Dan Brown has made a career out of writing elaborate mystery thrillers that focus on “treasure hunts,” where the protagonist is on a quest to uncover deeply buried secrets. His stories are often a blend of historical facts and conspiracy theories.
One of his more popular novels is The Da Vinci Code, where protagonist Robert Langdon is caught up in a battle between two ancient organizations concerning the possibility of Jesus Christ having a child with Mary Magdalene.
It became a major success that sold over 80 million copies worldwide and was translated into more than 40 languages, before being adapted into a Ron Howard film starring Tom Hanks.
12 Books Like The Da Vinci Code
You’ve finished the book and you’re looking for something similar. There’s a problem though— you just don’t know where to start!
For that purpose, I’ve collected a list of books similar to The Da Vinci Code. They contain the same atmosphere of mystery and suspense that will make any reader feel like they’re sniffing on the tail of a great conspiracy. Check it out below!
1. The Last Templar by Raymond Khoury
Four men dressed as Knights Templar attack the Metropolitan Museum of Art, steal a strange device, and seemingly vanish from the face of the earth. Archaeologist Tess Chaykin and FBI Agent Sean Reilly are called in to investigate—only to discover an age-long conspiracy concerning the Templars.
2. The Dante Club by Matthew Pearl
Three famous writers establish The Dante Club as they start translating Dante’s Divine Comedy. Soon, a series of murders that mimic Hell’s punishments in Dante’s seminal work begins to terrify the city, and the trio might just be the only ones who know enough about Dante to prevent the next murder.
3. The Ghost Manuscript by Kris Frieswick
Carys Jones is more comfortable with old books than people. An old client gives her an offer she can’t refuse and she soon finds herself tracking down a legendary tomb that could change Western history. But some people would prefer the tomb to remain hidden, and they’re willing to anything to get it done.
4. The Atlantis Code by Charles Brokaw
The lost continent of Atlantis has been found and its ruins promise fame, fortune, and the power to control the world. Daredevil Harvard Professor Thomas Lourds races against a supersecret branch of the Church to unlock the continent’s secrets that contain information about the origin of man.
5. Foucault’s Pendulum by Umberto Eco
Three Milanese editors create an elaborate hoax detailing the Knights Templar’s involvement with the occult. Their harmless prank turns to disaster when occult groups get wind of their hoax and believe it to be real.
6. The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi
Séverin Montagnet-Alarie’s birthright was stolen. But now the secretive Order of Babel’s offering him a chance to reclaim his place among France’s elites. The only catch is that he has to uncover an ancient artifact—a fragment of Babel containing unimaginable power.
7. The Raphael Affair by Iain Pears
Renowned art historian Jonathan Argyll is searching for what he believes to be a long-lost Raphael painting. When the painting is destroyed as swiftly as it was restored, Argyll suspects that there’s something going on in the shadows—a secret that could cost his life.
8. The Lover’s Portrait by Jennifer S. Alderson
Zelda Richardson wins an internship at the prestigious Amsterdam Museum and is assigned to an exhibition of art stolen by the Nazis. When two women turn up claiming one painting as theirs’s, Zelda dives deep into the painting’s history. But what she finds makes her the target of someone willing to kill for the painting’s hidden secrets.
9. The Eight by Katherine Neville
Cat Vellis is approached by an antique dealer to find a chess set that once belonged to Charlemagne. But this chess set contains a power so deadly that two convent girls scatter its pieces all over the world. Cat has to match wits with the most dangerous people in the world if she wants to stay ahead.
10. The Armageddon Conspiracy by Mike Hockney
King Solomon was revered for his wisdom. He believed to have uncovered the supreme mystery of life, but died before he could fulfill his quest. In the present, thousands of years after Solomon’s death, his secret society still exists and is preparing to complete his mission.
11. The Codex by Douglas Preston
Maxwell Broadbent, a treasure hunter, has amassed half a billion dollar’s worth of artifacts. Then he, along with his riches, vanish. The only clue he’s left behind is a videotape challenging his three sons to find his tomb if they wish to claim their inheritance. They’re not the only ones after the treasures, though.
12. The Flanders Panel by Arturo Perez-Reverte
Julia is a young art restorer who finds an inscription in a corner of a fifteenth-century painting that depicts the Duke of Flanders playing chess with a knight. It reads: “Who killed the knight?” As Julia investigates, several of her friends begin to die, and the murderer circles in tighter and tighter.
Reading Historical Thrillers
When you’re reading historical thrillers, especially those that examine conspiracy theories, it’s important to note that while these stories are based on history and facts, many gaps are filled with speculations, and details are fictionalized to suit the author’s narrative.
What makes these narratives popular is the idea of what was and what could have been, which tickles every reader’s imagination. They tackle big questions about the past and don’t shy away from controversial topics. These are stories that are read more for their storytelling than their historical accuracy.
If you’re a fan of the genre, then I hope this list is a big help in finding a new novel for you to indulge in. If not, then these are great starting points if you ever plan on diving in.
Do you have a favorite historical thriller? Share it in the comments below!
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Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
