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Joe Hunter
Series · 15
books · 2009-2017

Books in series

Dead Men's Dust book cover
#1

Dead Men's Dust

2009

The electrifying debut of ex-military officer and all-around tough guy Joe Hunter, who is on the trail of his missing and estranged brother . . . and the madman who may have taken him. Joe Hunter solves problems. Or, as he likes to put it, he's "the weapon sent in when all the planning is done and all that's left is the ass kicking." And as a former military operative and ex-CIA agent, he's good at what he does. But when he's told that his brother—with whom he hasn't been on the best of terms—has disappeared, he learns that everything he's faced before is child's play compared to what's coming. Tubal Cain is a killer—smart, stealthy, and arrogant—but he's also sentimental. His most precious possession is the set of knives he uses, and when one of them (his favorite Bowie) is stolen along a deserted stretch of highway, Cain will stop at nothing to get it back. Unfortunately for Hunter, the thief is his brother, a man who has been on the run from his own mistakes but is now in the cross hairs of a seriously deranged man. To find his brother, Hunter must find Cain, and the chase takes all three men on a hair-raising journey across the country to a barren spot in the American Southwest, where bones have become nothing more than dead men's dust. With its cinematic pacing, nonstop thrills, and strong, charismatic hero, Dead Men's Dust introduces Matt Hilton as a powerful and irresistible new voice in thriller fiction.
Judgement and Wrath book cover
#2

Judgement and Wrath

2010

Joe Hunter doesn't like bullies. He really doesn't like men who abuse women. So protecting Bradley Jorgenson from a professional hitman is not Joe's dream job. Contract killer Dantalion takes his work very seriously. He has a talent for killing and a book in which he obsessively numbers each of his victims.
Slash and Burn book cover
#3

Slash and Burn

2010

The third action-packed thriller in the compelling series featuring Joe Hunter, rival to Lee Child's Jack Reacher. Joe Hunter is enjoying some much needed r&r when a young woman approaches him to help find her missing sister. Kate Piers knows about Joe from her dead brother Jake, Hunter's former comrade in arms, and for that reason alone he feels obliged to help. The fact that Kate is very attractive doesn't hurt. Together they go to Imogen's Kentucky home where they are immediately attacked by a bunch of thugs, acting on behalf of local businessman Robert Huffman. Huffman is outwardly respectable but the psychotic twins he uses as his enforcers give the game away: he has links to organised crime and a deadly reputation with a blade. Huffman is also looking for Imogen, and kidnaps Kate to act as bait. Looks like Joe is in trouble again . . .
Cut and Run book cover
#4

Cut and Run

2010

Luke Rickard has stolen Joe Hunter's identity and committed a vicious double murder. His motive? Revenge. His method? A blade. His mission? Kill anyone Hunter holds dear. It is a deadly duel of wits that takes Hunter from the streets of Miami to the squalid barrios of Colombia to the jungle hideaway of a drug baron.
Blood and Ashes book cover
#5

Blood and Ashes

2011

Brooke Reynolds died in a car crash. Tragic accident, the police say. But her father Don Hoffman knows otherwise. And he wants Joe Hunter to find the men responsible. Joe is not convinced - until he is attacked by two troublemakers, and Don's other daughter is also threatened. Looks like more than coincidence. And sure enough, the entire family is soon under siege with only Joe to protect them. The ensuing blood bath is the beginning of a trail of death that leads right to the heart of a racist conspiracy. White supremacists want to hold the government to ransom; and they have got hold of a dirty bomb to add weight to their case. Joe is on countdown: can he stop the plotters before they reduce the free world to ashes?
Dead Men's Harvest book cover
#6

Dead Men's Harvest

2011

The Harvestman is back! And determined to wreak revenge on Joe Hunter. When Rink is ambushed by a team of highly skilled killers, Joe is pretty sure his friend is being used as bait. And the intended prey is Hunter himself. Joe has to go 'off radar' to rescue his friend. Their deadly game of cat and mouse reaches its climax on the rusty hulk of The Queen Sofia - a container ship used by human traffickers - moored off the North Carolina coast where Joe's ex-sister-in-law is being held hostage. Against overwhelming odds, and amid a ferocious storm, Joe comes face to face with his old enemy Tubal Cain.
Six of the Best book cover
#6.5

