Literary theme analysis, by a book like {foo}
Books about Political Intrigue
A Dance with Dragons
by George R.R. Martin
Epic fantasy tale of political intrigue and war with a wide cast of characters.
Stannis Baratheon , a claimant to the Iron Throne of Westeros , occupies the Wall at the realm's northern border, having helped to repel an invasion of wildlings from the northern wilderness. Stannis ... (Wikipedia)
Our Man in Havana
by Graham Greene
A humorous tale of espionage in Cold War Cuba, as a vacuum cleaner salesman attempts to outwit the British Secret Service.
Graham Greene's classic Cuban spy story, now with a new package and a new introduction, First published in 1959,, Our Man in Havana, is an espionage thriller, a penetrating character study, and a ... (Goodreads)
Julius Caesar
by William Shakespeare
Tragedy of political power and ambition as Rome's leader is betrayed by those closest to him.
The Oxford School Shakespeare has become the preferred introduction to the literary legacy of the greatest playwright in the English language. This exclusive collection of the Bard's best works has ... (Goodreads)
Kitty Goes to Washington
by Carrie Vaughn
A woman faces a political crisis and must use her wits to save the day.
In this tantalizing sequel to, Kitty and the Midnight Hour, celebrity werewolf and late-night radio host Kitty Norville returns to take on dirty politicians in America's capital. Kitty Norville ... (Goodreads)
Salomé
by Oscar Wilde
A retelling of the Biblical story of a young woman's defiance and seductive power.
Outraged by the sexual perversity of this one-act tragedy, Great Britain's Lord Chamberlain banned Salomé from the national stage. Symbolist poets and writers — Stéphane Mallarmé and Maurice ... (Goodreads)
The Blind Assassin
by Margaret Atwood
A complex, interwoven story of family secrets, love, tragedy, and mystery.
The novel's protagonist , Iris Chase, and her sister Laura, grow up well-off but motherless in a small town in southern Ontario. As an old woman, Iris recalls the events and relationships of her ... (Wikipedia)
The Emperor's Blades
by Brian Staveley
Epic fantasy story of three siblings fighting to defend their kingdom from enemies both internal and external.
The circle is closing. The stakes are high. And old truths will live again... The Emperor has been murdered, leaving the Annurian Empire in turmoil. Now his progeny must bury their grief and prepare ... (Goodreads)
A Feast for Crows
by George R.R. Martin
Epic fantasy novel, depicting political and magical conflicts in a fictional world.
The War of the Five Kings is slowly coming to its end. The secessionist kings Robb Stark and Balon Greyjoy have been killed. One claimant to the throne, Stannis Baratheon , has gone to fight off ... (Wikipedia)
The Providence of Fire
by Brian Staveley
Epic fantasy of politics, religion, and war, with a quest to discover the truth.
Brian Staveley's The Providence of Fire, the second novel in the Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne, a gripping new epic fantasy series. The conspiracy to destroy the ruling family of the Annurian Empire ... (Goodreads)
Throne of Glass
by Sarah J. Maas
A female assassin's quest to become the kingdom's champion and uncover a powerful conspiracy.
Meet Celaena Sardothien. Beautiful. Deadly. Destined for greatness. In a land without magic, where the king rules with an iron hand, Celaena, an assassin, is summoned to the castle. She comes not to ... (Goodreads)
American Tabloid
by James Ellroy
A riveting crime drama set in the 1950s, featuring a complex web of characters and their dark and twisted agendas.
"Shakedowns" covers just 26 days, introducing the three principal characters, and establishing their relationships, history, and career trajectories. Pete Bondurant is a former LASD deputy; he ... (Wikipedia)
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest
by Stieg Larsson
Final installment of the Millennium Trilogy, following a female hacker's fight for justice.
The book begins as Lisbeth Salander is flown to Sahlgrenska Hospital . It picks up where The Girl Who Played with Fire left off. After surgery, Salander is moved to an intensive care ward under ... (Wikipedia)
Transmetropolitan, Vol. 1: Back on the Street
by Warren Ellis
A journalist navigates a dystopian world, exposing corruption and social injustices.
