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Paul Kemprecos Books in Order

Browse Paul Kemprecos books in order, with short summaries, series background, reading order, and clear guidance on where to start with each series.

Last updated: July 13, 2026

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Paul Kemprecos books in publication order

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20 books

Cool Blue Tomb

by Paul Kemprecos

1991

Soc signs on to a huge salvage operation tied to a legendary shipwreck, only to find a diver dead and the job crawling with lies. Treasure, smuggling, and family loyalties pull him into deep and dangerous water.

Neptune's Eye

by Paul Kemprecos

1991

Hired to find a millionaire's missing daughter, Soc starts at a marine lab and quickly finds a corpse. His search pulls him into underwater technology, corporate espionage, and a deadly race tied to a lost German submarine.

Death in Deep Water

by Paul Kemprecos

1992

A whale trainer turns up dead in an aquarium tank, and the killer whale on site is blamed. Working undercover at the aquatic park, Soc finds ecoterrorists, jealous rivals, and a murderer who wants him gone too.

Feeding Frenzy

by Paul Kemprecos

1993

After a swimmer is horribly mauled at Quanset Beach, Soc is drawn into a mystery involving a summer camp, valuable shoreline, and ruthless developers. As more bodies appear, the threat to the town stops looking like an accident.

The Mayflower Murder

by Paul Kemprecos

1996

When a Native American activist is accused of murdering a night watchman at a Pilgrim village replica, Soc is asked to help. The case leads him into casino money, stolen artifacts, and old grievances that still burn.

Bluefin Blues

by Paul Kemprecos

1997

A Japanese tuna buyer is found dead on a stolen boat, harpooned through the chest, and Soc is hired to investigate. Tuna wars, organized crime, and a disappearance at sea turn a local case into something much uglier.

Serpent

by Paul Kemprecos

1999

A priceless artifact hidden in the wreck of the Andrea Doria draws Kurt Austin into murders, archaeology, and a conspiracy over early contact with the New World. The hunt begins off Nantucket and quickly turns lethal.

Blue Gold

by Paul Kemprecos

2000

Dead whales and a jungle legend about a white goddess lead Kurt Austin toward a plot to control the world's freshwater. To stop it, the NUMA team must battle bio-pirates, treachery, and the deadly pull of money.

Fire Ice

by Paul Kemprecos

2002

A self-styled Romanov heir plans to shake the United States and Russia by turning unstable methane hydrate into a weapon. Kurt Austin is forced into a high-stakes chase to stop explosions, tsunamis, and political collapse.

White Death

by Paul Kemprecos

2003

A rescue at sea leads Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala to a corporation bent on controlling the oceans, no matter the cost. With an environmental disaster already unfolding, NUMA has little time to stop it.

Lost City

by Paul Kemprecos

2004

Scientists exploring the deep ocean find an enzyme that could dramatically extend life, then start turning up dead. Kurt Austin must connect that discovery to a ruthless crime family, a strange artifact, and a hidden agenda.

Polar Shift

by Paul Kemprecos

2005

Evidence that someone can trigger a catastrophic polar shift sends Kurt Austin into a race against global disaster. To stop the plot, he must untangle old research, extreme science, and a scheme aimed at mass destruction.

The Navigator

by Paul Kemprecos

2007

A stolen Phoenician statue, a murdered antiquities dealer, and an attempted drowning pull Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala into the hunt. Their search becomes a race through hidden history, betrayal, and a treasure with explosive consequences.

Medusa

by Paul Kemprecos

2009

When a secret undersea lab vanishes and a bathysphere is attacked off Bermuda, Kurt Austin senses a connection. The NUMA team soon faces medical experiments, a ruthless crime network, and a virus that could trigger worldwide disaster.

Grey Lady

by Paul Kemprecos

2013

A new charter boat is supposed to steady Soc's future, until he angers a Russian power broker and ends up on foggy Nantucket. There he stumbles into murder, a missing whaling artifact, and a Cold War secret.

The Emerald Scepter

by Paul Kemprecos

2013

Former Navy SEAL Matt Hawkins, now an undersea robotics engineer, is sent on a secret hunt for the treasure of Prester John. The mission leads from Afghanistan into a global conspiracy with catastrophic stakes.

The Minoan Cipher

by Paul Kemprecos

2016

Matt Hawkins dives on what may be an intact Minoan shipwreck off Spain and brings up an ancient translating device. From there, archaeology turns deadly as he faces killers determined to control what the wreck can reveal.

Shark Bait

by Paul Kemprecos

2018

When a man turns up dead in Cape Cod Bay and a tagged great white shark takes the blame, Soc joins a pirate movie shoot and finds poachers, gangsters, and more dangerous predators on shore.

