The Gray Man is a thriller novel written by Mark Greaney. The story revolves around the central character, Court Gentry, the CIA’s best assassin taking on dangerous assignments across the globe. When something went wrong with one of his missions, the CIA marked him shot on sight.
For the last several years, he has been running from those people he once served out in the field. He has become an assassin for hire, but an assassin with a conscience. He only takes out those that deserve to be taken out. Books like The Gray Man series are filled with action, suspense, and intricate plots that keep you hooked from start to finish. They question identity, loyalty, violence’s cost, and power’s nature. You’ll be engrossed in the shadowy world of spies, secret missions, and high-stakes operations.
10 Books Like The Gray Man (Spy Thriller)
The Gray Man is a mystery, thriller, and espionage book that you see about a great assassin. The novel offers espionage, combat, and intricate plot twists that captivate readers from beginning to end. This is one of the best spy fiction books where you can see the effect of power, money, and a suspense adventure.
Here are ten books similar to The Gray Man that I will talk about for you. These books are the perfect choices if you enjoy thrilling page-turners that keep you on the edge of your seat. Let’s go!
1. The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War
The Spy And The Traitor is the true story of a KGB colonel spying for MI6 in a very high-stakes way during the 70s and 80s. The author has to pack in so many names and historical contexts. It does an excellent job of showing the tension at different parts of the Cold War and puts into mind what people must have been feeling.
Some Danish officers recruited Gordievsky in Copenhagen in the 70s, but they had over two MI6 because it was a big deal. So he spies in Copenhagen for a couple of years and then returns to Moscow. There’s no contact while he’s in Moscow. Then he gets dispatched to London, becoming the head of political intelligence inside London, like the KGB place.
Most of them are diplomats, but there are quite a few KGB officers in any embassy in the world at this point. So a lot of the intelligence he’s giving MI6 is super valuable. But they can’t act because he’s still within the KGB if they go and pick off any double agents for other intelligence services he knows. After all, he’s got that information from inside the KGB. They’ll be able to figure out who gave them that information, and then he will be tortured and executed.
So it’s such a strange dynamic and speaks to humanity’s hubris when it’s these intelligence wars where maybe everyone knows everything. There’s a decent amount of spies in each camp, but no one can act on it because they can’t make a move. It’s such a game of cat and mouse, and this book does a fantastic job of explaining that dynamic.
Author: Ben Macintyre
Average Rating: 4.7/5
Category: Intelligence & Espionage True Accounts (Best Seller)
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle | Audio CD
2. Patriot Games
Patriot Games is rich in action sequences, suspense, and political intrigue, keeping you engaged from start to finish. Jack Ryan is on vacation, but they’re in London on a working vacation with his wife and daughter. First, it comments on the differences between British and American societies.
Jack becomes involved in an assassination attempt on the Prince of Wales and his family in the book. Jack Ryan rushes in, and he spoils the assassination attempt. He saves the Prince of Wales’s life from what turns out to be a fringe group, the splinter group of the Provisional Irish Republican Army.
They decide they’re going to target Jack and Kathy Ryan. They will continue trying to kill the Prince of Wales to the point where they follow Jack Ryan across the Atlantic to America and try to kill both Jack and the Prince of Wales at his home in Maryland. It is because they want revenge. Jack Ryan shows up for almost 20 years in novels to win and beats the Irish terrorists.
Author: Tom Clancy
Average Rating: 4.6/5
Category: Technothrillers, Spy & Action
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Library Binding | Kindle
3. Northern Spy
Northern Spy is about the IRA in Ireland, and it’s more about the modern IRA than the one during the Troubles. It’s a continuation of the Troubles, but it’s happening in twenty nineteen. So this is about Tessa. She’s a brand new mother and a producer for BBC News. She’s worried about having her son grow up where they live because of the IRA. They’re doing bombings. There are bomb threats all the time. She feels like it’s not a great atmosphere to have a child in. So she worries about it all the time.
One day Tessa hears about a robbery that’s gone down in a bank nearby, and she sees the security footage. It’s the IRA who is robbed of this bank. As they pull off their masks, she suddenly sees one of the people in her sister, Marian.
