If you can’t get enough of the Victor series, discover our guide and check out these ten authors like Tom Wood.
British thriller author Tom Wood is known for page-turning thriller novels, especially those featuring fan-favorite protagonist Victor the Assassin. His first novel, The Hunter, introduced readers to Victor, and his most recent novella, Gone by Dawn, is the 13th story in the series.
Victor is often compared to James Bond, Jason Bourne, and Jack Bauer – he has no last name or history and is completely focused on accomplishing the task at hand. If you’ve burned through the Victor series and are searching for more authors like Tom Wood, our list has you covered.
For more recommendations, you might also enjoy exploring authors like Harlan Coben, authors like Gillian Flynn, best detective novel series.
Must-Read Authors Like Tom Wood
If you enjoy mystery and suspense, consider exploring best detective novel series, authors like Harlan Coben, authors like Agatha Christie.
1. Mark Greaney, 1967-
Burner is Mark Greaney’s 12th book in the wildly-popular Gray Man series. In addition to writing his thriller novels, Greaney is also known for working with Tom Clancy to finish his final books as he went through heart problems near the end of his life. Greaney has since continued writing novels starring the ever-popular Clancy character Jack Ryan. Greaney worked on novels in his spare time for several years and finally made it big after pitching to Scott Miller, the agent of Ralph Peters, Greaney’s favorite author. The Gray Man series was a massive hit and was optioned for a Netflix film starring Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans.
Greaney’s Court Gentry character shares many similarities with Tom Wood’s Victor – both are skilled assassins operating in morally gray areas, relying on their training and instincts to survive increasingly dangerous situations. The success of the Netflix adaptation has brought even more attention to Greaney’s work, cementing his place as a leading voice in contemporary thriller fiction.
“In the counterintelligence realm, it’s known as ‘irregular lines of movement.’ The men were moving perpendicular to both incoming and outgoing passengers, adjusting their trajectory in unpredictable patterns.”
Mark Greaney, Burner
2. Jack Slater
Dark State is one of the many novels beloved by Jack Slater fans, often compared to Tom Clancy for his fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat writing style. Slater was always a writer but only considered leaping to the crime fiction genre once his editor suggested that he do so after adoring how Slater managed a secondary storyline in one of his novels. Readers love the DS Peter Gayle series, which takes readers effortlessly from one book to another. An important note: reading the Jack Slater series novels as standalone books is not a good idea, as the information builds throughout the stories.
Slater’s Jason Trapp character operates in a similar vein to Victor, with both protagonists being highly trained operatives who must navigate complex international conspiracies. The interconnected nature of Slater’s series creates a rich, evolving narrative that rewards loyal readers, much like Wood’s Victor series.
“One of the key character traits required in a job like that is complete conviction in a chosen course of action. But when the facts change, so must you.”
Jack Slater, Dark State
3. Kyle Mills, 1966 -
Code Red is the 22nd book in Kyle Mills’ Mitch Rapp series, which ended in 2023. Mills announced in February of 2023 that this would end the series, and fellow author Don Bentley will be taking over, moving the story forward. The passing of the torch with the series has been unusual, as Mills took over the series following the death of fellow writer Vince Flynn. The New York Times bestselling author has written over a dozen popular thriller novels and is known for standalone books, including 2011’s The Immortalists.
Mills continued Vince Flynn’s legacy with the Mitch Rapp series, maintaining the high-octane action and political intrigue that made the character famous. Like Victor, Mitch Rapp operates in the shadows of international politics, using lethal skills to protect national interests. The transition to Don Bentley ensures the character’s longevity for new generations of thriller fans.
“The liberty that the free world had enjoyed over the last century was nothing more than an anomaly. A momentary pause between the priests and nobles of antiquity and the politicians and billionaires of the new age. A momentary pause that was coming to its end.”
Kyle Mills, Oath of Loyalty
4. David Archer
Odin is the kickoff novel to David Archer’s increasingly popular Alex Mason series. Fans of Archer also love his other novel series, including Chance Reddick, Sam Prichard, Cassie McGraw, and Noah Wolf. Taking readers on adventures that follow government secrets, the author expertly creates real worlds, integrating stay-cool characters who can carry out seemingly impossible missions to protect the people and places most important to them. Readers love Archer’s ability to paint pictures of fictional scenarios that closely parallel events in the real world and enjoy reading to see whether the good guys will triumph throughout each series.
Archer’s prolific output and multiple series demonstrate his mastery of the thriller genre. His characters, like Victor, operate with clinical precision and emotional detachment, making them formidable protagonists in high-stakes scenarios. The contemporary relevance of his plots keeps readers engaged while providing escapist entertainment.
“Thucydides, in his analysis of the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta, observed that the war had been inevitable because an established power will always want to clip the wings of an emerging one.”
David Archer, Odin
5. Gregg Andrew Hurwitz
Prodigal Son is the sixth novel in Gregg Hurwitz’s Orphan X series, which follows protagonist Evan Smoak. He was enrolled in the government’s “orphan program” at the age of 12, in which he was trained to work as a government assassin. After the program shuts down decades later, Smoak decides to take his career into his own hands and begins to work as an assassin in the name of vigilante justice. Hurwitz is currently working on writing the screenplay (either for TV or film–that has yet to be determined) for the Orphan X series, which Perfect Storm Entertainment has optioned.
