Inspired by an exhilarating pace, plenty of stunning turns and twists, and richly drawn, complex protagonists, spy novels are all about as simple as it captures at the library--and even at the beach. Even though all the excitement of dual agents and espionage keeps you at the edge of your seat, these novels also offer insight into fascinating and upsetting historical phases.
From the name of exciting reading, regardless of what time of year--and to wrestle with larger philosophical questions of betrayal, individual connection, and the heritage of worldwide conflict--we rounded up 20 of their best spy books around, and one can't overlook biography. Compiled by former CIA and other intelligence agents and a few of the most prolific literary minds of the time, get to know the best spy books below.
Here are our selections for the best spy novels you need to learn.
01of 20Who Is Vera Kelly?
Rosalie Knecht Who's Vera Kelly? $10
A radio show host is trying to make ends meet and squeeze in to the underground gay scene when she has banged by the CIA to wire tap a jagged congressman in Argentina, and works her way to a revolutionary group of students planning for a coup. Think coming of age meets historical fiction with a powerful female protagonist.
02of 20Red Sparrow
The Setting: Modern-day Russia
Dominika Egorova is forced into becoming a secret agent which uses her sultry beauty to seduce an American CIA officer. When she develops genuine feelings for him, her loyalties begin to shift and the plot thickens.
03of 20Gun Trader's Daughter
The Backdrop: 1980s Marcos-era Philippines and Modern-day America
Though this novel doesn't follow a linear chronology, it reflects Sol's fragmented memory and injury. As a woman restricted to the ease and comfort of her riches, she attempts to overthrow the Marcos regime. Spying in the American generals and Philippine elite from her own fancy dinner table, Sol's loyalties fight between her family, home land, along with also her insurgent student friends. Politically-charged, lyrical, and eye-opening, that is just a must-read.
04of 20Agent in Place
The Background: New York, Washington, D.C., and also the French Riveria throughout the Cold War
Every time a Russian spy who's expertly infiltrated Washington society puts his hands on a top-secret NATO memorandum, a high-profile CIA officer's cover is blown off in Moscow. Today, everyone is racing against time to uncover who the spy happens to be.
05of 20The Sympathizer
The Background: 1975 Vietnam and Los Angeles
A half-French, half-Vietnamese double representative relocates into America after the collapse of Saigon, along with betrayal, both personal and political, ensues. At once a love story and also a spy novel concerning the heritage and evils of colonialism, the Vietnam War, and consequent refugee experience from the U.S. you will not soon forget The Sympathizer. It's satirical, sharp, suspenseful, and upsetting.
06of 20Leaving Berlin
The Backdrop: Post-WWII Berlin, Germany
Alex Meier is really a young German Jew who fled to America at the start of WWII to escape Nazi persecution. But together with the Cold War underway, it is the summit of the McCarthy era, also he's Pigeon Holed in to functioning undercover in East Berlin for the CIA. It's the only way he won't be deported. However, if he gets there, he finds out that his target could be the woman he loved and left before the war. It's a thoughtprovoking and action-packed romance narrative.
07of 20The Secret Agent
The Backdrop: London, Late-1800s
A shop-owner becomes wrapped up within a anarchist scheme to bomb the Greenwich Observatory, however, the program goes wrong and throws his life into chaos. It increases philosophical questions and will be really a literary masterpiece, but it will not prevent it from being truly a thrilling, entertaining read.
08of 20Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
The Background: Post-WWII Britain
Unhappily retired after a failed assignment, the aging officer sets out to capture a traitor who has worked their way into the highest positions of British intelligence. Filled with political and social commentary using a quick plot, there's a reason this is such timeless.
09of 20
The Setting: Berlin, 1955
A new Englishman residing in American-occupied Berlin is commissioned to install the cassette recorders which that will wiretap Russians in Soviet-occupied East Berlin. Buthe fails as a spy, and the plot becomes complicated when he falls in love with an older German with a savage, possessive exhusband.
