Best cold war spy books It led to the development of nuclear weapons, the space race, and the political landscape of the modern world. SPYSCAPE Review: “It has many problems in terms of real life and real history, but Philip Seymour Hoffman plays the best Klaus Fuchs, exposed in 1950, is considered to have been the most valuable of the atomic spies during the Manhattan Project. Have you read Stasiland? Fiction Nonfiction Kids YA 🥇 Best Books 2024 This novel is set in Germany during the Cold War and is based partly on an actual event: a tunnel that was built by the British and Americans to gain access to the Soviets The thrilling story of two Cold War spies, CIA case officer Jack Platt and KGB agent Gennady Vasilenko -- improbable friends at a time when they should have been anything but. London’s Old Bailey court, accused of espionage that helped to foster the arms race and open the doors to the Cold War. Unbeknownst to him and the public, he has been programmed by a foreign power to be an unwitting assassin. In 1978, CIA maverick Jack Platt and KGB agent Gennady Vasilenko were new arrivals on the Washington, DC intelligence scene, with Jack working out of the CIA's counterintelligence What are the best spy books of 2023? We asked our community of readers of spy books at Spybrary to share their favourite books. But it was not until the Cold War, and the founding of the CIA, that the genre took off. 28 books — 47 voters Middle Grade Fiction set in the 1950s. James Stejskal. It was air, it was smoke—it was John LeCarré was the Tom Clancy of his day and his 1963 novel "The Spy Who Came in From the Cold" was a runaway bestseller made into a highly anticipated 1965 movie starring Richard Burton as a The 10 best Cold War novels Jake Kerridge. Two of his best known spy novels are Eye of the Needle (1978) and The Key to Rebecca (1980). Round two of Fowle vs. 1,192 books — 2,244 voters More lists Quotes Tagged “Mi6” What are the best spy novels ever? I dont really have any particular preference. dianna torres. 10 Must-Read WW2 Novels Set in Germany. "― p. The CIA Manual of Trickery and Deception by John Mulholland. 44 books based on 57 votes: The Spy Who Came In from the Cold by John Le Carré, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John Le Carré, Smiley's People by John Le Tim Tate shares the 5 best books on non-fiction and fiction Cold War spies. Philby's two closest friends in the intelligence world, Nicholas Elliott of MI6 and James Jesus Angleton, the CIA intelligence chief, thought they knew Philby better than anyone, and then discovered they had The thrilling story of two Cold War spies, CIA case officer Jack Platt and KGB agent Gennady Vasilenko -- improbable friends at a time when they should have been anything but. The real-life spies involved in the long history of the Cold War were in it to win it. 0px; text-align: center; font: 12. American Spy explores the moral ambiguity of American adventurism in the 1980s. Don't miss out on these pulse-pounding adventures! books, and other types of media that based their storyline on a For our broader coverage of the best crime, mystery and thriller movies and shows across all major streaming platforms, please check out our Watching Lists. The best spy books published in 2022 is a tough category as we are being treated to some very high-quality work at the moment. Established in 2017, The Spybrary Podcast covers spy books, spy movies, Hayley Atwell tells the story of how Soviet engineer Adolph Tolkachev became one of the Cold War’s most prolific turncoats Praise for David E. Watchworthy. Read this book using Google Play Books app on your PC, android, iOS devices. Sir John Hackett. In early 1979, Hackett published The Third World War, a speculative piece of Cold War fiction that hypothesized a 1985 But where Fleming used his WW 2 experiences as a springboard for fantasy, Le Carre turned his Cold War service into grimly realistic novels. Books shelved as mi6: The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War by Ben Macintyre, The Secret History of MI6 by Keith Jeffery, Home; My Books; Best Spy Novels . Not that I In the post-Cold War, post-9/11 world, however, you have Holly Watt and Charlotte Philby, who are writing not specifically spy stories, but political thrillers from a female point of view. the Russian whose secret work helped hasten the end of the Cold War Top Cold War Spy Novels The top spy novels set during the period of the Cold War. Meet characters like Alexei Volkov and Sofia Morales, who navigate the complex world of espionage with When it gets going though, hang on tight. He has written several Cold War Spies; The James Bond Book Club; Spy Books; Spy TV Shows & Movies; Spy Book Collecting; Declassified Documents. This list is generated by aggregating 344 lists from various critics, authors, experts, and readers. 10 Best Books of Cold War Spies; The James Bond Book Club; Spy Books; Spy TV Shows & Movies; Spy Book Collecting; Declassified Documents. Everand Editors. 73 avg rating — 181 ratings. Casino Royale (1953) Now 43% Off. “The best true spy story I have ever read. You can read a review of it here. in. Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks), socialite (Julia Roberts), and CIA agent Gust Avrakotos (Philip Seymour Hoffman) plot to fund Afghan fighters to defeat the Soviet Union and end the Cold War. Named by The Strand Magazine as a top 5 Cold War spy novel, “Gorky Park” was quickly banned by the USSR after its release due to its “alarmingly accurate” portrayal of The ultimate retort to millennial waves of ‘ostalgie’ (yearnings for the days of the GDR) in unified Germany, Funder speaks to individuals who, by fair means or foul, managed to survive without compromising their principles in the East Germany of the mid to late 20 th century, a nation that is commonly regarded as being one of the most heavily surveillanced regimes Michelle Barker shares the 5 best books on showing East Germany really was like a spy movie. Best Historical Fiction Books About Anne Boleyn. Really enjoyed reading book and was hard to put down. I can’t separate Paul Vidich’s The Matchmaker A Spy in Berlin and The Berlin Exchange by Joe Kanon. The book in which Le Carré was most obviously scrabbling around for a purpose after the end of the Cold War is a bit of a mishmash of things, but it had a guest appearance from Smiley and a poignant lead 50. The best Spy Podcasts we recommend for Agents, Double Agents, and you sneaky Sleeper Agents who love Spy Books, Spy Movies and Spy TV series. 1. Holy Spy & John Shakespeare Tudor Spy series by Rory Clements The Tudor Spy series is a window into Elizabethan England through the eyes of John Shakespeare, a private investigator who introduces us to a world of murder, conspiracy, royals, criminals, spies, and his young brother Will Shakespeare. score: 190, and 2 people voted "A compelling Cold War fable that illuminates the essence of a human recruitment operation: the unshakable friendship between two men that endured in the Wilderness of Mirrors. Here is the story of one Mark Simmons shares the 5 best books on espionage that reach the core of the spies’ world. 134 books — 55 voters Cold War turns hot. com today. The covert world of espionage continues to draw in readers year after year, perhaps because it is a closely guarded world that few will ever access. These blinks trace Gordievsky’s progress through the KGB and his years spying for MI6, the British secret service, before his final daring escape to the West. Not your typical spy or political novels - there are are already lots of lists for espionage novels or the thrillers of Tom Clancy. Read more. ***** Best cold war movies on Prime Video include: Scorpio (1973) WarGames (1983) The Courier (2021) By Dawn’s Early Light (1990) Despite The Falling Snow (2017) The Double (2011 15. 6. Article continues after advertisement * Tom Bradby, Yesterday’s Spy (Atlantic Monthly Press) Bradby’s historical novel manages to be a nuanced meditation on a father and son’s relationship and a dizzying, entertaining swirl of international politics and spycraft. 83 avg rating — 623 ratings. Page-turning novels about Soviet spies set in the Cold War and beyond. Kaleidoscope (A Spy Game Serial) 4th of July by Michael Frost Beckner — A (relatively) short but tantalizing novella that scratches out the history of a spy family as intriguing as Charles McCarry’s Christophers but perhaps more treacherous than the House of Borgia. The United States and the Origins of the Cold Le Carré’s name has become synonymous with the spy genre, and it was this book that propelled him to international stardom. A collection of books about the Cold War for young adult / YA readers. had agents everywhere—in governments, in industry, in the military, and within each other's, and their own, intelligence agencies. p1 {margin: 0. Alex Gerlis, a former BBC journalist and SPYEX consultant, is the author of The Spy Masters espionage books. It was the air you breathed. Best Historical Fiction Books About the Vietnam War. It feels impossible to discuss Cold War fiction, or the whole of espionage fiction for that matter, without mentioning the master of the spy novel himself, John le Carré. Best Cold War Spy Books. It all feels very authentic, but it also feels cold war even though it's supposed to be modern day. Best of Enemies: The Last Great Spy Story of the Cold War - Ebook written by Gus Russo. A Beginner’s Guide to His Best Books. Hoffman’s The Billion Dollar Spy “ The Billion Dollar Spy is one of the best spy stories to come out of the Cold War and all the more riveting . Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2022 Customers enjoy the engaging story. The 6 th The Road of a Thousand Tigers, is my homage to le Carre and Ian Fleming. Le Carré’s espionage A Cold War Spy Novel Depicts the Scramble for Stasi Secrets. People who love spy thrillers will love this book, which is written like an espionage thriller. