10 Military Thrillers for Fans of Brad Thor and Vince Flynn
If you've burned through Brad Thor's Scot Harvath series or Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp novels and need your next fix of high-stakes action, elite operators, and relentless pacing, these 10 military thrillers deliver exactly what you're craving.
If you've burned through Brad Thor's Scot Harvath series or Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp novels and need your next fix of high-stakes action, elite operators, and relentless pacing, these 10 military thrillers deliver exactly what you're craving. From former Delta Force operators hunting terrorists to CIA contractors uncovering deadly conspiracies, each book features the same tactical authenticity and adrenaline-fueled storytelling that made Flynn and Thor legends of the genre.
For Readers Who Love Elite Operators
1. The Terminal List by Jack Carr
Navy SEAL James Reece returns home from a covert mission to find his entire team has been killed—and discovers the conspiracy goes all the way to the top. Written by a former SEAL sniper, this revenge thriller launched Carr into the top tier of military fiction and became a hit Amazon Prime series.
Why Brad Thor and Vince Flynn fans will love it: Carr brings the same insider authenticity that made Flynn's Rapp and Thor's Harvath feel real, with a protagonist who's every bit as lethal and driven.
2. Line of Fire by Logan Ryles
Former Delta Force operator Ian Hale joins Sentinel, a private military firm promising high-stakes operations and noble causes. But when a rescue mission in South Sudan turns into an ambush that slaughters his team, Hale discovers he's been set up—and launches a one-man war to uncover a conspiracy reaching into the heart of the nation.
Why Brad Thor and Vince Flynn fans will love it: Ryles delivers the same relentless pacing and tactical authenticity, with a hero who channels Mitch Rapp's lethal determination and Scot Harvath's refusal to quit.
3. The Enemies of My Country by Jason Kasper
CIA contractor David Rivers is on a mission in Syria when he uncovers intelligence pointing to an imminent attack on U.S. soil—with his own wife and daughter named as targets. Now he's in a desperate race across continents to stop the attack and protect his family from enemies who know exactly where to find them.
Why Brad Thor and Vince Flynn fans will love it: Written by a former Green Beret, Kasper's military experience bleeds onto every page with the same visceral combat and personal stakes that define the best Flynn and Thor novels.
For Readers Who Love CIA Action
4. American Assassin by Vince Flynn
The origin story of Mitch Rapp—before he became the CIA's most lethal weapon. After terrorists kill his girlfriend in the Pan Am Lockerbie bombing, a young Mitch Rapp is recruited into a black ops program designed to take the fight to America's enemies. His first mission: assassinate the arms dealer who supplied the bomb.
Why this is essential: If you're new to Flynn or want to experience Rapp's brutal beginning, this is where the legend starts.
5. The Gray Man by Mark Greaney
Court Gentry is the CIA's most skilled assassin—until his own agency puts a price on his head. Now known only as the Gray Man, he moves through the shadows taking contract kills while staying one step ahead of the teams hunting him. When his former handler is threatened, Gentry must take on an army of mercenaries alone.
Why Brad Thor and Vince Flynn fans will love it: Greaney (who co-authored several Tom Clancy novels) delivers a protagonist who's darker than Rapp or Harvath but equally unstoppable—now a Netflix franchise starring Ryan Gosling.
6. Orphan X by Gregg Hurwitz
Evan Smoak was raised from childhood in a top-secret government program that trained orphans to become assassins. After breaking with the program, he now uses his lethal skills to help desperate people with nowhere else to turn. But when someone from his past resurfaces, the hunter becomes the hunted.
Why Brad Thor and Vince Flynn fans will love it: Think Jason Bourne meets The Equalizer—Hurwitz creates a hero with Rapp's deadly skills and a moral code that drives him to protect the innocent.
For Readers Who Love Special Forces
7. One Rough Man by Brad Taylor
Pike Logan was the deadliest operator in the Taskforce—a covert unit so secret it doesn't officially exist. After personal tragedy forces him out, he stumbles onto a terrorist plot to unleash a devastating attack on American soil. Now the only man who can stop it is the one they thought was finished.
Why Brad Thor and Vince Flynn fans will love it: Written by a former Delta Force commander, Taylor's insider knowledge rivals Thor's research and Flynn's authenticity—Pike Logan is cut from the same cloth as Harvath and Rapp.
8. Power Down by Ben Coes
When terrorists destroy a major hydroelectric dam and the largest offshore oil platform in the Western Hemisphere, crew chief Dewey Andreas—former Army Ranger and Delta operator—is the only survivor. Fighting his way out of Colombia and back to the U.S., he follows a trail of operatives to uncover a conspiracy that threatens to cripple America.
Why Brad Thor and Vince Flynn fans will love it: Coes brings the same large-scale, geopolitical stakes that define Thor's best work, with a hero who matches Rapp's lethal efficiency.
9. The Faithful Spy by Alex Berenson
John Wells is a CIA agent who spent a decade undercover with al-Qaeda—so deep that even his own agency isn't sure whose side he's on anymore. When he returns to America with intelligence about an imminent attack, he must prove his loyalty while racing to stop a terrorist plot that could kill thousands.
Why Brad Thor and Vince Flynn fans will love it: Berenson's Edgar Award-winning debut brings the same moral complexity and insider authenticity, with a protagonist whose undercover experience makes him uniquely dangerous.
10. Without Sanction by Don Bentley
DIA operative Matt Drake is haunted by a failed mission in Syria that left his asset dead. When he gets a chance to make things right, he's pulled back into the shadowy world of black ops—only to discover the conspiracy runs deeper than anyone imagined, and the enemy has been waiting for him.
Why Brad Thor and Vince Flynn fans will love it: Bentley, a former Army Apache helicopter pilot, delivers the same boots-on-the-ground authenticity and high-stakes action that made Flynn and Thor essential reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best military thriller to start with if I'm new to the genre? Start with Jack Carr's The Terminal List or Vince Flynn's American Assassin—both are origin stories that introduce their protagonists and don't require any previous reading.
Which of these authors writes the most realistic combat scenes? Jason Kasper, Brad Taylor, and Jack Carr are all combat veterans who draw on firsthand experience. Readers praise their tactical authenticity and realistic depictions of special operations.
Are these books similar to Tom Clancy? Yes—fans of Clancy's Jack Ryan series will feel right at home. Mark Greaney actually co-authored several Clancy novels and brings that same blend of technical detail and geopolitical intrigue to The Gray Man.
Do I need to read these series in order? Most series work best when read in order, but The Terminal List, Line of Fire, The Enemies of My Country, and Orphan X are all series starters that work as standalones.
Are these available as audiobooks? Yes, all 10 are available on Audible. The Mitch Rapp and Scot Harvath audiobooks are particularly popular for their excellent narration.
Looking for more recommendations? Check out our guides to WWII historical fiction and books like Jack Carr's Terminal List.
