John Puller
The John Puller series by David Baldacci has 5 known books (5 published). It is best read in publication order, starting with Zero Day (2011). Daylight is the latest book with a fully recorded publication date.
- Books
- 5 known books (5 novels)
- Published
- 5
- First published
- 2011
- Status
- ongoing
- Shelved under
- Thriller
Reading order
- Book 1:
Zero Day
Zero Day opens the John Puller series in November 2011, sending the Army's top investigator into a case on a military installation that unravels into conspiracy -- while his father, a legendary retired three-star general sliding into dementia, and his brother's controversial treason conviction give the series its personal undertow. It runs 449 pages. Alternative text for cover: Cover of Zero Day - Book 2:
The Forgotten
The Forgotten , published in November 2012 at 464 pages, is the second John Puller novel, continuing Baldacci's grounded, procedural approach to military-justice investigation. Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Forgotten - Book 3:
The Escape
The Escape , at 492 pages the longest book in the series, arrived in November 2014, pulling Puller's family storyline -- his brother's imprisonment for treason -- directly into the case for the first time. Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Escape - Book 4:
No Man's Land
No Man's Land , published in November 2016 at 464 pages, is the fourth John Puller novel, continuing the family-driven undertow beneath Baldacci's case-of-the-book military procedurals. Alternative text for cover: Cover of No Man's Land - Book 5:
Daylight
Daylight , published in July 2020, is the fifth John Puller novel and a direct crossover with Baldacci's Atlee Pine series -- functioning as both a Puller book and the third Atlee Pine novel. It runs 448 pages. Alternative text for cover: Cover of Daylight
Key facts about the John Puller series
Our list has 5 books in the John Puller series. Since all 5 are out now, you can read the whole list today.
Start with Zero Day, since it opens the publication order in 2011. The Forgotten is book 2, from 2012. The Escape is book 3, from 2014.
No Man's Land is book 4, from 2016. Daylight is book 5, from 2020.
The list keeps the books in date order, while each title links to its own page. Each book page shows its dates and editions.
Daylight is the latest book with a full release date, out on 12 July 2020. The catalogue marks it as ongoing, yet no next book has a date so far.
The books came out between 2011 and 2020, while their length runs from 448 to 492 pages. That is a run of 9 years.
David Baldacci has 61 books on our list. Additionally, they write Sean King & Michelle Maxwell, Camel Club and A. Shaw, plus 6 more series. We shelve the books under thriller.
About the John Puller series
John Puller is a Combat Infantry Badge-holding U.S. Army CID (Criminal Investigation Command) special agent — the Army's own top investigator, sent to cases too sensitive or too dangerous for anyone else. David Baldacci builds each novel around a case that starts as a single violent crime on or near a military installation and unravels into conspiracies touching defense contractors, foreign intelligence services, or corruption inside the Army itself, all filtered through Puller's methodical, procedural approach to investigation. Puller's family life is part of the hook too: his father is a legendary retired three-star general sliding into dementia, and his own brother was controversially convicted of treason years earlier, giving the series a personal, family-driven undertow beneath the case-of-the-book plotting.
Baldacci, one of the best-selling thriller writers alive, keeps the series tightly plotted and grounded in real military-justice procedure. It crossed over directly with his Atlee Pine series in Daylight (2020), which functions as both a John Puller novel and the third Atlee Pine book. It's a strong pick for readers who want a procedural, investigation-driven military thriller rather than pure black-ops action.
Frequently asked questions
How many John Puller books are there?
There are 5 John Puller novels, from Zero Day (2011) to the crossover novel Daylight (2020).
What order should I read the John Puller books in?
Publication order, starting with Zero Day (2011). Each case is self-contained, but Puller's family storyline develops across the series.
Is Daylight a John Puller book or an Atlee Pine book?
Both — it's a direct crossover featuring both protagonists, and is counted as book 5 in the Puller series and book 3 in the Atlee Pine series.
Is the John Puller series finished?
No new solo Puller novel has been announced since Daylight (2020), though David Baldacci has not stated the series is over.
Is John Puller related to David Baldacci's other series?
Yes — beyond the direct Daylight crossover with Atlee Pine, Puller exists in the same broad Baldacci thriller universe as his other series.