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Joe Ryker Books in Order

Browse the Joe Ryker crime novels by Nelson DeMille in order, with gritty 1970s plots outlined, series background, character notes, and help choosing where to start.

Last updated: December 15, 2025

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6 books

The Smack Man

by Nelson DeMille

1975

Someone is slipping strychnine-laced heroin onto New York’s streets, leaving sex workers and addicts dead. Ryker teams up uneasily with an undercover female detective and a cop posing as her pimp to trace the poisoned supply back to a ruthless drug operation.

The Night of the Phoenix

by Nelson DeMille

1975

During a sweltering New York summer, a radical group plans a bombing campaign designed to plunge the city into chaos. With tensions rising and clues scattered, Joe Ryker races to stop a single night of orchestrated terror from becoming reality.

The Agent of Death

by Nelson DeMille

1975

NYPD Sergeant Joe Ryker is tasked with stopping a rogue CIA assassin who has turned New York into his personal killing ground. As bodies tied to covert operations pile up, Ryker clashes with federal handlers who would prefer the whole mess disappear.

Cannibal

by Nelson DeMille

1975

A string of brutal, ritualistic murders suggests a killer who feeds on both fear and flesh. Joe Ryker’s investigation drags him into a shadowy cult and a hunt for a charismatic leader whose followers will do anything to protect him.

The Sniper

by Nelson DeMille

1974

A coldly efficient sniper is murdering New Yorkers at random, picking targets from rooftops and alleyways. Joe Ryker leads the manhunt, determined to outthink a careful killer who treats the city as his personal shooting range.

The Hammer of God

by Nelson DeMille

1974

Women are being slain by a killer dressed like a monk who believes he is destroying witches. As panic spreads, Joe Ryker follows a trail through churches, back alleys, and fringe religious circles to stop a self-appointed executioner.

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All 6 Joe Ryker Books in Order (Complete List 2026)