SPYSCAPE loves secrets and spies, so if you’re looking for an unusual or eclectic book you’re in the right place. Curl up and enjoy!

‍

‍

I Am Pilgrim - Not just prescient but a stunning debut novel from the man who wrote the screenplay for Mad Max 2. One incredible book and then gone, with a sequel promised and never delivered. - Francis J.

The Code Book is a great read. It covers the history of codes and ciphers from Roman times, through British Medieval history, the Enigma codes and Bletchley Park, deciphering lost languages (a code of sorts), public-key cryptography & RSA/PGP, and touches on the possibilities of quantum computing and the effect on codes and code-breaking. - Paul S.

Gray Day by Eric O'Neill was one of the best books I've ever read! Eric's personality really shined through the writing, and it almost felt like a classic ‘bad guy vs good guy’ story - but it actually happened. It was also VERY interesting to see how well [FBI-Russian double agent] Robert Hanssen covered his tracks and kept up a charade for years. - Amber S.

Velvet Was the Night - I would recommend anything by Silvia Moreno-Garcia; she has written books across a variety of genres and they are all fantastic, but this is her first thriller/espionage novel. - Tay D.

Casino Royale - Ian Fleming needs no introduction but if you haven’t read any Bond books pick up a copy of Casino Royale (1953) for its Cold War intrigue, baccarat, and nightlife ‘where the scent and smoke and sweat of a casino are nauseating at three in the morning.’ - Caroline B.

‍‍‍

Gabriel Allon series - The best fictional spy is, in my opinion, not Bond but Gabriel Allon. Gabriel was a former art student/restorer-turned-Mossad agent and now the chief of Israeli intelligence. The author is Daniel Silva. He puts out one Gabriel Allon book every year in July. There are 21 books in the series - and yeah, I have them all. - Marcelle D.

The Pink Carnation series - I adore The Pink Carnation series by Lauren Willig. It’s about a young woman who is researching the Scarlet Pimpernel when she stumbles on a whole new spy, The Pink Carnation. There’s also a lot of romance involved too. - Beth D.

The Big Breach by ex-MI6 spy Richard Tomlinson is an autobiography that reads like a thriller. Tomlinson - who was jailed for breaching the Official Secrets Act - recalls his MI6 training, Moscow, and Bosnia missions, and much more. I didn’t want to put it down and finished it in 24 hours. - Caroline B.

The Apollo Murders is next on my list. I enjoyed his previous (memoir, rather than fiction) book An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth and the premise is compelling - secrets plus tech. - Gwyn M.
‍

Mitch Rapp series - My favorite American fictional spy is Mitch Rapp. He is just a bada** CIA agent. The original author was Vince Flynn. He passed away a few years ago but the series continues with Kyle Mills. - Marcelle D.

Green River Rising - A Tim Willocks thriller for fans of Cormac McCarthy and John Grisham. Ray Klein wins his parole but the prison falls into the inmates' hands. Should he risk everything and fight? Francis J.

The Alice Network - The Alice Network by Kate Quinn is a fabulous book. Such rich female characters and you really feel part of the story. Also, Kate Quinn wrote The Rose Code which is very good too. Strong female leads. - Marcelle D

The Inheritance Games - I just finished The Inheritance Games and the sequel the Hawthorne Legacy and recommend both. I liked Avery, the main character… She’s smart and caring. She knows the circumstances are unfair but she’s a survivor so she keeps going and then boom! - out of nowhere - she inherits all this money. You would think all her problems are solved but it just brings new ones. - Beth D.

The Icepick Surgeon - The final third of The Icepick Surgeon is all about scientific discoveries and crimes perpetrated in the name of espionage. - Tay D.

‍

The Burglar Who Traded Ted Williams - If ever there was a criminal who engenders trust, it is Lawrence Block’s brilliant Bernie Rhodenbarr. After more than a year on the straight and narrow, circumstance forces Bernie back to a life of crime… A genuine lesser-known masterpiece from the man more famous for Matt Scudder. - Francis J.

The George Smiley Books - I’ve read all of John le Carré’s 30-plus novels, including the nine George Smiley books because there is no better Cold War warrior nor a more ‘breathtakingly ordinary’ spy. The Little Drummer Girl is my favorite ‘stand alone’ le Carré novel and I’ve packed Silverview to read on holiday - Caroline B.

Non-fiction spy books - Best non-fiction writer hands down is Ben McIntyre. Every time I read one of his books I have to remind myself it is real life, not fiction. Even if you know the outcome, his writing keeps you enthralled... Behind Enemy Lines - Marthe Cohn’s story - is also great... Hunting Eichmann by Neal Bascomb, this book is incredible. Again, you have to remind yourself this is not fiction. I could go on and on, but will stop for now… Marcelle D.

‍