Charlie Donlea
thriller
Series · military thriller
Tier One
The Tier One series by Brian Andrews has 11 known books (11 published) and is best read in publication order, starting with Tier One (2016). The latest book with a fully recorded publication date is Insurgent.
- Books
- 11 known books (10 novels + 1 short story)
- Published
- 11
- First published
- 2016
- Status
- ongoing
- Shelved under
- Thriller
- Last checked
Start here: Tier One (2016) — 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:
Tier One
Tier One is the opening book in the Tier One series by Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson, first published in 2016. The book is 391 pages long. War Shadows comes next in the series. Tier One is an ongoing series, 11 books in so far.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Tier One - Book 2:
War Shadows
War Shadows is the second installment of the Tier One series by Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson, published in 2017. At 398 pages, it is a full-length entry in the series. Tier One comes before it, and Crusader One follows.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of War Shadows - Book 3:
Crusader One
Crusader One is the third book in Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson's Tier One series, published in 2017. It runs 414 pages. In the reading order it follows War Shadows and precedes American Operator.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Crusader One - Book 4:
American Operator
American Operator is the fourth book in Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson's Tier One series, published in 2018. It runs 426 pages. In the reading order it follows Crusader One and precedes Red Specter.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of American Operator - Book 5:
Red Specter
Red Specter is the fifth book in Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson's Tier One series, published in 2019. In the reading order it follows American Operator and precedes Scars.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Red Specter - Book 6:
Scars
Scars is a short story by Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson in the Tier One series. It runs 71 pages. In the reading order it follows Red Specter and precedes Collateral. "Tier One Origins" companion novella; a flashback to John Dempsey's early Navy SEAL career.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Scars - Book 7:
Collateral
Collateral is Tier One's sixth entry, written by Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson and published in 2020. The book is 474 pages long. It sits between Scars and Dempsey in the series' reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Collateral - Book 8:
Dempsey
Dempsey is the seventh book in Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson's Tier One series, published in 2023. In the reading order it follows Collateral and precedes Ember.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Dempsey - Book 9:
Ember
Ember is the eighth installment of the Tier One series by Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson, published in 2024. Dempsey comes before it, and The Adversary follows.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Ember - Book 10:
The Adversary
The Adversary is Tier One's ninth entry, written by Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson and published in November 2025. It sits between Ember and Insurgent in the series' reading order.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Adversary - Book 11:
Insurgent
Insurgent is the tenth installment of the Tier One series by Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson, published in July 2026. Following The Adversary, it is the newest addition to the series so far.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Insurgent
About the Tier One series
John Dempsey is a Navy SEAL and covert operative for Task Force Ember, a black-budget unit built for missions too sensitive for regular channels. Writing team Brian Andrews (a former US Navy officer and nuclear engineer) and Jeffrey Wilson (a former Green Beret medic turned trauma surgeon) built the series on the same insider technical authority that has made them go-to continuation authors for the Tom Clancy Jack Ryan franchise. Tier One (2016) introduces Dempsey and Task Force Ember as they hunt a wave of coordinated terror attacks; the series has run continuously since, escalating through international conspiracies, bioweapons, and great-power confrontations across ten novels and a companion origins novella.
The writing duo favors dense, procedurally accurate special-operations detail — breaching tactics, intelligence tradecraft, and battlefield medicine rendered with real expertise — wrapped around an ensemble cast that expands as the series progresses. SCARS (2020), a short novella, jumps back to Dempsey's early career as a young SEAL for an origin story explaining his signature scar.
Frequently asked questions
How many Tier One books are there?
Ten novels as of Insurgent (2026) — Tier One, War Shadows, Crusader One, American Operator, Red Specter, Collateral, Dempsey, Ember, The Adversary and Insurgent — plus the short companion novella SCARS (2020).
What order should I read the Tier One books in?
Publication order, starting with Tier One (2016). The series follows a continuing cast and storyline across all entries.
Who writes the Tier One series?
Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson, writing together as a team; they also co-write Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan continuation novels and several other series.
What is SCARS?
A short 'Tier One Origins' novella (2020) that flashes back to protagonist John Dempsey's early career as a young Navy SEAL, explaining the origin of his signature scar.
If you like the Tier One series
Reading order last verified .