Politics—it’s a dirty business, but someone has to do it. And just about anyone can these days. We live in a time of political divisiveness, with some elected officials in our government who would disgust comic supervillains. One would think that by the time an election rolls around, readers would be sick of politics and stay away from political books. But much like how dystopian fiction shot up in popularity at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, it turns out people read more about politics near elections.
According to this October 2024 article from Esquire, sales of non-fiction political books shot way up around the 2016 presidential election—and so did the sales of dystopian novels, like 1984 and The Handmaid’s Tale. Other than that, readers tastes in fiction seem to stay about the same in an election year, even though publishers release fewer books. Romance, memoirs, and thrillers all top the bestseller lists, some of which are political thrillers. Perhaps people enjoy reading political fiction around election time because unlike the real world, the corrupt politicians and bad guys are actually punished. What an amazing world that would be! If you enjoy intricate political thrillers with page-turning plots where the bad people get their comeuppance, then this list of 15 great recent political thriller books is for you! You can also find more great reads involving conspiracies and corruption with this list of political thrillers and this list full of psychological thrillers!
While Justice Sleeps by Stacey Abrams
We’re kicking things off with a political thriller written by an actual politician! Avery Keene Is a brilliant law clerk in the employ of the respected Justice Wynn. When he slips into a coma, she discovers that Wynn has left instructions for Avery to serve as his legal guardian and power of attorney. She also learns that Wynn had been investigating a dangerous conspiracy that involved D.C. politicians at high levels of government—and now Avery is in their crosshairs.
Hometown Vendetta by Traci Hunter Abramson
A terrorist attack on the United States sends Marine Captain and presidential aide Luke Steele and FBI Special Agent Amberlyn McDowell to Luke’s hometown in search of answers. The suspected attacker was wearing a ring from Luke’s school, and now he must face the demons of his past while they work to identify the suspect before there is another attack.
State of Terror by Hillary Rodham Clinton, Louise Penny
NYT bestselling author of the Inspector Gamache series, Louise Penny, teamed up with former secretary of state, US senator, and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton to deliver up a pulse-pounding story in which the new president’s secretary of state, Ellen Adams, must work to stop an escalating series of terrorist attacks on the United States.
That Dangerous Energy by Aya de León
Struggling artist Morgan Faraday can’t believe she’s marrying a billionaire, and a socially conscious one at that. She looks forward to working with Sebastian to help the world. But then she discovers emails that show that Sebastian is in bed with some pretty shady characters high up in government, and that his good guy intentions are just an act.
Never by Ken Follett
A deadly escalating crisis is spreading across the globe in this exciting present-day epic from the author of The Pillars of the Earth! Politicians and spies are working all around the world to prevent the next world war as chemical weapons, a stole U.S. Army drone, a Sahara Desert oasis, and an uninhabited Japanese island play crucial roles in their success.
Karla’s Choice: A John le Carré Novel by Nick Harkaway
Nick Harkaway continues the George Smiley series started by his father, John le Carré, with this excellent political thriller set in the 1960s. The exceedingly talented spy Smily wants out of the business, but reluctantly agrees to do one last job and finding a missing man before the Russian defector sent to kill him finds him first.
Deep State by Chris Hauty
In this thrilling debut, the White House chief of staff is found dead in the president’s house, and evidence suggests it wasn’t from natural causes. Was he the intended target, or is there a conspiracy to kill the president? And how far up the chain of command does it go?
The Year of the Locust by Terry Hayes
From the author of I Am Pilgrim comes this electrifying novel about a loyal CIA spy, Kane, who must travel into the most dangerous places to find a man with important government information and get him out safely.
The Secret Hours by Mick Herron
This stand-alone novel is set in the MI5 world of Herron’s Slow Horses series. It’s about two MI5 agents whose disastrous MI5 mission in Cold War Berlin in the 1990s is dragged into the light when the new British Prime Minister investigates past operations by the Secret Service.
Red Widow by Alma Katsu
And this is an exciting book about CIA agents written by an actual U.S. intelligence veteran! Three women must work to find the leak inside the CIA and stop Russian operatives from getting their hands on U.S. secrets.
The Sniper by Chang Kuo-Li, Roddy Flagg (translator)
Just days away from retirement, Taipei police detective Wu discovers the body of a naval officer. The navy insists it was suicide, but Wu feels differently, and begins unraveling a far-reaching government conspiracy, while in Italy a young Taiwanese sniper is called back into service.
Hunted by Abir Mukherjee
Two parents from opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean must join together in a race to find their children as an unknown organization in Oregon prepares to launch a deadly attack on America.
One In The Chamber by Robin Peguero
This second novel from Robin Peguero, a former U.S. House spokesman and Senate speechwriter, is a satirical thriller about junior staffers working on Capitol Hill who must work to discover who killed a U.S. Senator.
The Helsinki Affair by Anna Pitoniak
Amanda Cole is a rising star in the CIA, and when a Russian defector gives her information about a planned assassination of a senator, she thinks this will boost her career as an officer even more. But Amanda is too late, and the senator is killed. And among the senator’s papers is information about a CIA officer she may have to report to her superiors. But that will be a hard chooice for Amanda, because that other officer is her father.
I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys
And last but not least, this award-winning young adult novel about courage and communism in Europe in the late 1980s. Cristian Florescu is a teen in Romania who secretly dreams of becoming a writer. But when he is blackmailed into becoming an informer for the secret police, he must decide if he will acquiesce or stand up to the tyrannical regime.
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