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Dane Maddock Universe Books in Order

Part ofDavid Wood Books in Order

Browse the Dane Maddock Universe books by David Wood in order, with summaries, spin-off background, and help choosing where to start.

Last updated: June 29, 2026

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Dane Maddock Universe books in publication order

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16 books

1

Urban Legend

by David Wood

2017

Rumor hardens into danger when a modern legend proves to have teeth. This short Maddock-universe story moves quickly and hits the creepy notes hard.

2

Berserk

by David Wood

2018

In Norway, Dane and Bones race biotech predators and a mad mercenary to recover Odin's spear. In the wrong hands, it can turn men into killing machines.

3

Brainwash

by David Wood

2018

A conspiracy built around control, memory, and manipulation puts Dane and Bones on unstable ground. This is a lean, fast adventure with paranoia baked into the action.

4

Cavern

by David Wood

2018

An old journal leads Dane and Bones toward a forgotten excavation and an ancient power hidden underground. The Trident wants it too, and they are willing to kill for it.

5

Devil's Face

by David Wood

2018

Dutch Schultz's lost treasure sends Dane and Bones into the Catskills with coded clues and a killer on their trail. It is treasure hunting with a strong assassin twist.

6

Herald

by David Wood

2018

A treasure out of Greek myth turns Dane and Bones loose on a perilous quest across sea and ruin. Betrayal, strange allies, and a legendary role Dane never asked for make this one especially tense.

7

The Tomb

by David Wood

2018

A shipwreck off Italy points Dane and Bones toward the lost tomb of Alaric I. Rival treasure hunters, a spy, and an old enemy keep the search dangerous.

8

Maug

by David Wood

2019

A chance meeting with programmer Sally Smith sends Dane, Bones, and the team toward the cursed island of Maug. Shipwreck treasure, eerie transformations, and a ruthless pursuer turn the trip into chaos.

9

The Elementals

by David Wood

2019

This omnibus pulls together the full Elementals trilogy, where Dane and Bones chase four ancient relics tied to unimaginable power. Antarctica, occult riddles, and the Prometheus group drive the whole ride.

10

Legends

by David Wood

2020

This collection gathers short adventures from across the Dane Maddock universe, including Urban Legend, Aztlan, Phantom Island, Dark Entry, and Venom. It is a quick way to sample Wood's mix of myth, monsters, and action.

11

Shasta

by David Wood

2020

When Willis Sanders disappears in California, Dane and Bones follow the trail to Mount Shasta and another ancient power. Old enemies and volcanic danger close in fast.

12

Emerald Dragon

by David Wood

2022

When an old friend is murdered and Dane becomes the prime suspect, he and Bones hunt the Staff of Christ to clear his name. A pagan cult wants it for darker reasons.

13

Golden Dragon

by David Wood

2022

Stranded in a massive storm, Dane stumbles into a Dominion plot to unleash a legendary beast in Times Square. He will need an ancient artifact just to have a chance.

14

Baal

by David Wood

2023

King David's lyre could command storms and beasts, and the wrong people want it back in play. Dane and Bones have to get there first.

15

Curse of the Cryptid

by David Wood

2025

A quiet stay at a South Carolina inn becomes a swamp mystery with bodies, secrets, and whispers of an ancient creature. The real monster may not be the one in the marsh.

16

The Gray Ghost

by David Wood

2025

Dane and Bones chase the lost fortune of Confederate raider John S. Mosby while assassins close in. Civil War history, hidden chambers, and nonstop pressure drive this late-series adventure.

Dane Maddock Universe books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "Urban Legend"

    Urban Legend

    by David Wood

    2017Dane Maddock Universe, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "Herald"

    Herald

    by David Wood

    2018Dane Maddock Universe, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "Brainwash"

    Brainwash

    by David Wood

    2018Dane Maddock Universe, Book 3
  4. Book cover for "Berserk"

    Berserk

    by David Wood

    2018Dane Maddock Universe, Book 4
  5. Book cover for "Cavern"

    Cavern

    by David Wood

    2018Dane Maddock Universe, Book 5
  6. Book cover for "Devil's Face"

    Devil's Face

    by David Wood

    2018Dane Maddock Universe, Book 6
  7. Book cover for "The Tomb"

    The Tomb

    by David Wood

    2018Dane Maddock Universe, Book 7
  8. Book cover for "Maug"

    Maug

    by David Wood

    2019Dane Maddock Universe, Book 8
  9. Book cover for "The Elementals"

    The Elementals

    by David Wood

    2019Dane Maddock Universe, Book 9
  10. Book cover for "Shasta"

    Shasta

    by David Wood

    2020Dane Maddock Universe, Book 10
  11. Book cover for "Legends"

    Legends

    by David Wood

    2020Dane Maddock Universe, Book 11
  12. Book cover for "Golden Dragon"

    Golden Dragon

    by David Wood

    2022Dane Maddock Universe, Book 12
  13. Book cover for "Emerald Dragon"

    Emerald Dragon

    by David Wood

    2022Dane Maddock Universe, Book 13
  14. Book cover for "Baal"

    Baal

    by David Wood

    2023Dane Maddock Universe, Book 14
  15. Book cover for "Curse of the Cryptid"

    Curse of the Cryptid

    by David Wood

    2025Dane Maddock Universe, Book 15
  16. Book cover for "The Gray Ghost"

    The Gray Ghost

    by David Wood

    2025Dane Maddock Universe, Book 16

Series background & context

The Dane Maddock Universe books expand the main series without asking you to commit to one long continuous arc. Think of them as side roads, short missions, co-authored experiments, and bonus adventures that still carry the same basic DNA, buried secrets, hard travel, dangerous artifacts, and way too many armed rivals.

That flexibility is the fun of it.

Some of these books are classic Dane and Bones treasure hunts in compact form, such as Berserk, Cavern, Devil's Face, and The Tomb. Others stretch the world sideways. Maug and Shasta build a connected thread of their own. The Dragon Cycle, including Golden Dragon and Emerald Dragon, slots fresh myth into the larger universe. Later entries like Baal, Curse of the Cryptid, and The Gray Ghost show how much room the setting has for both creature mystery and historical puzzle-box plotting.

Because different co-authors helped shape parts of this line, the flavor shifts from book to book. Some lean harder into monsters. Some feel like stripped-down pulp adventures. Some push a secret society angle. Some are essentially one very bad weekend for Dane and Bones. The important part is that the tone stays compatible. You still know whose world you are in.

These books also make the Maddock setting feel lived in. Enemies do not vanish after one appearance. Old legends echo forward. Supporting characters and past discoveries can matter later, even when the story itself works as a quick standalone.

If the main Dane Maddock novels are the spine, the Universe books are the extra muscles and connective tissue. They are not homework. They are more like optional missions that reward readers who want extra time with the characters.

And because many of them are short, they are also an easy way to sample the series without diving straight into the biggest books.

Edited by

Richard Reis

Software engineer whose passion for tracking book recommendations from podcasts inspired the creation of MRB.

Anurag Ramdasan

Lead investor at 3one4 Capital whose startup expertise and love for books helped shaped MRB and its growth.

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