After years of self-imposed exile from a civilization rife with degradation and indecency, cynical journalist Spider Jerusalem is forced to return to a job that he hates and a city that he loathes. ... (Goodreads)
Point of Impact
by Stephen Hunter
A gripping story of a sniper and his mission to protect the President from an assassin.
He was one the best Marine snipers in Vietnam. Today, twenty years later, disgruntled hero of an unheroic war, all Bob Lee Swagger wants to be left alone and to leave the killing behind. But with ... (Goodreads)
Patriot Games
by Tom Clancy
A former CIA analyst must protect his family from domestic terrorists, while thwarting a major international conspiracy.
A kidnapping attempt on the Prince and Princess of Wales and their infant son occurs at the Mall in London . The attack is orchestrated by members of the Ulster Liberation Army , an ideologically ... (Wikipedia)
The Heir
by Kiera Cass
A young woman vies for the crown in a competition of strength, wit, and courage.
A new era dawns in the world of Kiera Cass’s #1 New York Times bestselling Selection series America and Maxon’s fairy-tale romance enchanted readers from the very first page of, The Selection,. Now ... (Barnes & Noble)
Caesar: Life of a Colossus
by Adrian Goldsworthy
Biography of Julius Caesar, detailing his rise to power and influence over Roman history.
Tracing the extraordinary trajectory of the great Roman emperor’s life, Goldsworthy covers not only the great Roman emperor’s accomplishments as charismatic orator, conquering general, and powerful ... (Goodreads)
The Secret Agent
by Joseph Conrad
An espionage tale of political intrigue and moral ambiguity set in 19th century London.
Set in London in 1886, the novel follows the life of Adolf Verloc, a secret agent . Verloc is also a businessman who owns a shop which sells pornographic material, contraceptives and bric-a-brac . He ... (Wikipedia)
Leviathan Wakes
by James S.A. Corey
Space adventure of two unlikely allies in a fight to save humanity.
The ice hauling ship Canterbury (nicknamed the Cant by Belters) is en route from Saturn's Rings to Ceres Station when it encounters a distress signal . Five members of the Cant 's crew are dispatched ... (Wikipedia)
The Invasion of the Tearling
by Erika Johansen
A young queen's quest to save her kingdom from a powerful and mysterious invader.
Princess Kelsea Raleigh Glynn must defeat the powers of the Red Queen, who is out to destroy her. She must journey to the royal castle to claim her throne, and is accompanied only by the loyal ... (Wikipedia)
The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax
by Dorothy Gilman
An elderly widow embarks on an adventurous mission, uncovering secrets of international espionage.
Mrs. Virgil (Emily) Pollifax of New Brunswick, New Jersey, was a widow with grown children. She was tired of attending her Garden Club meetings. She wanted to do something good for her country. So, ... (Goodreads)
Bitterblue
by Kristin Cashore
Young Queen Bitterblue must unravel the secrets of her kingdom and confront a legacy of lies.
Enter the Graceling Realm and let it work its magic in this unforgettable novel from, New York Times, bestselling author Kristin Cashore. When Queen Bitterblue took the throne of Monsea, she was a ... (Barnes & Noble)
Crown of Midnight
by Sarah J. Maas
A dangerous quest for power and revenge, as a young woman embarks on a thrilling journey.
Discover Sarah J. Maas's #1, New York Times, bestselling Throne of Glass series-now available for a limited time in a brand-new miniature format! This exclusive edition highlights Dorian Havilliard. ... (Barnes & Noble)
A Song for Arbonne
by Guy Gavriel Kay
Epic fantasy set in a mythical kingdom, exploring themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the power of love.
Based on the troubadour culture that rose in Provence during the High Middle Ages, this panoramic, absorbing novel beautifully creates an alternate version of the medieval world. The matriarchal, ... (Goodreads)
Daughter of the Empire
by Raymond E. Feist
An epic fantasy story of a young woman's journey to reclaim her stolen throne.