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read Best of Enemies: The Last Great Spy Story of the Cold War. Among the best films about the Cold War are thrilling spy stories, engaging dramas, and satirical comedies that highlight significant aspects of the era. Best World War II Spy Books Best spy fiction (espionage thrillers, etc. About Spybrary; A-Z of the Best Spy Authors: Explore the Best Espionage Writers of All Time; Top 125 Best Spy Authors Ranked by Tim Shipman for Spybrary; Spybrary Firsts! Spy Books To Read First (by Author. The book is described as an authoritative thriller about a bold Cold War project to spy on the Soviets. this story is set in a wonderful period for the espionage lover: the Cold War of the 1980s. American Spy is a far cry from Cold War-era espionage fiction. And because the Cold War lasted for such a long period of time and involved so many different countries, the depth and range of stories is immense. The 20 Spies Books: Best 2024 Update and Review; Top 20 Best Books on Spies In Ww2:2024 Edition; Reading List of Spies Fiction Books – 2024 Update; See The George Smiley series by John le Carré – Set during the Cold War era, the novels explore George Smiley’s efforts to uncover moles and double agents within the British intelligence services, particularly focusing on his investigations into the elusive Soviet spy known as “Karla. Ex-Mossad officer Gad "BEST OF ENEMIES is a riveting spy thriller and love story -- and best of all, it is a true one! The incredible tale of the deep and enduring friendship of CIA legend 'Cowboy' Jack Platt and charismatic KGB spy Gennady Vasilenko frames a mesmerizing journey thorugh the Cold War that did more than entertain me -- it also gave me more insight into the intelligence Cold War Spies; The James Bond Book Club; Spy Books; Spy TV Shows & Movies; Spy Book Collecting; Declassified Documents. score: 1,075, and 11 people voted 176 books based on 85 votes: Stasiland: Stories from Behind the Berlin Wall by Anna Funder, The Spy Who Came In from the Cold by John Le Carré, The Valle It wouldn’t be a list of Cold War books without at least one or two books about spies, and this “absolutely smashing real-life spy story” (The New York Times Book Review) is one of the most gripping. 0 out of 5 stars Quick read. Hoffman: Early Bird Books: Mal Warwick On Books: 78: The Black Tulip: Milt Bearden: Oregon Live: The 20 best spy novels of all time : Best spy novels of all time to read for a classic espionage yarn. Realistic Spy Movies; Best Suspense Books; Best Mystery Thriller Movies; Books Like Mistborn; Mystery Thriller Books; Dark Mystery And Thriller The basis for the movie of the same name starring Judi Dench and Sophie Cookson, Red Joan is “as crafty and nuanced and impassioned as any classic thriller” (The National), but its story is inspired by the true tale of Melita Norwood, who was unmasked as the KGB’s longest-serving British spy in 1999. They find it a true-life account that heightens the suspense and makes it as exciting as any fictional spy novel. Cold War, Espionage, Spy ship; Genres (Book): Non-fiction; Buy at. mystery. ” Renowned for its realistic portrayal of espionage and The Cold War is important because it shaped the world as we know it today. Max Hastings. 4. 57 avg rating — Buy The Cold War books from Waterstones. 18 authors picked The Spy Who Came in From the Cold as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. The Spy Who Came in From the Cold (1963) trumped One of The New York Times's 100 best books of 2021 | One of The Washington Post's 50 best nonfiction books of 2021 | A Mother Jones best book of 2021 In his follow-up to the Pulitzer Prize–winning The Metaphysical show more. Their collection contains Cold War thrills from every angle, from solving homicide The Best Forgotten Cold War Thrillers recommended by Jeremy Duns. Cold War Books: Fiction The Secrets We Kept by Lara Prescott. Kyle Higgins (Goodreads Author) 3. Each title has masterfully eluded the shadows to be featured prominently in multiple best-of lists and critical roundups. 91 avg rating — 25,331 ratings. spy. His first, The Best of Our Spies, is being developed into a television series and involves a Royal Navy Intelligence officer on a mission to discover what exactly his wife was doing during WWII. In the case of To the Lions , Holly Watt’s first book, it’s about a tough, hard-bitten female journalist, Casey Benedict. S. Cold War Spy Non-Fiction. It follows the story of a former prisoner of war who, upon returning to the United States, is hailed as a war hero. For many, the Cold War marked the height of spycraft and espionage, but there have been spies both before and since. One of the best cold war spy novels I have read. Spy Podcast Episodes. I have loved the spy genre since I first read The Riddle of the Sands by Erskine Childers and grew up seeing every Bond movie since The Man with the Golden Gun Related: 13 Cold War Thriller Books for the Spy in All of Us . NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER The celebrated author of Double Cross and Rogue Heroes returns with a thrilling Americans-era tale of Oleg Gordievsky, the Russian whose secret work helped hasten the end of the Cold War. It's described as a fascinating story of American ingenuity and Cold War betrayal. Discover famous espionage stories, real-life agents, must-read spy novels, and the top Cold War TV shows and movies. 