The Orphan X series has gained critical acclaim for its blend of action and emotional depth. Like Victor, Evan Smoak operates with deadly efficiency while grappling with his past and moral compass. The potential screen adaptation reflects the series’ commercial appeal and cinematic quality, positioning Hurwitz as a major force in modern thriller fiction.
“Every time I consider myself an adult, I think back five years to when I also thought of myself as an adult. And I’m aghast at how staggeringly blind I was. Maybe what I hold to be true right now will seem just as ignorant when I reflect back on it years from now.”
Gregg Andrew Hurwitz, Prodigal Son
6. Noah Boyd
Former FBI agent Noah Boyd is known for working on some of the most challenging cases in the country in the last few decades, including the Highland Park Strangler case and the Green River Killer case. Boyd uses his on-the-job experience to inform his writing, including The Bricklayer: A Novel – which has been compared to Lee Child’s Jack Reacher series. Boyd’s insider knowledge of government workings allows his characters to shine, creating realistic portrayals of what it looks like to solve a seemingly impossible crime. Fans of Boyd love that he writes at a fast pace, without fluff, constantly adding new surprises to the story.
Boyd’s authentic law enforcement background brings a level of realism to his thrillers that few authors can match. His protagonist Steve Vail shares Victor’s methodical approach to problem-solving and ability to operate outside conventional boundaries. The authenticity of Boyd’s procedural elements adds credibility to even the most outlandish scenarios.
“We are men who find chess fascinating. Did you expect our lives to be secretly interesting?”
Noah Boyd, Agent X
7. Andrew Klavan
A Strange Habit of Mind is the latest release by two-time Edgar Award winner Andrew Klavan. He’s also known for his conservative political commentary and podcast, The Andrew Klavan Show. The author sometimes writes under Keith Peterson, under which he wrote the John Wells series. Several of Klavan’s books have been made into movies, including True Crime, Don’t Say a Word, and White of the Eye.
The author has also written screenplays for feature films, including Shock to the System, One Missed Call, and Gosnell: The Trial of America’s Biggest Serial Killer. In addition to his fiction works, Klavan wrote a non-fiction memoir detailing his spiritual journey, The Great Good Thing: A Secular Jew Comes to Faith in Christ. His diverse portfolio and multiple film adaptations demonstrate his storytelling versatility and commercial appeal.
“Good things might happen in your life or bad things might happen, sometimes terrible things, but no matter what happens, your soul is your own. And no one and nothing can stop you.”
Andrew Klavan, If We Survive
8. Ward Larsen
Four-time Florida book award winner Ward Larsen’s fans are currently loving Deep Fake, Larsen’s latest David Slaton novel, and are awaiting the next installment in the series. The fans of Slaton love how he keeps stories moving at a breakneck pace and deem him the next thriller superstar. The author’s first book, The Perfect Assassin, is being made into a feature film by Amber Entertainment. Larsen’s military background as a fighter pilot in the Air Force allows him to pull on personal experience in his books.
Larsen’s David Slaton character operates as a reluctant assassin, much like Victor, with both protagonists possessing extraordinary skills while trying to maintain some semblance of a normal life. The upcoming film adaptation of The Perfect Assassin highlights the cinematic quality of Larsen’s work and his growing influence in the thriller genre.
“He remembered tracking an Israeli assassin across Sweden to the village of Oxelösund, followed by a harrowing passage in Janna Magnussen’s crate of an airplane. Stepping onto the dock in Sassnitz, Germany, and then… and then nothing. Sanderson couldn’t recall anything more, not even how he’d ended up in this room.”
Ward Larsen, Assassin’s Game
9. Brad Taylor
Author Brad Taylor’s latest work, The Devil’s Ransom, follows protagonist Pike Logan as he works to stop a hack into programs that could reveal America’s most treasured secrets. Taylor is known for using his past as a Special Forces Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army and for thorough research to create realistic scenes that keep readers turning pages. Fans of Taylor appreciate that they don’t have to sit through chapters of backstory; the author keeps readers engaged from start to finish and is popular with military veterans and civilians alike.
Taylor’s military expertise brings authenticity to his action sequences and tactical scenarios. Pike Logan’s team-based approach differs from Victor’s lone-wolf style, but both characters share the same commitment to completing their missions regardless of personal cost. Taylor’s continued success demonstrates the enduring appeal of military-themed thrillers in 2025.
“The flotsam and jetsam accumulated in life that seemed like trash but took on a special meaning when the person they were attached to never returned.”
Brad Taylor, The Forgotten Soldier
10. Patrick Lee, 1976 -
Patrick Lee is known for his six thriller novels, including Dark Site: A Sam Dryden Novel, the final installment in his Travis Chase series. The Chase series follows an ex-convict working to protect the Earth from alien technology. Lee’s follow-up books, the Sam Dryden series, focus on a soldier who works to stop high-tech issues facing the United States – issues that tend to lean toward the supernatural. The author started writing screenplays before leaping to novels and has seen success ever since his first release, Ghost Country, in 2009.
Lee’s blend of science fiction elements with traditional thriller plots creates a unique reading experience. While his supernatural elements distinguish him from Wood’s more grounded approach, both authors excel at creating protagonists who must adapt quickly to extraordinary circumstances while relying on their training and instincts.
“There were sectional concrete barriers along each side of the chasm, plastered with orange warning signs for those who didn’t grasp the concept of gravity.”
Patrick Lee, Deep Sky
