Yes, but you should start from halo 1 that way you fully undertsand the plot
yes, it is set at the battle of Reach which was where the Pillar of Autumn (the ship in Halo 1) was right before it jumped into slip space and found the original Halo. In short, it is set before Halo 1 hence it is before Halo 3
No, It does not. Halo ODST is the story of a squad in New Mombasa before/during the events of Halo 3
Halo 5 will most likely follow the story line of Halo 3/Halo 4.
There is halo 3 ODST but bungie has stopped making new halos. Halo reach takes place before combat evolved.
.. No, Halo 1 and Halo 2 and have different story's
The books are based of the game (says in the back of the book) lol Their mostly for true halo fans that give them tons of back story of the characters in halo Example: you learn how John (aka Master Chief) came to be. fall of reach is before halo 1, the flood is halo 1, first cotact between halo 1 and halo 2, ghosts of onyx im not sure, contact harvest before halo 1 and just before halo wars, cole protocall i havent read yet.
After halo 1 and before halo 3
No, Halo Reach shows what happened before Halo 1. In fact, in one of the missions in halo reach, you can see Master chief
No, but it is near the beginning of the halo story
The halo time line goes Halo Wars, Halo: Reach, Halo:CE (halo 1), Halo 2, Halo: ODST, Halo 3. Halo 3 and ODST are practically at the same time.
BEFORE
No Halo 4 will not be coming out with a new story line but their is Halo ODST and Halo Reach and If you Buy Halo ODST you will be able to try halo Reach which comes out in 2010.