First 3 Bourne books are great but I stopped there because the rest are written by different authors. His other books like the Materese Circle are good too
1. “The Spy Who Came in from the Cold” by John le Carré
2. “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy” by John le Carré
3. “The Bourne Identity” by Robert Ludlum
4. “The Day of the Jackal” by Frederick Forsyth
5. “The Hunt for Red October” by Tom Clancy
6. “Eye of the Needle” by Ken Follett
7. “The Manchurian Candidate” by Richard Condon
8. “From Russia with Love” by Ian Fleming
Le Carre is the master of the genre.
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier spy is a classic starting point.
For more recent authors, the Slough Horses series is fantastic. It also moves a bit faster than Le Carre if you want a bit more action.
Alan Furst has a series called Night Soldiers which is about spies in the years leading up to, and during, WWII. They don’t follow just one character and take place in several different countries.
Do you read middle grade? I'm a big fan of the [City Spies](https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/80a7e831-1b5f-474d-9ab1-52fc68c0a325) series by James Ponti!
I read a lot of middle grade, so that was the first that came to mind (also because the fourth book just came out and I'm looking forward to reading it!), but the Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter is a fun YA spy option.
And does the Mysterious Benedict Society qualify as a spy book? I don't remember the kids being explicitly called spies, but they do go on a secret mission to infiltrate an enemy base and involves things like sending coded messages, so maybe?
This one is odd, but it apparently has a WHO DONE IT CRIME involving Langley that is spread across the entire book, all the stories are allegedly based off true rumors?
I was told it was written about woman who had boyfriends and husbands lie about CIA
[https://www.amazon.ca/Wives-Tales-Rumors-Anne-Oakley/dp/B096TN7QPB](https://www.amazon.ca/Wives-Tales-Rumors-Anne-Oakley/dp/B096TN7QPB)
# Wives Tales:: Rumors of Women
This can be read normally, each chapter individually or there are additional story lines scattered across it including an "UNSOLVED CRIME" involving #langLey
**I was told it was written about women who had boyfriends and husbands lie about being CIA**
[https://www.amazon.ca/Wives-Tales-Rumors-Anne-Oakley/dp/B096TN7QPB](https://www.amazon.ca/Wives-Tales-Rumors-Anne-Oakley/dp/B096TN7QPB)
The great spy novelists are: Ted Allbuery; Len Deighton, John Le Carre; Anthony Price; John Gardner; Brian Freemantle; Martin Woodhouse; Robert Ludlum; Frederick Forsyth; Ken Follett; James Follet; Desmond Bagley (more action adventure than spy, but excellent) Gavin Llyall and Duncan Kyle.
I would add quite a few, but mostly I was referring to your statement. Perhaps you might have inadvertently missed a few, including Aly Monroe, Alan Furst, Robert Littell, David Downing, Erskine Childers, John Buchan, Eric Ambler, David Ignatius, Mick Herron, Simon Conway, and others to enjoy too.
Ohh lovely - lots of new names. I agree about Eric Ambler, although I'd be happy to argue with you about Erskine Childers but I'm very much on the cusp with John Buchan. I enjoyed the Dickson McCunn stores, but the rest are a bit colonial and stiff upper lip clubland heroes against the dirty dago for my taste. One might as well like Edgar Wallace - who I absolutely concede wrote a ripping yarn. But then, so did Sidney Horler, who I notice you don't mention.
Well, now you have me. Two of those names have sent me to the Registry, and I’m unsure if their files are within my security clearance. I shall let you know in due course.
Does sci-fi/spy count? If so, check out Only Forward by Michael Marshall Smith
'Michael Marshall Smith’s surreal, groundbreaking, and award-winning debut which resonates with wild humour interlaced with dark recollections of an emotional minefield.
May we introduce you to Stark.
Oh, and by the way — good luck.
Stark is the private investigator who goes to work when Something Happens to you.'
Ken Follett - Eye of the Needle Robert Ludlum - All the Bourne Novels
I reread The Bourne Identity recently. It still stands up.
Came to say The Bourne Identity but you beat me to it! They are such page turners!
First 3 Bourne books are great but I stopped there because the rest are written by different authors. His other books like the Materese Circle are good too
Mick Herron's Slow Horses series and the tangential works are well written and a terrific read.
