Loved Dan Brown? Here Are 14 Books That Will Scratch That Historic Thriller Itch
After tons of coffee, one-session reads (iykyk) and multiple books across diverse countries later, these are the authors and books that in my opinion, come the closest to offering same same style....
If you have read Dan Brown, you will be left with an insatiable desire to uncover more mysteries living vicariously through characters like Robert Langdon. As I went through something similar a while back, I took it upon myself to discover some books that will scratch that same itch of a "smart character uncovering a deep historical secret protected by a cult that ties in with current socio-political issues with an assassin on their backs'. And as predictable as the plotline is, somehow each page is a mystery that you cannot get enough of. After tons of coffee, one-session reads (iykyk) and multiple books across diverse countries later, these are the authors and books that in my opinion, come the closest to offering same same style of gnostic mysteries that Dan Brown Does.
1. Ashwin Sanghi - The Krishna key
Starting with an absolute favourite of mine- Ashwin Sanghi, also called the Dan Brown of India. His books are the perfect blend of Indian mythologies, politics, thrill and mystery. The Krishna Key is what aligns most with Dan brown's style of writing, a professor, his assistant, multiple plot twists and uncovering some deep secret that will change the way people view the world. It's the 3rd part in his Bharat series, but I suggest you start with this as the parts are not interconnected and have separate plot lines.
2. Kathleen McGowan- Magdalene Line
A woman author who does thrillers is definitely a rare find. The Magdalene Line series she has written is ideal for anyone who enjoyed the Da Vinci Code. It involves ancient secrets preserved in manuscripts, mysteries with the potential to change the world, global adventures, and clues that link numerous geniuses from different periods. This is a trilogy series and only 2 parts are out yet, so hopefully the third one comes out soon.
3. Arturo Pérez-Reverte- The Captain Alatriste Series
Loads of historical events, treasure hunts, ancient schemes, and plots within the church, the classics. He is an entertaining and attractive author who has a background in journalism, evident in his mostly precise and thoroughly researched narratives, some might find him too descriptive, but that's how us dan brown fans like it. The Captain Alatriste series is excellent, but if you want to explore a standalone book, then "The Dumas Club" or "The Seville Communion" are great options. He is a Spanish author so you might take a minute to get used to the translated writing style, but once you do, you'll find him to be right up the classic history thriller alley.
4. Raymond Khoury- The Last Templar
More Knights Templar because if you like secret societies stories you need more Templar in your life. "The Last Templar" is the first in his Sean Reilly series. Similar to the rest, this one is all about an ancient secret that was long buried and people trying to protect it as it is on the verge of coming out. His standalone novels, "The Sanctuary" & "The Sign" are also worth checking out, similar to Deception Point and Digital Fortress from dan brown.
5. Peter May- Extraordinary People
Lately, I've been really into Scottish authors, and I discovered a series by Peter May that hits a lot like Dan Brown's novels. The main character, Enzo Macleod, used to be a detective in Scotland but left the force to become a History Professor at a university in Paris. He decides to take on a famous cold case as part of a bet with some colleagues from the faculty, and that's where the adventure begins. There's a lot of puzzle-solving and interesting history lessons in the book called Extraordinary People, which is the first in the series. There are about 6 books in the series of Enzo Macleod just like multiple books with the character or Robert Langdon.
6. Oliver Pötzsch- The Hangman’s Daughter
You might like The Hangman’s Daughter series by Oliver Pötzsch. It’s a historical mystery thriller set in the 1600s and is very well-researched. Additionally, the main characters are fictional versions of the author’s real ancestors. The book is set in 1659, in the small town of Schongau in Bavaria, Germany, where several children have been murdered with strange marks on their shoulders. The town's hangman, Jakob Kuisl, is ordered to force a confession out of the town midwife, Marta, who is suspected of witchcraft.
7. Douglas Preston- The Codex
Douglas Preston often writes in conjunction with Lincoln Child, many of their books involve Indiana Jones-style archaeology and adventure. Everyone loves his Pendergast series but I would recommend starting with "The Codex" or "The Ice Limit" before you delve into the series to get used to the writing style which is slightly different even though it has the same vibe as Dan Brown. Maxwell Broadbent, a famous treasure hunter and robber, collected rare art, gems, and artefacts. He disappeared along with all his riches. Initially, it was believed that he was robbed, but the truth turned out to be much stranger. Maxwell hid himself and his treasure somewhere in the world.
