s trying to shed his violent past. No longer an employee of the state, he’s laying low, hoping for a fresh start.

But it’s not long before he’s forced to repay a favor. And so, he reluctantly embarks on a dangerous rescue mission that will take him right into the heart of one of the world’s most dangerous terrorist organizations.

Robert Ludlum penned the first Paul Janson book shortly before his death, and it was posthumously published in 2002.

From then on, authors Paul Garrison and Douglas Corleone took over writing the series, with Ludlum still credited as the creator for each work.

The Paul Janson Books in Reading And Publication Order

Each book in the Paul Janson series tells a new story and can be read as a standalone. That being said, the characters’ lives evolve and intertwine with each new book. So, to get the most out of the series, it’s best to read these novels in the order they were published, listed below.

1. The Janson Directive (2002)
2. The Janson Command (Paul Garrison) (2012)
3. The Janson Option (Paul Garrison) (2014)
4. The Janson Equation (Douglas Corleone) (2015)

The Treadstone Books (by Joshua Hood)

The Treadstone series is a new spin-off saga set in Robert Ludlum’s iconic Bourne universe.

Jason Bourne was an unforgettable agent in the top-secret CIA Black Ops program, Operation Treadstone. Now, author Joshua Hood has created a new protégé, Adam Hayes.

In book one, The Treadstone Resurrection, this seemingly invincible assassin is desperate to escape Treadstone and rebuild his life. Years of dangerous covert missions have cost him everything, even his family. Now, he’s determined to put the past behind him.

Working a simple job as a carpenter in a remote corner of Washington State, Hayes is certain he’ll be left alone to move on with his life. But it’s not long before a mysterious hit squad targets him at work. Suddenly, his life is in danger again. He must call upon his elite skills and ruthless resolve to defeat his enemies.

The Treadstone Books in Reading And Publication Order

Each book in the Treadstone series tells a new story and can be read as a standalone. That being said, the characters’ lives evolve and intertwine with each new book. So, to get the most out of the series, it’s best to read these novels in the order they were published, listed below.

1. The Treadstone Resurrection (2020)
2. The Treadstone Exile (2021)
3. The Treadstone Transgression (2022)
4. The Treadstone Rendition (expected to be published in April 2023)

The Blackbriar Books (by Simon Gervais)

The Blackbriar books are a brand-new Jason Bourne/Treadstone spin-off series written by author Simon Gervais under the famous Robert Ludlum brand.

In book one, The Blackbriar Genesis, a Treadstone agent has been assassinated in a car bomb in the Czech Republic. Top secret agents are often killed on the job, but this agent’s death is highly unusual. No one, not even his superiors, knows why he was there.

And so, the Blackbriar program, a small, under-the-table unit tasked with intercepting security threats the FBI can’t legally tackle themselves, is called in to help.

Operatives Helen Jouvert and Donovan Wade head to the Czech capital to investigate, but their search for answers only unearths more questions. And now, they’re about to enter a world of secret conspiracies more dark and dangerous than they could ever have imagined.

The Blackbriar Books in Reading And Publication Order

So far, author Simon Gervais has published just one installment in the series, but a new Blackbriar book is due later this year.

1. The Blackbriar Genesis (2022)
2. The Blackbriar Deceit (expected to be published in October 2023)

Robert Ludlum’s Standalone Novels

As well as his famous series listed above, Robert Ludlum penned numerous standalone novels during his career. Most of his work was published under his famous name. Still, he also wrote under the pseudonyms Jonathan Ryder and Michael Shepherd.

Below, you’ll find a full list of Ludlum’s standalone titles in the order they were originally published.

1. The Scarlatti Inheritance (1971)
2. The Osterman Weekend (1972)
3. The Matlock Paper (1973)
4. Trevayne (as Jonathan Ryder) (1973)
5. The Cry of the Halidon (as Jonathan Ryder) (1974)
6. The Rhinemann Exchange (1974)
7. The Road to Gandolfo (as Michael Shepherd) (1975)
8. The Gemini Contenders (1976)
9. The Chancellor Manuscript (1977)
10. The Holcroft Covenant (1978)
11. The Parsifal Mosaic (1982)
12. The Aquitaine Progression (1984)
13. The Icarus Agenda (1988)
14. The Road to Omaha (1992) (sequel to The Road to Gandolfo)
15. The Scorpio Illusion (1993)
16. The Apocalypse Watch (1995)
17. The Prometheus Deception (2000)
18. The Sigma Protocol (2001)
19. The Tristan Betrayal (2003)
20. The Ambler Warning (2005)
21. The Bancroft Strategy (2006)

Conclusion

Robert Ludlum was one of the world’s most iconic and acclaimed thriller authors. His work has influenced millions of readers around the globe, and even today, more than two decades after his death, his legacy still lives on.

Are you a fan of Robert Ludlum’s work? If so, I’d love to hear about your favorite books. Could you drop me a comment in the box below?