Chris Pavone writes sophisticated spy thrillers. His books are known for intricate plots and stories set around the globe. For those who enjoy this type of novel and want to find authors with a similar style, here are a few to check out.
If you enjoy Chris Pavone’s tightly plotted spy thrillers filled with intrigue and suspense, you might appreciate books by John le Carré.
He is a master of classic espionage fiction, famous for his detailed storytelling and realistic portrayal of spies caught in tense moral dilemmas.
His novel “The Spy Who Came in from the Cold” revolves around Alec Leamas, a British secret agent tasked with one final mission in East Germany. As he navigates deception and betrayal on both sides, the story offers a raw look at espionage during the Cold War.
Le Carré's narrative, packed with psychological depth, cleverly subverts typical spy clichés, revealing the human cost of secrecy and manipulation.
Graham Greene is an author whose spy and suspense novels offer intriguing layers of moral conflict and thrilling narrative twists. If you enjoy Chris Pavone’s style, Greene’s “The Quiet American” could be a satisfying match.
Set in Vietnam during the French colonial period, the book follows Thomas Fowler, a British journalist who meets Alden Pyle, an idealistic young American agent. Fowler becomes increasingly uneasy about Pyle’s true motives as political tensions rise around them.
Greene masterfully builds a sense of uncertainty and hidden dangers, where personal loyalties blur into international intrigue. The tension steadily grows until Fowler must confront hard decisions about trust, betrayal, and the ethics of intervention.
It’s a suspenseful read with sharp dialogue and strong moral undertones that keep you turning pages right to the end.
Readers who enjoy Chris Pavone’s blend of smart suspense, international intrigue, and lively characters might find Daniel Silva equally engaging. Silva is known for crafting detailed espionage narratives set against vivid global backdrops.
In “The English Spy,” Silva brings back Gabriel Allon, a talented Israeli intelligence agent and art restorer, who must unravel the mystery behind the assassination of a British royal aboard a luxury yacht.
From the winding alleys of Vienna to the political tension in the Middle East, readers follow Allon through shadowy espionage circles, revenge plots, and dangerous double-crosses.
Silva builds impressive depth in Allon’s character and delivers twists that keep readers turning pages.
Books by Kate White often blend suspense, secrets, and an intriguing peek into high-stakes worlds. If you like Chris Pavone’s novels about people entangled in deception abroad, you’ll probably enjoy White’s “The Secrets You Keep.”
This novel features Bryn Harper, a successful self-help author whose life unravels after a fiery accident leaves her memory patchy and her confidence shaken.
While recovering in a summer home she barely remembers buying, Bryn discovers her new husband keeping troubling secrets, the town is whispering behind her back, and someone clearly wants her to stay clueless—or else.
Twists and tension build cleverly throughout, pulling you into Bryn’s unsettling search for truth.
Books by Joseph Kanon often feature tense spy thrillers set around critical historical events and locations, ideal for readers who enjoy Chris Pavone’s blend of espionage, secrecy, and intrigue.
A standout novel, “The Good German,” places readers in post-World War II Berlin, a city occupied by different allied forces and teeming with suspicion.
American journalist Jake Geismar returns to Berlin to cover the Potsdam Conference, but his trip quickly turns personal when he searches for a lost love and involves himself in a murder investigation.
Throughout the story, readers uncover layers of deception at every turn, as Jake navigates political tensions and moral ambiguity in a devastated city.
Kanon’s ability to immerse you in a historical atmosphere while weaving complex characters through suspenseful plots makes his books appealing to anyone drawn to Pavone’s sophisticated espionage narratives.
If you enjoy Chris Pavone’s plots filled with suspense, twists, and hidden secrets, Ruth Ware might be your next favorite author. Ware writes psychological thrillers that combine modern settings with classic mystery vibes.
Her novel “The Woman in Cabin 10” introduces Lo Blacklock, a travel journalist who boards an exclusive luxury cruise ship.
What should be an exciting assignment turns sinister when Lo witnesses a woman being thrown overboard—but when she reports it, all passengers seem accounted for and no one is missing. Lo begins to doubt what she saw and who she can trust.
Ware keeps tensions high, leaving you guessing until the very end.
If you enjoy Chris Pavone’s engaging thrillers filled with suspense, twists, and deep psychological dimensions, you should check out Tana French. French writes books known for their vivid characters and cleverly structured mysteries.
Her novel “The Likeness” follows detective Cassie Maddox as she investigates a strange murder case: the victim looks exactly like Cassie, and her ID shows the name Cassie once used undercover.
To find the killer, Cassie steps into the dead woman’s life, becoming immersed in secrets, lies, and shifting loyalties. The lines blur quickly between detective and victim, friend and suspect.
French takes readers close to characters whose motivations and hidden pasts give the story realism and depth.
