1book
Justin Haig
thriller
Series · thriller
The Fourth Option
The Fourth Option series by Jack Carr has 1 known book (1 published) and is best read in publication order, starting with The Fourth Option (2026). The latest book with a fully recorded publication date is The Fourth Option. Jack Carr wrote the series; book 1 were co-written with Jack Carr; book 1 were co-written with M.P. Woodward.
- Books
- 1 known book (1 novel)
- Published
- 1
- First published
- 2026
- Status
- ongoing
- Shelved under
- Thriller
- Last checked
Start here: The Fourth Option (2026) — then read straight through in publication order.
Reading order
The date order of published books and any announced future entries — the default way to read the series.
- Book 1:
The Fourth Option
The Fourth Option, arriving in May 2026 at 432 pages, launches a new series co-written by Jack Carr, the former Navy SEAL behind the James Reece novels, and M. P. Woodward, the former naval intelligence officer behind The Handler series, introducing a new protagonist, Chris Walker.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Fourth Option
About The Fourth Option
A new series co-written by two of modern military-thriller fiction's most credentialed names: Jack Carr, the former Navy SEAL behind the James Reece novels (adapted as Prime Video's The Terminal List), and M.P. Woodward, the former naval intelligence officer and Jack Ryan continuation author behind The Handler series. The Fourth Option (2026) launches a new protagonist, Chris Walker, a former Navy SEAL and CIA Ground Branch operative on the edge of suicide when a call pulls him back into the field: the widow of a teammate he lost in Afghanistan has now lost her son to the opioid crisis and needs his help getting justice — a personal favor that spirals into a much larger, more dangerous conspiracy Walker takes on outside the law, aided by his Belgian Malinois and a weapons cache hidden in his off-grid VW camper.
Carr steps outside his established James Reece universe for this collaboration, pairing his close-quarters operator authenticity with Woodward's intelligence-tradecraft background; the book is framed as a modern take on the classic Western 'stranger comes to town' narrative. It's positioned as the start of an ongoing series rather than a standalone.
Frequently asked questions
Who writes the The Fourth Option series?
Jack Carr wrote the series; book 1 were co-written with Jack Carr; book 1 were co-written with M.P. Woodward.
Is The Fourth Option connected to Jack Carr's James Reece series?
No — Jack Carr created a new protagonist, Chris Walker, and a new continuity for this series, co-written with M.P. Woodward, separate from the James Reece novels.
How many books are in The Fourth Option series?
One as of August 2026: the launch novel The Fourth Option, published 12 May 2026. It is positioned as the start of an ongoing series.
Who is Chris Walker?
The protagonist of The Fourth Option: a former Navy SEAL and CIA Ground Branch operative drawn back into the field by a personal favor for a fallen teammate's family.
If you like The Fourth Option
Reading order last verified .