Killing Icarus

by Paul Kemprecos

2021

Art historian Abi Vickers retreats to Cape Cod after her life in Boston falls apart, hoping for quiet and a fresh start. Instead she uncovers a World War II secret linked to an Edward Hopper sketch and a glider reenactment.

The God in the Sea

by Paul Kemprecos

2024

A winter job meant to solve Soc's money problems instead sends him into hiding and into another murder case. On Cape Cod he finds a scholar's death, an old treasure feud, and danger coming from every direction.

Where to start with Paul Kemprecos

If you want the Cape Cod private-eye series: Cool Blue TombNeptune's EyeDeath in Deep Water
If you want later Soc adventures first: Grey LadyShark BaitThe God in the Sea
If you want globe-trotting action: SerpentBlue GoldFire IceWhite Death
If you want treasure and history thrillers: The Emerald ScepterThe Minoan CipherKilling Icarus

Aristotle Socarides books in order

Explore this series
  1. Book cover for "Cool Blue Tomb"

    Cool Blue Tomb

    by Paul Kemprecos

    1991Aristotle Socarides, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "Neptune's Eye"

    Neptune's Eye

    by Paul Kemprecos

    1991Aristotle Socarides, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "Death in Deep Water"

    Death in Deep Water

    by Paul Kemprecos

    1992Aristotle Socarides, Book 3
  4. Book cover for "Feeding Frenzy"

    Feeding Frenzy

    by Paul Kemprecos

    1993Aristotle Socarides, Book 4
  5. Book cover for "The Mayflower Murder"

    The Mayflower Murder

    by Paul Kemprecos

    1996Aristotle Socarides, Book 5
  6. Book cover for "Bluefin Blues"

    Bluefin Blues

    by Paul Kemprecos

    1997Aristotle Socarides, Book 6
  7. Book cover for "Grey Lady"

    Grey Lady

    by Paul Kemprecos

    2013Aristotle Socarides, Book 7
  8. Book cover for "Shark Bait"

    Shark Bait

    by Paul Kemprecos

    2018Aristotle Socarides, Book 8
  9. Book cover for "The God in the Sea"

    The God in the Sea

    by Paul Kemprecos

    2024Aristotle Socarides, Book 9

Aristotle Socarides books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "Cool Blue Tomb"

    Cool Blue Tomb

    by Paul Kemprecos

    1991Aristotle Socarides, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "Neptune's Eye"

    Neptune's Eye

    by Paul Kemprecos

    1991Aristotle Socarides, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "Death in Deep Water"

    Death in Deep Water

    by Paul Kemprecos

    1992Aristotle Socarides, Book 3
  4. Book cover for "Feeding Frenzy"

    Feeding Frenzy

    by Paul Kemprecos

    1993Aristotle Socarides, Book 4
  5. Book cover for "The Mayflower Murder"

    The Mayflower Murder

    by Paul Kemprecos

    1996Aristotle Socarides, Book 5
  6. Book cover for "Bluefin Blues"

    Bluefin Blues

    by Paul Kemprecos

    1997Aristotle Socarides, Book 6
  7. Book cover for "Grey Lady"

    Grey Lady

    by Paul Kemprecos

    2013Aristotle Socarides, Book 7
  8. Book cover for "Shark Bait"

    Shark Bait

    by Paul Kemprecos

    2018Aristotle Socarides, Book 8
  9. Book cover for "The God in the Sea"

    The God in the Sea

    by Paul Kemprecos

    2024Aristotle Socarides, Book 9

Matinicus "Matt" Hawkins Adventure books in order

Explore this series
  1. Book cover for "The Emerald Scepter"

    The Emerald Scepter

    by Paul Kemprecos

    2013Matinicus "Matt" Hawkins Adventure, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "The Minoan Cipher"

    The Minoan Cipher

    by Paul Kemprecos

    2016Matinicus "Matt" Hawkins Adventure, Book 2

Matinicus "Matt" Hawkins Adventure books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "The Emerald Scepter"

    The Emerald Scepter

    by Paul Kemprecos

    2013Matinicus "Matt" Hawkins Adventure, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "The Minoan Cipher"

    The Minoan Cipher

    by Paul Kemprecos

    2016Matinicus "Matt" Hawkins Adventure, Book 2

NUMA Files (Paul Kemprecos) books in order

Explore this series
  1. Book cover for "Serpent"

    Serpent

    by Paul Kemprecos

    1999NUMA Files, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "Blue Gold"

    Blue Gold

    by Paul Kemprecos

    2000NUMA Files, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "Fire Ice"

