12 Books Like The Ratcatcher of Berlin

The Peak is a character driven international thriller with the moral ambiguity of the espionage world and the high stakes of geopolitics wrapped around a tale of friendship and loyalty.
It was great to read an Australian angle in a political/espionage thriller, especially one that incorporates China, Hong Kong, and modern geopolitical tensions. And with well-fleshed out characters and a quasi coming-of-age story set alongside the main plot, it made for compelling and addictive reading. Bonus points for the great soundtrack!

If you’ve read or seen Tokyo Vice, you already have an idea of what Tokyo Noir will be like, although this time it’s taking a wider lens into corporate Japan. It has Adelstein’s trademark style that has you on his shoulder as he traipses the streets, interviewing sources while providing excellent insight into Japanese culture.
An unflinching, boots-on-the-pavement perspective that uncovers a hidden world of stories that go beyond the headlines. Disappointing it won’t see a TV adaptation like Tokyo Vice. Please someone make it happen!

I had to include Alan Furst, the absolute master of historical fiction of the pre-WWII era. The first book of Furst’s Night Soldiers Series, this book introduced me to a new sort of spy thriller: instead of secret agents, these are ordinary people swept up in history.

I do love a makeover, but this is a life-and-death self-reinvention. When Khristo is targeted by the local fascist gang in 1934 Bulgaria, it’s time to run. When his first reinvention becomes dangerous, he reinvents himself again. And again. And finds love on the way. I was inspired at every turn by Khristo’s transformations without ever losing his core decency. The historical detail is so vivid I felt like I was right there with Khristo, whether he was in Moscow, Spain, or Paris. 

Very exciting story and obviously based on the author's real life experiences doing intelligence work.

McCarry has never had the wide acclaim that my first two picks have had, and that’s a shame.

The Tears of Autumn is set in late 1963. Kennedy has been assassinated, and Vietnam has come to a fast boil. McCarry’s protagonist, Paul Christopher, an introspective poet and burned-out spy, takes it upon himself to find out the truth behind the rumor that the Vietnamese were behind Kennedy’s killing.

It’s a novel that spans continents and provides professional insight into the motivation and temperament of the spy world. Like Le Carré, McCarry’s style is sparse, lean, and enthralling. In a world beset by conspiracy theories, disinformation, and fake news, The Tears of Autumn is superb.

This book will surprise the hell out of you.

The author (& screenwriter of Spy Game) writes deftly with incisive dialogue and humor. He details the hidden human motivations that drive spies and their masters, and with his command of intelligence tradecraft, rules that can be twisted, and an insider's grasp of the Agency’s culture, you have a recipe for great reading.

Beckner takes the reader into a high-stakes battle of wits and memories between two Cold Warriors that spans years and takes the reader through a dense wilderness of mirrors. Old operations and secrets no one wants revealed lie in wait and propel the story towards a whirlwind conclusion that will leave you breathless.

This is a deliciously layered tale told from the front porch of a Florida vacation home under the influence of good whisky cut with rainwater. There are echoes of Chandler, hints of Thompson, and… show more.

Okay, I like almost anything that is set in Berlin because I lived and “worked” there during the Cold War, but Canon really brings it in this tightly woven story of Martin Keller, a hapless former convict who has been co-opted to work for the CIA in East Berlin.

From the first page, paranoia sets in, as it must on anyone working against the Communist regime of East Germany, when Keller embarks on his own agenda to save himself and, more importantly, the family he loves.

Kanon re-creates the tension of a divided Berlin while his well-drawn characters try to escape the clutches of a morally corrupt government. Kanon is simply one of the best.  

As a former intelligence officer, I love books that tell me about the places where real spies (and even some fictional ones) operated.

Roy Berkeley has done just that in cracking form with A Spy's London, which is an exhaustive guide to where the spies were in London (and still are).

Although I would challenge his assertion that London is the espionage capital of the world (hint: it’s Berlin), his book tells you the story and then shows you how to get there with walking tours, maps, and photos.

I especially love his description of the “ops” and how he brings them to life, whether they went well or failed spectacularly!

The American Southwest is not the usual place one thinks about in connection to espionage, but some of the most notorious spy incidents in U.S. history happened here during World War II and are still happening!

Former CIA officer E. B. Held brings these events to life (and in some cases death) with just the right amount of historical background to interest any traveler or spy aficionado in exploring these amazing stories. 

I love how the author shows the importance of New Mexico to espionage history from Leon Trotsky to the Manhattan Project to today’s events at Los Alamos National Laboratory. This book will give you a new perspective on “The Land of Enchantment."

Okay, it’s time for some fun. Matthew Field & Ajay Chowdhury have given us a feast with their book: Darker than the Sun.

More than anything, I can say I love this book because the authors know 007 and the business of spy movies better than anyone! If you love spy fiction like I do, you need this book because it takes you to wherever James Bond, aka 007, has been.

What I really love is that you don’t need to travel to these places, because this book gives you all the information on the story, how the movies were filmed, the people, and, of course, stunning photography.

From the Swiss Alps, to Jamaica, to Istanbul, to Thailand, you can plan your own trip, or – like I did – just settle down in a comfortable chair with a Vesper martini and enjoy!