At the age of 17, Mara's ceremonial pledge of servantship to the goddess Lashima is interrupted by the news that her father and brother have been killed in battle. Now Ruling Lady of the Acoma, Mara ... (Wikipedia)
The Secret Servant
by Daniel Silva
An Israeli secret agent goes undercover to prevent a terrorist attack in Amsterdam.
In this entry in the series, Gabriel Allon , the master art restorer and sometime officer of Israeli intelligence, had just prevailed in his blood-soaked duel with Saudi terrorist financier Zizi ... (Wikipedia)
The Last Man
by Vince Flynn
A CIA operative's mission to stop a terrorist group from launching a devastating attack.
#1, New York Times, bestselling author of, American Assassin,—now a major motion picture Mitch Rapp’s hunt for a missing CIA asset raises the stakes for his own survival—in Vince Flynn’s “tight, ... (Barnes & Noble)
The White Queen
by Philippa Gregory
A tale of love, loyalty and betrayal, set in the turbulent times of the War of the Roses.
Brother turns on brother. The throne of England is at stake. The deadly Wars of the Roses have begun. . . ."They ruled England before the Tudors, and now internationally bestselling author Philippa ... (Goodreads)
Traitor's Moon
by Lynn Flewelling
Epic fantasy adventure of a disgraced prince and a mysterious stranger attempting to stop a sinister plot.
Master spies Seregil and Alec are no strangers to peril. Their assignments, nightrunning for wizards and nobles, have led them into many deadly situations. But sometimes the greatest danger can lurk ... (Goodreads)
Best Kept Secret
by Jeffrey Archer
A thrilling story of political intrigue and espionage, culminating in a dramatic climax.
The book picks up after the events in, The Sins of the Father, , with the House of Lords having to decide who will be the heir to the fortune of Hugo Barrington. The vote ends with a tie, which ... (Wikipedia)
Be Careful What You Wish For
by Jeffrey Archer
A man's ambitious quest for power leads to consequences he never anticipated.
Be Careful What You Wish For follows the Barrington-Clifton family during the years 1957 to 1964, when Emma Barrington Clifton seeks to take control of her family shipping business and must deal with ... (Wikipedia)
The Bourne Ultimatum
by Robert Ludlum
Secret agent Jason Bourne on a mission to uncover the truth behind his life and identity.
The novel follows David Webb, alias Jason Bourne , as he works to find his old enemy, Carlos the Jackal , who is trying to kill him. As the Jackal enters old age and his infamy fades, he decides that ... (Wikipedia)
The Spy Who Came In from the Cold
by John le Carré
A British agent's mission to infiltrate East Germany during the Cold War, full of suspense and intrigue.
In this classic, John le Carre's third novel and the first to earn him international acclaim, he created a world unlike any previously experienced in suspense fiction. With unsurpassed knowledge ... (Goodreads)
An Officer and a Spy
by Robert Harris
A story of espionage and betrayal set against the backdrop of the Dreyfus Affair.
Upon being promoted to run the Statistical Section , the top secret headquarters of French military intelligence, Georges Picquart begins to discover that the evidence used to convict Alfred Dreyfus ... (Wikipedia)
Executive Orders
by Tom Clancy
President Jack Ryan must use his wits to protect America from a foreign threat.
Following the conclusion of, Debt of Honor, , previously confirmed Vice President Jack Ryan is sworn in as President of the United States . With nearly every executive, legislative, and judicial ... (Wikipedia)
The Queen of Attolia
by Megan Whalen Turner
A young queen must face political upheaval and a dangerous enemy to protect her kingdom.
Eugenides, the Thief of Eddis, has been caught spying on the Queen of Attolia. He expects to be hanged, but the Queen instead resorts to an ancient traditional punishment for thievery and has his ... (Wikipedia)
Last Argument of Kings
by Joe Abercrombie
War-torn kingdom in chaos, as a ruthless ruler seeks to expand his empire.