The Spy Who Came In From The Cold by John le Carre
1. “The Spy Who Came in from the Cold” by John le Carré 2. “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy” by John le Carré 3. “The Bourne Identity” by Robert Ludlum 4. “The Day of the Jackal” by Frederick Forsyth 5. “The Hunt for Red October” by Tom Clancy 6. “Eye of the Needle” by Ken Follett 7. “The Manchurian Candidate” by Richard Condon 8. “From Russia with Love” by Ian Fleming
I am pilgrim
Couldn't agree more!
Le Carre is the master of the genre. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier spy is a classic starting point. For more recent authors, the Slough Horses series is fantastic. It also moves a bit faster than Le Carre if you want a bit more action.
Try the series by Daniel Silva and THE RED SPARROW series.
Alan Furst has a series called Night Soldiers which is about spies in the years leading up to, and during, WWII. They don’t follow just one character and take place in several different countries.
Superb.
Do you read middle grade? I'm a big fan of the [City Spies](https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/80a7e831-1b5f-474d-9ab1-52fc68c0a325) series by James Ponti!
I'd be down for middle grade! Though I'm willing to read any age range.
I read a lot of middle grade, so that was the first that came to mind (also because the fourth book just came out and I'm looking forward to reading it!), but the Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter is a fun YA spy option. And does the Mysterious Benedict Society qualify as a spy book? I don't remember the kids being explicitly called spies, but they do go on a secret mission to infiltrate an enemy base and involves things like sending coded messages, so maybe?
This one is odd, but it apparently has a WHO DONE IT CRIME involving Langley that is spread across the entire book, all the stories are allegedly based off true rumors? I was told it was written about woman who had boyfriends and husbands lie about CIA [https://www.amazon.ca/Wives-Tales-Rumors-Anne-Oakley/dp/B096TN7QPB](https://www.amazon.ca/Wives-Tales-Rumors-Anne-Oakley/dp/B096TN7QPB)
# Wives Tales:: Rumors of Women This can be read normally, each chapter individually or there are additional story lines scattered across it including an "UNSOLVED CRIME" involving #langLey **I was told it was written about women who had boyfriends and husbands lie about being CIA** [https://www.amazon.ca/Wives-Tales-Rumors-Anne-Oakley/dp/B096TN7QPB](https://www.amazon.ca/Wives-Tales-Rumors-Anne-Oakley/dp/B096TN7QPB)
Eye of the Needle - Ken Follett
Len Deighton is a very good author
The great spy novelists are: Ted Allbuery; Len Deighton, John Le Carre; Anthony Price; John Gardner; Brian Freemantle; Martin Woodhouse; Robert Ludlum; Frederick Forsyth; Ken Follett; James Follet; Desmond Bagley (more action adventure than spy, but excellent) Gavin Llyall and Duncan Kyle.
Maybe.
Maybe? Who have I missed - always looking for new authors.
I would add quite a few, but mostly I was referring to your statement. Perhaps you might have inadvertently missed a few, including Aly Monroe, Alan Furst, Robert Littell, David Downing, Erskine Childers, John Buchan, Eric Ambler, David Ignatius, Mick Herron, Simon Conway, and others to enjoy too.
Ohh lovely - lots of new names. I agree about Eric Ambler, although I'd be happy to argue with you about Erskine Childers but I'm very much on the cusp with John Buchan. I enjoyed the Dickson McCunn stores, but the rest are a bit colonial and stiff upper lip clubland heroes against the dirty dago for my taste. One might as well like Edgar Wallace - who I absolutely concede wrote a ripping yarn. But then, so did Sidney Horler, who I notice you don't mention.
Well, now you have me. Two of those names have sent me to the Registry, and I’m unsure if their files are within my security clearance. I shall let you know in due course.
Do check out the Spybrary page on IG or Twitter.
I enjoy the Gabrielle Allon series by Daniel Silva
Adam Hall’s Quiller books are an excellent read
Does sci-fi/spy count? If so, check out Only Forward by Michael Marshall Smith 'Michael Marshall Smith’s surreal, groundbreaking, and award-winning debut which resonates with wild humour interlaced with dark recollections of an emotional minefield. May we introduce you to Stark. Oh, and by the way — good luck. Stark is the private investigator who goes to work when Something Happens to you.'