Clifford Irving’s name often brings to mind stories of intrigue and literary hoaxes. He wrote books that played with the line between fact and fiction, most notably that biography of Howard Hughes. It caused quite a sensation.
If you enjoy authors who explore similar territory, who blur lines between reality and imagination, then this article about writers with a similar approach may interest you.
Readers who enjoy Clifford Irving’s blend of suspense and sharp storytelling might appreciate Frederick Forsyth. Forsyth brings meticulous research and vivid detail to the espionage and thriller genre.
His novel “The Day of the Jackal” follows an unnamed assassin hired to kill France’s President Charles de Gaulle. The assassin is skilled, determined, and remains elusive as authorities rush to uncover and stop his deadly plot.
With tension building through each carefully planned move, Forsyth takes readers deep into a world of political intrigue and high-stakes action.
Ken Follett is an author known for captivating historical thrillers filled with suspense and detailed storytelling. Readers who enjoy Clifford Irving’s detailed, research-based narratives will appreciate Follett’s ability to blend historical facts with suspenseful fiction.
One great example is his novel “Eye of the Needle.” Set during World War II, it follows a cunning German spy known as 'The Needle,' whose mission could drastically change the outcome of the war.
Follett expertly weaves historical events into a fictional tale full of twists, intense characters, and nail-biting drama, making it an engaging read from start to finish.
Robert Ludlum was a master storyteller noted for intense thrillers filled with espionage and secret agendas. If you enjoy Clifford Irving’s ability to weave complex tales of deception, you might appreciate Ludlum’s “The Bourne Identity.”
The novel introduces Jason Bourne, a man who awakens without memory but soon realizes he possesses lethal skills. As Bourne tries to piece together his true identity, he is pursued across Europe by deadly operatives.
The story moves fast, loaded with unexpected twists and tangled conspiracies that keep you constantly guessing. Ludlum’s style achieves tension and depth, blending spy intrigue and personal drama seamlessly.
Clive Cussler was a writer known for exciting adventure novels filled with intrigue, action, and fast-paced narrative. If you enjoyed Clifford Irving’s vivid storytelling and knack for suspenseful plots, Cussler’s books could be a welcome discovery.
In his novel “Raise the Titanic,” a gripping adventure unfolds as Dirk Pitt, a brave, resourceful oceanographer, attempts one of the most daring feats imaginable.
He’s entrusted to locate and bring to the surface the sunken Titanic, believed to hold vital material critical for national security.
As Pitt faces danger underwater and encounters secretive adversaries on land, readers are pulled into an absorbing tale of espionage, mystery, and historic intrigue.
Tom Clancy is an author known for military thrillers that blend international conspiracy, espionage, and realistic geopolitical scenarios. Readers who enjoyed Clifford Irving’s tales of deception and high-stakes intrigue may find Clancy’s “The Hunt for Red October” appealing.
In this book, Soviet submarine captain Marko Ramius decides to defect to the West and take his advanced submarine with him. CIA analyst Jack Ryan suspects Ramius’ intentions, but he faces skepticism from his colleagues.
As tensions mount, readers experience a suspenseful game of cat-and-mouse beneath the Atlantic Ocean. The novel combines strategic naval operations, complex characters, and political tension into an unforgettable thriller.
Lawrence Sanders was an American novelist famous for crime thrillers and intriguing detective fiction. Sanders created puzzles full of suspense and detailed characters, similar to Clifford Irving’s engaging plots.
His novel “The First Deadly Sin” features detective Edward X. Delaney, an insightful New York cop dealing with a baffling murder case. A serial killer roams Manhattan; Delaney must carefully piece together clues hidden in ordinary lives and everyday routines.
Sanders combines psychology, mystery, and authentic police procedures, keeping readers hooked until the last clue clicks into place.
Readers who enjoyed Clifford Irving’s blend of intrigue and deception might appreciate John Le Carré, an author who mastered spy fiction through sharp storytelling and realistic characters. His novel “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” is a standout example.
It follows George Smiley, a quiet, methodical intelligence officer, as he tries to uncover a Soviet mole within the British secret service. The deeper Smiley digs, the less certain he becomes about whom he can trust. Le Carré's characters feel human, flawed and believable.
The twists, secrets and double-crosses make this novel impossible to put down.
Readers who enjoy Clifford Irving’s absorbing narratives of intrigue might appreciate Eric Van Lustbader, an author skilled in crafting twisting plots and fascinating characters.
In “The Ninja,” Lustbader brings us into the secretive world of martial arts, espionage, and ancient rivalries. The story follows Nicholas Linnear, a man caught between two cultures, as his past in Japan resurfaces violently in New York City.