The end is coming. Logen Ninefingers might only have one more fight in him but it's going to be a big one. Battle rages across the North, the King of the Northmen still stands firm, and there's only ... (Goodreads)
Dark Fire
by C.J. Sansom
A lawyer investigates a mystery surrounding the death of a famous scientist, unearthing secrets of the past.
It is 1540, and Henry VIII has been on the throne for thirty-one years when Matthew Shardlake, the lawyer renowned as " the sharpest hunchback in the courts of England," is pressed to help a friend's ... (Goodreads)
The Blade Itself
by Joe Abercrombie
Epic fantasy saga of an unlikely band of misfits and their struggle against an oppressive empire.
Logen Ninefingers, infamous barbarian, has finally run out of luck. Caught in one feud too many, he’s on the verge of becoming a dead barbarian – leaving nothing behind him but bad songs, dead ... (Goodreads)
The Twentieth Wife
by Indu Sundaresan
Epic tale of a powerful Mughal Empress, set against a backdrop of political intrigue and personal drama.
An enchanting seventeenth-century epic of grand passion and adventure, this debut novel tells the captivating story of one of India's most legendary and controversial empresses – a woman whose ... (Goodreads)
Here Be Dragons
by Sharon Kay Penman
Epic story of love, war and betrayal set against the backdrop of 13th century England.
Here Be Dragons is the first of Penman's trilogy about the medieval princes of Gwynedd and the monarchs of England. , England's King John uses his out-of-wedlock daughter Joanna as a negotiating tool ... (Wikipedia)
Captain Vorpatril's Alliance
by Lois McMaster Bujold
An action-packed adventure of a career soldier who is reluctantly caught in a web of political intrigue.
During a stay in the planet Komarr, Captain Ivan Vorpatril is recruited by Byerly Vorrutyer, an undercover agent of Imperial Security, to find out the identity of a young woman named Tej, connected ... (Wikipedia)
The Thief
by Megan Whalen Turner
A thief with a hidden agenda sets off on a journey to reclaim an ancient relic.
The main character, a boy named Gen (short for Eugenides), is released from prison by the magus of the King of Sounis. Gen had been imprisoned for stealing the King's seal . The magus, whose name is ... (Wikipedia)
The Day of the Jackal
by Frederick Forsyth
An assassin attempts to kill the president of France in a thrilling race against time.
The book begins in 1962 with the (historical) failed attempt on de Gaulle 's life plotted by, among others, Lieutenant-Colonel Jean-Marie Bastien-Thiry in the Paris suburb of Petit-Clamart : ... (Wikipedia)
Jhereg
by Steven Brust
A fantasy adventure set in a magical realm of warring empires and powerful sorcery.
The novel opens with a brief history of Vlad Taltos and a description of how he acquired his jhereg familiar, Loiosh. Despite being an Easterner in the Dragaeran city of Adrilankha, Vlad is a minor ... (Wikipedia)
Falling Kingdoms
by Morgan Rhodes
Epic fantasy of warring kingdoms, with the fate of a magical world hanging in the balance.
In the three kingdoms of Mytica, magic has long been forgotten. And while hard-won peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest now simmers below the surface. As the rulers of each kingdom ... (Goodreads)
Kushiel's Justice
by Jacqueline Carey
High fantasy tale of a young woman's quest to avenge her family and reclaim her kingdom.
The novel begins with Imriel sitting down to read the letters that his mother, Melisande Shahrizai , has written him all these years. After the occurrences in Kushiel's Scion , especially with Canis ... (Wikipedia)
The Innocent
by David Baldacci
A former assassin risks life and limb to uncover a vast conspiracy and protect a child.
America has enemies - ruthless people that the police, the FBI, even the military can't stop. That's when the U.S. government calls on Will Robie, a stone cold hitman who never questions orders and ... (Goodreads)
Black List
by Brad Thor
An international political thriller involving a covert government agency, a deadly conspiracy, and a race against time.
