Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Bookish Wisdom earns from qualifying purchases. This doesn't change our picks or your price.
Quick answer: If you liked Terry Hayes's The Year of the Locust, try I Am Pilgrim, The Day of the Jackal, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, The Bourne Identity, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and The Hunt for Red October. They are big, smart spy thrillers.
Terry Hayes follows his bestselling I Am Pilgrim with this 2023 spy thriller. The book is long, fast and rich in detail, with global stakes. Readers who finish it want more spy novels with global scope, clever plots and tense chases. These 15 books fit, from classic Cold War stories to modern thrillers.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| I Am Pilgrim | Terry Hayes | Adult | the earlier book |
| The Day of the Jackal | Frederick Forsyth | Adult | readers who want a classic |
| The Spy Who Came in from the Cold | John le Carré | Adult | readers who like Cold War realism |
| Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy | John le Carré | Adult | readers who like puzzles |
| The Bourne Identity | Robert Ludlum | Adult | readers who like action |
| The Hunt for Red October | Tom Clancy | Adult | readers who like military thrillers |
| The Eye of the Needle | Ken Follett | Adult | readers who like WWII thrillers |
| Gorky Park | Martin Cruz Smith | Adult | readers who like crime and spies |
| The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo | Stieg Larsson | Adult | readers who like long thrillers |
| Slow Horses | Mick Herron | Adult | readers who want modern spy comedy |
| Red Sparrow | Jason Matthews | Adult | readers who like authentic spycraft |
| Casino Royale | Ian Fleming | Adult | readers who like Bond |
| The Constant Gardener | John le Carré | Adult | readers who like conspiracy stories |
| The Kill List | Frederick Forsyth | Adult | readers who like current threats |
| The Secret Agent | Joseph Conrad | Adult | readers who like literary spy novels |
1. I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes
Hayes's first novel follows a former spy who must stop a terrorist plot. Huge, clever and fast-paced.
Best for: the earlier book.
2. The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth
An assassin plans to kill French President de Gaulle, and detectives race to stop him. A classic of the genre.
Best for: readers who want a classic.
3. The Spy Who Came in from the Cold by John le Carré
Alec Leamas, a weary spy, takes a final mission in East Germany. Bleak, clever and moving.
Best for: readers who like Cold War realism.
4. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John le Carré
George Smiley hunts a mole in British Intelligence. Complex and masterful.
Best for: readers who like puzzles.
5. The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum
A man with amnesia discovers he is a deadly agent. Fast, with great chases.
Best for: readers who like action.
6. The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy
A Soviet submarine captain defects, and Jack Ryan must figure out why. Tense and technical.
Best for: readers who like military thrillers.
7. The Eye of the Needle by Ken Follett
A German spy in WWII Britain tries to send secret information to Hitler. Fast and tense.
Best for: readers who like WWII thrillers.
8. Gorky Park by Martin Cruz Smith
Arkady Renko, a Moscow detective, investigates three bodies in a park. Atmospheric and smart.
Best for: readers who like crime and spies.
9. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
A journalist and a hacker investigate a decades-old disappearance. Dark and addictive.
Best for: readers who like long thrillers.
10. Slow Horses by Mick Herron
Failed MI5 agents are exiled to Slough House, where they get involved in a kidnapping. Funny, bleak and sharp.
Best for: readers who want modern spy comedy.
11. Red Sparrow by Jason Matthews
Dominika, a Russian ballerina turned spy, is trained as a seductress, and her path crosses with a CIA officer. Written by a former CIA officer, it is rich in tradecraft.
Best for: readers who like authentic spycraft.
12. Casino Royale by Ian Fleming
James Bond's first mission, a high-stakes card game with Le Chiffre. Short and stylish.
Best for: readers who like Bond.
13. The Constant Gardener by John le Carré
A British diplomat investigates his wife's death and uncovers the pharmaceutical industry's secrets. Angry, humane and tense.
Best for: readers who like conspiracy stories.
14. The Kill List by Frederick Forsyth
A former Marine hunts a terrorist preacher. Modern and fast.
Best for: readers who like current threats.
15. The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad
A shopkeeper and spy in London is drawn into a bombing plot. Classic and ironic.
Best for: readers who like literary spy novels.
How to Choose
Begin with I Am Pilgrim if you have not read it. For classics, read The Day of the Jackal or The Spy Who Came in from the Cold. For action, choose The Bourne Identity or The Hunt for Red October. For modern dark humor, try Slow Horses. This is a very long book, so choose a quiet few weeks, or listen to it on audio.
Related: 15 Books Like Wings of Fire Kids Will Love: Dragons, Quests and Animal Adventures · 12 Dystopian Books Like the Hunger Games | Best Books to Read Like Hunger Games
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Year of the Locust a sequel to I Am Pilgrim?
It is a separate story with new characters, though it shares the author's style.
How long is it?
About 800 pages in print.
Is it violent?
Yes. It includes torture and killing, as in most spy thrillers.
Do I need to read I Am Pilgrim first?
No. The two novels are separate, though readers who liked one often enjoy the other.