Recommend a Good Contemporary Spy Novel

[Anonymous]

The Red Sparrow series is fantastic. And it gets a lot of tradecraft right.

[Anonymous]

Next on my list is Judith (Jude) O’Reilly’s Michael North thrillers, Sleep When You’re Dead. Both Lee Child and Mick Herron recommend, so I’ll check it out and report back. Supposed to be more in the tech-y conspiracy side, focusing on a British assassin and a rising female Member of Parliament

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09B2VX85H?ref_=dbs_m_mng_wim_calw_tkin_2&storeType=ebooks&qid=1668344895&sr=8-1#aw-udpv3-customer-reviews_feature_div

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Next on my list is Judith (Jude) O’Reilly’s Michael North thrillers, Sleep When You’re Dead. Both Lee Child and Mick Herron recommend, so I’ll check it out and report back. Supposed to be more in the tech-y conspiracy side, focusing on a British assassin and a rising female Member of Parliament

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09B2VX85H?ref_=dbs_m_mng_wim_calw_tkin_2&storeType=ebooks&qid=1668344895&sr=8-1#aw-udpv3-customer-reviews_feature_div

Here’s a review - I like this reviewer, who does most crime genres, but occasionally recommends spy thrillers.
https://mysurjitsbooksblog.wordpress.com/2022/08/13/my-book-review-of-judith-oreillys-breathtaking-third-book-in-the-michael-north-spy-action-thriller-series-sleep-when-youre-dead-judithoreilly-hoz_books-ariesfiction-slee/

[Anonymous]

I’m the OP of this oldish thread.

Reporting back that I’m currently loving “Red White Blue,” by Lea Carpenter. It’s not a traditional spy novel. Carpenter uses a non-linear structure with far less action than typical. I’d consider it more of a mystery + exploration of the prismatic aspects of life as a CIA operative (and those who “know” them.) No clue how accurate any of it is, but it’s certainly thought-provoking. Plus Carpenter can write!! I’m starting to see it more as literary fiction and less of as a spy novel / genre fiction (not saying that’s bad, just different - I truly like both.)

On that note, any new recommendations for contemporary spy novels, either plot-based thrillers or more literary like this one? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Non-fiction that reads like fiction - The Spy and the Traitor. Ben Macintyre.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Non-fiction that reads like fiction - The Spy and the Traitor. Ben Macintyre.

Looks great! Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Derek B. Miller books - Norwegian by Night / How to find your way in the dark / American by Day

[Anonymous]

I just finished The Peacock and the Sparrow and thought it was pretty good!

[Anonymous]

I second The Peacock and the Sparrow.

Just finished The Spy Coast, which was also pretty good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Derek B. Miller books - Norwegian by Night / How to find your way in the dark / American by Day

He’s one of my favorite writers and that series is excellent. But not at all spy novels.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Derek B. Miller books - Norwegian by Night / How to find your way in the dark / American by Day

He’s one of my favorite writers and that series is excellent. But not at all spy novels.

Norwegian by Night is about a retired Spy and How to find your way in the Dark is about the same guy as a 14 yr old, before he becomes a spy.

Spy enough for me!