Wayne Stinnett Books in Order: Jesse McDermitt, Charity Styles & More
Wayne Stinnett writes fast-paced stories built around the Florida Keys, the Caribbean, military backgrounds, dangerous criminals, mysteries, and adventure. His books include several connected series, so knowing the right order is useful if you want to follow the characters as their stories develop.
The Jesse McDermitt books are by far the largest part of his bibliography, but readers can also explore the Charity Styles, Jerry Snyder, Young Jesse McDermitt, and other related series. This guide covers the published books currently listed by the author and gives every book a two-sentence description so you can decide which series fits your reading taste.
Wayne Stinnett Books in Order by Series
1. Jesse McDermitt Caribbean Adventure Series
The Jesse McDermitt Caribbean Adventure Series is Wayne Stinnett’s signature series. Jesse is a retired Marine who wants a quiet life in the Florida Keys, but trouble repeatedly pulls him back into action.
The author currently lists 32 Jesse McDermitt novels, with Cursed as Book 32. The series is still active, and Sleighed is scheduled for December 25, 2026.
1. Fallen Out
Fallen Out introduces retired Marine Jesse McDermitt as he tries to enjoy a quieter life in the Florida Keys. Unfortunately, danger follows him home, making his retirement considerably less peaceful than he expected.
2. Fallen Palm
Jesse’s peaceful life on his isolated island is disrupted when a former sergeant dies under suspicious circumstances. What begins as a personal investigation turns into a dangerous hunt involving a killer and much larger threats.
3. Fallen Hunter
Jesse is struggling with grief after losing someone close to him to terrorists. An opportunity for revenge gives him a reason to leave his isolation and return to the dangerous world he thought he had left behind.
4. Fallen Pride
Jesse agrees to help a friend’s son who is dealing with PTSD, but the situation quickly becomes much more dangerous. A threat from inside the U.S. Department of Homeland Security forces Jesse into a fight where his military experience becomes crucial.
5. Fallen Mangrove
This story reaches back to 1566, when a Spanish treasure ship disappears in the Bahamas with a clue to its location. Centuries later, Jesse follows that clue while the Croatian mob and a greedy lawyer pursue the same treasure.
6. Fallen King
Explosions disturb the normally quiet Florida Keys backcountry and catch Jesse’s attention. His investigation soon reveals a conspiracy that could put not only him but his entire family in danger.
7. Fallen Honor
Jesse faces another dangerous situation in the Florida Keys while the series continues to expand his circle of friends and enemies. The book keeps the combination of military experience, island adventure, and fast-moving action that defines the early series.
8. Fallen Tide
Jesse once again finds trouble in the waters and islands around the Florida Keys. The story continues developing his relationships and his reputation as someone who cannot simply ignore people in danger.
9. Fallen Angel
A rescue mission takes an unexpected turn and puts Jesse in another dangerous situation. Instead of enjoying the peaceful island life he wants, he once again has to rely on his training and experience.
10. Fallen Hero
A young treasure-diving couple becomes the target of a brutal attack. Jesse is drawn into the situation and must work out what happened before the violence claims more victims.
11. Rising Storm
The action moves toward Coconut Grove, where a darker side of the waterfront has emerged. Jesse becomes involved after young women begin falling victim to a dangerous criminal operation.
12. Rising Fury
Jesse once again discovers that the seemingly peaceful Florida Keys can hide serious criminal activity. His investigation pushes him into another confrontation where his experience and determination are tested.
13. Rising Force
Jesse takes on another problem far from an ordinary Caribbean vacation. A young woman and a dangerous situation force him to act, showing once again that paradise can come with a very high price.
14. Rising Charity
Jesse has been through a difficult period and has lost some of the moral direction that once guided him. Friends help him find his way back, and assisting Fish and Wildlife agents gives him a chance to put his skills to useful work.
15. Rising Water
A group of strangers arrives on Tortola and Norman Island intending to establish a commune. When a dead body washes ashore, the strange community suddenly looks much less harmless than it first appeared.
16. Rising Spirit
The aftermath of Hurricane Irma creates a new backdrop for Jesse’s adventures. He finds himself dealing with another problem where the familiar tropical setting does not mean that life is safe or simple.
