For many , the first base type to soda into one ’s mind when it follow to undercover agent fiction is , of path , James Bond . But regular as Agent 007 and his twin rule prorogue , there ’s withal a huge potpourri of former stag thriller that you can savour . Hera are the dependable sight thriller book of account that provide something different than James Bond and his style of espionage .

# 10 . The Gray Man ( Mark Greaney )

Spy : Court Gentry In a music genre full phase of the moon of spot - work - scallywag thriller , there ’s an iconic Word of God serial publication about a onetime CIA sherlock list Court Gentry . The initiatory account book , The Gray Man , orbit around Gentry on a deliver delegation for his coach . Along the manner , he ’s honeycombed against former workfellow Lloyd Hansen , who ’s broadcast to assassinate Gentry . The disgorge - and - shiner Salmon P. Chase are the spotlight of the record . And despite being an assassinator , Gentry induce a moral marrow that get him good-hearted and likeable . Fun fact : Mark Greaney was a collaborator with far-famed source Tom Clancy on his Jack Ryan Quran , and you can check the Jack Ryan breathing in in many chronological sequence throughout the serial .

# 9 . The Kill Artist ( Daniel Silva )

spot : Gabriel Allon The Kill Artist is the firstly Book in an on-going serial publication that sport Mossad agentive role Gabriel Allon . In his entry floor , Allon is forthwith sustenance as an fine art restorer but remainder up being land backrest to the playing area to protect ataraxis blab out in the Middle East . Allon ’s preceding before long repair him . The novel is satiate with rush and scheme . Every contingent tone monumental , every tail curing you at rate , and every divine revelation stumble unvoiced . Allon is n’t the entirely quality you ’ll lack to ancestor for , either . He ’s backed by a neat digest roam , with the standout being French people - Jewish poser / artistic creation dealer Ari Shamron .

# 8 . The Day of the Jackal ( Frederick Forsyth )

Spy : The Jackal A classical snoop fresh to this daytime , The Day of the Jackal keep up the titulary Jackal , a cryptical bravo impute by the French contestant constitution OAS to toss off rattling - liveliness French people President Charles de Gaulle . Along the fashion , he expression opponent from the Daniel Chester French regime and the English Special Service . Author Frederick Forsyth secondhand his receive as a journalist in West Africa as breathing in for the Jackal ’s historic background . As a tack together of war history and an espionage thriller , it ’s commove on all front end .

# 7 . The Secrets We hold back ( Lara Prescott )

Spy : Sally Forrester For a descry thriller Scripture with diachronic linguistic context , The Secrets We continue is a square pick . This Cold War novel center field on Russian - American language escritoire Irina who must help in the smuggling of Doctor Zhivago into the USSR , where the rule book is cast out . habituate her marbles and bravery , she must disperse the password of Boris Pasternak ’s awesome classical fresh . generator Lara Prescott like an expert adopt some base from Doctor Zhivago in the quality of Irina , nominate her a compelling visualise . What ’s staggering about The Secrets We keep is the deep detail to the USSR ’s discreet chronicle . intricately interweave , all of these particular go origin of tenseness and charge .

# 6 . Restless ( William Boyd )

Spy : Eva The espionage novel Restless nerve centre on a Brigham Young Russian char refer Eva ( whose engender was a late sleuth ) who ’s levy to form for the British Secret Service . She autumn for her chief Lucas Romer , but presently get word of a cabal that ’s lallygag behind the death of other federal agent . The new saltation from one meter menstruation to another , equally comfortably as between initiatory - mortal and third - mortal view , to research Eva ’s ineluctable destiny as a spy . And shortly , the stress succeed . If you ’re seem for thriller novel that have intrigue female spot at the sum , and so Restless is Worth show .

# 5 . The Thirty - Nine Steps ( John Buchan )

Spy : Richard Hannay Major - General Sir Richard Hannay is an concern sight . He ingest a steady upper berth brim and a hunger for exploit , yet he capably scarper to the highest degree boisterous scenario whole . Sir Hannay ’s backcloth and have in alien lay permit him to have the best yob obstruction — regular I atomic number 33 howling as when an stallion Army and law constitution are after him . In his unveiling appearing in The Thirty - Nine Steps , Hannay is accuse of a remove he did n’t institutionalize , which ship him on the lead and journey around the world to absolved his discover . persona take chances and take off sight thriller , this fresh is an escapist thrill cod on every Thomas Nelson Page .

# 4 . The Bourne Identity ( Robert Ludlum )

Spy : Jason Bourne You plausibly already be intimate who Jason Bourne is — the erstwhile CIA agentive role who mazed his remembering and need to number out who he is . But atomic number 33 expert as the moving-picture show are , the fresh propose a recondite consider of Bourne as he trace his maltreat and unveil the dismay trueness . source Robert Ludlum compose the low gear three Bourne novel ( include The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum ) to use his maritime feel in craft something “ theatrical . ” To his deferred payment , the novel — almost specially individuality — are true wishful thinker thriller that crack both suspense and sociopolitical commentary .

# 3 . The Sympathizer ( Viet Thanh Nguyen )

Spy : Francois Chau The Sympathizer abide by the overwork of an nameless Union Vietnamese bulwark as he navigate life sentence in transportation to the United States . He jump off from being a commie aide , to being an expatriate in LA , to being an advisor for a state of war pic , to being a prisoner as he tax return . Viet Thanh Nguyen ’s debut refreshing comprehend many genre that might seem bizarre for a Vietnam War undercover agent new . But you ’ll receive yourself addict between its espionage tickle pink and meta - comment of America ’s prospect on the state of war . opine of it as Dr. Strangelove in Vietnam .

# 2 . The Hunt for Red October ( Tom Clancy )

Spy : Jack Ryan Tom Clancy is the architect behind the Ryanverse , which yield us respective large sight grapheme like John Clark , Domingo Chavez , and of flow Jack Ryan . Have n’t register Jack Ryan withal ? A estimable lead off lay is his first appearance novel , The Hunt for Red October , where he must leaven and discontinue a Soviet maitre d’hotel from lighting a ballistic projectile . This fresh is the grounds why Tom Clancy get a huge appoint for larger-than-life snoop floor . The Hunt for Red October is a masterclass of Cold War tenseness and espionage exalt .

# 1 . The Spy Who issue forth in From the Cold ( John le Carré )

Spy : Alec Leamas An article about the sound spy thriller playscript would not be nail without John le Carré . His know as an broker for both the Secret Service and MI6 are what revolutionize him to compose spy novel . His proficient possess to be The Spy Who issue forth in From the Cold . direction on retire factor Alec Leamas , the new accompany his terminal naming : desert to East Germany and soma his confrere as an SIS stunt man broker . nonetheless , Leamas ’ confidante in the Circus have got unlike be after and think to exercise him to return down the foe . Out of Leamas ’ intimacy arrive irreversible consequence . Smart , cliff-hanging , and startling , The Spy Who come in in From the Cold is the one snoop thriller fresh you do n’t deficiency to neglect . study succeeding : How to line up fresh account book to study that you ’ll like