Brad’s work is being considered for multiple on-screen projects and adaptations because he writes fiction that is easy to translate to screens. Perhaps it has something to do with his background in creative writing, film, and television production, which is what he studied at the University of Southern California.
In this article, you will find a complete list of Thor’s books in the order of their publication, as well as more information about the author. It will be your complete guide to Brad Thor’s books.
But before we get into how Thor became the master of movie-like novels, let’s take a glance at his top three books.
Our Best Brad Thor Books at a glance:
- The Lions of Lucerne
- Rising Tiger
- The Last Patriot
- Black Ice
- Path Of The Assassin
- Spymaster
- Hidden Order
- Act Of War
- Blowback
- Backlash
- Black List
- Near Dark
Who is Brad Thor?
Brad Thor was born in Chicago on August 21, 1969. He has moved between Utah, California, and Chicago throughout his life, spending eight years in Park City and going to Los Angeles for his undergraduate studies.
He is a graduate of the Francis W. Parker School in Chicago and is a University of Southern California alumnus, where he took classes in creative writing. Brad considers T.C. Boyle an influential mentor. He met Boyle at the University of Southern California, where Boyle was an instructor.
Brad has always had a serious interest in national security and the strength of the United States. He drew inspiration from this when he wrote his debut novel, The Lions of Lucerne, the success of which inspired a series of Scot Harvath novels.
Thor occupies a very interesting niche within the fiction space, with his novels falling in the political, patriotic, thriller, and mystery categories simultaneously.
His undying approval of and admiration for the national security assets has gotten him reciprocatory approval and access. He was a member of Homeland Security’s Analytic Red Cell Unit and has given talks on future-proofing security strategies.
His credentials, in some ways, mirror those of Tom Clancy. Two accolades that are definite highlights in Thor’s personal life are that he was a respected keynote speaker at the National Tactical Officers Association’s annual conference and that he shadowed a Black Ops team. This was back in 2008 when he was researching his thriller titled The Apostle.
His debut novel came after he had spent a significant amount of time as a writer and producer for TV. His series Traveling Lite was critically acclaimed, and the fact that he was its host raised his profile to the point where a traditional publishing deal was in the cards for him.
After becoming a hit-maker in the traditional publishing space, Thor didn’t cut his ties in the TV space, often coming on as a regular contributor to Glen Beck’s programs, first on television and then on his digital network.
He has also been a regular on Fox, with occasional right-of-center takes on mainstream outlets like CNN, CBS, NBC, and ABC, among others. Often, the point of his appearances is to draw parallels between the content of his fiction and the real-world threats facing the US.
Thor’s pro-military and pro-constitution stances on TV are in line with the way he approaches his fiction. Heroism and honor are recurring themes in a traditionalist view of the role of the military. This has tied him to the GOP, at least in the public eye.
In 2018, Brad Thor decided to run for the office of president in the 2020 elections. However, he left the Republican Party because of his frustration with President Donald Trump and the moves made by the Republican-controlled Congress.
He became an independent candidate and decided against running for office. He remained a critic of Trump but eventually softened his tone and conceded that he considered Trump a better alternative to the Democratic frontrunner.
Brad Thor Books In Order
Scot Harvath Books In Order Of Publication
- The Lions of Lucerne
- Path of the Assassin
- State of the Union
- Blowback
- Takedown
- The First Commandment
- The Last Patriot
- The Apostle
- Foreign Influence
- Full Black
- Black List
- Hidden Order
- Act of War
- Code of Conduct
- Foreign Agent
- Use of Force
- Spymaster
- Backlash
- Near Dark
- Black Ice
- Rising Tiger
The Athena Books In Order Of Publication
Top Brad Thor Books to Read
The Lions Of Lucerne
This is the most recommended Brad Thor book across all fan forums, book blogs, and social media pages. It is one of the most engaging books he has written, and it follows Scot Harvath, the only surviving agent from a massacre where thirty secret service men were shot and the president was kidnapped.
