Reading Order
Danny Cortez
Danny Cortez has spent years trying to stay beyond the cartel’s reach. Then the man he helped put in prison escapes, and a message bearing his dead partner’s name threatens to undo everything. Written by L.T. Ryan and Andre Gonzalez, the series follows a former DEA intelligence agent pulled back toward unfinished business, with his family’s safety and the truth about his past at stake.
For readers who want cartel-driven action, a protagonist living under threat, and an investigation made personal by loyalty and family. Danny’s intelligence background gives his return to the fight its particular perspective.
Start Here
Begin with Dead Man’s List. It introduces Danny’s life in hiding and the threat that forces him back into action. Continue with Shadow Directive, then Widow Protocol.
Reading Order
Read Danny Cortez’s numbered sequence from Dead Man’s List.
- Dead Man's ListBy L.T. Ryan and Andre Gonzalez
- Shadow DirectiveBy L.T. Ryan and Andre Gonzalez
- Widow ProtocolBy L.T. Ryan and Andre Gonzalez
- Dead Man Running
Upcoming · Expected release January 12, 2027. Release date subject to change; check your chosen edition with the retailer.
Dead Man’s List is the starting point for Danny’s present circumstances. His years in hiding, his dead partner, and the cartel leader’s escape all belong to the setup that draws him back into danger. Reading the opening novel first lets you discover the answers in the same order that he does.
Shadow Directive is Book 2 and Widow Protocol is Book 3. Use those series numbers rather than assuming that titles beginning with “Dead Man” belong together at the start.
For a spoiler-light reading plan, stay with the numbered list and save later book descriptions until you reach them. Release information and formats belong to the individual book listing rather than changing the series order.
Questions About Danny Cortez
Which Danny Cortez book comes first?
Dead Man’s List is Book 1. Read Shadow Directive second and Widow Protocol third.
Who is Danny Cortez?
Danny is a former DEA intelligence agent who has been hiding from the cartel he helped bring down. The opening novel brings a threat from that past back into his life.
Who coauthors Danny Cortez with L.T. Ryan?
Andre Gonzalez coauthors the Danny Cortez series with L.T. Ryan.