Michael Bennett
thriller
Series · thriller
Cotton Malone
The Cotton Malone series by Steve Berry has 25 books and is best read in publication order, starting with The Templar Legacy (2006).
- Books
- 20 novels + 5 novellas
- First published
- 2006
- Status
- ongoing
- Last checked
Start here: The Templar Legacy (2006) — then read straight through in publication order.
Reading order
The order the books were released — the default way to read the series.
- Book 1:
The Templar Legacy
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Templar Legacy - Book 2:
The Devil's Due
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Devil's Due - Book 3:
The Alexandria Link
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Alexandria Link - Book 4:
The Venetian Betrayal
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Venetian Betrayal - Book 5:
The Charlemagne Pursuit
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Charlemagne Pursuit - Book 6:
The Paris Vendetta
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Paris Vendetta - Book 7:
The Emperor's Tomb
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Emperor's Tomb - Book 8:
The Jefferson Key
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Jefferson Key - Book 9:
The Admiral's Mark
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Admiral's Mark - Book 10:
The Tudor Plot
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Tudor Plot - Book 11:
The King's Deception
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The King's Deception - Book 12:
The Lincoln Myth
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Lincoln Myth - Book 13:
The Devil's Bones: Cotton Malone vs. Grey Pierce
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Devil's Bones: Cotton Malone vs. Grey Pierce - Book 14:
The Patriot Threat
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Patriot Threat - Book 15:
The 14th Colony
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The 14th Colony - Book 16:
The Lost Order
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Lost Order - Book 17:
Past Prologue: Jamie Fraser and Cotton Malone
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Past Prologue: Jamie Fraser and Cotton Malone - Book 18:
The Bishop's Pawn
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Bishop's Pawn - Book 19:
The Malta Exchange
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Malta Exchange - Book 20:
The Warsaw Protocol
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Warsaw Protocol - Book 21:
The Kaiser's Web
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Kaiser's Web - Book 22:
The Last Kingdom
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Last Kingdom - Book 23:
The Atlas Maneuver
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Atlas Maneuver - Book 24:
The Medici Return
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Medici Return - Book 25:
The Devil's Bible
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Devil's Bible
About the Cotton Malone series
Cotton Malone is a former Justice Department covert operative (a 'Magellan Billet' agent) who retired to run an old bookshop in Copenhagen, only to keep getting pulled back into the field by his old boss Stephanie Nelle. Each novel sends him chasing a real historical mystery or lost treasure — the Knights Templar, the Library of Alexandria, Charlemagne's tomb, the Romanov dynasty, the Nazi underground, the founding-era secrets of the U.S. Constitution — and ties it to a present-day conspiracy involving governments, secret societies, or rogue intelligence services. Steve Berry, a former trial lawyer, researches each historical thread heavily and appends author's-note fact-from-fiction breakdowns, which has made the series a favorite of readers who loved The Da Vinci Code and want their conspiracy thrillers grounded in verifiable history.
Malone's found family of recurring characters — hacker sidekick-turned-partner Cassiopeia Vitt, boss Stephanie Nelle, and a rotating cast of historians, spies and villains — gives the series continuity, but Berry writes almost every entry so the central historical mystery resolves by the last page, making it easy to start anywhere. With a new book most years since 2006, it's a strong pick for readers who want Indiana-Jones-style historical treasure hunts wrapped in modern espionage plotting.
Frequently asked questions
How many Cotton Malone books are there?
There are 20 full-length Cotton Malone novels as of The Devil's Bible (2026), plus five digital-only novellas and short stories.
What order should I read the Cotton Malone books in?
Publication order, starting with The Templar Legacy (2006). Most mysteries are self-contained, but Malone's relationships develop across the series in sequence.
Do I need to read the Cotton Malone novellas?
No. They're optional digital-only extras, including crossovers with James Rollins' Sigma Force and Diana Gabaldon's Outlander, but they aren't required to follow the main series.
Is the Cotton Malone series finished?
No, it's ongoing. Steve Berry has published a new Malone novel almost every year since 2006, most recently The Devil's Bible (February 2026).
Are the historical mysteries in the Cotton Malone books real?
Berry builds each plot around real history, documents and legends, and includes a 'Writer's Note' at the end of every book explaining exactly what's fact and what's fictionalized.
If you like the Cotton Malone series
Reading order last verified .