Discover our guide with the best books like Da Vinci Code that will keep you up to the early morning hours, waiting to see what happens next.

Readers around the world agree: Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Codeis impossible to put down, and after you finish the last page, it can be tough to figure out what to read next. Brown uses a combination of art, religion, and history to create a complex story that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

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Books to Read Similar to Da Vinci Code

1. Foucault’s Pendulum by Umberto Eco

[Foucault’s Pendulum](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003WUYPI8? tag=work089-20) is a tale that follows three Italian editors as they work to create a story that links the Knights Templar with other top-secret societies that have existed throughout history. Together, they produce a map that connects the group, but soon, the farce they’ve created becomes all too real.

One of the editors is killed, and the other two must work together to stop evil forces from taking over. If you liked the Da Vinci Code, you’ll also enjoy these authors like Dan Brown).

“I have come to believe that the whole world is an enigma, a harmless enigma that is made terrible by our own mad attempt to interpret it as though it had an underlying truth.”

Umberto Eco, Foucault’s Pendulum

2. *Angels and Demons *by Dan Brown

The first book in the Robert Langdon series, Angels and Demons, explores the world of the Illuminati while traveling through Rome. The book takes readers on a journey in which the Catholic Church battles the secret ancient society. Langdon must work to stop a time bomb that the Illuminati placed somewhere in Vatican City and thankfully, Vittoria Vetra, an Italian scientist, is there to help him every step of the way.

“Skepticism has become a virtue. Cynicism and demand for proof has become enlightened thought. Is it any wonder that humans now feel more depressed and defeated than they have at any point in human history?”

Dan Brown, Angels & Demons

3. The Harry Potter Seriesby J.K. Rowling

The well-known [Harry Potter](https://amazon.com/dp/0545162076? tag=work089-20) series perfectly combines magic, intrigue, and the battle of good against evil. Readers get to follow Harry and his friends Hermione and Ron as they learn witch and wizardly skills. The trio works to unravel mysteries at Hogwarts, and fans of Dan Brown’s work will love Rowling’s whimsical take on suspense.

“We’ve all got both light and dark inside of us. What matters is the part we choose to act on.”

J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

4. The Rule of Fourby Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thompson

In this novel, The Rule of Four, two Princeton students—Tom Sullivan and Paul Harris—are working to solve the mysteries of an Italian text from the 15th century. As their deadline approaches, they find a key clue to solving the mystery—and then, one of the researchers working with them on the project is murdered.

The pair realize the importance of their work and are suddenly fearing for their lives. You’ll be on the edge of your seat as you learn how Sullivan and Harris work to protect themselves and their work.

“A son is the promise that time makes to a man, the guarantee every father receives that whatever he holds dear will someday be considered foolish, and that the person he loves best in the world will misunderstand him.”

Ian Caldwell & Dustin Thomason, The Rule of Four

5. Sandstormby James Rollins

[Sandstorm](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FC1SCW? tag=work089-20) is the first novel in the beloved Sigma Force series. Readers are introduced to Painter Crowe, a Sigma Force agent who works to keep groundbreaking scientific advancements out of the hands of the enemy. In this novel, Crowe works to keep an ancient artifact that could lead to the discovery of Atlantis, the lost continent, away from those who could use it to cause harm.

“Though it was undeclared, there was a new world war being waged, where fundamental decency and respect for human rights were under assault by forces of intolerance, despotism, and blind fervor. And while its battles were sometimes waged in plain sight— in New York City, in Iraq— its greater struggle was carried on invisibly, fought in secret, its heroes unknown, its villains hidden.”

James Rollins, Sandstorm

6. The Eight by Katherine Neville

This novel follows the story of Catherine Velis as she works through conspiracies, danger, and historical mystery to find a chess set that Charlemagne owned. The Eight combines two storylines, allowing readers to spend time in the present day with Velis and travel back to the French Revolution with Mireille, a nun living in the 1700s.

“All my life I have studied the peculiar powers of music. It has a force of its own that few would deny.”

Katherine Neville, The Eight

7. Inferno by Dan Brown

The fourth book in the Robert Langdon series, Inferno,is the perfect addition to anyone who can’t get enough ofThe Da Vinci Code*. In*Inferno**, Langdon awakens in an Italian hospital with amnesia—and has to piece together how he got there and try to remember the task he’s trying to complete. With the help of Dr. Sienna Brooks, Langdon works to uncover a deadly virus that can destroy the world—and put a stop to potential destruction.

If you are looking for more suspense/thriller books about to binge on a weekend,

“Denial is a critical part of the human coping mechanism. Without it, we would all wake up terrified every morning about all the ways we could die. Instead, our minds block out our existential fears by focusing on stresses we can handle—like getting to work on time or paying our taxes.”

Dan Brown, Inferno

8. The Last Templar by Raymond Khoury

*The Last Templar*takes readers on a journey from 1291 to the present day, exploring how the activities of the Templar knights in the 13th century created a current-day mystery. The book transitions to modern-day New York City, where men dressed as Templars attack a crowd. Tess Chaykin, an archeologist, witnesses the attack. Chaykin works with an FBI agent to dig into history and travel around the globe to bring the perpetrators to justice.

“It’s amazing, isn’t it? Here we are, two thousand years later, with everything we’ve accomplished, everything we know, and yet this little talisman still rules the way billions of people live…and die.”

Raymond Khoury, The Last Templar

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between mystery and thriller books?

Mystery books focus on solving a puzzle or crime, often with a detective protagonist, while thriller books emphasize suspense, danger, and action. Mysteries are more cerebral and puzzle-oriented, while thrillers are more emotional and adrenaline-driven.

What makes a great mystery or thriller book?

Great mystery and thriller books feature compelling characters, tight plotting, and skillful pacing that keeps readers engaged. They should offer fair clues for mystery readers while maintaining suspense and delivering satisfying resolutions.

Are mystery and thriller books suitable for all readers?

Mystery and thriller books can be suitable for most adult readers, though some may contain violence, mature themes, or disturbing content. It’s important to check reviews and content warnings if you’re sensitive to certain themes.

Why do people love mystery and thriller books?

People love mystery and thriller books for the intellectual challenge, emotional engagement, and escape they provide. These genres offer both entertainment and the satisfaction of solving puzzles or experiencing high-stakes situations safely.

9. *The Queen of the South *by Arturo Perez-Reverte

In this suspense novel, The Queen of the South, readers get to know Teresa Mendoza as she travels from Mexico to Morocco to Spain. Mendoza’s boyfriend is a drug smuggler, and after he’s killed, she must begin to look out for herself. You’ll follow Mendoza as she moves from country to country and begins understanding a new, secret world.

“The sea was cruel and selfish as human beings, and in its monstrous simplicity had no notion of complexities like pity, wounding, or remorse… You could see yourself in it… while the wind, the light, the swaying, the sound of the water on the hull worked the miracle of distancing, calming you until you didn’t hurt anymore, erasing any pity, any wound, and any remorse.”

Arturo Pérez-Reverte, The Queen of the South