10 Thrilling Spy Book Series for Espionage Lovers

Action, thrills, and edge-of-your-seat moments are things you can usually count on from spy book series. And having them narrated to you, with all the breathless intensity the plots require, makes espionage books a must in audiobook format. If you’re looking for some adventure in your life via catching some spies—or being a spy!—here are 10 thrilling espionage books for your spy-loving heart.

Patriot Games

By: Tom Clancy

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Series: A Jack Ryan Novel (chronological order), Book 1, A Jack Ryan Novel (publication order), Book 2

Length: 22 hrs and 2 mins

Release date: 01-25-11

Language: English

4.5 out of 5 stars 12,923 ratings

Okay, so maybe buff Jim Halpert—er, John Krasinski—came to mind first, thanks to the recent Amazon series adaptation. Who’s to say? In any case, with a CIA analyst lead who is always targeted by enemies, there is plenty of action in this series, with tons of listens for a super marathon. Series narrator Scott Brick, and his marvelous deep voice, has voiced 800+ audiobooks, so you know the performances are top-notch.
An Extraordinary Union

By: Alyssa Cole

Narrated by: Karen Chilton

Series: Loyal League, Book 1

Length: 10 hrs and 1 min

Release date: 03-28-17

Language: English

4.5 out of 5 stars 367 ratings

This is equal parts a romance—stay with me!—and espionage series. I also didn’t think sexy-times was a thing that could be pulled off between two spies during the Civil War, but Alyssa Cole is magic and she can, and did, do it. Get ready to be on the edge of your seat one moment and fanning yourself the next! And you can count on Karen Chilton’s lovely, warm voice to expertly navigate this roller coaster ride for you.
The Agency 2: The Body at the Tower

By: Y. S. Lee

Narrated by: Justine Eyre

Series: The Agency, Book 2

Length: 7 hrs and 40 mins

Release date: 12-01-10

Language: English

4.5 out of 5 stars 134 ratings

For fans of historical mysteries and cozies, I present you this delightful and complete spy series (it’s a quartet!). An orphan in Victorian London is saved from execution by two women who educate her and later reveal that she was being trained as part of the Agency: female spies set out to solve mysteries. I know!
Orphan X

Evan Smoak, Book 1

By: Gregg Hurwitz

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Series: An Orphan X Novel, Book 1

Length: 11 hrs and 15 mins

Release date: 01-19-16

Language: English

4.5 out of 5 stars 25,087 ratings

This is a fun thriller series, about a secret organization that creates assassins, that’s perfect for fans of espionage and action movies. Not all of the Orphan program’s assassins are happy to be perfect deniable intelligence assets, like Evan Smoak, who escaped—but now they’re coming for him. Plus, our narrator friend (yes, I think of them as friends!) from Patriot Games is back narrating all the books in this ongoing series.
Every Last Breath

By: Juno Rushdan

Narrated by: Kris Koscheski, Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Victor Bevine

Series: Final Hour, Book 1

Length: 12 hrs and 21 mins

Release date: 04-30-19

Language: English

4 out of 5 stars 182 ratings

And now for more action, with added romance and spies! Take two covert operatives (former lovers who now hate each other), give them 48 hours to save millions of lives, and you have a recipe for a juicy and exciting story. Plus, both novels in the series feature not one but three very talented performers. I love multicast narrations; they’re like listening to a play or TV show.
Agent Zero

A Kent Steele Thriller

By: Jack Mars

Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini

Series: An Agent Zero Spy Thriller, Book 1

Length: 11 hrs and 14 mins

Release date: 03-28-19

Language: English

4.5 out of 5 stars 4,536 ratings

A European History professor is kidnapped from the US and taken to Paris because his kidnappers believe him to be a spy. He, however, has no clue what they’re talking about. So now he’s got some serious enemies and a lot to figure out—well, if he can avoid being killed! Of course, beloved narrator Edoardo Ballerini has the brilliant university professor voice you imagine nailed down.
The Kill Artist

By: Daniel Silva

Narrated by: George Guidall

Series: Gabriel Allon, Book 1

Length: 11 hrs and 35 mins

Release date: 06-07-12

Language: English

4.5 out of 5 stars 6,826 ratings

If you’re looking for a long series full of intrigue, politics, and espionage, this almost 20-volume series should seriously scratch that itch. After his wife and son are murdered, Gabriel Allon retires from his covert anti-terrorist career and takes up his cover job, art restorer, as his real work...until his enemy shows, up of course! Make a lot of popcorn and get cozy to marathon-listen to one of the greatest spy series ever written.
The Eighth Sister

A Thriller (Charles Jenkins, Book 1)

By: Robert Dugoni

Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini

Series: Charles Jenkins, Book 1

Length: 11 hrs and 20 mins

Release date: 04-09-19

Language: English

4.5 out of 5 stars 8,015 ratings

For a brand new series—sequel coming next year!—we have Charles Jenkins, a security consultant who was once a CIA case worker. Past showing up on his doorstep + desperate for money = cat and mouse game. A deadly cat and mouse game! And we have our professor-voiced Ballerini back again as narrator. If these countless hours of espionage listening don’t make you an excellent spy, you’ll at least be prepared—or paranoid—enough to spot one!

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