44 books — 57 voters Korean War. 1: Red Sparrow (Red Sparrow Trilogy, #1) by. Hoffman (2015) 310 pages★★★★★—Spycraft as it was actually practiced in this true-life tale of Cold War espionage. ”—JOHN LE CARRÉ Named a Best Book of the Year by The Economist Shortlisted for the Bailie Giffords Harlot’s Ghost by Norman Mailer. Cold War espionage describes the intelligence gathering activities during the Cold War (c. Tinker Tailor was suggested below, and that really is the best of the best, but 'The Spy who came in from the cold' is shorter and probably easier to get into as well as being amazing. : Books. Cold War Submarine's Covert Operations Against the Soviet Union by. The best spy novels have an enduring power to them. 3. Article continues after advertisement I could not remember being without it even if I was about as aware of it as air itself. score: 1,592, and 16 people voted The second book of the series lopes out of the gates with the discovery of the corpse of a cold-war-era spy, from which complications ensue. Related: 17 of the Best Spy Novels for The Cold War: A New History by John Lewis Gaddis is a captivating book about espionage non fiction that offers a fresh perspective on one of the most significant periods in modern history. Interview by Sophie Roell, Editor The Cold War era is ripe with secrets, intrigue, spies and conflict; things that can inspire great stories in the historical fiction genre. The Quiet Americans: Four CIA Spies at the Dawn of the Cold War by Scott Anderson—Four CIA spies who helped set US policy in the 1940s and 50s. Charlie Wilson’s War (2007) Charlie Wilson’s War: US Rep. Among the many tricks the CIA had at its disposal during the Cold War was a top-secret manual of deception written by magician John Mulholland, a stage performer who honed his skills trading tricks in the back of New York City's Martinka magic shop. score: 82, and 1 person voted The well-worn trope of red-blooded American white men trying to save the world from the Soviet Union’s evil empire, long a spy novel cliché, is turned on its head; Wilkinson provides a unique spin on the Cold War spy thriller. "—Jason Matthews, New York Times bestselling author of The Red Sparrow spy novels and 33-year CIA veteran trained by Jack Platt Joseph Kanon, Shanghai (Scribner) Nobody writes sophisticated, atmospheric spy fiction quite like Joseph Kanon, and his newest book, Shanghai, is one of the best entries in a storied career. (previous page) 0–9. ” — Boston Globe “The Here are 10 novels that explore the lives of people dealing with the challenges of life during the Berlin Wall era. Bridge of Spies is a true story of three men - Rudolf Abel, a Soviet Spy who was a master of disguise; Gary Powers, an American who was captured when his spy plane was shot down by the Explore the world of Cold War spies on Spybrary. Agent Cold War Atmosphere: The novel captures the tension and paranoia of Cold War Berlin, providing a vivid backdrop that sets the stage for the entire series. Coonts covered all the Cold War bases, from spy novels to techno-thrillers. Right now I’m reading one of Le Carre’s post Cold War novels, Mission Song (2006), and I’m finding it very enjoyable. score: 193, and 2 people voted I just finished the newly published "Best of Enemies: The Last Great Spy Story of the Cold War (ISBN: 978-1-5387-6131-1). In 1978, CIA maverick Jack Platt and KGB agent Gennady Vasilenko were new arrivals on the Washington, DC intelligence scene, with Jack working out of the CIA's Spies of the Balkans (Night Soldiers #11) by Alan Furst (2010) 288 pages ★★★★★—Alan Furst’s superb novel, “Spies of the Balkans” In the long, tense years of the Cold War, spy stories and films grounded in the rivalry between East and West appeared in such profusion that the genre degenerated into self-parody, eventually giving birth to bawdy satires. Len Deighton is a British thriller writer and spy novelist, this guide Based on newly available information, the son of famed U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers presents the facts and dispels misinformation about the Cold War espionage program that turned his father into a Cold War icon. $19 $11 at From the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning history The Dead Hand comes the riveting story of a spy who cracked open the Soviet military research establishment and a penetrating portrait of the CIA’s Moscow station, an Alec Leamas is a Cold War-era spy who takes one last assignment before he can retire — or so he hopes — sending him down a twisty path of betrayal, deception and tragedy. John le Carré’s iconic 1963 story, and the 1965 film on which it was based, have cemented in generations of readers a view of the Cold War spy game as a dirty business fought between ruthless, amoral adversaries who The Greatest Spy Books of All Time on Cold War. American Spy is the story of an FBI officer who must go to Burkina Faso to fight communism in the early 1980s. 1: The Russia House by. ) Cold War Spies I am the author of six espionage books, 5 featuring allied spy, Eva Molenaar operating at the highest levels of Hitler’s Reich. It tells the story of Harry Hubbard, son of a spy, whose own career in the CIA charts the heady Cold War days when the agency seemed to hold the world’s fate in its hands, in Berlin, Cuba, and Because the Cold War was so long and had many players and events, a lot of fascinating books have been written about it. Literary and historical fiction about the Cold War. MORE ABOUT. 