Culture & Society5 min read

6 authors like Dan Brown or the history you wanna read

If you've ever opened Dan Brown’s books, you remember that feeling — when the pages turn by themselves and your heart sinks between ancient codes, secret orders, and distillation over time. But the world of exciting historical thrillers is not limited to Dan Brown. There are many authors who can combine history, mystery, and suspenseful drama just as skillfully.

6 authors like Dan Brown or the history you wanna read

If you like books where knowledge becomes a weapon and ask yourself, “What book should I read next?”, then this selection is for you. We have collected six authors like Dan Brown, but each has a unique voice and approach. These stories don't let you go until the last page, making you think, guess, and wonder. Get ready to immerse yourself in a world where history is not only the past but also a dangerous secret coming to life right now.

1. Sam Christer — The Rome Prophecy

Ancient Rome, conspiracies in the Vatican, and dangerous secrets that grab you from the first page and don't let go until the last... This is the atmosphere of one of the most famous books by British writer Sam Christer, The Rome Prophecy. Like Dan Brown, Sam Christer can successfully combine real historical events with fictional plots and characters. His historical thrillers have made him popular among millions of readers worldwide.

The Rome Prophecy

The Rome Prophecy

by Sam Christer
2011
Books Buy on Amazon

Christer's style is characterized by a fast pace, vivid characters, and skillful use of mystical and religious themes that make the reader think. His novels are often built around puzzles that can change the world, and characters forced to act quickly to avoid a global catastrophe. The atmosphere of his works will make you hold your breath, put off sleep, and watch the plot develop fascinatingly until the very end.

2. Charles Brokaw — The Atlantis Code

The mystery of the missing island of Atlantis still haunts historians and scientists: they wonder whether it ever existed and, if so, what happened. Imagine that you have received the key to unraveling this age-old mystery. This is the story of Professor Thomas Lourds, the protagonist of The Atlantis Code. Will he be able to solve this mystery, and what difficulties will he face on the way? The story is based on real myths, archaeological finds, and hypotheses that grab attention no less than fictional twists and turns.

The Atlantis Code

The Atlantis Code

by Charles Brokaw
2009
Books Buy on Amazon

The book has become one of Charles Brokaw's most famous works and is remembered by many readers for its unique style. Brokaw has a knack for creating large-scale scenes, from ancient temples to modern disasters, while maintaining suspense through precise pacing and unexpected plotlines. His books combine adventure, mystery, scientific discovery, and religious elements, making them similar to the works of Dan Brown.

3. Ian Caldwell — The Rule of Four

This is a book that has become one of the most intellectual thrillers of our time and continues to captivate readers around the world. In his bestseller The Rule of Four, Ian Caldwell describes the Renaissance, the secrets of which are collected in the book Hypnerotomachia Poliphili. On the one hand, this is just a historical work, but Princeton students, who are the main characters of this book, do not think so. They intend to decipher the hidden meanings of this book.

The Rule of Four

The Rule of Four

by Ian Caldwell
2004
Books Buy on Amazon

Caldwell intertwines the contemporary experiences of the characters with academic research and cultural themes that have remained a mystery for centuries. His style is characterized by exquisite language, intellectual tension, and philosophical overtones. This is a novel for those who like to immerse themselves in texts, analyze, compare, and feel the taste of erudition. This book is for you if you are interested in ciphers, deep historical allusions, and unhurried but intense action.

4. John Case — The Genesis Code

How compatible are science and religion? Can scientific data explain things previously explained only in religion, and can this be dangerous? John Case is the pseudonym of the creative duo of two authors, Jim and Carolyn Hougan. In their most famous book, The Genesis Code, the authors combine modern scientific discoveries with religious ideas to create intrigue around a mysterious murder and experiments with the human genome.

The Genesis Code

The Genesis Code

by John Case
1997
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While reading this book, you will be fascinated by the successful combination of plot dynamics and serious ethical issues that many philosophers and scientists of different times have worked on. The works of John Case are similar to the style of Dan Brown in that the authors consider religion and science not as opposites, but as forces that can both coexist and come into conflict. If you like a combination of science fiction, philosophy, and adventure, then you will appreciate the style of these authors!

5. Katherine Neville — The Eight

Do you like it when the plot consists of complex puzzles and you have to think about solving them? Then you will definitely enjoy this author's books! Katherine Neville is often called the “mother of the historical thriller” because she became popular in this genre even before Dan Brown. Her books usually have several storylines, set in radically different places, running in parallel and intertwined in the most unexpected way at the end. She is a writer who creates multilayered worlds where the past influences the present, and every detail matters.

The most famous novel by Katherine Neville is The Eight, which takes place over several centuries and covers several countries. The plot centers on an ancient artifact that turns the characters' lives into a real intellectual marathon. In addition, the whole plot takes place against the backdrop of one of the most famous but also the most mysterious games in the world — chess.

The Eight

The Eight

by Katherine Neville
1988
Books Buy on Amazon

6. Sam Cabot — Blood of the Lamb

Sam Cabot is the pseudonym behind a tandem of authors who decided to combine the genres of mystery thriller and historical detective. Their novel Blood of the Lamb is a real revelation for lovers of mysteries, occult rituals, and fascinating conspiracies in the Vatican. And yes, there are vampires here, not in a fantasy style, but as part of a deep, symbolic story about power, religion, and immortality.

Blood of the Lamb

Blood of the Lamb

by Sam Cabot
2013
Books Buy on Amazon

Kabot keeps a balance between action and reflection, between mysticism and facts. In these novels, the world looks familiar until another, hidden level of reality is revealed. And that's what fascinates the most: the reader is constantly questioning where the line between fiction and truth is. Blood of the Lamb is not just a thriller, it's an attempt to rethink religious narratives through the prism of modern mythology. If you're looking for something fresh and unexpected, but at the same time close to Dan Brown's style, Kabot will hit the mark.


Each of these authors has their own style, but they have one thing in common: the ability to create a story that captures you from the first page and doesn't let go until the very end. This is literature for those who like to read with passion and discover the world from a new angle.

History isn’t only dates and facts, but also lively emotions, hidden truths, and many mysteries. These authors prove that once you look behind the scenes of the past, a real adventure begins. So, if you're looking for the next book that will be as exciting as The Da Vinci Code, feel free to choose one of them and get ready for an adventure.

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AdvanceMe Team

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