Somewhere deep inside the United States government is a closely guarded list. Members of Congress never get to see it—only the President and a secret team of advisers. Once your name is on the list, ... (Goodreads)
Separation of Power
by Vince Flynn
Political thriller centered on an ex-CIA agent's mission to stop a terrorist attack on the US.
About a month after the events in the previous book, CIA Director Thomas Stansfield has succumbed to cancer and has chosen Dr. Irene Kennedy, The director of the CIA's counterterrorism center, to ... (Wikipedia)
Munich
by Robert Harris
A gripping historical thriller set in the aftermath of World War II.
From the internationally best-selling author of, Fatherland, and the Cicero Trilogy–a new spy thriller about treason and conscience, loyalty and betrayal, set against the backdrop of the fateful ... (Goodreads)
First Family
by David Baldacci
A secret service agent must protect the president and her family from a ruthless terrorist.
Following the instant #1 New York Times bestsellers Split Second, Hour Game, and Simple Genius, Sean King and Michelle Maxwell return in David Baldacci's most heart-pounding thriller to date . . . ... (Goodreads)
Feet of Clay
by Terry Pratchett
A mysterious death leads to the uncovering of secrets and treachery in a fantasy world.
Twelve of the city golems, clay creatures forced to obey the written instructions placed inside their heads, decide to create a "king" golem. They fashion a golem from their own clay and place in his ... (Wikipedia)
The Runaway King
by Jennifer A. Nielsen
A young prince must outwit his enemies and reclaim his throne before it is too late.
A kingdom teetering on the brink of destruction. A king gone missing. Who will survive? Just weeks after Jaron has taken the throne, an assassination attempt forces him into a deadly situation. ... (Goodreads)
Kushiel's Avatar
by Jacqueline Carey
A gripping fantasy saga of political intrigue, magic, and forbidden love.
The land of Terre d'Ange is a place of unsurpassed beauty and grace. It's inhabited by the race that rose from the seed of angels, and they live by one simple rule: Love as thou wilt. Phèdre nó ... (Goodreads)
Black Powder War
by Naomi Novik
A thrilling adventure full of political intrigue and magical dragons.
In Black Powder War , Captain William Laurence and Temeraire - along with the surviving members of their crew - are ordered to make all haste and return from the mission to China via Istanbul , where ... (Wikipedia)
The Masque of the Black Tulip
by Lauren Willig
A thrilling tale of espionage and romance set in 18th century Europe.
Modern-day graduate student Eloise achieved the academic coup of the century when she unmasked one of history's greatest spies, the Pink Carnation, who saved England from Napoleon. But now she has a ... (Goodreads)
The Winter King
by Bernard Cornwell
Epic saga of Arthurian legend, weaving together the tales of a warrior-king's rise to power.
The story is narrated by its main protagonist, Derfel Cadarn , an elderly monk who has converted to Christianity late in life after spending many years as a warrior in the service of Arthur , a ... (Wikipedia)
The Kill Artist
by Daniel Silva
An ex-Mossad agent is called back into service to take down a powerful terrorist leader.
Israel’s Prime Minister reinstates Ari Shamron as Mossad director. Shortly thereafter, Israel’s ambassador is murdered in Paris. The crime has all of the markings of Tariq al-Hourani, a terrorist ... (Wikipedia)
Legend
by Marie Lu
A young hero must save her nation from the brink of destruction, using her wits and courage.
Legend is set in a future flooded, fortified Los Angeles, ruled by the totalitarian Republic. The novel centers around Day and June, two 15-year-olds on opposite sides of the economic spectrum. June ... (Wikipedia)
The Bourne Supremacy
by Robert Ludlum
An ex-CIA agent must clear his name from charges of espionage and murder.
In the first book,, The Bourne Identity, , the title character suffers amnesia . Over the course of the book, he regains his memory with the help of a Canadian economist, Marie St Jacques, and ... (Wikipedia)
The Crimson Crown
by Cinda Williams Chima
Epic fantasy adventure set in a war-torn kingdom, with a young girl struggling to break a magical curse.