86 avg rating — 2,470 ratings. 0px 0. Weird History. John Le Carré. More recently, authors like Daniel Silva have revitalized the spy genre, crafting tales of Bridge of Spies vividly traces the journeys of these men, whose fate defines the complex conflicts that characterized the most dangerous years of the Cold War. But I always find the ones about spies to be the coolest. The Spy Who Couldn’t The Billion Dollar Spy: A True Story of Cold War Espionage and Betrayal: David E. Here’s an author who knows how to translate his own Cold War service into credible and compelling spy novels. What is this book about? From the New York Times bestselling author of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy; Our Kind of Traitor; and The Night Manager, now a television series starring Tom Hiddleston. Over nine books, so many different levels of so many characters are revealed as questions of trust and betrayal are explored in detail. ”—JOHN LE CARRÉ Named a Best Book of the Year by The Economist • Shortlisted for A Cold War Journalist's Favorite Russian Spy Novels rich trove of spy novels written and set during the Cold War as well as a growing number of books with more recent settings since Russia and the US are still playing the cat-and-mouse spy game, just as we’ve always done. American Spy is a heart-pounding espionage story set during the Cold War. The article also touches on more general critiques of Le Carre’s work. A Cold War classic, this spy thriller follows a nameless spy as he navigates the dangerous and complex world of East and West Berlin. SC is a master of the modern kinetic page turner. Joan Smith is a young undergrad studying physics at Cambridge From the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning history The Dead Hand comes the riveting story of a spy who cracked open the Soviet military research establishment and a penetrating portrait of the CIA’s Moscow station, an outpost of daring espionage in the last years of the Cold War While driving out of the American embassy in Moscow on the evening of February 16, 1978, the chief Books shelved as cold-war-spies: The Berlin Exchange by Joseph Kanon, The Secrets We Kept by Lara Prescott, Best of Enemies: The Last Great Spy Story of Agent, double agent, traitor and enigma, he betrayed every secret of Allied operations to the Russians in the early years of the Cold War. Have you read Cold Warrior? From the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning history The Dead Hand comes the riveting story of a spy who cracked open the Soviet military research establishment and a penetrating portrait of If you’re looking to catch up on the best Cold War books, start with this list! We've combined some all-time classics with some lesser-known gems to deliver a baker’s dozen of thrilling tales with a little something for every reader. 1947–1991) between the Western allies (primarily the US and Western Europe) and the Eastern Bloc (primarily the Soviet Union and allied countries of the Warsaw The CrimeReads editors select the year’s best espionage novels. -Soviet relations. Captured my attention. It hits the sweet spot between page-turning thriller and solidly researched history (even the footnotes are informative) and then becomes something more, a shrewd character study of We interview Cold War spy authors, Cold War espionage historians and fans of spy books, spy movies and spy TV series! Our goal is to encourage readers to discover new spy novels, revisit an old espionage classic to learn more about Cold War Spies and discuss them with our community of almost 5,000 like-minded spy fans. 5 Steps to Danger; 13 Frightened Girls; The 49th Man; A. ” — Boston Globe “The Pages in category "Cold War spy films" The following 200 pages are in this category, out of approximately 201 total. This list is for fiction that explore that turbulent period in world history through language, character, and setting. flag All Votes Add Books To This List. , Monuments Men) set during World War II The Secret War: Spies, Codes and Guerrillas 1939-1945 by. France had agents in the U. Army’s Criminal Investigation Division, Puller takes on some tough cases over the course of four books. These tales of espionage and intrigue detail a time of suspicion and fear not that far in the past, and include true stories that read like bestselling spy CIA leadership planning a mission. It's George Smiley, but the first George Smiley that ticks all the boxes – a true espionage tale instead of a disguised murder mystery and one where Smiley is a central figure instead of on the sidelines – The Spy Who Came In From The Cold is great, and Lemas a tragic and compelling character, but Smiley is still king. The Billion Dollar Spy is a true story of the spy world during the Cold War. 07 November 2014 6:00am GMT 07 November 2014 6:00am GMT Copy link. ) Cold War A former combat veteran and the best military investigator in the U. Set during the height of the Cold War, the story revolves around George Smiley, a retired British Bernard Samson and his wife Fiona are at the heart of the nine novels which form arguably one of the best-selling and most brilliantly realised Cold War spy fiction dramas. 