Books
9 must-read books for fans of Jack Ryan
When Jack Ryan first appeared on our screens, he was a CIA analyst with a glamorised desk job. But over the past three seasons of the show, he’s been out in the field, trying to prevent international disasters (nuclear weapons, political upheavals, and another world war, to name a few).
To celebrate the final season of Jack Ryan, which is out 30th June on Amazon Prime, we’ve rounded up the best suspense novels and spy thrillers that are perfect for those who love the show. In these novels, the stakes are impossibly high, there’s a race against time, and the fate of the world rests in one agent’s hands.
Books like Jack Ryan
Agent Running in the Field by John le Carré
Agent Running in the Field by John le Carré
Nat, a 47-year-old veteran of Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service, thought his action-packed days as an agent runner were over. But when he’s called to do one last job, he is pulled into a dark web of political turmoil. Like Jack Ryan, this pacy spy thriller is deeply political and has chilling parallels to events going on in our time. John le Carré has made a name for himself as the master of the spy genre – and we can see why.
The Cobra by Frederick Forsyth
The Cobra by Frederick Forsyth
When the U.S. President decides to crack down on cocaine, it falls to Paul Devereux, who used to run the CIA’s Special Operations, to lead the charge. He is given carte blanche to stop the powerful cartels bringing drugs into the U.S. As with Frederick Forsyth’s other international suspense novels, The Cobra is meticulously researched and paints a vivid picture of the sort of covert missions you might expect on Jack Ryan.
The Chase by Ava Glass
The Chase by Ava Glass
New agent Emma Makepeace has been tasked with tracking down a man wanted by the Russians and bringing him in to MI5. Emma knows that if the Russians spot her, she and her target will be killed. She must act fast and stay hidden – but in London, a city teeming with CCTV cameras, this is no easy task. This action-packed thriller has the same pace and political edge as Jack Ryan, and will keep you hooked until the end.
Secret Service by Tom Bradby
Secret Service by Tom Bradby
Senior MI6 agent Kate Henderson learns a senior politician might be a Russian mole – but the clock is ticking as she needs to find out the truth before he is named Prime Minister. Dealing with themes of corruption and high stakes on a global stage, Secret Service is a must-read for fans of Jack Ryan. It’s the first in the Kate Henderson series, introducing a resolute and complicated agent who must uphold her reputation and lead her team without cracking under the pressure.
The President is Missing by Bill Clinton and James Patterson
The President is Missing by Bill Clinton and James Patterson
Terrorists are planning to attack America on an unprecedented scale. The only man who can stop them is the President – and then he goes missing. Set over the course of just three days, The President is Missing is a tense page-turner. The most terrifying part? It feels like something that could actually happen – perhaps owing to co-author, and former President, Bill Clinton’s insider knowledge of what it’s really like to live in the White House. This authenticity, combined with James Patterson’s gift for suspense, makes this an unmissable read.
I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes
I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes
Around the world, people are being tortured in unique and unusual ways. But something links each of these incidents – and it could culminate in the ultimate crime against humanity. The only person who can stop them is a man known only as Pilgrim. This race-against-time novel is full of suspense. Like Jack Ryan, its plot feels completely plausible – which further adds to the high-stakes drama.
Crisis by Frank Gardner
Crisis by Frank Gardner
When Luke Carlton, a contractor for MI6, is sent to the Colombian jungle to investigate the murder of a British intelligence officer, he is ambushed and captured by a drug cartel. Although he manages to escape their clutches, he is now in a race against time – both to save his own life and prevent disaster on an international scale. Why? Because he has learned that London will be the target of an unprecedented, deadly attack – and he’s the only one who can stop it.
The Secret Servant by Daniel Silva
The Secret Servant by Daniel Silva
When an Israeli terrorist analyst is murdered in Amsterdam, it sets off an increasingly dangerous chain of events: the US ambassador’s daughter is kidnapped, and a major terrorist operation is uncovered in London. It falls to Gabriel Allon, art restorer and spy, to find those responsible – and prevent a catastrophic event nobody could have seen coming. This page-turner is the seventh in Daniel Silva’s Gabriel Allon series; if you want to start from the beginning, we recommend The Kill Artist.
The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy
The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy
Of course, this list wouldn’t be complete without a book from Tom Clancy’s series that inspired the hit Amazon Prime show. The Hunt for Red October was written at the height of the Cold War – and it shows, given the claustrophobic tension and high, world-ending stakes. In this political thriller, which introduces us to the character of Jack Ryan, America goes to extreme lengths to try and capture a Russian missile submarine. Clancy deftly depicts the mind games of the Cold War era – and the very real threat of MAD (mutually assured destruction).
Let us know in the comments if you think we’ve missed any books for Jack Ryan fans!
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No Liz Carlyle?
I would also say the Spider Shepherd series by Stephen Leather