Mission Impossible movies always gets your adrenaline going. The action sequences are ridiculous and yet you can take your eyes off the screen. That is why we will be recommending books to read for fans of Mission Impossible. Keep reading to find out which books you should read!
There are a lot of spy books but not all of them are similar to Mission Impossible. This list has some of the best spy books of all time as well as a few hidden gems. Many of these books have been adapted into movies so you can always watch the movies after you have finished reading the books. You can see the full list below!
Books To Read For Fans of Mission Impossible
- The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy
- The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum
- The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth
- Red Sparrow by Jason Matthews
- Night Soldiers by Alan Furst
- Casino Royale by Ian Fleming
- The Spy Who Came in from the Cold by John le Carré
- Eye of the Needle by Ken Follett
The Hunt for Red October
I love a great spy novel and one novel that always comes to mind is The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy. It is an action packed thriller and a novel that has come to define this genre over the years.
In The Hunt for Red October, the stakes are high and involves a defected Soviet nuclear submarine, the USSR’s latest weapon. It is led by their most trusted officer and but now they are trying to destroy it before the Americans get their hands on it. Who will find it first to find the submarine that can potentially decide the winner of the Cold War?
The Bourne Identity
A novel that made me really enjoy spy novels was The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum. The pacing, plot, writing, and twists make this novel a rollercoaster ride.
The protagonist knows next to nothing about who he is. And that leads the reader with very little to go on. But as he finds out more and more, the novel starts gathering steam, making it impossible to put down.
The protagonist has lost his memory, being found in the Mediterranean Sea with bullets in hist body. Jason Bourne doesn’t even recall his name. If it weren’t for the microfilm that was surgically implanted in his hip, he would have nothing to go on.
He knows that he is being pursued and the people will return to finish the job. That is why Jason Bourne must find out everything about who himself and the people after him. Before it is too late.
The Day of the Jackal
A spy thriller novel that I recommend everyone to check out is The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth. It is a brilliant novel that I found impossible to put down.
When a novel spoils the plot at the beginning, you have to wonder what will keep you reading. But Forsyth does an amazing job it telling the story, making you wonder if it was a red herring.
When talking about thriller novels, I have to always mention this one. The pacing, plot, and characters make this novel an incredible read. It tells you the ending in the first few pages and yet, you are even more hooked because you know the end result. And you want to know how the novel gets there.
Casino Royale
When talking about spy movies, you have to mention James Bond. The movies are classics and the books are also a fun read. I think the movies might actually be longer than the novels. Still, the one I would recommend is Casino Royale by Ian Fleming.
James Bond, agent 007, is sent to a French Casino to bankrupt a Russian agent who plans to make millions playing baccarat. That money will fund his illegal activities and it is up to Bond to stop him. But this game of baccarat is a high-stakes game that might cost Bonds his life if he isn’t careful.
The movie of the same is a classic and I recommend everyone to watch it after reading the novel. Fleming does a great job of making a game of baccarat filled with tension. This novel showcases what makes James Bond a one of a kind protagonist that has come to define spy movies for half a century.
Eye of the Needle
I recently read Eye of the Needle by Ken Follett and I can see why it is considered one of the best spy novels ever written. It is different than most novels on this list and it is a standalone novel. The intriguing plot and the various point of views make this an enjoyable read.
The Needle is a German spy, one of their best agents and he holds the key to winning the war for Germany. But he has to make it back to his homeland to deliver them the information they need.
His journey leads him to a remote island and a young English woman. Her decisions may decide which way the war swings and who ultimately wins World War II.
Conclusion
These are the books to read if you want to recapture the magic of Mission Impossible. The list includes some of the best spy novels ever written. You can’t go wrong with any of these novels.
How many books on this list have you read or plan to read? What other spy novels would you include on this list? Let us know in the comments below. Until next time, happy reading!
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Interested in fact based espionage and ungentlemanly officers and spies? Do read “Beyond Enkription” by Bill Fairclough – it is the first stand-alone fact-based espionage novel of six autobiographical tomes in The Burlington Files series. As the first book in the series, it provides a gripping introduction to the world of British intelligence and espionage. It is an intense electrifying spy thriller that had me perched on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. The twists and turns in the interwoven plots kept me guessing beyond the epilogue. The characters were wholesome, well-developed and intriguing. The author’s attention to detail added extra layers of authenticity to the narrative.
In real life Bill Fairclough aka Edward Burlington (MI6 codename JJ) was one of Pemberton’s People in MI6; for more about that see a brief News Article dated 31 October 2022 published in TheBurlingtonFiles website. The series follows the real life of Bill Fairclough (and his family) who worked not only for British Intelligence, but also the CIA et al for several decades. The first tome is set in 1974 in London, Nassau and Port au Prince: see TheBurlingtonFiles website for a synopsis.
Fairclough is not a professional but his writing style is engaging and fast-paced, making it difficult to put the book down as he effortlessly glides from cerebral issues to action-packed scenes which are never that far apart. Beyond Enkription is the stuff memorable spy films are made of. It’s raw, realistic, punchy, pacy and provocative. While the book does not feature John le Carré’s “delicate diction, sophisticated syntax and placid plots” it remains a riveting and delightful read.
This thriller is like nothing we have ever come across before. Indeed, we wonder what The Burlington Files would have been like if David Cornwell (aka John le Carré) had collaborated with Bill Fairclough whom critics have likened to “a posh Harry Palmer”. They did consider collaborating but did not proceed as explained in the aforementioned News Article. Nonetheless, critics have lauded Beyond Enkription as being ”up there with My Silent War by Kim Philby and No Other Choice by George Blake”.
Overall, Beyond Enkription is a brilliantly refreshing book and a must read, especially for espionage cognoscenti. I cannot wait to see what is in store for us in the future. In the meantime, before reading Beyond Enkription do visit TheBurlingtonFiles website. It is like a living espionage museum and breathtaking in its own right.