8. Steve Berry- The Templar Legacy
Steve Berry writes numerous historical fiction mystery and action books and conducts 2-3 years of research for each one. At the end of his books, he provides a note distinguishing historical fact, conjecture, and fiction. He is one of my favourite authors, particularly for his Cotton Malone books. His Knights Templar series, featuring Cotton Malone, will interest you. It involves an ancient order of knights, stolen treasures, scholars and zealots, and daring escapes. The first book in the series is "The Templar Legacy." You can explore Berry's recommended books on his site where he picks a few from the plethora that he has.
9. Clive Cussler- Sahara
Clive Cussler is definitely worth checking out, especially his books featuring Dirk Pitt. I always found those to be the most enjoyable and reminiscent of the Robert Langdon-type character. I recommend reading Sahara - although they made a movie based on it, the book's plot is more complex and worth the read even if you found the movie to be just okay. (For what it's worth, I actually loved the movie!) I've also delved into Pacific Vortex, Valhalla Rising, and a few others. Cussler wrote many exciting adventures for Dirk Pitt, and everyone I've recommended this to has found it to be good. His NUMA Files series is also worth exploring.
10. James Rollins- Sigma Force Series (Sandstorm)
A Dan Brown 2.0, you'll love his Sigma Force series. A lot of Indiana Jones-- type stuff; digging up ancient artefacts that may or may not be deadly, creepy objects, evil cults, secret organizations, world-level conspiracies, pope and Vatican shenanigans, looking for buried cities, and trying to not get the old gods angry. What I loved the most was the whole fast-paced energy it had just like the OG, and equally detailed, a true page-turner. You might also enjoy his other popular series, Order of the Sanguines, which deals more specifically with Catholicism.
11. Carlos Ruiz Zafon- The Shadow Of The Wind
The series is called The Cemetery of Forgotten Books which includes the books- The Angels Game, The Prisoner of Heaven and The Labyrinth of Spirits. It was originally written in Spanish but the English translation lives up to the hype and is simply stunning. A bit more on the ghost side than a religious mythological one, this book is a story within a story. It starts in the 1940s with the main character, Daniel, a boy whose father owns a bookshop in Barcelona. One day, his father takes him to the Cemetery of Forgotten Books—a secret library that has rare and banned books.
12. Daniel Silva- The Kill Artist
Focused much more on the Israeli world with forays into different world locations, this book is about Gabriel Allon, master art restorer and sometimes spy who is a former Israeli agent whose family was killed by Tariq, is lured back into action by Shamron. He is teamed up with Jacqueline Delacroix, a French supermodel and Israeli secret agent. Jacqueline's grandparents died in the Holocaust. Gabriel sets up in London to monitor Yusef, Tariq's fellow terrorist. Featuring the classic old mix of espionage, spies, history, mystery, and religion. The Kill Artist is the first in the series of 24 books- so get in for a long-term commitment.
13. Nelson DeMille- The Quest
More than his popular John Corey series, I think you'd enjoy The Quest which is a standalone novel. It's about an old Catholic priest who escapes prison, where he was unfairly held, and meets a pair of journalists. He tells them a wild story - that he alone knows the location of the Holy Grail! This is much more detailed and well paced and structured in my opinion compared to the series which is more of a general espionage thriller.
14. John Case- The Eighth Day
Actually, a husband/wife writing duo that uses the pen name "John Case" and has written multiple books in the genre, with their best sellers being The Genesis Code and The Syndrome. These books involve religion & science, ancient artefacts, looking for clues in old texts, etc. "The Eighth Day" would be a good start. It is about Danny Cray, a struggling artist and part-time private investigator, who is hired by wealthy lawyer Jude Belzer to investigate a campaign against his client, billionaire Zerevan Zebet. Danny's only lead is a deceased professor's estate, and as he delves deeper, he realizes things are not as they seem. The story takes us from Washington, D.C., to Rome, Istanbul, and Silicon Valley in a thrilling journey filled with unexpected turns and gripping suspense.
Mahek’s Tip: After you have finished reading these, here are even more authors to try: Ken Follett, Frederick Forsyth, Bernard Cornwell, Wilbur Smith, Brad Thor, Vince Flynn, Michael Connelly, Tom Clancy, Iain Pears, Michael Crichton.