Harvath doesn’t buy the surface story of Fatah, the terrorist organization operating from the Middle East, being responsible. He suspects that something is up at home. And the powerful at home believe he is a threat.
The thriller elements in this story come from Scott being framed by the powerful group in power and the threat of the actual president dying before Scott can uncover the truth.
Rising Tiger
This book takes the readers to India, where the murder of a covert operative in Jaipur puts pressure on the US to retaliate. The other party in the conflict is an enemy with whom the US hasn’t engaged in the past few administrations.
But when the US feels like it is time to engage, they bring in Scot Harvath, the legendary operative who has the unparalleled skills required to find out what’s going on, retrieve the evidence, and come out Scott-free.
This book has the fish-out-of-water moments that make Harvath endearing and multiple attempts on the character’s life that make you want to root for him to make it. Thor makes sure that it truly looks like Scot Harvath has no chance of accomplishing his mission. And that’s what makes the story of him pulling through all the more interesting.
The Last Patriot
This book also follows the counterterrorism operative, Scot Harvath. In this story, he is up against Islamic extremism itself. It fictionalized the last revelation and the circumstances surrounding the death of Muhammad, the primary authority in Islam.
In The Last Patriot, Muhammad’s death and its circumstances have been hidden from the world for over 1400 years, and it is up to Scot Harvath to reveal the truth about the final epiphany of the prophet.
The Islamic extremist terrorists don’t want this to happen and are mounting resistance against Scott, but it wouldn’t be a Brad Thor thriller without Havarth proving his resilience and cunning.
Black Ice
The events of Black Ice are pivotal to Scott Havarth’s career and legacy, as he has to decide between life and country when he gets a call from back home during a vacation. He can return to the job or submit his resignation.
Time reveals that Havarth has no choice at all because a man he assumed dead turns out to be alive and in Norway.
Scott has to re-engage, knowing that the gamble is the greatest one he has taken in his life. If Scott wins, he gets to live a life of comfort with his partner, knowing that his country is safe. But if he loses, then the US (and perhaps the whole world) loses.
Path Of The Assassin
In Path of The Assassin, Brad Thor questions what we know of an assassin’s lifestyle from movies and popular media. His take on an assassin’s path doesn’t exclude friendships and emotions.
Hisham, the terrorist, has killed Havarth’s friends. And now it is Havarth’s desire and duty to make Hisham pay. It is a revenge narrative woven into a covert operative story, and it has enough page-turning twists to be a Brad Thor must-read.
Spymaster
Most thriller writers have given their takes on the “string of attacks” type threat at some point in their writing journeys. Spymaster is that entry in Thor’s bibliography. There have been multiple terrorist attacks targeting diplomats in different locations.
Once a security firm learns that the attacks are connected, the race to find the culprits and uncover their motives becomes important.
This Scot Harvath story had him playing a whodunnit-style detective across Europe while being his sharpest as a counterterrorism specialist. You will enjoy this book if you like James Bond. And it is a compliment to Brad Thor that this title of his comes the closest to a James Bond novel.
Hidden Order
Pull out your tinfoil hats because The Hidden Order will have you revisiting the Illuminati conspiracies from the early 2000s. In this book, “The Hidden Order” is an organization that controls many of the visible figures and policies on the main stage of politics and power.
The organization is so secretive that people outside of it aren’t supposed to even know about its existence. But when five of the leadership candidates vanish, it is time to bring in an outsider to investigate the case.
So the most powerful organization hires the most talented counterterrorism operative. This book is a treat for all fans of mystery-box-style stories.
Act Of War
Act of War is a thriller about preventing an active campaign that could result in an all-out war. The campaign, mounted by the Chinese government, is a multi-party conspiracy that ends up getting Muslim extremists and even the Koreans involved.
Scot Harvath is contracted by the US government to help uncover the plot, titled Snow Dragon so that an undeniable act of war can be stopped. This story has all the classic elements of a Brad Thor book, including but not limited to thrills, plot twists, and an awe-inspiring world of covert operatives.
