From spies and secret agents that are household names to lesser-known treasures loved by connoisseurs of the espionage genre, these are the series we just can’t stop listening to.
1. jack-ryan | tom clancy
When we were compiling this list, there was no dispute about his first name: Tom Clancy. The author is synonymous with espionage thrillers and his most famous creation is undoubtedly Jack Ryan. This former US Marine is also a CIA analyst and historian, but he’s also very useful in a fight. it all adds up to the full package of the right stuff, ready to take on bad guys from all over the world. Patriot Games, The Hunt for Red October, and Clear and Present Danger are just a few of the titles to help you get in on the action. With a host of talented narrators at the microphone, many hours of thrills await you.
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2. james bond: the collection | ian fleming
who is your favorite link? matthew good? Rory Kinnear? invoice almost? damien lewis? Kenneth Branagh? When you dive into this collection of the best of Fleming, you’ll love them all. Delivering these world-famous stories with all the charm, wit, and menace you’d expect from the world’s most famous spy, the storytellers will have you on the edge of your seat for the duration of each bonus adventure. listen to bond as fleming intended. stripped down from camp and with the special effects in your imagination, they’re tougher than the movies. you might be surprised.
3. the series evan smoak | gregg hurwitz
Often with crude espionage fiction, the backstory is just as important as how the story unfolds in the here and now. Gregg Hurwitz’s Evan Smoak series is a good example, possibly the best. Evan Smoak signed up for a secret project at age 12 called the Orphan Program. Composed entirely of children no one will miss, the project takes in orphans and trains them to become ruthless assassins for the government. but what happens if the program closes? with evan smoak (orphan x), we found out. he becomes a vigilante, but soon realizes the rest of the assassins haven’t exactly disappeared; in fact, they have it in their sights.
4. ben hope | scott marani
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Spy thrillers come in all shapes and sizes, from the explosive to the more nuanced, with thoughtful development and much larger mysteries in the background than are investigated. Scott Mariani’s Ben Hope stories fit into the latter category. Sometime as a soldier and theology student, Ben Hope is on a mission. in fact, many missions. but he uses his military and academic talents for good, like rescuing missing children or solving ancient mysteries. there is always a thread of the theological and the mystical that runs through the tales, giving each sentence a tantalizing added dimension. sit back and listen to these incredible stories read by exceptional actors – you’ll start to believe.
5. alec millius | charles cumming
charles cumming is not small. Alec Milius’ espionage stories are all huge thrillers, the themes foiling plans with malevolent global consequences. Alec is a flawed genius, who will stop at nothing to cheat and cajole his way to success, all against terrorists, mobsters, and a host of groups with ill intentions. These audiobooks make our list simply because of the high-quality storytelling and expert narration that will bring you closer to a lesser-known character outside of spy fiction circles. enter the circle. now.
6. smiling | john le carre
try to imagine a list of the most respected espionage authors that didn’t include john le carré. it is impossible. So, now we are left to decide which series of titles to focus on. It’s not that easy, but we have opted for the smiley face, mainly because it is a series that you can enjoy for months, and every week it reveals new information about this enigmatic character. Easily Le Carré’s best-known character, George Smiley works for British Intelligence abroad and has been portrayed in films by James Mason, Alec Guinness, Denholm Elliott and Gary Oldman. his adventures are classic spy thrillers: the spy who came in from the cold, the tailor soldier spy, the smiley people and the secret pilgrim, among others. read primarily by michael jayston but with contribution from tom hollander, you know it’s a world-class rollercoaster ride every minute you’re listening.
7. Jason Bourne | robert ludlum
bourne’s first film was released a year after robert ludlum’s death in 2001 and it has always been debated whether they live up to the incredible storytelling the author inspired. So imagine how exceptional these audiobooks must be, with the original Bourne Trilogy being read by Scott Brick, as deadpan as you like, until the suspense begins to build. There are also some newer Eric Van Lustbader titles, inspired by the originals and this amazing character. movies are surely better known than their literary originals, but now you can decide for yourself if that’s an injustice.
8. exchange house | mick herron
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Imagine getting kicked out of mi5 for… well, let’s not spoil it. Mick Herron’s Slough House series tells us what happens to these people when they mess up: they enter the house where their abilities can be put to good use and they just might have a chance to redeem themselves. point out extraordinary acts of valor, interspersed with feelings of betrayal and bitterness, and you have an excellent set of spy novels, all read with menace and mystery in mind.
9. final hour | juno rushdan
Spy thrillers aren’t always as exciting as the ones that emanate from the mind of Juno Rushdan. agents usually end up having to uncover world-altering plots (and not in a good way) and there’s always a deep personal bond (also not in a good way) to crush them. But extraordinary actions sometimes require agents to put aside their histories and misgivings to team up with unlikely partners, because time is always running out. we love these stories, and they had to be included here, as they must be some of the most peaceful spy fiction we know of. if that’s your thing, dive in.
10. john russell | david going down
It’s amazing how hard it is to find excellent WWII thrillers, especially considering the sheer amount of intelligence gathering, disorientation, and enormous risk to life that ensued. david downing remedies that with his station stories. we are transported to the surreal world of berlin during the height of hitler’s power, where communist sympathizer john russell works for the soviet but, with the british and americans breathing down his neck, his loyalty is always being tested . Masaryk Station, the latest of John Russell’s stories, delves into the post-war world just as the Cold War begins to dawn as the new global reality, and it’s every bit as exciting as you’d expect.
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