The American author has written a bunch of spy thriller books, best known for his series that centers on assassin Gabriel Allon.
So if there’s one thing Daniel Silva knows, it’s how to write a good thriller novel. And if you’re looking for more of the same, you’ve come to the right place.
There are a ton of great authors out there who have written bestselling political crime stories similar to Daniel Silva’s books.
And the best thing is that, like Daniel Silva’s books, a lot of them follow a single protagonist across a long-running series – so there’s plenty to read if you’re the kind of person who flies through books.
So what authors do you need to know about?
If you love books by Daniel Silva, then you’ll love the following authors: Vince Flynn, Kyle Mills, Stephen Hunter, Lee Child, and Brad Thor. Find out what these authors are known for below, complete with book recommendations that you need to read.
Books By Daniel Silva
Daniel Silva has been writing espionage thriller books for decades. He’s best known for his Gabriel Allon series, comprising 22 books.
The first book in the series is The Kill Artist, which was published in 2000.
And it was a hit. The Kill Artist was followed up with The English Assassin, published in 2002, spawning 20 more books across two decades.
So Daniel is something of a prolific writer. The Gabriel Allon books are not the only series he’s known for either, as he’s also known for writing the Michael Osbourne books (before The Kill Artist came out), the first of which was The Mark of the Assassin, published in 1998.
Like the Gabriel Allon series, the books follow a strong male protagonist, Michael Osbourne, a CIA agent with a score to settle.
It’s fair to say, though, that the Gabriel Allon series was the most popular of the two characters.
While Daniel Silva wrote just two Michael Osbourne books, the Gabriel Allon series is still ongoing, with a new Gabriel Allon book releasing pretty much every year.
5 Authors Like Daniel Silva
Vince Flynn
When it comes to authors similar to Daniel Silva, Vince Flynn comes to mind straight away.
The bestselling author is the man behind the Mitch Rapp series, which most people know as American Assassin – the 2017 blockbuster action movie starring Dylan O’Brien.
Well, the movie was based on a book, of the same name, published in 2010. American Assassin kick-started Mitch Rapp’s story, despite being the 11th book in the series.
The Mitch Rapp series totals 21 books, with American Assassin and Kill Shot being among the most popular books in the series.
Kill Shot directly follows the events of the first book, which then continues with Transfer of Power – the first book Vince Flynn wrote for the series, way back in 1999.
The bottom line is that Vince Flynn is right up your alley if you’re into espionage and counterterrorism.
If anything, Mitch Rapp is the best thing about the books, being a lethal assassin with a hot head and a fluctuating moral code, which makes all his high-stakes missions thrilling to read.
Pros
The books are action-packed with plots centered around counterterrorism and espionage
Mitch Rapp, the main character in Vince Flynn’s bestselling series, is a revenge-fueled antihero with similar qualities to Gabriel Allon
Cons
There are 21 books in the series to date, which might be daunting for some readers
Themes: morality, good versus evil, revenge, trust and betrayal
Kyle Mills
It’s important to include Kyle Mills here, as he’s the author who took over Vince Flynn’s high-octane Mitch Rapp series after Flynn’s sad passing in 2013.
So far he’s contributed nine books to the series, starting with The Last Man.
And he’s done the series nothing but justice. Fans still love the books, and he’s far from done with telling Mitch Rapp’s story.
But despite that, Kyle Mills has also written his own political crime novel books, the Mark Beamon series being the most popular, which began with Rising Phoenix, published in 1997.
So if you like Daniel Silva or even Vince Flynn, Kyle Mills is the next author to add to your reading list.
Pros
The author behind the last 13 Mitch Rapp books, originally created by Vince Flynn
Kyle Mills’ books are just as thrilling to read as Daniel Silva’s books, following strong male protagonists
Cons
While he’s written “his own” series, Kyle Mills is best known for writing the Matt Rapp books, which were originally written by Vince Flynn
Themes: good versus evil, trust and betrayal, morality, humanity, revenge
Stephen Hunter
Stephen Hunter is a bestselling author known for writing Point of Impact – the first book in the Bobby Lee Swagger series, which was adapted for the big screen to critical acclaim.
There’s a good chance you’ve seen it, as it was called Shooter and starred Mark Wahlberg in the lead role.
The Bobby Lee Swagger series now stands at 12 books, so it’s definitely got a few fans behind it. Black Light is the next book to read after Point of Impact, which was released three years after the first book in 1996.
Like the movie, the book version of Bobby Lee Swagger is a world-weary ex-Marine and marksman with sniper skills that could give Chris Kyle a run for his money.
Themes: trust, betrayal, good versus evil, corruption, morality
Lee Child
There’s a good chance you’ve heard of Jack Reacher, but have you read the books?
Lee Child is the man behind the famous character, who’s now served as the protagonist in a series that spans 26 books.
The first book in Lee Child’s Jack Reacher series is Killing Floor, which came out in 1997.
It introduces Jack Reacher for the first time – an ex-military man who, throughout the series, is called on to use his skills to take out a whole bunch of baddies.
Needless to say, the series is packed to the brim with action. It’s been adapted for TV and film multiple times, which only goes to show how popular the books are.
Once you’ve read Killing Floor (and you should), the next Lee Child book you’ll want to read is Die Trying, the second book in the Jack Reacher series.
Pros
Jack Reacher is one of the most popular male protagonists in literature (and cinema)
Lee Child’s books are action-packed from start to finish, featuring crime, mystery, and love
Cons
With a total of 26 Jack Reacher books to get through, some readers might be put off
Themes: morality, good versus evil, justice, family, love
Brad Thor
Last but definitely not least: Brad Thor. Thor started writing thriller novels in the early 2000s and I’m glad he did because his first book, The Lions of Lucerne, kick-started his bestselling book series that follows popular protagonist Scot Harvath.
Scot Harvath might stand 5”11 with baby-blue eyes, but the man can kick ass when he needs to.
He’s an ex-Navy SEAL turned covert counterterrorism operative, and in the books, he’s sent around the world to take out villains and save the world in the process.
He also gets the girls. So he and James Bond should probably have a drink.
Brad Thor’s Scot Harvath series now has 21 books, the most recent being Rising Tiger, which was published in 2022 to rave reviews.
And like Daniel Silva’s books, the Scot Harvath series is one that’ll have you glued to the pages and racing to find out what happens next. Definitely recommend.
Pros
Brad Thor’s Scot Harvath series shares a lot of similar themes with Daniel Silva’s Gabriel Allon books
Scot Harvath is a protagonist Daniel Silva readers will enjoy following
Cons
They’re fast-paced, but the Scot Harvath books can seem like a lot for new readers to get through
Themes: good versus evil, humanity, morality, trust
Bottom Line
There you have it: five must-read authors if you like Daniel Silva – especially his Gabriel Allon series.
All the above authors write political thrillers brimming with espionage and counterterrorism, so they’ll be right up your alley if, like me, you’ve plowed through all of Silva’s material!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are The Main Themes In Daniel Silva’s Books?
Daniel Silva, the author best known for the Gabriel Allon series, touches on various themes in his books, including morality, good versus evil, trust, betrayal, family, and friendship.
What Are Daniel Silva’s Best Books?
Daniel Silva is known for writing the Gabriel Allon series, which includes the bestselling books The Kill Artist, The English Assassin, The Black Widow, and The Rembrandt Affair.
Noah Burton works as a Librarian full time, and is a blogger in his spare time. His goal is to write compelling recommendations for all of the most popular books he can find, from science fiction to romance.
With a passion for books, a drive to find new reads to get stuck into, and a love for sharing book recommendations with others, Noah can help you find the next novel for your bucket list.