A thousand years ago, two young lovers were betrayed—Alger Waterlow to his death, and Hanalea, Queen of the Fells, to a life without love. Now, once again, the Queendom of the Fells seems likely to ... (Goodreads)
I Am Pilgrim
by Terry Hayes
A former operative is called back into action to track down a terrorist plotting a global attack.
A breakneck race against time...and an implacable enemy. An anonymous young woman murdered in a run-down hotel, all identifying characteristics dissolved by acid. A father publicly beheaded in the ... (Goodreads)
The Twelve Caesars
by Suetonius
Detailed biographies of the twelve Roman Emperors, from Julius Caesar to Domitian.
As private secretary to the Emperor Hadrian, Suetonius gained access to the imperial archives and used them (along with eye-witness accounts) to produce one of the most colorful biographical works in ... (Goodreads)
Midnight Tides
by Steven Erikson
Epic fantasy of a world on the brink of war, as two unlikely heroes seek to restore balance.
The novel begins with the aftermath of a massive battle between an alliance of Tiste Edur , led by Scabandari Bloodeye, and Tiste Andii , led by Silchas Ruin, against some K'Chain Che'Malle . The ... (Wikipedia)
Toll the Hounds
by Steven Erikson
Epic fantasy of betrayal, power struggles and dark secrets in a kingdom on the brink of war.
Many of the characters from Gardens of the Moon and Memories of Ice make a return in this novel. The prologue is divided into four separate scenes. The first is in a "necropolis of sorts", where two ... (Wikipedia)
State of the Union
by Brad Thor
An ex-Navy Seal must save the United States from a dangerous foreign enemy.
From the national bestselling author of "The Lions of Lucerne" and "Path of the Assassin" comes another electrifying international thriller featuring all-American hero Scot Harvath, as he plunges ... (Goodreads)
Anil's Ghost
by Michael Ondaatje
A forensic pathologist's journey to uncover the hidden truth behind a mysterious death.
The story opens up in early March as Anil arrives in Sri Lanka after a 15-year absence abroad. Her visit comes as a result of the increasing number of deaths in Sri Lanka from all the warring sides ... (Wikipedia)
The Pelican Brief
by John Grisham
A law student's investigation into a political assassination, uncovering a deadly conspiracy.
The story begins with the assassinations of two ideologically divergent Supreme Court Justices. Both murders are committed by Khamel, the most wanted hitman in the world. Justice Rosenberg, a ... (Wikipedia)
Hell's Corner
by David Baldacci
A former secret service agent must unravel a sinister plot to assassinate the President.
Oliver Stone and the Camel Club star in #1 bestselling author David Baldacci's most stunning adventure of the series. An attack on the heart of power . . . In sight of the White House . . . At a ... (Goodreads)
House Harkonnen
by Brian Herbert
Epic fantasy of galactic struggle, where the fate of millions hangs in the balance.
Eighteen years have passed since Shaddam IV succeeded his father as Padishah Emperor of the Known Universe. However, his rule is precarious as his wife Anirul has been instructed by her Bene Gesserit ... (Wikipedia)
The Camel Club
by David Baldacci
A group of conspiracy theorists investigate a series of mysterious events, uncovering secrets at the highest levels of government.
The exciting beginning of a talked-about series. Existing at the fringes of Washington D.C., the Club consists of four eccentric members. Led by a mysterious man known as "Oliver Stone," they study ... (Goodreads)
Killing Patton: The Strange Death of World War II's Most Audacious General
by Bill O'Reilly
Investigation into the mysterious death of General George S. Patton, and the implications of its cover-up.
Readers around the world have thrilled to, Killing Lincoln,, Killing Kennedy, and, Killing Jesus,—riveting works of nonfiction that journey into the heart of the most famous murders in history. Now ... (Goodreads)
A Game of Thrones, Book 1, Part 1
by George R.R. Martin
The tale of a powerful family's rise to power and the struggles they face along the way.
