We love spies. I blame Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond, Agent 007. What’s not to love about Bond? He’s charming, handsome, smart, and he always comes out on top. Fleming himself worked in British Naval Intelligence during WWII, and he drew on those experiences to create 007, the ultimate gentleman spy. Though not the first spy series (nor the last!) Fleming’s books have withstood the test of time, at least in popularity. Here are a few spy series to look for:
- James Bond by Ian Fleming
- Gabriel Allon by Daniel Silva
- Mitch Rapp by Vince Flynn
- Will Robie by David Baldacci
- Alex Hawke by Ted Bell
Another spy-turned-author was John le Carre (a pen name used by David Cornwell). Having worked for both MI5 and MI6, le Carre was well equipped to write stories of espionage and suspense. Below is a short list of novels by spies-turned-authors:
- Red London by Alma Katsu
- Need to Know by Karen Cleveland
- The Black Tulip by Milt Bearden
- Where Vultures Gather by C. Turner
Espionage books are considered to be a sub-genre of thrillers, which are characterized by heavy action, suspense and serious themes. Thrillers also cross genres; you can find thrillers with horror themes, or adventure, or mystery. Some spy novels add humor or romance to the mix while still managing to have plots that have you on the edge of your seat. On the lighter side of espionage:
- Mrs. Pollifax series by Dorothy Gilman
- Fox & O’Hare series by Janet Evanovich/Lee Goldberg
- Slough House series by Mick Herron
- Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn (2022)
Kids love spy stories, but I feel like it’s for different reasons than adults. Adults are about adrenaline and false identities. For kids, it’s about stealth and secrets. Spy books for kids:
- City Spies series by James Ponti
- Spy School series by Stuart Gibbs
- Harriet, the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh (1964)
Truth, as we know, is stranger than fiction. There are many good nonfiction books which describe espionage activities during different time periods, or even single events retold by an author who was privy to the events at the time. Here’s a few samples of nonfiction spy books:
- The Woman Who Smashed Codes by Jason Fagone (2018)
- The Taking of K-129 by Josh Dean (reprint, 2018)
- The Billion Dollar Spy by David E. Hoffman (reprint, 2016)
Come pick up some of these at the library. You can use your real identity. We won’t tell.
New at the Library
Adult Graphic Novels
- Vagabond by Takahiko Inoue
- Black Widow by Kelly Thompson
- I’m the Grim Reaper by Graveweaver
Large Print Titles
- The Teacher by Freida McFadden
- Orphan Cowboy by Robert Vaughan
- Trouble is Brewing by Vicki Delany
Adult Audiobooks
- Counting Miracles by Nicholas Sparks
- Christmas in Bethel by Richard Paul Evans
- Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult
