Eliminator Books in Order
Part ofMike Ryan Books in OrderSee the Eliminator books in order by Mike Ryan, with quick summaries, series background, and a clear guide to starting Brett Jacobs's story.
Last updated: July 3, 2026
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Eliminator books in publication order
12 books
The Fallen
by Mike Ryan
2018
Detective Brett Jacobs helps bring down a major crime boss, then watches his own world collapse. The loss pushes him toward a far more violent war than policing ever allowed.
The Payback
by Mike Ryan
2018
Rich Mallette is behind bars, but he is still very much in the fight. Jacobs survives new attacks while trying not to lose the last pieces of himself.
The Reprisal
by Mike Ryan
2018
Mallette escalates by targeting Brett Jacobs's family, forcing him into another desperate rescue. The more personal the war gets, the uglier it becomes.
The Eliminator
by Mike Ryan
2019
Brett settles into his role as the Eliminator when a suspicious death and a new attorney reopen the fight around Mallette. The past is not finished with him yet.
The Betrayal
by Mike Ryan
2020
A sniper nearly kills Jacobs, and private investigator Abbie Johnson saves his life. Working together uncovers a wider plot, and trust quickly becomes part of the risk.
The Combative
by Mike Ryan
2020
Trying to protect Tiffany and her family, Jacobs hires ex-Navy SEAL Nathan Thrower as the attacks intensify. Even with extra help, Ames keeps finding ways to hit back.
The Comeback
by Mike Ryan
2020
When Eddie Franks needs help against an ambitious gang, Brett Jacobs steps in. At the same time, Mallette keeps causing problems from the legal side of the war.
The Conflict
by Mike Ryan
2020
Wilson Ames becomes Brett Jacobs's main obsession after a brutal attack on someone close to him. Revenge drives the book, and it forces Jacobs into alliances he would rather avoid.
The Connection
by Mike Ryan
2020
With Mallette no longer controlling the board, new criminals rush to claim the city. Jacobs gets dragged into another gang war whether he wants it or not.
The Contract
by Mike Ryan
2020
A bounty on Brett Jacobs sends multiple hit teams hunting him through the city. It is a straight shot toward a bloody showdown, if he can stay alive that long.
The Finish
by Mike Ryan
2021
With both Mallette and Wilson Ames looming over the city, Jacobs's long revenge campaign races toward its end. There is not enough room left for everyone to survive.
The Return
by Mike Ryan
2021
Rich Mallette is out of prison and ready to wipe Brett Jacobs off the map. Old grudges, shaky loyalties, and unfinished business all come roaring back.
Eliminator books in chronological order
The Fallen
by Mike Ryan
2018Eliminator, Book 1
The Payback
by Mike Ryan
2018Eliminator, Book 2
The Reprisal
by Mike Ryan
2018Eliminator, Book 3
The Eliminator
by Mike Ryan
2019Eliminator, Book 4
The Betrayal
by Mike Ryan
2020Eliminator, Book 5
The Comeback
by Mike Ryan
2020Eliminator, Book 6
The Contract
by Mike Ryan
2020Eliminator, Book 7
The Connection
by Mike Ryan
2020Eliminator, Book 8
The Conflict
by Mike Ryan
2020Eliminator, Book 9
The Combative
by Mike Ryan
2020Eliminator, Book 10
The Return
by Mike Ryan
2021Eliminator, Book 11
The Finish
by Mike Ryan
2021Eliminator, Book 12
Series background & context
The Eliminator series follows Brett Jacobs, who starts out as a good cop trying to bring down a major criminal organization. He is honest, capable, and still working inside the rules, at least at first. Then tragedy tears his life apart, and the books become the story of what happens when a man decides the normal way is no longer enough.
This series is much more rooted in street-level crime than espionage.
Jacobs is not chasing global conspiracies. He is fighting gangs, crime bosses, fixers, and the kind of people who keep operating even when they are behind bars. Rich Mallette becomes one of the central forces in the series, a villain whose reach extends far beyond one arrest. The conflict between them drives a lot of the story and gives the books their strongest revenge current.
As the series develops, Jacobs grows into his nickname and starts acting more like a vigilante problem-solver than a former detective. He still has the instincts of an investigator, but the books are equally interested in what revenge costs him, what lines he is willing to cross, and how much of his old self is left. Friends and allies matter, too, from Eddie Franks to Abbie Johnson, and later Nathan Thrower enters the picture in a way that ties this series to Ryan's wider thriller universe.
The tone is hard and direct. The city feels dangerous, personal, and full of people settling scores. Even when Jacobs is trying to protect others, the story never lets you forget that he is also driven by grief and anger. That gives the books a rougher edge than some of Ryan's cleaner spy setups.
If you want a crime thriller series about a man pushed past the point of patience, and a long war against organized violence, The Eliminator is the lane to take. It is urban, revenge-fueled, and built around a protagonist who keeps moving because stopping would mean losing everything twice.
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