20 Spy Novels You Won’t Be Able to Put Down

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IF YOU'RE A reader, you're probably aware how big the mystery genre is. There's a lot more out there than just Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. And one of the best sub-genres within mystery books are spy novels, which tend to be filled with thills, suspense, and political intrigue. Rather than a classic whodunit, spy novels get their mystery from keeping readers and the protagonists on their toes. You'll never know who to trust (you may even have an unreliable narrator), and there's no telling what twists will occur.

Another added benefit is that many spy novels take place in various politically fraught points in history, offering a bit of a history lesson to anyone interested. Want a book set during the Cold War? Or alternatively, one set in the present day? There's a book out there for you. And since thrillers and mysteries are so gripping, many of the most famous books in the spy genre have had movie and television adaptations (that are actually worth watching), in case you want to see how filmmakers take a writer's words and bring them to a visual medium. And trust us, there are far more to choose from than the James Bond franchise. There are even classics that predate the book and film series that are just as good, if not better.

To make it easier to parse through the many, many books published within the mystery/thriller genre, we've picked out 20 of the best spy novels of all time.

Casino Royale (1953)

The book that started it all, Casino Royale is the first in the James Bond series. Fleming's first book featuring the now culturally significant spy character follows Bond as he attempts to bankrupt a member of the Russian Secret Service in a game of baccarat. Suffice to say, a lot more goes on than a simple betting game.

The Hunt for Red October (1984)

Tom Clancy's books have launched multiple media franchises. His debut, The Hunt for Red October follows one of his most well-known characters, Jack Ryan, as an analyst who works to prove a Soviet operative is defecting to the US after he steals a ballistic missile submarine.

The Human Factor (1978)

Graham Greene's The Human Factor doesn't follow a young, dashing spy, but an aging bureaucrat in MI6. Happy to live a now quiet life, Maurice Castle finds himself thrust back into political chaos when a leak is traced back to his division, and his loyalty is tested.

The IPCRESS File (1962)

Len Deighton is another well-known spy novelist, and much praise is given to his debut spy novel, The IPCRESS File. Structured as a report to the Ministry of Defence, the book follows an unnamed protagonist as he tries to rescue a captured scientist, but finds violent opposition to his mission.

Slow Horses (2010)

If you're a fan of Apple TV+'s Slow Horses, you should check out the book series it's based on. Mick Herron currently has 13 books in the Slough House series, detailing the adventures of a group of defunct MI5 operatives who are all desperate to prove themselves again.

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (1974)

If there's any one book that's considered a "classic" in the spy genre, it's Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. It follows an aging spymaster who works to uncover a Soviet mole. It's since been adapted into both a TV series and a film.

The Thirty-Nine Steps (1915)

John Buchan's The Thirty-Nine Steps has since been adapted into a famed Hitchcock film of the same name. A classic "man-on-the-run" story, the book follows protagonist Richard Hannay who becomes wrapped up in an assassination attempt and is framed for murder.

The Sympathizer

Modern spy novels are alive and well, and The Sympathizer proves it. Winner of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, it follows an unnamed protagonist who served as a North Vietnamese mole in the South Vietnamese army. He then lives in a South Vietnamese community in the United States, while working on an American film. The book has been adapted into a limited series (from director Park Chan-wook and featuring Robert Downey Jr.) and is now airing on HBO.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2005)

Another modern classic in the crime/spy genre, The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo is the first in a famed trilogy. It follows a journalist and a private investigator who team up to uncover the truth behind a woman's disappearance.

Eye of the Needle: A Novel (1978)

Prolific writer Ken Follett pens this Edgar Award-winning book. The book follows a German spy and the men assigned by MI5 to catch him. If you like the book, Follett has an impressive output that will surely keep you busy for a while.

The Day of the Jackal (1971)

Part political thriller and part spy novel, The Day of the Jackal will still hit all the notes spy fans are looking for. It follows a professional assassin (so, spy-adjacent) who's hired to kill the President of France, Charles de Gaulle.

American Spy: A Novel (2019)

This book came out to much fanfare in 2019, even making it on former President Barack Obama's annual reading list. It follows Marie, an African American woman who recounts her time working in the FBI.

The Night of Wenceslas (1960)

The debut novel of Lionel Davidson, a celebrated crime writer, The Night of Wenceslas follows a bored young man who becomes embroiled in debt and to get out of it, he has to involve himself in espionage. Naturally, the job goes south quick.

The Mark of the Assassin (1998)

Daniel Silva is another author whose books are a tentpole in the spy genre. One of his first is The Mark of the Assassin, which follows CIA operative Michael Douglas as he works to stop a terrorist plot reminiscent of a previous attack that killed the woman he loved.

Native Speaker (1995)

In Chang-Rae Lee's debut novel, a Korean-American industrial spy iasked with infiltrating the mayoral campaign of a Korean-American politician. But through the course of his work, protagonist Henry Park must grapple with his relationship to both the U.S. and Korea, and how his actions could impact others in his community.

Killing Floor (Jack Reacher) (19

If you're a Men's Health reader, you know we love Reacher. So there's no question why Lee Child's popular thriller series is on our spy novel list. Starting with Killing Floor, Child introduces Jack Reacher, a former military police officer turned nomad who travels the country solving crimes. Usually, that means things get violent.

The Mask of Dimitrios

This 1939 spy novel follows a mystery writer who finds inspiration from talking to a Turkish police officer about a now dead career criminal. But in investigating the late man's life, the writer soon finds himself in unexpected danger.

The Untouchable (1997)

Genre novels can be literary too! The Untouchable follows an aging, retired spy, who is revealed to be a Russian double agent. He recounts his life, starting with his recruitment, and reveals the personal and professional obstacles he's faced in his career.

A Map of Betrayal: A Novel (2015)

This espionage novel is an emotional one, and follows a woman who goes back through her father's diary–he's the most important Chinese spy ever caught by the U.S.–and traces his career, secrets, and complex loyalty to his home country.

The Informer (2003)

Jobless after the stock market crashes, a man takes a job as an industrial spy. The job? Seduce his ex-girlfriend and steal a chemical formula from her husband. But when his ex's husband turns up dead, our protagonist is the prime suspect.

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