If you enjoy reading novels by Alistair MacLean then you might also like the following authors:
Desmond Bagley wrote adventure thrillers similar in style to Alistair MacLean. His novels often involve ordinary characters in dangerous situations. In his book “The Golden Keel,” a sailor named Peter Halloran hears a story about hidden treasure from World War II.
Halloran then sets out on a risky voyage to recover gold secretly tucked away near the coast of Italy. As the quest unfolds, he faces unexpected threats at sea and on land.
Readers following Halloran’s adventure soon realize the expedition is about more than just buried treasure.
Hammond Innes wrote adventurous thrillers with plenty of action and suspense. Readers who enjoy Alistair MacLean’s style often also find books by Innes satisfying. A good example is the novel “The Wreck of the Mary Deare.”
The story starts when a small sailing yacht nearly runs into a drifting cargo ship called the Mary Deare. A tense mystery unfolds when the yacht skipper goes aboard and finds only one man left alive on the crew, the captain, who acts oddly secretive about what happened.
The deeper the skipper investigates, the more questions appear about why the vessel was abandoned and why certain people seem eager to cover things up. This novel combines thrills with intriguing maritime mystery.
Ken Follett is an author who writes exciting historical thrillers, often set during tense times in history. If you’ve enjoyed Alistair MacLean’s adventure style, you might like Follett’s book “Eye of the Needle.”
It is about a German spy known as “The Needle,” who uncovers a secret that could help Germany win World War II. As he tries to reach Germany to deliver his information, British agents pursue him closely.
The story is fast-paced and full of action, and the hidden identities and clever plot twists keep readers engaged until the end.
If you enjoy Alistair MacLean, Frederick Forsyth is a good author to check out. His spy thrillers have plenty of suspense and clear, believable plots. A good example is his book “The Day of the Jackal.”
It is about a professional assassin called the Jackal, who plots to kill French President Charles de Gaulle. The Jackal carefully plans each detail, from obtaining fake documents to choosing the perfect weapon.
As French authorities race against time, the tension builds around every corner. Forsyth keeps the reader guessing right till the end.
Wilbur Smith is an author known for exciting adventure stories set mostly in Africa. People who enjoy Alistair MacLean’s thrillers often find Smith’s novels appealing.
One of his books, “The Eye of the Tiger,” is the story of Harry Fletcher, a skilled fisherman who makes his living on the sea. Fletcher agrees to transport two strangers by boat, but quickly realizes they have dangerous and secret plans in mind.
Soon he finds himself caught up in a tense adventure involving hidden treasure, violence and betrayal. The novel combines thrilling action scenes, dramatic confrontations and the exotic atmosphere of coastal waters.
Jack Higgins is an author readers often enjoy if they like Alistair MacLean. His stories have plenty of action and suspense but are easy to follow. A good example is “The Eagle Has Landed,” a story that imagines a secret German plan during World War II.
The Germans scheme to kidnap Winston Churchill right from British soil. Characters include clever undercover agents and determined commandos. Higgins shows readers military strategy through sharp dialogue and vivid moments of danger.
Readers get pulled right into the risks and high stakes of wartime espionage in a way Alistair MacLean fans usually appreciate.
Readers who like Alistair MacLean might find Trevanian worth exploring. His thrillers share some similarities in tone and action. A good place to start is “The Eiger Sanction.” This book focuses on Jonathan Hemlock, a professor and art expert who secretly works as an assassin.
Hemlock must accept one last dangerous assignment that takes him to the Swiss Alps, where he needs to uncover a killer’s identity among a climbing group.
The story combines suspenseful action and clever spy intrigue with a strong sense of place, making it ideal for anyone who enjoys MacLean’s adventures.
Eric Ambler is an author known for suspenseful spy novels set in European cities right before or during World War II. His storytelling often puts ordinary people into tough, dangerous situations, which makes each of his books feel realistic.
A good example is “Journey into Fear.” In this book, an English engineer named Graham takes a trip by ship from Turkey to Italy. Graham soon finds out someone on board wants him dead. He doesn’t know who exactly wants to harm him or why, but the threat feels very real.
Ambler builds quiet tension, and you start to worry about Graham’s safety page after page. Readers who enjoy Alistair MacLean’s adventure and suspense stories will find Eric Ambler a welcome discovery.
Len Deighton writes spy thrillers with subtle plots and believable characters. Readers who enjoy Alistair MacLean’s adventure and suspense might appreciate Deighton’s style in “The IPCRESS File.”
The story follows an unnamed British intelligence officer as he investigates strange disappearances among British scientists. The agent tries to uncover who is behind these kidnappings, but soon finds himself tangled in doubts about who to trust.
Deighton’s realistic characters and straightforward style keep readers engaged without relying on complicated twists.
Clive Cussler is an author known for exciting adventures, often set at sea or underwater. Fans of Alistair MacLean will probably enjoy Cussler’s similar approach. One example is the novel “Raise the Titanic.”
This book follows Dirk Pitt, a marine expert, as he attempts to locate and lift the famous sunken ship from the ocean floor. He and his team face harsh conditions and sabotage attempts on their way to recovering a mysterious and valuable cargo.
The story keeps a fast pace and has unexpected turns that readers who enjoy MacLean’s style will appreciate.
Douglas Reeman wrote many novels set in World War II, often at sea, similar to Alistair MacLean. One good example is “The Destroyers.” This book follows a British destroyer crew facing submarine threats and aerial attacks in the Atlantic.
The main character is Lieutenant Commander Keith Drummond, who has to make tough decisions under difficult conditions. Reeman creates realistic, tense action scenes, with clear descriptions of naval operations.
People who enjoy Alistair MacLean’s detailed storytelling and wartime settings may appreciate this style.
Colin Forbes writes thrillers with plots full of suspense and action, similar in style to Alistair MacLean. In his novel “Tramp in Armour,” Forbes takes you back to World War II as a British tank crew finds itself lost behind German lines.
The crew faces danger from enemy troops and must rely on their sharp minds and courage to survive. Forbes places you right inside the tank with characters you start to care about from the very first chapter.
If you enjoyed MacLean’s characters stuck in tense and dangerous situations, try “Tramp in Armour.”
If you enjoy books by Alistair MacLean, you might also appreciate the novels of Adam Hall. Hall is best known for tense spy thrillers featuring a British secret agent named Quiller. One good example is “The Quiller Memorandum.”
In this book, the government sends Quiller into West Berlin to find and stop a dangerous Nazi group. Quiller works alone, without backup or a weapon, relying only on his skills and instincts.
The story moves quickly, and the tension feels real, as Quiller struggles against powerful enemies and shifting threats. If you liked MacLean’s “The Guns of Navarone,” Hall’s tight plots and smart spycraft could appeal to you.
Craig Thomas was a Welsh author known for action-filled thrillers, often set during the Cold War. Readers who enjoy Alistair MacLean might appreciate Thomas’s novel “Firefox.”
In this book, a pilot named Mitchell Gant is sent on a mission behind Soviet lines to steal a dangerous prototype fighter jet. What makes this aircraft special is its ability to be controlled directly by the pilot’s thoughts.
Thomas gives readers a detailed look at the mission preparations and tense moments in enemy territory. The story moves at a fast pace and provides interesting views on Cold War spying and cutting-edge military technology.
Gerald Seymour writes thrillers that keep readers hooked, with fast action and realistic plots. If you enjoy Alistair MacLean, you might also like Seymour’s book “Harry’s Game”.
It tells the story of a British undercover agent sent into Belfast to find the IRA assassin responsible for killing a government official. The agent must stay hidden, trust no one, and finish the mission before his cover is revealed. The tension rises with every chapter.
Gerald Seymour portrays characters well and designs plots based on realistic conflicts and settings.