The Kent Steele / Agent Zero Spy Series in Order

About the Kent Steele / Agent Zero Spy series

Series Premise

Kent Steele (real name Reid Lawson) is a former top-tier CIA black-ops agent and assassin who has been living under a deep-cover identity as a mild-mannered history professor at a small college in New York, raising his two teenage daughters after the supposed death of his wife years earlier. In the opening book, a violent attack on his family triggers buried memories and reveals that his past life as "Agent Zero"—one of the CIA's most lethal and effective operatives—was erased from his mind through experimental memory manipulation (part of a CIA black project). As his memories return in fragments, Reid is pulled back into the world of international espionage, terrorism, and shadowy government conspiracies. Each book features a standalone, high-octane mission: Reid (as Agent Zero) must stop imminent global threats—nuclear attacks, bioterrorism, assassinations, cyber warfare, rogue intelligence operations, or terrorist cells—while protecting his family and uncovering layers of betrayal within the CIA, other agencies, or foreign powers. The plots are classic ticking-clock thrillers: Reid races against time, often working rogue or semi-rogue (distrusted by his former handlers), using his elite combat skills, tradecraft, intuition, and a network of old contacts. Personal stakes are high—his daughters are frequently endangered, forcing him to balance fatherhood with lethal duty. The series explores themes of identity, loyalty, the cost of secrecy, government overreach, and the toll of a life spent in violence.

Main Characters

> Kent Steele / Reid Lawson / Agent Zero: Protagonist—late 40s, former elite CIA assassin turned history professor. Highly skilled (combat, tradecraft, languages), physically formidable, haunted by suppressed memories and guilt over his violent past. Deeply devoted to his daughters; struggles with trust and the pull of his old life. Becomes more ruthless and determined as memories return.
> Maya and Sara Lawson: Reid's teenage daughters—smart, resilient, often endangered by his enemies; represent Reid's anchor to a normal life and his motivation to protect the innocent.
> Jennifer "Jen": Reid's CIA handler/contact—professional, conflicted; provides intel and occasional backup.
> The Director (CIA leadership): Senior figures who are sometimes allies, sometimes antagonists—represent bureaucratic distrust of rogue agents.
> Various villains: Rotating antagonists—terrorist masterminds, rogue CIA operatives, foreign agents, corrupt officials—who pose existential threats.
> Supporting operatives: Fellow agents, ex-colleagues, informants—some loyal, some treacherous; add depth to the intelligence world.

Setting

Contemporary global landscape (2010s–2020s), with a strong emphasis on the United States (especially New York City, Washington D.C., and various U.S. regions) and international hotspots. Key locations include:

Reid's suburban home in New York (where he lives as a professor with his daughters)
CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia
Urban centers (New York, D.C., Paris, London)
Middle Eastern and Central Asian conflict zones (Syria, Afghanistan, Iran)
European capitals, remote safe houses, terrorist training camps, and high-security facilities

The world feels post-9/11 realistic: intelligence black sites, drone surveillance, encrypted comms, terrorist cells, cyber threats, and the constant tension of global instability. Settings shift rapidly—urban streets, luxury hotels used as safe houses, mountain hideouts, cargo ships, underground bunkers—creating a cinematic, globe-trotting feel.

Tone & Themes

Fast-paced, intense, and adrenaline-driven—classic modern action-thriller with a patriotic, high-stakes edge. Jack Mars' tone is urgent and cinematic: violence is graphic and visceral (gunfights, hand-to-hand combat, explosions, torture), suspense is relentless (short chapters, cliffhangers, multiple POVs including the villains), and the writing is straightforward and propulsive. There is little humor—dark, dry irony at most—while emotional beats (Reid's love for his daughters, guilt over his past, moral conflicts) add depth without slowing the pace. The series is empowering and cathartic: Reid is a flawed but heroic figure who wins against overwhelming odds, delivering satisfying justice in a dangerous world. It's addictive "unputdownable" reading—perfect for fans of Lee Child, Brad Thor, or Vince Flynn—balancing brutal action with a strong sense of duty and family.

The Kent Steele / Agent Zero series is a pulse-pounding, high-stakes spy thriller saga—many books of relentless action, global conspiracies, and a compelling, haunted hero who fights for family and country. Jack Mars delivers addictive, cinematic storytelling that blends brutal espionage with deep personal stakes, making Reid Lawson (Agent Zero) a memorable figure in the genre. With its fast pacing, realistic tradecraft, and satisfying resolutions, the series is essential for fans of modern action-thrillers (like Vince Flynn or Brad Thor)—a gripping, bingeable ride through a dangerous world where one man stands between chaos and safety. A solid, entertaining entry in the post-9/11 spy thriller canon.