Six of the Best

2012

Six of the Best: Joe Hunter has always hated bullies. And Tony Largo is a bully who has picked the wrong target when he assaults a war veteran.Homecoming: Joe promises a grieving mother he'll bring her son home, whatever it takes.Sand Dance: When a hot-dog seller gets mugged, Joe finds a sneaky way of getting revenge.UV Ray: Joe and his best buddy Rink don't play by the rules when they take on a child abuser at a bowling alley.Instant Justice: Carl Riley didn't sound like the name of a beast. But he was a man who preyed on the faceless young who worked the neon strip. Until he came face to face with Joe.The Other Side of the Street: Joe plays the Good Samaritan.
No Going Back book cover
#7

No Going Back

2012

Jameson Walker approaches Joe Hunter when his daughter Jay and her friend Nicole go missing at a gas station in the Arizona desert while on a cross-country trek across the North American interior. He mentions that a robbery/homicide at the gas station as worrying as the girls were due to be in the vicinity at that time. Joe accepts the job of locating the girls, though not at first convinced there's much to worry about. As Joe picks up the girls' trail he discovers that other young women have also disappeared in the area, and comes across the brutish Logan family.
Dead Fall book cover
#7.5

Dead Fall

2009

Matt Hilton's first e-book exclusive short story, featuring ex-military operative Joe Hunter. When the bodies of two friends are found near the penthouse apartment of a known crime boss, Joe Hunter has revenge on his mind. He's never tolerated bullies, but this time it's personal. And no matter how many heads he has to bash to do it, Joe will find his man. Includes a sneak preview of Blood and Ashes, the exhilarating fifth novel in the Joe Hunter series.
Rules of Honour book cover
#8

Rules of Honour

2013

When Rink's father is murdered, Joe Hunter vows to help his friend avenge his brutal death. Rink's mother Yukiko isn't talking, her silence governed by the Bushido tradition of giri, or moral obligation. But other people known to Yukiko are also dying, all due to a shameful secret from their past that Hunter must uncover if he hopes to end the murders. To do that rules must be broken, and Hunter doesn't care what he must break to stop the killer.Praise for Matt Hilton and the Joe Hunter thrillers … "The action scenes are immaculately described … and even the shades of grey are murkier than ever. An excellent starting point to the dark and dangerous world of Joe Hunter." — www.crimereview.co.uk "A rip-snorting novel which is fast paced, exciting and yet self-aware enough to address its own belief system." — Graham Smith, author of Snatched From Home " … Hilton drives pace faster than The Stig …" — www.crimesquad.com " … grows at a steady pace and to be honest even though there's more than enough action and killing to satisfy the most ardent action reader throughout the course of the book it plays second fiddle to the reason for the deaths, something I enjoyed more than any of Matt's previous books … this for me is a more thoughtful adventure in avengement and plot building, the combination of both helps deliver a more mature action thriller." — www.milorambles.com "Sharp and hard hitting … Matt doesn't allow himself to get complacent, but continually delves deeper into the psyche of Joe … Fast-paced, action-filled and completely addictive, Matt shows his continuing maturity as a writer with an exhilarating ride that still maintains humour and wit." — www.shotsmag.co.uk
Red Stripes book cover
#8.5

Red Stripes

A Joe Hunter Story

2013

Stephan, a young man from a rich family in Miami, and his girlfriend Wendy are kidnapped and held in Jamaica. After liberating them with his partner Rink, Joe realises on his return to Tampa, that someone from the kidnapping gang is after him. His investigations lead him to the man responsible for masterminding the kidnap and extortion.
The Lawless Kind book cover
#9