    Fire Ice

    by Paul Kemprecos

    2002NUMA Files, Book 3
  4. Book cover for "White Death"

    White Death

    by Paul Kemprecos

    2003NUMA Files, Book 4
  5. Book cover for "Lost City"

    Lost City

    by Paul Kemprecos

    2004NUMA Files, Book 5
  6. Book cover for "Polar Shift"

    Polar Shift

    by Paul Kemprecos

    2005NUMA Files, Book 6
  7. Book cover for "The Navigator"

    The Navigator

    by Paul Kemprecos

    2007NUMA Files, Book 7
  8. Book cover for "Medusa"

    Medusa

    by Paul Kemprecos

    2009NUMA Files, Book 8

NUMA Files (Paul Kemprecos) books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "Serpent"

    Serpent

    by Paul Kemprecos

    1999NUMA Files, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "Blue Gold"

    Blue Gold

    by Paul Kemprecos

    2000NUMA Files, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "Fire Ice"

    Fire Ice

    by Paul Kemprecos

    2002NUMA Files, Book 3
  4. Book cover for "White Death"

    White Death

    by Paul Kemprecos

    2003NUMA Files, Book 4
  5. Book cover for "Lost City"

    Lost City

    by Paul Kemprecos

    2004NUMA Files, Book 5
  6. Book cover for "Polar Shift"

    Polar Shift

    by Paul Kemprecos

    2005NUMA Files, Book 6
  7. Book cover for "The Navigator"

    The Navigator

    by Paul Kemprecos

    2007NUMA Files, Book 7
  8. Book cover for "Medusa"

    Medusa

    by Paul Kemprecos

    2009NUMA Files, Book 8

Standalone Paul Kemprecos books

  1. Book cover for "Killing Icarus"

    Killing Icarus

    by Paul Kemprecos

    2021

Author bio

Paul Kemprecos grew up in Brockton, Massachusetts, studied journalism at Boston University, and moved to Cape Cod in 1961. Before he was known for mystery and adventure novels, he spent years in the newspaper business, learning how local politics, working boats, family feuds, and old stories can hide bigger trouble.

That background turned out to be perfect training.

Kemprecos worked as a reporter and editor on the Cape, eventually becoming managing editor of The Cape Codder. One of the stories that stayed with him involved the hunt for the pirate ship Whydah, which went down off Cape Cod in 1717. He first tried to turn that material into nonfiction. When that plan stalled, he reshaped the idea into a novel and invented Aristotle "Soc" Socarides, an ex-cop, diver, fisherman, and private eye whose cases are tangled up with the sea.

His debut, Cool Blue Tomb, arrived in 1991 and won the Shamus Award for Best Original Paperback. More Soc books followed, including Neptune's Eye, Death in Deep Water, The Mayflower Murder, and Bluefin Blues. Readers who like these novels usually point to the same things: the Cape Cod setting feels lived in, the underwater and salvage details feel practical, and Soc is smart, funny, stubborn, and a little weather-beaten.

Then the scale of the stories got much bigger.

After Bluefin Blues, Kemprecos was invited to help launch the NUMA Files with Clive Cussler. Starting with Serpent, he helped create Kurt Austin and the NUMA Special Assignments Team, taking the maritime interests that shaped the Soc books and pushing them onto a global stage. In books like Blue Gold, Fire Ice, Lost City, and Polar Shift, he mixed underwater action, science, archaeology, and conspiracy plots without losing his feel for how people talk and improvise when things go wrong.

Even when the stakes are huge, Kemprecos tends to come back to a few favorite ingredients. Hidden history. Dangerous water. Smart professionals under pressure. And places that are more than scenery, especially Cape Cod, which shows up in his work not as a postcard but as a working landscape with harbors, labs, dunes, boats, money troubles, and long memories.

He also kept writing under his own name. He returned to Soc in Grey Lady, Shark Bait, and The God in the Sea, and launched another action line with former Navy SEAL Matt Hawkins in The Emerald Scepter and The Minoan Cipher. Later, Killing Icarus introduced art historian Abi Vickers in a suspense story rooted in Cape Cod history. Across all of those books, you can see the same habits at work: curiosity about the past, affection for coastal communities, and an eye for how greed and ambition can turn a local mystery into something much darker.

He never really left the Cape, either.

Kemprecos lives on Cape Cod with his wife, Christi. That steady connection to place may be the clearest thread running through his career. Whether he is writing about a diver in a salvage operation, a NUMA team racing around the world, or an art historian stumbling into an old wartime secret, his books keep returning to the pull of the sea, and to the idea that history does not stay buried for long.

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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