Eddard Stark, der Herr von Winterfell, wird an den Hof seines Königs gerufen, um diesem als Berater und Vertrauter zur Seite zu stehen. Doch Intriganten, Meuchler und skrupellose Adlige scharen sich ... (Goodreads)
The Bone Season
by Samantha Shannon
An epic fantasy about a group of resistance fighters fighting against a powerful, oppressive regime.
The year is 2059. Nineteen-year-old Paige Mahoney is working in the criminal underworld of Scion London, based at Seven Dials, employed by a man named Jaxon Hall. Her job: to scout for information by ... (Wikipedia)
Empress Orchid
by Anchee Min
A young girl's rise to power as the last empress of China.
To rescue her family from poverty and avoid marrying her slope-shouldered cousin, seventeen-year-old Orchid competes to be one of the Emperor's wives. When she is chosen as a lower-ranking concubine ... (Goodreads)
Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime
by John Heilemann
A behind-the-scenes look at the 2008 US Presidential Election and the people who ran it.
“It’s one of the best books on politics of any kind I’ve read. For entertainment value, I put it up there with Catch 22 .” — The Financial Times “It transports you to a parallel universe in which ... (Goodreads)
Sycamore Row
by John Grisham
A lawyer in Mississippi must unravel a mysterious will and its secrets.
The title refers to a row of sycamore trees in the countryside near the fictional town of Clanton, in fictional Ford County, Mississippi . The trees play an important role in the book's plot, though ... (Wikipedia)
The Six Wives of Henry VIII
by Antonia Fraser
Examination of the lives and marriages of the six wives of King Henry VIII.
In a sweeping narrative, Fraser traces the cultural, familial and political roots of each of Henry's queens, pushes aside the stereotypes that have long defined them, and illuminates the complex ... (Goodreads)
The Iron King
by Maurice Druon
Epic historical fiction of the Middle Ages, as dynasties pay the price of ambition.
Set in the 14th century during the reigns of the last five kings of the direct Capetian dynasty and the first two kings of the House of Valois , the series begins as the French King Philip the Fair , ... (Wikipedia)
The Hit
by David Baldacci
A retired secret service agent is recruited to track down a missing witness.
Will Robie is a master of killing. A highly skilled assassin, Robie is the man the U.S. government calls on to eliminate the worst of the worst-enemies of the state, monsters committed to harming ... (Goodreads)
The Fallen Angel
by Daniel Silva
A gripping espionage thriller as an art restorer is thrown into a world of international conspiracy.
Unlike recent titles in the series, this book is set primarily in Italy as Allon helps the Pope 's private secretary, Monsignor Luigi Donati with a case that is troubling The Vatican . The conclusion ... (Wikipedia)
Whiteout
by Ken Follett
An international web of intrigue and espionage, as a journalist races against time to uncover the truth.
Toni Gallo, head of security, knows she has failed when a test rabbit for research on a more dangerous form of the Ebola virus is stolen from a lab in Scotland. But things are soon much worse when ... (Wikipedia)
The Unlikely Spy
by Daniel Silva
A British operative infiltrates Nazi Germany during WWII to uncover secrets about the Hitler regime.
Set during World War II, the book follows Alfred Vicary, a historian and friend of Winston Churchill, who was wounded in battle during the World War I while serving as an officer in the Intelligence ... (Wikipedia)
Purity
by Jonathan Franzen
A young woman's quest to uncover her identity and family secrets.
The novel tells the intersecting stories of several different people of widely diverging ages and backgrounds. Purity Tyler, who goes by the name "Pip" is 23 and has $130,000 in student loan debt. ... (Wikipedia)
Conspirata
by Robert Harris
Historical political thriller set in ancient Rome, featuring a Senator's struggle to protect the Republic.
Cicero returns to continue his struggle to grasp supreme power in the state of Rome. Amidst treachery, vengeance, violence, and treason, this brilliant lawyer, orator, and philosopher finally reaches ... (Goodreads)
Baudolino
by Umberto Eco
A medieval tale of adventure, deception and the search for truth.
