When the show 24 started making the airwaves, it stood out for its deft portrayal of literal second-by-second tension and anxiety, creating an extraordinarily entertaining slice of espionage and government intrigue that hadn’t been achieved at the advent of the show.
24 centers on counter-terrorist agent Jack Bauer over a 24 hour “real time” period complete with stylistic presentation and narrative flourishes that accentuate the passage of time while Bauer faces off in an increasingly detailed and tense mission built around a “ends justify the means” methodology.
Bauer becomes a bit of an enigmatic at times antihero character who does pretty much anything to prevent terrorist attacks from taking place.
The show was a success and became a cross-media sensation, including a wide range of books. In fact, there was a series of breezy, thrill seeker novels that coincided around the peak of the show’s popularity.
Nowadays, it might be more difficult to dig them up, if only because there’s just so much about the show, merchandise, and more out there.
We lined up the initial 11-book “Declassified” run of Jack Bauer novels for those of you looking to dig deep into the series lore and enjoy a bit of 24-brand nostalgia.
24 Declassified: Collateral Damage
Collateral Damage takes the 24 magic to the world of communes and communities. Jack Bauer doesn’t have time on his side as a nation in New Jersey enacts their plan to bring destruction upon America.
Who can really stop them except that one operative, the CTU agent that walks the line between justice and vilification?
Jack Bauer may be too late, in over his own head, and as fans of the show know too well, Bauer’s trust in others is in short supply.
24 Declassified: Veto Power
The Declassified series achieves that careful balance between satisfying fans and capturing the style and structure of the show. In Veto Power, this balance is cemented by author John Whitman.
Over the next 24 hours, there’s a group of powerful terrorists with the keys to the country, aiming to send the infrastructure into literal darkness.
Jack Bauer is our familiar CTU operative backed into the corner, nursing his wounds from a mission that went sour when he comes across information that just might be what leads him and the country to figuring out how to prevent national catastrophe.
24 Declassified: Trojan Horse
Author Marc Cerasini returns to lend his storytelling skills for the third volume of Declassified: Trojan Horse.
The Counter Terrorist Unit discovers a trojan horse that has compromised online security, the very same cyberterrorist act that becomes tied with an upcoming live broadcast and in-person speaking event for a world leader in Los Angeles.
If nothing is done, the event may end in tragedy. It’s up to Jack Bauer and the ticking clock of a single day, 24 hours, to ensure that nobody is hurt.
24 Declassified: Cat's Claw
In Cat’s Claw, the leaders of the world gather for the G-8 summit, one of those secretive gatherings where some of the most important discussions and decisions are made to maintain, advance, and mitigate the global economy.
Nobody could have expected two different terrorist efforts looking to blow up the entire summit.
Jack Bauer has 24 hours to disarm the nefarious groups and the looming presence that could leave the governing world in shambles.
24 Declassified: Vanishing Point
Tick, tock, tick tock… Jack Bauer has to stop a government mole in 24 hours or technology may be leaked into the wrong hands, something that could lead to untold damage.
The setting is Area 51, which alone makes for some intrigue.
Bauer must stop the mole, and the technology, from destruction, but the infamous and secretive stronghold holds the information, and the source, he needs to prevent the terrorists from inflicting mass destruction.
24 Declassified: Chaos Theory
Chaos Theory sees our favorite antihero in prison. Bauer doesn’t last behind bars for long, cleverly forging his escape in time for another heated and heinous mission: stop a psychopathic anarchist from fulfilling their assassination attempt.
Did Bauer actually kill someone, or is it merely an enemy from a place of power looking to keep the operative pinned down and useless?
Jack Bauer is painted yet again at wit’s end, where he thrives so well, effectively wanted and targeted by the world, yet only he can save it from falling into chaos.
24 Declassified: Storm Force
As the title suggests, the 24 tension and suspense descends upon an already worn down and waterlogged New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
Wherever Jack Bauer goes, there’s something about to go wrong, and here is no different. Gangs wage war against each other while internally, the U.S. government’s corruption hits a boiling point.
Bauer’s the only one to stop further damage to the iconic southern city already brought to its knees by natural tragedy.
24 Declassified: Operation Hell Gate
In Operation Hell Gate, a powerful mole within the deepest levels of U.S. Intelligence has been secretly hiring the criminals and terrorists he's meant to investigate, silently creating one of the most complex terrorist organizations law enforcement has ever faced.
Only one man, Jack Bauer, can possibly defuse the situation before catastrophic loss. But Bauer is trapped thousands of miles away from command, with no backup, limited resources, and an FBI tail on his heels.
Will Bauer be able to evade the investigators long enough to stop the attack? He only needs 24 hours, after all.
24 Declassified: Trinity
In Trinity, the CTU has been reborn. Like anything new, there’s bound to be hiccups and problems.
Representatives from various worldwide religions gather in Los Angeles for a conference. Like history repeating itself, reports of deadly explosives going missing reach the CTU, and soon there’s talk of terrorism and assassination—the sort of thing that seasoned operative Jack Bauer has dealt with before.
24 hours and the clock is ticking: Trinity reveals Jack Bauer at his best, but is that still good enough to prevent another major catastrophe?
24 Declassified: Head Shot
There’s an annual summit taking place in the mountains of Colorado among the most powerful government entities in America.
The CTU is enlisted to prevent possible foul play. Maybe it’s another chapter to add to the book called Can’t Be Too Careful, or maybe there’s something to the disappearance of a nearby cult.
Either way, the growing conspiracy of terror that mounts as Jack Bauer investigates how nothing surrounding the summit is by mere chance.
24 Declassified: Death Angel
Author David Jacobs closes out the Declassified series in true 24 fashion, complete with the series protagonist Jack Bauer facing double crosses and plot twists involving secret research in a high-security government facility in Los Alamos, New Mexico.
The ticking clock, the search for clues, and, of course, the insider governmental corruption: Death Angel takes all the ingredients and makes for another hectic and dramatic mission that no one but Jack Bauer could solve.
