If you’ve ever wondered where to start with spy books, David McCloskey’s reading list for the New York Times is a brilliant primer.
If you’re anything like me, you’re often asked, “Where should I start with spy books?” That deceptively tough question is exactly what former CIA officer and author David McCloskey co-host of the Spybrary Approved and essential listening The Rest is Classified set out to answer in his New York Times guide to where to start with spy books.
There’s always the temptation to go full George Smiley or parachute readers straight into the modern world with Artemis Proctor. But now, former CIA officer and author David McCloskey — who many of us know from Damascus Station and the brilliant The Rest is Classified Podcast has answered that question for the New York Times with a killer list of spy books for those new to the spy fiction genre.
Where to Start with Spy Books: McCloskey’s Top Picks
By Shane Whaley | Spybrary.com
What I appreciate most with David McCloskey' where to start with spy books list is that it doesn’t try to play gatekeeper. His selection isn’t snobbish or niche, it’s broad, accessible, and strikes a great balance between classics and modern entries. So here’s a brief run-through of his choices but as I often say in the Spybrary community, ‘Journalists got to eat' so please do consider subscribing to the NY Times should your reptile fund allow it.
David McCloskey's Guide to Spy Fiction Novels
McCloskey’s selections cover the full spectrum of where to start with spy books.
- Eric Ambler’s A Coffin for Dimitrios
- John Le Carré’s The Spy Who Came in from the Cold
- Charles McCarry’s The Tears of Autumn — McCloskey dubs him the American le Carré, and while I’m usually wary of such comparisons why not give his work a go and let us know if you are agree with McCloskey in our Spybrary community.
- Ian Fleming’s Casino Royale — Yes, we all know James Bond, but McCloskey rightly reminds us that the books (especially the early ones) have more depth than many film adaptations suggest.
- Sarah Gainham’s The Stone Roses
- Jason Matthews’ Red Sparrow — Matthews’ field experience bleeds through every page. ‘Spy novels don’t need to get the tradecraft and the lingo right to be worthwhile, but it sure is sweet when they do. Matthews, a 33-year veteran of the C.I.A., absolutely nails the depiction of how spy agencies carry out intelligence operations right under the nose of a hostile service.'
- Mick Herron’s Slow Horses — McCloskey understands that espionage isn’t glamourous. You've likely watched the TV series starring Gary Oldman, why not give the excellent books a go?
Spy Books Set Beyond Britain, Berlin and the Beltway
McCloskey’s selections cover the full spectrum of where to start with spy books that are set outside the usual locations.
- Viet Thanh Nguyen’s The Sympathizer — ‘“The Sympathizer,” a serious spy novel told through the eyes of the Vietnamese, shatters the spy fiction mold on both counts.
One memorable sequence shows the captain’s advisory work on a film (a barely disguised “Apocalypse Now”) that, for my money, is the funniest scene to grace the pages of an espionage novel. - Adam Brookes’ Night Heron — It’s refreshing to see modern China take centre stage in espionage fiction. Brookes nails the paranoia and complexity of operating in Beijing.
- I.S. Berry’s The Peacock and the Sparrow — Set in Bahrain during the Arab Spring. Think Greene with a Gulf twist. Plus, finally, a spy protagonist named ‘Shane.' Is this good news for my fellow Shanes? Read it and find out.
Action-Packed and Tech-Savvy
- Mark Greaney’s The Gray Man — Gritty and gun-heavy.
- Tom Clancy’s The Hunt for Red October — The book that launched a thousand techno-thrillers. Submarine nerds, rejoice.
And for Something More Literary…
- Graham Greene’s The Quiet American — ‘Greene was a masterly novelist and prose stylist who sometimes happened to write about spies. “The Quiet American” explores the beginnings of the French collapse in Vietnam and, quite spookily, predicts that a greater dose of American intervention will not go so well.'
- Len Deighton’s Berlin Game — ‘One of Deighton’s master strokes was to center his spy stories not on action heroes or upper-crust Oxbridge gentleman spies, but on working-class antiheroes who fight their battles in the back offices of the espionage business. And the ending is shocking.'
Final Thoughts
David McCloskey’s list is more than just a beginner’s guide to spy fiction. His spy book recommendations highlight how rich and varied espionage fiction can be. Whether you like your stories slow-burning and cerebral or action-packed and cinematic, there’s something here for every type of spy reader.
Whether you're new to the genre or helping someone else find where to start with spy books, McCloskey’s list is a rock-solid foundation
What would you add to David’s list of where to start with spy books? Join the discussion with thousands of your fellow spy book fans in the Spybrary community.
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