Order of Clive Cussler Books

Clive Cussler was an American adventure novelist renowned for creating the beloved Dirk Pitt series. His thrilling tales earned him multiple spots on the New York Times Bestseller List throughout his prolific career. Beyond writing, Cussler worked as a marine archaeologist—expertise that perfectly complemented his novels' frequent focus on underwater adventures and shipwrecks.

The acclaimed author died on February 24th, 2020.

While the Dirk Pitt books brought him fame, Cussler expanded his literary universe with several other series: The NUMA Files, The Oregon Files, Isaac Bell, and Fargo Adventures. His bibliography also includes four non-fiction works (two featuring Dirk Pitt and two exploring famous shipwrecks) and two children's books. Throughout most of his series, Cussler collaborated with co-authors, though he initially wrote the Dirk Pitt novels solo. Eventually, even his later Dirk Pitt adventures were co-written with his son, Dirk Cussler, who shares his name with the famous fictional hero.

Note: The Mediterranean Caper was published as "MAYDAY!" in the United Kingdom and Australia.

Beginning with Black Wind, Dirk Cussler co-authored the Dirk Pitt series. The NUMA Files featured Paul Kemprecos as co-author through Medusa, then Graham Brown took over starting with Devil's Gate. Craig Dirgo co-wrote Golden Buddha and Sacred Stone. Jack DuBrul collaborated on The Oregon Files from Dark Watch through Mirage, followed by Boyd Morrison beginning with Piranha. Justin Scott co-authored the Isaac Bell series, except for The Chase. The Fargo Adventures saw multiple co-author changes: Grant Blackwood through The Tombs, Thomas Perry for both The Tombs and The Mayan Secrets, Russell Blake from The Eye of Heaven to Pirate, and Robin Burcell starting with The Romanov Ransom. Jack Du Brul co-wrote The Titanic Secret.

Sample Adventures: In Iceberg, the second Dirk Pitt adventure, our hero pursues a multi-billionaire whose cargo threatens global destruction.

Raise the Titanic!, the series' third installment, follows Dirk Pitt as he traces a rare radioactive element needed for a revolutionary defensive weapon. Racing against storms, Soviet agents, and time itself, Pitt embarks on his most daring mission: raising the legendary Titanic from the ocean floor.

Vixen 03 opens in 1954 when a military aircraft carrying 36 Doomsday bombs crashes into a Colorado lake instead of reaching the Pacific. By 1988, Dirk Pitt discovers the wreckage—but two deadly canisters have fallen into terrorist hands. Their plan: sail a battleship up the Potomac River to obliterate Washington, D.C.

In Night Probe!, American naval commander Heidi Milligan stumbles upon references to a secret U.S.-British treaty that could save America's struggling economy and energy crisis. With both treaty copies lost in Atlantic disasters, Dirk Pitt must recover the original document while British master spy Brian Shaw works to ensure the treaty never sees daylight.