82 books — 32 voters Sixties Memoirs & Biographies (nonfiction) 169 books — 32 voters Books shelved as cold-war: The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War by Ben Macintyre, The Spy Who Came In from the Cold by J The Cold War is a favorite setting for spy movies and espionage thrillers. Find our best selection and offers online, with FREE Click & Collect or UK delivery. Both were hugely atmospheric, based on a fascinating premise grounded in fact, tight, taut, and packed an 1,192 books based on 2243 votes: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John Le Carré, The Spy Who Came In from the Cold by John Le Carré, The Bourne Identity b The best Russian espionage novels. 5. Mossad Exodus‍. That was true even back in the Cold War, when two unlikely (and, apparently, unpatriotic) friends discovered how easy it was to sell American secrets to the The Billion Dollar Spy: A True Story of Cold War Espionage and Betrayal by David E. Published on April 2, 2024. flag. 79 avg rating — 146 ratings. As The New York Times notes in the late novelist’s Best Submarine Nonfiction Books Admiral Flucky's "Thunder Below" flag All Stalking the Red Bear: The True Story of a U. One of the most talked-about events of the Cold War was the downing of the American U-2 spy plane piloted by Francis Gary Powers over the Soviet Want a book set during the Cold War? Or alternatively, one set in the present day? we've picked out 20 of the best spy novels of all time. Cold War Relics by. Spymaster: Startling Cold War Revelations of a Soviet KGB Chief by Tennent H. Author Jeremy Duns says Maksim Isaev was a kind of Soviet James Bond and when they rerun the old black and white TV shows the Russian crime rate drops NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The celebrated author of Double Cross and Rogue Heroes returns with a thrilling Americans-era tale of Oleg Gordievsky, the Russian whose secret work helped hasten the end of the Cold War. A-Z entries provide a fascinating glimpse Best Espionage Books (nonfiction) Some of the best books about real life spies and espionage. Also: written by an actual cold war era veteran spy. This list may not reflect recent changes. The Best Reviewed Books of the Week January 10, Time magazine named The Spy Who Came in From the Cold as one of the All-Time 100 novels, and Publisher’s Weekly has called it “the best spy novel of all-time. All Votes Add Books To This List. Jason Matthews. Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak was one of the most influential Russian novels during the Cold War era, and it was banned when it was first Best Sellers. Ben Macintyre. For that reason, the best—or at least the most famous—thrillers about spies are all set during the Cold War. Enter the world of The Economist recently featured a list of eight top spy novels, noting espionage fiction in the English-speaking world traces its origins to 1901, with Rudyard Kipling’s Kim. Report. The search is on for a Soviet mole, implanted deep into British Intelligence decades ago by Moscow Centre, in this classic espionage novel. George Smiley is up against a powerful Soviet counterpart in Karla, the KGB master spy. "― The New York Times "This strange, exciting and intriguing tale, laced with international derring-do and extreme personal sacrifice, is destined to become a Cold War classic. Bagley—Startling revelations from a top KGB spymaster. It is the story of two Cold Warriors, one CIA (Jack Platt) and one KGB (Gennady Vasilenko) who became friends over time shortly after realizing neither was going to recruit the other to become spies. Full Disclosure: The book is co-authored by Gus Russo a From a novel about the murder of Congolese leader Patrice Lumumba to the latest John le Carré novel, from a Mossad agent in London to the hunt for a traitor at CIA HQ in Virginia, Shane Whaley, host of Spybrary—the podcast for lovers of spy books—talks us through his best spy novels of 2024. Books shelved as cold-war-thrillers: Six Days of the Condor by James Grady, A Perfect Spy by John Le Carré, The Russia House by John Le Carré, The Little Best Russian Espionage Books (fiction) King of Queens (Ed Maddux Cold War Spy Thriller #1) by. Michael Isikoff shares the 5 best books on Russian espionage. Since the end of the Cold War, there have been a ton of incredible Cold War history books written about all aspects of that period in history. Tim Shipman. . Joseph Finder’s Nick Heller Series. ” —Bill Gates, GatesNotes “Readers seeking a page-turning spy story, look no further. The Best of Our Spies by Alex Gerlis. Barsky, author of Deep Undercover reveals his thrilling story in our podcast True Spies: The Illegal. Full Disclosure: The Best Post-Cold War Espionage/Spy Novels Trying to avoid the usual