13 Best Frederick Forsyth Books to Read in 2025

If you love thrillers, these Frederick Forsyth books will keep you up all night. Jump in for suspense, action, and surprises!

The Day of the Jackal coverThe Odessa File coverThe Dogs of War cover

If you love a good page-turner with spies, secret plots, and more twists than a pretzel factory, then you’ve landed in the right place. We’ve gathered the 13 best frederick forsyth books for fans old and new, focussing on stories that pack a punch, characters who stick with you, and plots clever enough to stump even your know-it-all uncle. Whether you want tense action or clever mysteries, our list makes sure you find the right frederick forsyth books to kickstart your next reading spree. So, let’s see what makes these thrillers so darn hard to put down.

On this list:

13 The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth

The Day of the Jackal cover

  • Genre: Thriller, Espionage
  • Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle, Audiobook
  • Year released: 1971
  • Pages: 400

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This is the classic ‘frederick forsyth books’ thriller that started it all. A mysterious assassin is hired to kill the French President, and boy, do things get tense! We all tried to guess the Jackal’s next move and failed every time. It’s a masterclass in suspense.

12 The Odessa File by Frederick Forsyth

The Odessa File cover

  • Genre: Thriller, Historical Fiction
  • Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle, Audiobook
  • Year released: 1972
  • Pages: 352

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If you like Nazi-hunting, this is for you. Chasing down war criminals is serious business, but Forsyth makes it a wild ride. We rooted for Miller throughout his quest. This is one of those frederick forsyth books you just can’t put down.

11 The Dogs of War by Frederick Forsyth

The Dogs of War cover

  • Genre: Thriller, War
  • Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle, Audiobook
  • Year released: 1974
  • Pages: 432

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Mercenaries, diamonds, and African politics—this book has it all. We learned a lot about guns (probably too much). It’s gritty and feels more real than it should. Part of the ‘frederick forsyth books’ charm is the detail, and this one delivers.

10 The Fourth Protocol by Frederick Forsyth

The Fourth Protocol cover

  • Genre: Thriller, Espionage
  • Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle, Audiobook
  • Year released: 1984
  • Pages: 432

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Nuclear threats, secret plans, and British spies. This book is pure adrenaline. We felt paranoid after reading it and checked our mail for weeks. It’s a must-read for fans looking for classic frederick forsyth books tension.

9 The Devil’s Alternative by Frederick Forsyth

The Devil’s Alternative cover

  • Genre: Thriller, Political
  • Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle, Audiobook
  • Year released: 1979
  • Pages: 496

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When Russia, the US, and terrorists mess things up, you get this political stew. We tried to guess the ending—no luck. Forsyth’s reputation for twisty plots is well-earned here. One of our go-to frederick forsyth books for edge-of-your-seat reading.

8 The Fist of God by Frederick Forsyth

The Fist of God cover

  • Genre: Thriller, Military
  • Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle, Audiobook
  • Year released: 1994
  • Pages: 608

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The Gulf War gets the Forsyth treatment! Spies, secrets, and some very sneaky Iraqis. The technical bits got us googling military jargon, but the plot moves like a rocket. If you want the best frederick forsyth books from the 90s, start here.

7 Icon by Frederick Forsyth

Icon cover

  • Genre: Thriller, Political
  • Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle, Audiobook
  • Year released: 1996
  • Pages: 576

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Russian politics, ex-KGB, and a wild plan to change the country’s future. We loved the hero who’s not your usual superman. This entry in the frederick forsyth books collection is perfect for those who like a cold, wintry thriller.

6 The Afghan by Frederick Forsyth

The Afghan cover

  • Genre: Thriller, Espionage
  • Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle, Audiobook
  • Year released: 2006
  • Pages: 384

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Terrorists, spies, and undercover Brits. We felt like we were reading the news—except much more thrilling. This one reminded us why frederick forsyth books never go out of style.

5 The Cobra by Frederick Forsyth

The Cobra cover

  • Genre: Thriller, Crime
  • Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle, Audiobook
  • Year released: 2010
  • Pages: 416

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Drugs cartels, CIA, and global chase—this book is action from cover to cover. We may have yelled at the pages once or twice. Of the frederick forsyth books, this one brings the modern world right to your reading chair.

4 The Kill List by Frederick Forsyth

The Kill List cover

  • Genre: Thriller, Military
  • Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle, Audiobook
  • Year released: 2013
  • Pages: 353

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Hunting down internet terrorists? Sign us up! We found the tech stuff pretty cool (and a bit scary). Fast-paced as always, a true frederick forsyth books experience.

3 The Fox by Frederick Forsyth

The Fox cover

  • Genre: Thriller, Espionage
  • Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle, Audiobook
  • Year released: 2018
  • Pages: 304

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A teenage hacker takes on world powers. We passed it around and everyone finished it in a weekend—except Bob, who still uses a flip phone.

2 Avenger by Frederick Forsyth

Avenger cover

  • Genre: Thriller, Legal
  • Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle, Audiobook
  • Year released: 2003
  • Pages: 368

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Justice for a murdered American. Sounds simple, but Forsyth keeps you guessing until the last page. We debated the ending for days. It’s classic frederick forsyth books, plain and simple.

1 No Comebacks by Frederick Forsyth

No Comebacks cover

  • Genre: Thriller, Short Stories
  • Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle, Audiobook
  • Year released: 1982
  • Pages: 320

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Short stories! Each tale is a bite-sized chunk of Forsyth’s style. We loved arguing over which was best. For anyone new to frederick forsyth books, this is a lovely way to try a little bit of everything.

Steve Peterson Cartoonified
Steve Peterson

Hi there! I'm Steve Peterson, a passionate reading enthusiast who loves nothing more than getting lost in a good book. My love for literature spans across genres, from thrilling mysteries and gripping fantasy to thought-provoking non-fiction.

I hope my reviews help you find the perfect next book to dive into!