Peter Swanson writes thrillers that twist everyday events into sinister puzzles. If you enjoy authors like Chris Pavone who bring suspense from seemingly ordinary situations, Swanson’s “The Kind Worth Killing” might intrigue you.
The story begins casually: two strangers meet during a flight, chatting over drinks, sharing complaints about their personal lives. What begins as simple venting quickly turns into a chilling plot about revenge and murder.
Secrets pile up fast, motives blur, and the calm interaction between passengers shifts into a dangerous game. Swanson skillfully reveals layers of deceit, as ordinary people swap their moral compasses for darker resolutions.
Louise Doughty is a British novelist known for psychological thrillers that explore moral choices and hidden secrets beneath ordinary lives.
In her novel “Apple Tree Yard,” Doughty introduces readers to Yvonne Carmichael, a respected scientist whose life drastically changes after an impulsive decision. The aftermath leads Yvonne down a dark path filled with deceit, danger, and painful consequences.
Doughty’s storytelling skillfully creates suspense through complex characters facing ethical dilemmas. Fans of Chris Pavone who enjoy unexpected twists and layered narratives will find Doughty’s exploration of secrets and consequences especially appealing.
David Baldacci is a master storyteller who combines exciting plots with intriguing characters and sharp suspense. If you enjoy Chris Pavone’s espionage novels, Baldacci’s “The Camel Club” offers a fresh but familiar thrill.
A group of misfits called the Camel Club witnesses a shocking murder, then becomes involved in unraveling a conspiracy deep within Washington politics. Oliver Stone, their odd yet resourceful leader, guides the group through a maze of deception and danger to expose hidden truth.
The book brings together government secrecy, spy networks, and tense action, all building toward an explosive conclusion.
Books by Mick Herron offer thrilling espionage plots blended seamlessly with sharp wit and dark humor.
If you’ve enjoyed the international intrigue and layered suspense found in Chris Pavone’s novels, you might want to explore Herron’s series about the misfit spies of Slough House.
In “Slow Horses,” Herron introduces readers to a team of British agents who have messed up their careers so badly they’ve been banished to an administrative office. Their leader, Jackson Lamb, is brilliantly sarcastic and abrasive.
But when the disgraced agents get accidentally involved in a high-stakes kidnapping case, they must rise to the occasion despite their tarnished reputations. Herron’s skillful plotting and sharply drawn characters make “Slow Horses” hard to put down.
Lisa Lutz is a sharp-witted author known for blending suspense and humor in smart, twisty thrillers. Readers who enjoy Chris Pavone’s “The Expats” might appreciate Lutz’s intriguing novel “The Passenger.”
The storyline follows Tanya Dubois, a woman forced to flee town after her husband’s sudden death, assuming a string of new identities across the country. Along her journey, Tanya crosses paths with unexpected allies and dangerous strangers, never quite knowing who to trust.
Lutz keeps the pace quick and the dialogue clever. It’s a tense and entertaining ride, perfectly suited for anyone who likes fast-moving thrillers about hidden pasts and secrets best left undiscovered.
Readers who enjoy Chris Pavone’s smart blend of spy thrills and international intrigue might find Jason Matthews’ novels an excellent next read. Matthews, a former CIA officer turned novelist, offers sharp espionage tales rooted deeply in real-world intelligence operations.
His book “Red Sparrow” introduces readers to Dominika Egorova, a talented Russian intelligence officer forced into the shadowy world of spycraft.
Filled with high-stakes decisions, complex characters, and authentically detailed espionage tradecraft, the novel immerses you immediately in her dangerous dual existence.
Matthews brings to life intense undercover operations and tense diplomacy between adversarial nations, creating realistic narratives that pull you from Washington to Moscow in a heartbeat.
Books by Clare Mackintosh offer exciting suspense and complex plots that fans of Chris Pavone will appreciate. Her novel, “I Let You Go”, centers around Jenna Gray, a woman struggling to rebuild her life after a tragic hit-and-run accident.
As Jenna retreats to a remote Welsh village, secrets from her past slowly emerge. The narrative shifts perspectives cleverly, creating suspenseful turns that reveal hidden truths.
Mackintosh effectively explores themes of guilt, grief, and second chances, maintaining tension until the surprising conclusion. If you loved the twists and emotional depth of Pavone’s thrillers, Clare Mackintosh’s work offers a similar engaging experience.
Stuart Turton writes suspenseful mysteries with clever twists and intricately layered plots. His novel, “The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle,” offers a fresh spin on the classic murder-mystery setup. Aiden Bishop must solve Evelyn Hardcastle’s murder.
But each day, he wakes up in a different guest’s body at the same gloomy estate party. Piecing together clues from multiple perspectives, he tries to prevent the inevitable crime.
If you enjoyed Chris Pavone’s twist-filled espionage thrillers, then Turton’s puzzle-box storytelling and imaginative plots will surely appeal to you.