Books like Icarus 17
Looking for a book like Icarus 17?
Try Terminal Rage by A.M. Khalifa. In Charles Cumming’s Icarus 17, a woman from Lachlan Kite’s past asks for help, and a hunt across Athens carries a secret that could destabilize the Middle East. Terminal Rage starts when a stranger asks for Alexander Blackwell by name.
What they share
A call from the past
Kite hasn’t seen Martha Raine in twenty years. Blackwell has been hiding from his past on a Caribbean island when the call comes.
Middle East stakes, Mediterranean streets
Icarus 17 runs through Athens with the Middle East at stake. Terminal Rage moves through Rome, Naples and Cairo.
Back in the field
Kite runs Box 88 from behind a desk until this. Blackwell left the FBI after a case went wrong, and is pulled back for one more.
Where they differ
Cumming writes elegant British spy fiction with a secret service at its center. Terminal Rage is an American hostage thriller that turns into an international conspiracy, written by an author who grew up across the Arab world and beyond.
A.M. Khalifa is an Egyptian writer based in Rome, raised in a diplomatic corps family across more than fifteen countries, and the only Egyptian writing commercial espionage fiction in English. More on that.
Terminal Rage received a starred review from Booklist, has sold more than 500,000 copies, and is narrated on audio by Scott Brick. It contains violence and sexual content, and is meant for adult readers.
More books like Icarus 17
- Terminal Rage by A.M. Khalifa: a stranger asks for a retired negotiator by name, and the trail leads to Cairo.
- Box 88 by Charles Cumming: the first Lachlan Kite novel.
- The Little Drummer Girl by John le Carré: a young actress is recruited by Israeli intelligence.
- The Kill Artist by Daniel Silva: the first Gabriel Allon novel.
Questions
What books are like Icarus 17?
Terminal Rage by A.M. Khalifa: a professional pulled back in by someone from his past, and stakes that reach the Middle East. Cumming readers also enjoy John le Carré and Daniel Silva.
Is Terminal Rage like the Box 88 books?
It shares their mix of espionage, the Middle East and a hero with history. Its hero is an American negotiator rather than a British spy.
Is Terminal Rage part of a series?
Yes. It is the first book in the series and reads on its own. The second, Terminal Deception, is coming soon.
Is there an audiobook?
Yes. Scott Brick narrates the unabridged audiobook of Terminal Rage, about 10.5 hours long.
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