In the year of 1204, Baudolino of Alessandria enters Constantinople , unaware of the Fourth Crusade that has thrown the city into chaos. In the confusion, he meets Niketas Choniates and saves his ... (Wikipedia)
Lamentation
by C.J. Sansom
A tale of mystery and suspense as a lawyer unravels a conspiracy in Tudor England.
As Henry VIII lies on his deathbed, an incendiary manuscript threatens to tear his court apart. Summer, 1546. King Henry VIII is slowly, painfully dying. His Protestant and Catholic councilors are ... (Goodreads)
Kings Rising
by C.S. Pacat
A riveting finale to a captivating fantasy trilogy, where loyalty and ambition clash in a thrilling game of power.
Damianos of Akielos has returned. His identity now revealed, Damen must face his master Prince Laurent as Damianos of Akielos, the man Laurent has sworn to kill. On the brink of a momentous battle, ... (Goodreads)
Diplomatic Immunity
by Lois McMaster Bujold
A daring mission to rescue a diplomat from the clutches of a ruthless military dictator.
Miles Vorkosigan, the main character in the series, and Ekaterin Vorsoisson are enjoying a delayed honeymoon off-world while their first two children are approaching birth in their uterine ... (Wikipedia)
The Icarus Agenda
by Robert Ludlum
A journalist's investigation of a political conspiracy uncovers dangerous secrets that threaten his life.
Colorado Congressman Evan Kendrick is trying to live out his term quietly when a political mole reveals his deepest secret: Kendrick was the anonymous hero who freed the hostages held by Arab ... (Goodreads)
The Queen's Fool
by Philippa Gregory
A young girl's journey to the court of Queen Mary I of England, learning secrets and truths.
Nine-year-old Hannah Green sees Thomas Seymour and Elizabeth flirting when she delivers books for her father. When asked why she seems surprised, she tells him she has seen a scaffold behind him. ... (Wikipedia)
The Confessor
by Daniel Silva
A master spy embarks on a thrilling mission to uncover secrets and protect the innocent.
Gabriel Allon is tasked to investigate the murder of scholar Benjamin Stern in Munich . The lack of Stern's computer and other documents indicate that he was not killed for being a Jew — but rather ... (Wikipedia)
The Prague Cemetery
by Umberto Eco
A thrilling, historical mystery, unravelling the secrets of a 19th century conspiracy.
The main character is Simone Simonini, a man whom Eco claims he has tried to make into the most cynical and disagreeable character in all the history of literature , (and is the only fictional ... (Wikipedia)
Traitor to the Throne
by Alwyn Hamilton
A young girl's fight against a tyrannical regime to restore justice and freedom to her homeland.
Rebel by chance. Traitor by choice. Gunslinger Amani al'Hiza fled her dead-end hometown on the back of a mythical horse with the mysterious foreigner Jin, seeking only her own freedom. Now she’s ... (Goodreads)
Twenty Years After
by Alexandre Dumas
Musketeers reunite to battle political intrigue and enemies of the French crown.
'At this game, whoever does not kill is killed.' Twenty Years After (1845), the sequel to The Three Musketeers , is a supreme creation of suspense and heroic adventure. Two decades have passed since ... (Goodreads)
Threat Vector
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An international race against time to stop a terrorist plot while a deadly virus is unleashed.
President of China Wei Zhen Lin has been dealing with mounting political opposition over his country's economic recession. He tries to commit suicide in order to avoid his inevitable arrest when he ... (Wikipedia)
The Last Tudor
by Philippa Gregory
Historical fiction about a family of nine sisters and their struggle to survive during the Tudor era.
The latest novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory features one of the most famous girls in history, Lady Jane Grey, and her two sisters, each of whom dared to defy her ... (Goodreads)
Night Fall
by Nelson DeMille
Thriller surrounding a terror attack on New York City that unravels a conspiracy of cover-ups and lies.
The story begins with the 1996 crash of TWA Flight 800 off Long Island , New York . A couple conducting an illicit affair on the beach witness the crash and flee the scene, having accidentally ... (Wikipedia)
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