Below is the complete list of David Baldacci’s King and Maxwell books in publication order. For this series, the chronological reading order is the same as the order of publication.
King & Maxwell Books in Publication Order
- Split Second (2003)
- Hour Game (2004)
- Simple Genius (2007)
- First Family (2009)
- The Sixth Man (2011)
- King and Maxwell (2013)
About King and Maxwell
David Baldacci’s Sean King and Michelle Maxwell series follows two former Secret Service agents who form a private investigative partnership after career-defining failures alter the course of their lives. Blending political intrigue, high-stakes investigations, and character-driven storytelling, the series explores the complex world of power, corruption, and hidden agendas that often lie beneath the surface of American institutions.
Sean King begins the series with a heavy burden. While serving as a Secret Service agent, he was responsible for protecting a presidential candidate who suddenly vanished during a public event under his watch. The unexplained disappearance destroyed King’s career and haunted him for years. Determined to move forward, he eventually establishes himself as a private investigator.
Michelle Maxwell’s story mirrors King’s in several ways. She was also a Secret Service agent whose career ended abruptly after a major security failure. During an assignment protecting a presidential candidate, Maxwell froze at a critical moment when the candidate was kidnapped. The incident forced her out of the agency and left her struggling with lingering psychological effects, including panic attacks that she must learn to control.
The two investigators meet in Split Second (2003), when their separate failures turn out to be connected. King is drawn back into the mystery of the vanished candidate, while Maxwell is pulled into the investigation of her own kidnapping case. As they begin working together, they uncover a far-reaching conspiracy involving political manipulation, organized crime, and individuals willing to eliminate anyone who gets too close to the truth. The novel establishes the dynamic between King’s analytical approach and Maxwell’s sharp instincts, setting the foundation for their long-term partnership.
The second book, Hour Game (2004), shifts the focus to a disturbing series of murders in a quiet Virginia town. The killings appear to replicate the methods of infamous historical serial killers, creating a chilling puzzle for the investigators. King and Maxwell must navigate a complex web of suspects while confronting the unsettling possibility that the killer is deliberately recreating some of the most notorious crimes in American history.
In Simple Genius (2007), the pair are called to investigate a murder connected to a secretive research facility operated by the government. The institute houses brilliant scientists and analysts working on classified projects, but when one of the residents is found dead, the investigation reveals tensions, rivalries, and dangerous secrets hidden behind the organization’s intellectual reputation.
The fourth novel, First Family (2009), pulls King and Maxwell into a case involving the disappearance of a young girl who is related to the President of the United States. The investigation leads them into the rural South, where they encounter a tight-knit community protecting long-buried secrets. As the stakes rise, the case reveals a complex history of family conflicts, political influence, and personal revenge.
In The Sixth Man (2011), Baldacci expands the scope of the series by introducing Edgar Roy, a brilliant but troubled government codebreaker accused of committing multiple murders. King and Maxwell must determine whether Roy is truly responsible or if he has been manipulated as part of a larger conspiracy involving intelligence agencies and national security.
The series concludes with King and Maxwell (2013), which brings the story back to Sean King’s past. The case forces him to confront unresolved questions surrounding his own family and childhood. As King and Maxwell investigate, they uncover a complex plot involving espionage, government secrecy, and deeply personal revelations.
Across the six novels, Baldacci gradually develops the partnership between King and Maxwell, turning two disgraced agents into a formidable investigative team. Their contrasting personalities—King’s measured logic and Maxwell’s instinctive intensity—create a balance that allows them to tackle cases ranging from serial murders to national-level conspiracies. Reading the books in publication order reveals the steady evolution of their professional partnership and the personal struggles that shape both characters throughout the series.