With a mix of suspense, action, and deep cultural detail, readers get immersed in a shadowy conflict where honor and revenge blur. Fans of stories layered with mystery and complex characters will find much to enjoy in Lustbader’s narrative style.
Books by Alistair MacLean offer a thrilling mix of suspense, action, and adventure. If you’ve enjoyed Clifford Irving’s detailed storytelling and tense scenarios, you might appreciate MacLean’s novel “The Guns of Navarone.”
The story follows a daring team of commandos sent to sabotage Nazi artillery guns positioned on a steep cliff. They face one intense hurdle after another, with each chapter ramping up the tension and danger.
MacLean is excellent at blending high stakes, vivid characters, and historical details, which keep you hooked until the final scene.
If you enjoy Clifford Irving’s stories that peel back the glamorous layers of power and wealth, you’ll likely be drawn to Irwin Shaw. Shaw has a talent for blending drama, complicated relationships, and moral conflict into compelling narratives.
His novel “Rich Man, Poor Man” follows the lives of brothers Rudy and Tom Jordache, who grow up in a tense, struggling household in postwar America. Rudy seeks respect and security through ambition and hard work, while Tom dives headfirst into risk and trouble.
Shaw captures the price each brother pays for their choices and the way personal and family bonds are stretched to their limits over time. Fans of Irving’s realistic characters and family sagas often find themselves equally fascinated by Shaw’s storytelling.
Leon Uris is an author who brings history alive through vivid storytelling and deeply human characters. If you enjoyed Clifford Irving’s detailed narratives about real events and compelling people, you’ll find similar appeal in Uris’s works.
His novel “Exodus” dives deep into the birth of modern Israel. The book covers the struggles and triumphs of Jewish refugees after World War II as they fight to create their own nation.
Through the stories of characters like the heroic Ari Ben Canaan, Uris makes history feel personal and powerful. The struggles, courage, and hope he captures stick with readers long after finishing the book.
Ross Macdonald is a fantastic author for readers who enjoy Clifford Irving’s blend of mystery, human psychology, and complex character dynamics. Macdonald shines brightest in his famous Lew Archer series, which digs deeply into family secrets and hidden crimes.
In “The Chill,” private detective Lew Archer takes on the case of a missing bride, but what appears as a simple mystery quickly spirals into darker territory.
The investigation unravels layers of deception that reach back decades into the past, connecting seemingly unrelated characters and crimes. Macdonald creates suspense through character revelations and unexpected connections, rather than action alone.
Readers who appreciate Irving’s meticulous tracing of truth beneath appearances will likely find great satisfaction in Macdonald’s storytelling approach.
Books by Nelson DeMille offer suspense and creativity readers of Clifford Irving might appreciate. In his novel “The Charm School,” DeMille takes readers into Cold War Russia through the eyes of American intelligence officer Sam Hollis.
Hollis goes to Moscow to investigate rumors of an unsettling Soviet facility designed to train agents to blend flawlessly into American society.
DeMille expertly captures the tense atmosphere, secret operations, and intricate spycraft of that era, building suspense as Hollis uncovers unsettling truths within enemy territory.
For fans of Irving’s detailed storytelling and exploration of deception, this blend of intrigue, espionage, and mystery may resonate strongly.
Graham Greene was a British author known for his suspenseful and morally ambiguous novels. Greene’s characters often find themselves in trouble, trapped between their conscience and desperate situations.
In “The Quiet American,” Greene explores tension and moral conflict in Vietnam during the French colonial period. The story follows Thomas Fowler, a British journalist, as he becomes involved with Alden Pyle, an idealistic but naive American operative.
Their complicated friendship, along with a love triangle involving a Vietnamese woman named Phuong, turns into a dramatic portrayal of personal betrayal and political intrigue.
Greene weaves a tense tale that reflects the blurred lines between innocence, guilt, and ethical compromise. If you’re a fan of Clifford Irving’s detailed storytelling and rich characters, Graham Greene’s insightful narratives and vivid settings may resonate strongly with you.
Readers who enjoy Clifford Irving’s blend of detailed storytelling and intriguing real-world plots might also appreciate Michael Crichton. Crichton is famous for his well-researched thrillers that often mix cutting-edge science with suspenseful narratives.
In his novel “Jurassic Park,” he introduces readers to an isolated island theme park filled with dinosaurs brought back to life through genetic technology.
But as visitors tour the park, things go horribly wrong—the prehistoric creatures break free, turning a wondrous discovery into a terrifying struggle for survival. Fans of realistic storytelling filled with suspense and science would likely find Crichton’s work very appealing.