The Lawless Kind

2014

Ex-counterterrorist soldier Joe Hunter has been called to Mexico to bring an end to a cartel that preys on the people they smuggle across the US border. Once the mission's ended, however, Joe's mission leader and mentor, CIA Black Ops director Walter Hayes Conrad, confesses that the bloody mission is not the real reason Joe has been summoned south of the border. For years, Walter has kept the details of his private life - especially his family - secret from everyone, even his closest friends. But disaster has his great-grandson Benjamin has been abducted, kidnapped by Walter's sworn enemy, the leader of one of Mexico's largest drug cartels. Walter will do whatever it takes to get the boy back. And he know Hunter is the man for the job. But there's one complication—the drug boss just happens to be Benjamin's father.
The Devil's Anvil book cover
#10

The Devil's Anvil

2015

Accepting the task of protecting Billie Womack is a no-brainer for ex-counterterrorist soldier Joe Hunter, but it comes with its own set of complications.Billie's husband, Richard, stole thirty million dollars from some violent people. He apparently died in a car crash with Billie's daughter, Nicola, during a desperate attempt to elude his pursuers. But his enemies don't believe him dead. They think he escaped the plunge into the icy river that killed Nicola and has now decided to come back for the money. If he's alive, they believe he'll contact Billie. It doesn't take long for the bad guys to arrive at her remote farmhouse. Soon she and Joe are fugitives. Dead or alive, Richard's fate means nothing to Hunter, but he promises to do everything in his power to protect the grieving mother. Even if it means taking a bullet for her, it's a price he'll pay. It's a pledge he will come to regret, as he learns that killers are forged on the Devil's anvil.
No Safe Place book cover
#11

No Safe Place

2016

From the best-selling author of "Dead Men's Dust" The New Joe Hunter Thriller (Book 11) Who does Andrew Clayton turn to for help when his wife has been murdered, his child is in danger, and the police think he is responsible? Despite his mistrust of Clayton, Joe Hunter accepts the job of protecting young Cole. But who is he protecting the boy from? And why? It's clear Clayton knows more about his wife's killer, but he isn't saying. And when his silence places Cole in the killer's sights there's...No Safe Place Praise for the Joe Hunter thriller series: “Matt Hilton delivers a thrill a minute. Awesome!” (Chris Ryan) “Hard-hitting and fast-paced, I was hooked from start to finish.” (Simon Kernick) “Roars along at a ferocious pace...” (Observer) “Electrifying.” (Daily Mail) “Vicious, witty and noir. Hilton is a sparkling new talent.” (Peter James) “Another brutally fast and brutally addictive novel from Matt Hilton. Ne'er-do-wells beware, Joe Hunter is coming for you!” (Crimeandpublishing.com) “Explosive and deadly . . . the prolific penman strikes gold again.” (Crimesquad.com)
Marked for Death book cover
#12

Marked for Death

2017

Joe Hunter has been Marked for Death in his most explosive outing to date It should be a routine job. Joe Hunter and his associates are hired to provide security for an elite event in Miami. Wear a tux, stay professional, job done. But things go wrong. Hunter is drawn into what appears to be a domestic altercation. When he crosses the mysterious Mikhail however, he soon finds something altogether more sinister… Before long this chance encounter has serious repercussions for Hunter and his friends. Good people are being killed. On the run, in the line of fire, the clock is ticking. From the bars of Miami beach to car chases and superyacht grenade battles, bestseller Matt Hilton dials up the intensity in this rip-roaring, set-piece filled thriller perfect for fans of Lee Child, David Baldacci and Stephen Leather.

Author

Matt Hilton
Matt Hilton
Author · 29 books

Matt Hilton worked for twenty-two years in private security and the police force in Cumbria. He is a 4th Dan blackbelt and coach in Ju-Jitsu. He lives in Cumbria with his wife and son. Matt is the author of the best-selling Joe Hunter thriller series, as well as standalone horror thrillers and short stories that have appeared in a number of collections and anthologies. Matt's first novel - Dead Men's Dust - was a Sunday Times best-seller and was shortlisted for the ITW New Novel Award 2009.

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