suspects flag. The end of the Cold War brought about a new era of uncertainty and upheaval, reflected in the work of authors like William Gibson, whose “Pattern Recognition” explores the intersection of technology and espionage in the modern age. Here are our choices for the year’s best espionage novels. Aya de Leon, A Spy in the Struggle (Dafina) Aya de Leon has already gained a significant following through her Justice Hustlers series, cult favorites for those who want to see the poor get richer and the rich get deader, featuring a gang of Robin Hood-esque sex workers dedicated to their craft. The Spy and the Traitor (2018) details the real-life spy story of Oleg Gordievsky, the Soviet double-agent whose efforts contributed to the end of the Cold War. His latest novel the Secret Hours adjacent to that series is great and a great example, though probably best to read a few of the main series first. A rollicking yarn that I think is one the best escape from Russia stories there is. ‍ As the world changed, so too did spy fiction. Full Disclosure: The Lists about: Best Action-Adventure Novels, Best Spy Novels , Best YA Spy/Mystery Novels, Conspiracy Fiction, Best Technothrillers Ever, Espionage, Best F “Every bit as exciting as my favorite spy novels. Kicks off one of the best spy book series in the espionage fiction genre. This is a compelling spy novel because it is also a historical fiction novel showing keen insight into the Note: There is a lack of books about this time period by authors of color, and hopefully publishing can work to address this going forward. Fiction. facebook For 40 years Littell’s spy novels, often bordering on the "Fast paced and lively. So my “top ten” list skips over authors such as John Buchan and Eric Ambler (to whom le Carré paid tribute for We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. The CIA paid Mulholland $3,000 to write its guide to 351 books based on 95 votes: A Spy Among Friends: Kim Philby and the Great Betrayal by Ben Macintyre, Iron Curtain: The Crushing of Eastern Europe 1944-1 Over 90 readers have voted on the 50+ books on Best Books About The Cold War. 94 books based on 5 votes: The Spy Who Came In from the Cold by John Le Carré, The Manchurian Candidate by Richard Condon, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by J Everybody spied on everybody else during the Cold War. Curated By. Lyon in the prize ring of the UK . , China had agents in East Germany, Poland had agents in Great Britain, and the U. Helpful. The editors of this spy anthology are the only Americans to write official James Bond novels, meaning their taste for Cold War espionage is en pointe. The Cold War’s Operation Gladio is inverted throughout Britain as blackest of Books shelved as cold-war-spy-novels: The London Bookshop Affair by Louise Fein, The Quiet American by Graham Greene, On the Beach by Nevil Shute, The Bo 175 books based on 35 votes: The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War by Ben Macintyre, A Spy Among Friends: Kim Philby and Most, of course, are not pure spy books, but Thomas both began and ended his writing career by writing about two well-drawn spies, Mac McCorckle and Michael Padillo, who begin The Cold War Swap (Thomas’s first book from 1966, aka A Spy in the Vodka in the UK) running a bar together in Berlin, while working part-time for the CIA. Adapted into a 1985 film starring Timothy Hutton and Sean Penn, this jaw-dropping chronicle of a hard-partying genius who became an unlikely spy by selling 41. Comics & Graphic Novels; En Español; Fantasy; Historical Fiction; Horror; By Spy Books. Your ultimate guide to Cold War espionage history and fiction. Jack Patterson. Kanon’s story takes us into the hothouse of global politics in 1938, beginning on a luxurious ocean liner and soon disembarking in the bustling trading port of Shanghai, where a Amazon. D. twitter. You Might Also Like: Top 20 Must-Read Cold War Spy Books; Espionage Book Recommendations From a Former CIA Spy; The Best War Novels: 30 Greatest War Novels of The novel is a political thriller that delves into the dark world of espionage and brainwashing during the Cold War. In the book, which is based on true events, Marie Mitchell, a black FBI intelligence officer, joins a shadowy task force to undermine the charismatic president of Burkina Faso (Thomas Sankara) who has earned the I just finished the newly published "Best of Enemies: The Last Great Spy Story of the Cold War (ISBN: 978-1-5387-6131-1). Buy now £8. I still remember devouring everything I could about many of the events of the Best Spy Books Dive into the world of espionage with these top-rated spy books. com: The Nameless Height: A Cold War Spy Novel eBook : Narramore, J. . score: 196, and 2 people voted Want to Read saving Want to Read Vince Houghton, author of Covert City: The Cold War and the Making of Miami, shares his top pick of nonfiction books on intelligence, espionage, and intrigue. The Cold War has long been a popular setting for spy novels, and these audiobooks transport you straight back to that tense era. 10 Best Books of 2024: The staff of The New York Times Book Review has chosen the year’s top fiction and nonfiction. Considered one of the best novels in le Carré’s prolific career, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is a masterclass in spy fiction. The Cold War was not an event. 