Blowback
Blowback opens with Scot Harvath on his way out of the counter-terrorism gig because of politics and a senator who wants to use him as a scapegoat on her road to the White House. However, that doesn’t make Harvath irrelevant for long.
Soon enough, the signs of a potential conspiracy emerge, and the president has to bring Scot Harvath back, albeit secretly.
The main point that makes Blowback worth reading is the ancient mystery aspects that come from a weapon attributed to Hannibal the Conqueror being brought back into action to selectively kill non-Muslims while keeping Muslims alive. Harvath has to find a way to uncover the mystery of said weapon and devise a strategy to defeat the group wielding it.
Backlash
Brad Thor likes his toys, and it is evident from his great gadget arsenal that The Carlton Group equips Scott Harvath with many of the adventures in the Brad Thor bibliography. However, Backlash comes when Harvath is away from home and not well-equipped. It is part survival thriller and part revenge narrative set in the world of covert operatives.
Black List
The idea of a Black List has been in the mercenary fiction genre for quite some time. It is simple: if you’re on it, you’re a target. Brad Thor’s take on this idea is presented in Black List, a novel that covers the irreversible consequences of being put on the Black List.
This book comes before The Hidden Order in the Harvath chronology and shows the covert operative stepping up in the trust rankings in the circles of power. It combines elements of conspiracy and political intrigue with covert assassinations and a detective narrative.
Near Dark
In Near Dark, Thor explores the consequences of Harvath’s superiority in his line of work. If an operative has killed thousands of terrorists during his run, it is only logical for thousands to want him dead. And in Near Dark, they have gotten bold enough to try.
Harvath is now asked to consult with and speculate on who might want him dead because that party is also responsible for killing a valuable asset. But being the man that he is, Scott Harvath refuses to just sit and speculate, so he decides to jump into action, visiting all the places where he has stirred up trouble.
It is a very enjoyable read for long-time Brad Thor readers but might not be as enjoyable for a newcomer to his bibliography.
Brad Thor FAQs
What Genre Is Brad Thor?
Brad Thor writes spy and thriller fiction with patriotic themes. His pro-America stance shines through his fiction, which has earned him a loyal readership among people who share the same sentiments.
But the heart of Thor’s fiction is the high stakes that he sets up and the unexpected ways in which his protagonists save everyone.
What Is Brad Thor’s Black Ice About?
Black Ice is about the conflict between oneself and the greater good. It also questions the idea of a greater good in the context of a spy who has to choose between returning or sending in his resignation. This title sets up Thor as an intellectually stimulating author.
What Was Brad Thor’s First Book?
Brad Thor’s first book is The Lions of Lucerne, which became a New York Times bestseller. The book tells a classic Brad Thor spy story, though it isn’t as series-oriented as Thor’s second book. Perhaps the only change since then is that Thor has become more comfortable with multi-book storytelling.
Is Brad Thor Married?
Brad Thor is married and has at least one child. He has not officially disclosed his marital or relationship status, though news reports and magazine profiles have described him as a happily married man. It is even said that Thor’s wife was the catalyst that got him to give book writing a try.
Did Brad Thor Serve In The Military?
Brad Thor hasn’t worked in the army, navy, or marines but has served his country by aiding the Homeland Department’s analytic Red Cell Unit and by giving lectures on foreseeing threats on an organizational level to the US military.
What Is Brad Thor’s Real Name?
Brad Thor’s real name is Brad Thor. It sounds made up and appropriate for the type of books he writes, but he writes under his real name. His full name is Bradley George Thor Jr.
Wrapping It Up
Brad Thor’s writing has consistent themes of a politically conscious and military-forward approach to problem-solving. His Scot Harvath character is unapologetically patriotic and ultimately heroic.
If you love any one of his books, you’ll love most, if not all, of his novels. The article above is your guide to his novels’ chronology as well as the best Brad Thor books to read.