10of 20American Magic
The Setting: Burkina Faso
In the FBI, Marie Mitchell sticks out as a young black girl. In American Spy, Marie wades through a sea of a mostly white man intellect community, along with a mission to Burkina Faso, where she meets Thomas Sankara, revolutionary president of the landlocked, West African country.
11of 20The Spy Who Came in From the Cold
The backdrop: Cold War-era Germany
British intelligence agent Alec Leamas should be on his way back again to London, but one more endeavor --an undercover mission to topple East German intellect, leads Leamas into dangerous land. In a meeting with Electric Literature, author Lauren Wilkinson (composer of American Spy) calls that this spy book"excellent"
12of 20Intelligence
The wallpaper: Post-9/11 America, through an election season
Intelligence trails Maddie James, a CIA counterterrorism adviser as she pursues an al qaida performance with an eccentric team. The Administration is more interested in keeping up the message which America is winning the war on terror. As stated by author Susan Hasler, a former member of this CIA, writing the publication was a way to cope with residual 9/11 period anger.
13of 20Blow Back
The background: Cyprus
Young, blonde CIA operative Vanessa Pierson assumes the identify of a fiscal advisor in Cyprus on a reconnaissance mission. Her target: An international arms trader, Bhoot, who is thought to be aiding Iran to bolster its atomic activities. Using an assassin in her course, Blowback is filled of fast-paced activity scenes, as well as intimate details which the Washington Post clarifies"may possibly elude a man writer" Blow Back is Coauthored by former CIA agent Valerie Plame, and Sarah Lovett.
14of 20at an Increased Risk
The backdrop: Britain
British intelligence taps Liz Carlyle, a scrappy counter terror representative to avoid a terrorist attack. And the individual of attention will be traveling under a British passportan"imperceptible" Author Stella Rimington is based upon her former life as a high ranking spy to author At Risk, Rimington's debut novel.
15of 20Pocahontas: Medicine Woman, Entrepreneur, Spy, Diplomat
The wallpaper: America, throughout the Indigenous lens
Authored by the late Dr. Paula Gunn Allen, a Native American scholar,'' Pocahontas strips off Disney's romantic sheen and Euro-centric story in a biography illuminated by your Native (in particular, the Algonquian tribes's) perspective. Publishers Weekly writes,"stronger are Allen's comments about the cultural similarities between the English and Algonquin and the thought that each band shifted the other"
16of 20Hue and Cry
Patricia Wentworth Hue and Cry $15
Before Mally Lee's wedding in six months, she accepts a position as governess to your shipping magnate's young daughter. Upon inputting the Peterson reasons, nevertheless, Lee is going to be accused of being a spy and burglar. Mally flees, leaving her fiancé in emotional shambles and private investigators in hot pursuit. What has Mally stumbled right into?
17of 20The Courilof Affair
The wallpaper: 18th century Russia
Léon M, son of Russian revolutionaries, is tasked with assassinating the callous Valerian Alexandrovitch Courilof, Russian Minister of Education. Fronting as Courilof's personal doctor, Léon M works his way in to Courilof's summerhouse, and as his connection with all Courilof grows, learns things are more complicated than they seem.
The wallpaper: United States
A page-turning tale of an ex-agent away from home from her prior employer (a clandestine, unnamed agency). To clear her name, she accepts one more job that will put her into an even more awkward position. However, the project goes south. What now?
19of 20The Spymistress
The background: Civil War-era America
Elizabeth Van Lew is a Union loyalist living inside the Confederacy, also she'll risk it all to help build the Richmond Under Ground, break free inmates from Confederate Libby Prison, also gather military intelligence under the pretense of humanitarian aid. Within this historical novel inspired by a real story, Van Lew's contributions during the Civil War come alive.
20of 20An Outstanding Union
The wallpaper: Civil War-era America
Part espionage, part romance, An Outstanding Union follows freedwoman Ellen"Elle" burns off and Malcolm McCall (a Scottish immigrant) within their jobs as spies against the Confederacy. They both risk love, and also their own lives, for one another and the cause.
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