99, Waterstones . Megan Frazer Blakemore (Goodreads Author) 3. Here’s a dead drop of books, from contemporary to historical, to get you started down that path. Books in order: A Foreign Country, A Cold War, A Divided Spy. A twisted journey and ropes of sand, a wilderness of mirrors, the dancing lights, Shadow Over Moscow was an immediate buy for this 1980s girl – the Cold War, 1980s spy intrigue, and a story of a mother and daughter set against the Taylor Downing is a historian, writer, and television producer. View on AMAZON. Here is a look at 10 of the best Cold War history books for adults. These top-rated movies about the Cold War not only offer a gripping narrative but also showcase the complexities of the time, from clandestine operations to ideological clashes. for being true. 52 avg rating — 77,198 ratings. The Spy Who Came in from the Cold is the third of Le Carré’s spy novels and takes place against the backdrop of the Cold War, not long after the raising of the Berlin Wall. flag All The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War by. The decades keep marching on, opening the gap between the Cold War and the present day, and filmmakers keep making movies about it. Current Top 3: The Hunt for Red October, Blind Man's Bluff: The Untold Story of vote on everything. ” Le Carre’s tale of deception 50. It was there. 95 avg rating — 56,247 ratings. This wonderful book ends with the three most anticlimactic words in literature—to be continued—but those are the only ones that disappoint. As good as this year’s The Switch (a standalone novel) was “Every bit as exciting as my favorite spy novels. The Berlin Crossing by Kevin Brophy This audiobook is a beautiful and poignant tale of love and espionage that will leave you thinking long after it ends. e. I am an intelligence historian (yes, we exist, and while there aren’t many of us—my parents never believed I Discover the best spy thriller books of 2024, where diverse settings, intricate plots, and rich historical elements blend to redefine espionage literature. Alec Leamas, an MI6 field operative in Berlin, is called back to London, An essential guide to the spy novels of John le Carré compiled by journalist, political commentator, author, and spy fan Tim Shipman. and the U. If you want something hilarious as well as a 'spy' novel, Our Man in Havana The conflict lasted from the end of the Second World War in 1945 to the fall of the USSR in 1991, allowing for a wide variety of the best Cold War movies to explore the era. She is targeting the former president of the country, a mission she feels uncomfortable taking on. 1: Countdown (The Sixties Trilogy The Spy Catchers of Maple Hill by. Ex-journalist Rory Clements’ sinister twists and incredible research has I just finished the newly published "Best of Enemies: The Last Great Spy Story of the Cold War (ISBN: 978-1-5387-6131-1). ) and non-fiction (i. R. Peter Sasgen. A Bagehot column from 2017 says that Britain is Not directly Cold War because they are set in present day but Mick Herron’s Slough House series is excellent and has plot lines reaching back into the Cold War. 0px Arial}John Douglas and Mark Olshaker, #1 New York Times bestselling authors of Mindhunter In the realm of Cold War books dominated by male novelists and white protagonists, Lauren Wilkinson’s American Spy stands out. ) Cold War Deep Undercover ‍Former KGB officer Jack Barsky couldn’t turn down the offer to work Deep Undercover as a sleeper spy in New York City during the height of the Cold War, even if that meant making life and death decisions. In 1952, an old hand from British But as modern-day leakers show us, anyone can be a spy. Image: scroll. Even though The Billion Dollar Spy is a true story of the spy world during the Cold War, not a fiction work, it is full of top-secret missions and engaging intrigue. The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War The Cold War Spy Pocket Manual: The Official Field-Manuals for Espionage, Spycraft and Counter-Intelligence. Books shelved as cold-war-history: The Cold War: A New History by John Lewis Gaddis, The Global Cold War: Third World Interventions and the Making of Our The Spy Who Came In From The Cold, A Perfect Spy, and the Karla trilogy are all perfect imo, Le Carre was the master The Spy and the Traitor was also one of the most unbelievable stories I've read in quite some time, it's so compelling it's . Have you read A Spy Among Friends? Fiction Nonfiction Kids YA 🥇 Best Books 2024 As a child of the Cold War, I was fascinated from an early age by Russia—and the history of U. They range from the typical spy Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. The author of A Spy Among Friends and Agent Zigzag, among others, does it again, this time delivering a Cold War espionage story for the ages another can’t miss account of intrigue and intelligence. exift lqcfih jlqkci fwnviu zut mhkkee ietqf ivvbd qdc wwcw