Marian and her sister have always been very close. She has always opposed the IRA and the violence they bring to the country. There’s no way that she’s part of the IRA. So this book was very adventurous similar to The Gray Man. They talked a lot about exciting issues that still go on in Ireland.
Author: Flynn Berry
Average Rating: 4.2/5
Category: Psychological Thrillers, Espionage
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle
4. The Bourne Identity
The Bourne Identity starts with a guy on a ship. He wakes up and has no memory. It’s the story of him piecing back together his life and trying to figure out who he is. It’s more exciting than your average because he discovers he has all these super-skill traits, like chopping and killing people at the drop of a hat. He’s super intelligent and can sense things. So he thinks he probably is more than your average Joe.
It’s an exciting thriller of a story about him piecing back together his life, which was quite an exciting one by all accounts. There are a lot of characters in this book, but the main two or three you do get interested in the relationship between them.
Author: Robert Ludlum
Average Rating: 4.3/5
Category: Espionage Thrillers, Suspense Fiction
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Library Binding | Kindle
5. The Rose Code
The Rose Code celebrates the resilience and strength of the women who played crucial roles in codebreaking during World War II. The premise of this story is that we follow three women recruited to work at Bletchley Park. It was a codebreaking site that the English used to decipher the German and Italian codes. It was very crucial to the war effort. It provided a lot of information about when air raids would happen. Then also, it was critical to make sure that the Germans weren’t aware of the invasion of Normandy.
We followed one who is an actual code breaker from three different women. One is a translator, and the other works when machines and their stories are together. So this, as always with Kate Quinn, is that we do get a dual storyline. We see them a couple of years after the war. They have a falling out. In particular, we don’t know why Osla and Mab hate each other. Then Beth ends up in an insane asylum, and something is happening.
So Beth sends a letter to Osla and Mab saying they were traitors at BP, where they worked. They owe it to her to help her explain the truth. There are characters connected within these different storylines, like The Gray Man.
Author: Kate Quinn
Average Rating: 4.7/5
Category: Espionage Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, World War II Historical Fiction
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle | Audio CD
6. I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes
I Am Pilgrim is a gripping and intricately plotted thriller. The story follows a former intelligence agent drawn into a race against time to stop a global terrorist threat. Hayes’ writing is immersive, with complex characters and a storyline that keeps readers guessing until the end. The book’s detailed research and well-executed action sequences make it a standout in the genre.
7. The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth
The Day of the Jackal is a gripping political thriller about a professional assassin hired to kill French President Charles de Gaulle. Forsyth’s meticulous attention to detail and realistic depiction of espionage make this novel a masterpiece. It offers a thrilling cat-and-mouse game, complex characters, and a realistic portrayal of the world of espionage.
8. The Killer Collective by Barry Eisler
The Killer Collective combines several Eisler series characters, including assassin John Rain and former Marine sniper Dox. Their paths cross in a complex and deadly conspiracy, and they work together to survive. Eisler’s authentic action scenes and well-drawn characters make this a thrilling and satisfying read like The Gray Man.
9. The Templar Legacy by Steve Berry
The Templar Legacy combines historical mystery and fast-paced action. A former government agent Cotton Malone explores the secrets of the Templar Knights. He becomes involved in a dangerous race against time. Berry’s meticulous research, intricate plot twists, and richly developed characters make this an engaging read. Fans of The Gray Man must read it.
10. The Lions of Lucerne by Brad Thor
The Lions of Lucerne introduces readers to Scot Harvath, a former Navy SEAL turned covert operative. A presidential kidnapping plot unfolds, and Harvath uses his skills and instincts to save the day. Thor’s writing is filled with gripping action, intense suspense, and a protagonist who keeps readers on the edge of their seats.
By reading these books, you can immerse yourself in thrilling stories, explore the world of espionage, and engage with complex characters and themes. They offer escapism, entertainment, and an opportunity to reflect on deeper issues. Whether you enjoy action-packed adventures, international intrigue, or thought-provoking narratives, these books have something to enjoy.
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