17. Rising Thunder
Jesse knows better than most people that a Caribbean paradise can hide serious danger. Another investigation pulls him away from relaxation and into a situation where he must once again confront people who are willing to use violence.
18. Rising Warrior
An abandoned development left to decay becomes the setting for a disturbing discovery. Jesse finds evidence connected to a long-dead serial killer and a ruthless family of smugglers.
19. Rising Moon
Jesse’s home territory on Grassy Key is not as peaceful as it appears. Another unexpected problem forces him to investigate what is happening around him and once again become involved in danger.
20. Rising Tide
A small homemade boat carrying an injured boy drifts beneath the Seven Mile Bridge. Jesse rescues him, but the mystery surrounding the boy eventually leads toward gang warfare.
21. Steady As She Goes
Jesse begins a new chapter as captain of the research vessel Ambrosia. His new life is interrupted when he is asked to help stop a major drug and human-trafficking operation coming out of Venezuela.
22. All Ahead Full
Jesse and the crew of the Ambrosia discover an environmental disaster involving deception and greed in Central America. Their attempt to help puts both the beautiful reef around Utila and their own safety at risk.
23. Man Overboard
Jesse returns to the Florida Keys, but the islands are no longer quite the same. His return quickly becomes another adventure as he discovers that trouble has followed him home.
24. Cast Off
Jesse returns to his island in the Content Keys determined to protect the people he loves. His hope for a simpler life is once again challenged by events that make staying out of trouble nearly impossible.
25. Fish On!
Jesse believes he is finally ready to retire from his dangerous adventures. That plan collapses when a young operative he has been mentoring goes rogue, forcing Jesse back into action.
26. Weigh Anchor
A lifelong friend discovers something deep in the Everglades, giving Jesse another reason to investigate. The search takes him into the dangerous and unfamiliar environment of the River of Grass.
27. Swift and Silent
Jesse finds himself dealing with another threat in the Middle Florida Keys. The story continues his transition between wanting an ordinary life and being unable to ignore people who need his help.
28. Apalach Affair
Jesse heads into Florida’s Tate’s Hell State Forest in the Florida Panhandle. The quiet surroundings hide a dangerous secret, turning what might appear to be another adventure into a much more serious affair.
29. Dominica Blue
Jesse and the crew of the Taranis travel to Dominica in the Caribbean. Their exploration of the island soon becomes a case involving murder and mayhem in paradise.
30. Down Island
After spending nine months away, Jesse finally returns to his home in the Florida Keys. He discovers that both his small island compound and much of the Keys are in disorder, giving him another difficult problem to solve.
31. Looted
Jesse, Rusty Thurman, and Billy Rainwater undertake the recovery of a U-320 Nazi submarine hidden in the Florida Everglades. What sounds like an unusual salvage operation quickly raises the stakes for Jesse and his friends.
32. Cursed
Cursed is the current 32nd Jesse McDermitt novel listed by the author. It continues Jesse’s Caribbean adventure story and was released in 2026.
Upcoming: Sleighed
Sleighed is the next Jesse McDermitt novel listed on Wayne Stinnett’s official website. It is scheduled for December 25, 2026, so it should be treated as an upcoming book rather than part of the currently published 32-book sequence.
2. Charity Styles Caribbean Thriller Series
The Charity Styles books move into a darker thriller territory. Charity is a highly trained former operative whose military and covert background makes her a formidable protagonist, and the series follows her through increasingly dangerous missions.
There are currently nine books in the series, with Indulgent Charity being the latest published entry in 2026.
1. Merciless Charity
Charity Styles is a former Olympian, U.S. Army helicopter pilot, and survivor of terrorist captivity. She becomes an important asset in a covert counterterrorism operation and turns her skills toward confronting the enemies who once tried to destroy her.
2. Ruthless Charity
Charity continues her dangerous work as her abilities make her valuable to people fighting serious threats. The second book expands her story while maintaining the series’ combination of covert operations, violence, and Caribbean settings.
3. Reckless Charity
Charity tries to enjoy some time away from the pressure of her work in St. Thomas. Her attempt at relaxation does not last long when dangerous people arrive and force her back into action.
4. Enduring Charity
Charity faces another challenge that tests both her physical abilities and emotional endurance. The book continues the larger story of a woman whose past and professional skills make an ordinary life extremely difficult.
5. Vigilant Charity
Charity remains at the center of another dangerous operation. The novel continues the series’ focus on covert missions, international threats, and a heroine who is always prepared for trouble.
6. Lost Charity
After a long break from the action, Charity is ready to return to the field. At the same time, she is considering whether she can leave the Armstrong organization and build something closer to a normal life.
7. Elusive Charity
Charity has learned to hide in plain sight while avoiding people who want to find her. Her abilities make her extremely difficult to capture, but the question becomes whether she can continue escaping her past forever.
8. Liable Charity
Charity travels to Campeche during the height of summer to correct a mistake from her past. Her mission quickly places her against armed cartel members and another dangerous enemy who wants to become rich at any cost.
9. Indulgent Charity
Indulgent Charity is the ninth Charity Styles novel and the latest published entry in the series. It continues Charity’s story in the Caribbean thriller world and was released in 2026.
3. Jerry Snyder / Caribbean Mystery Series
The Caribbean Mystery Series follows Jerry Snyder and his partner DJ Martin as they investigate murders and other crimes around the Caribbean. These books are co-written by Wayne Stinnett and Stewart Matthews.
1. Wayward Sons
Jerry Snyder becomes involved when a body washes ashore at an island resort in Culebra. Together with DJ Martin, he tries to uncover the truth while dealing with a family desperate to find answers.
2. Vodou Child
A murder and the disappearance of a teenage girl draw Jerry and DJ into another Caribbean investigation. A Vodou priest believes supernatural forces are involved, but the investigators have reason to look for human explanations.
3. Friends of the Devil
Jerry’s yacht is destroyed, forcing him to make a difficult deal with a mob-connected father figure. When people begin dying at a private Caribbean funeral, Jerry has to investigate murder, blackmail, and secrets while confronting his own past.
4. Young Jesse McDermitt / Tropical Adventure Series
The Young Jesse McDermitt books go back to Jesse’s younger years and his early Marine experiences. They provide additional background for readers who already know Jesse from the main Caribbean Adventure series.
1. A Seller’s Market
Young Jesse McDermitt returns home to Florida while on leave after becoming a newly minted Marine. A diving trip with an old boot-camp friend exposes Jesse to a new kind of piracy involving fast boats and motorcycles.
2. Bad Blood
Jesse and Rusty Thurman return to the Florida Keys during a break from Marine duty. Their vacation turns dangerous when a man survives repeated attempts on his life and Jesse discovers that old enemies are still looking for him.
3. Cocaine Cowboys
Jesse and Rusty spend time diving in the dangerous waters off North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Their adventure brings them into conflict with modern pirates and eventually forces them to join with an unexpected ally.
4. Done Deal
Three Marine friends take leave to help with hurricane recovery in a small Florida community. When racial tension rises after a series of arson attacks, Jesse and his friends become caught between competing interests and a situation where someone may die.
The author currently categorizes these four novels as the Tropical Adventure Series featuring a young Jesse McDermitt.
5. Tropical Adventure Series with Other Authors
This smaller series is separate from the Young Jesse McDermitt books. It includes two tropical adventure novels listed under the Tropical Adventure (Tropical Authors) category.
1. Graceless
Graceless is the first book in this two-book Tropical Adventure sequence. It introduces a different adventure within Stinnett’s broader Caribbean-oriented fictional world.
2. Timeless
Timeless continues the Tropical Adventure sequence with another mystery involving the Caribbean. The story follows a search for answers surrounding a decades-old mystery and brings familiar Caribbean connections into the plot.
6. Rainbow of Collars Series
The Rainbow of Collars books are different from Stinnett’s action-adventure fiction. They are nonfiction books connected with his personal experiences, writing career, and later interest in health and fitness.
1. Blue Collar to No Collar
This book looks at Stinnett’s journey from working-class jobs toward becoming a bestselling novelist. It is particularly interesting for aspiring writers because it focuses on the author’s own path into writing and publishing.
2. No Collar to Tank Top
This book moves away from publishing and into health, fitness, and personal transformation. Stinnett describes how he went from a sedentary lifestyle to becoming a competitive powerlifter, with Sam Hoster contributing fitness guidance.
