Best Espionage, Crime, and Action Thrillers
(you may not have heard of yet)
Now that we’re over halfway through the year, I wanted to share some of my favorite reads in crime, espionage, and action-adventure in 2026 so far. In no particular order, here are four books you should check out!
The Peacock and the Sparrow (2023) by I.S. Berry
I was late picking up this gripping, twisty, cerebral, and immersive literary espionage thriller set during the Arab Spring in Bahrain.
Shane Collins, a world-weary, alcohol-loving CIA officer on his final tour, finds himself in the middle of a political uprising and forbidden love. Collins navigates a dangerous investigation into an insurgency while dealing with his own moral erosion. His trusted informant becomes involved in a murder, his station chief may have it in for him, and nothing is as it seems. Collins straddles the blurred lines between American interests and the Arab Spring uprising, facing a gritty, realistic struggle between personal desire and loyalty to the greater good.
The story’s pacing is steady, compelling, and deliberate. You will wish for things to speed up, but espionage requires patience, and you will be second-guessing everything until the last page. This book makes you realize that not all questions have an answer. Bahrain itself is a character. Berry’s descriptive, immersive prose plucks you from your reading spot and puts you right into the back alleys, slums, palaces, and cocktail parties of the Middle East island nation.
A former CIA officer, Berry won several awards for Best First Novel including the Edgar, Barry, ITW, and Macavity. If you like John le Carré’s Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy or The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth, you will love this five-star book.
Blood and Treasure (2025) by Ryan Pote
If you are looking for a high-octane thriller that speeds out of the gate on page one and does not slow down, this solid debut novel is a great choice. Reading it feels like a cinematic cross between an Indiana Jones archaeological adventure and a high-stakes spy thriller. The relentless pacing jumps from high-tech space tension to ancient mysteries without losing an ounce of momentum.
Main protagonist Ethan Cain is a compelling mix of a former special operations pilot and a modern-day treasure hunter who brings heart to a story that easily could have been overshadowed by action. The book does a great job of contrasting cutting-edge, modern tech with ancient history, weaving deep historical and religious elements seamlessly into a high-tech world. The technical details regarding flying and diving are incredibly sharp and add real authenticity.
No book is perfect, and at times the plot relies a little too heavily on "nick-of-time" escapes that strain reality. Additionally, the author occasionally gets a bit bogged down in hyper-specific technical gear descriptions that feel dry and slow the momentum down just a touch.
Despite these small bumps, the sheer fun factor and realistic operational details win you over. If you love military thrillers mixed with ancient puzzles, this debut is well worth the ride. Ryan’s follow up, The Ghost City, just dropped and is on my short list to read.
Desert Heist (2026) by Alex Dekker
I was lucky enough to get an early copy of this one.
If you are a fan of military thrillers but also like historical puzzle-solving, this book is a good choice for your next read. This debut novel sits perfectly at the intersection of a military action-thriller and an archaeological adventure mystery, reading like Indiana Jones mixed with the tactical world of Andrews & Wilson’s Tier One series.
Written by a former Green Beret, the book shines in its unmatched realism, making the weapon handling, squad camaraderie, and operational logistics feel entirely genuine. Protagonist Nate Wilde balances the grit of a Special Forces soldier with the intellect of a Harvard PhD student, giving off major modern Indiana Jones vibes, while the team banter and dark humor bring organic levity to a tense plot.
For minor criticisms, an early chunk of the book focuses heavily on academic red tape and planning before the team actually hits the desert, which is common in first novels. The plot also occasionally leans into traditional thriller tropes, particularly with a villain who might be a bit cartoonishly evil.
Ultimately, Alex Dekker delivers a fun, fast-paced adventure that respects the intelligence of both its characters and its readers, earning a fantastic 4.5 out of 5 stars. The book drops July 28th, 2026.
The Adventures of Juan Planchard (2026) by Jonathan Jakubowicz
This supercharged, dark, and deeply compelling political thriller is both highly entertaining and incredibly informative. Jakubowicz does a masterful job of using a fictional, morally gray protagonist to expose the devastating, real-world mechanics of systemic corruption. The audiobook delivery features absolutely stellar narration by Timothy Andrés Pabon, who gives a manic, drug-fueled, yet deeply charismatic performance that instantly brings to mind Johnny Depp’s iconic portrayal of Raoul Duke in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. The book is beautifully concise with short chapters and absolutely zero fluff, creating a forward momentum that makes it almost impossible to pause. Beneath the wild lifestyle and criminal schemes, it offers an eye-opening education on economic exploitation and political decay.
On the downside, the narrative path is relatively linear and predictable, relying more on rapid momentum and raw shock value than intricate plot puzzles. The relentless hedonism and cynicism of the main character might also be polarizing for readers who prefer traditionally likable protagonists.
Overall, this is an electrifying, take-no-prisoners 4 out of 5-star story that does not need complex twists to keep you completely hooked.