Where Should You Start with Wayne Stinnett?
For most readers, Jesse McDermitt is the best place to start. It is Stinnett’s largest and most established series, and it combines military action, Caribbean adventure, mysteries, treasure hunting, and life in the Florida Keys.
If you want to follow Jesse’s story in chronological reading order, begin with:
- Fallen Out
- Fallen Palm
- Fallen Hunter
- Fallen Pride
- Fallen Mangrove
- Fallen King
- Fallen Honor
- Fallen Tide
- Fallen Angel
- Fallen Hero
Then continue with Rising Storm through Cursed.
This is worth emphasizing because there is some confusion online about Fallen Out. Some databases place it according to publication history, but the author identifies it as Jesse McDermitt Caribbean Adventure Series, Volume 1, and current series listings also treat it as the starting point for the chronological story.
If you prefer a female-led military thriller, try Merciless Charity. If you prefer murder mysteries in tropical locations, start with Wayward Sons. And if you want to see Jesse before the main series, start with A Seller’s Market and the other Young Jesse McDermitt novels.
Publication Order vs. Reading Order
Wayne Stinnett’s books can be confusing because Fallen Palm was published before Fallen Out. The difference exists because Fallen Out functions as the earlier Jesse McDermitt story, so the chronological/series reading order places it first.
For a first-time reader, I recommend chronological series order rather than strict publication date. This lets you follow Jesse’s development more naturally and understand how his relationships, friends, and adventures build over time.
Are Wayne Stinnett’s Books Connected?
Some are directly connected, while others simply share the author’s broader Caribbean adventure setting. The Jesse McDermitt books have the strongest continuing character connection, while the Charity Styles and Jerry Snyder books follow their own protagonists.
There are also crossover-style connections between some of the wider Caribbean stories. If you enjoy the setting and want to explore the whole fictional world, reading the individual series in their own order is the easiest approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Jesse McDermitt books are there?
As of October 2026, Wayne Stinnett’s official site lists 32 published Jesse McDermitt novels, ending with Cursed. Sleighed is announced as the next book and is scheduled for December 25, 2026.
What is the first Jesse McDermitt book?
Fallen Out is currently listed by Wayne Stinnett as Volume 1 of the Caribbean Adventure Series. It works as the starting point for readers who want to follow Jesse’s story chronologically.
Was Fallen Palm published before Fallen Out?
Yes. Fallen Palm was published before Fallen Out, which is why some third-party databases show a different publication order. However, Fallen Out is treated as the first book in the current series/chronological reading order.
What genre are Wayne Stinnett’s books?
Stinnett primarily writes action-adventure and thriller fiction. His stories frequently involve military characters, criminals, investigations, the ocean, the Caribbean, the Florida Keys, and high-stakes action.
What is Wayne Stinnett’s most popular series?
The Jesse McDermitt Caribbean Adventure Series is his largest and best-known series. It currently contains far more books than his other series and is the natural starting point for readers who want to explore most of his fiction.
Can I read the Jesse McDermitt books out of order?
You can read individual Jesse McDermitt adventures without being completely lost because each book has its own central conflict. However, reading them in order is better because Jesse’s relationships, crew, experiences, and personal story continue from one book to the next.
Is Sleighed already published?
No. Wayne Stinnett’s official website currently lists Sleighed as an upcoming release scheduled for December 25, 2026. It should therefore be listed separately from the 32 currently published Jesse McDermitt books.
Final Thoughts
Wayne Stinnett’s bibliography is a particularly good fit for readers who enjoy action, military backgrounds, Caribbean settings, mysteries, treasure hunts, and fast-moving thrillers. His books become much easier to navigate once they are separated into the Jesse McDermitt, Charity Styles, Jerry Snyder, Young Jesse McDermitt, and other related series.
For a first read, I would choose Jesse McDermitt and start with Fallen Out. From there, the series gives you dozens of connected adventures, taking Jesse from the Florida Keys into the wider Caribbean and beyond.
If you prefer darker covert-action stories, Charity Styles is the better choice. For murder mysteries, try Jerry Snyder, while readers interested in Jesse’s earlier years can go back to A Seller’s Market and the Young Jesse McDermitt books.
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