10 Conspiracy Fiction Books You Won’t Stop Reading

Conspiracies suit crime fiction extremely well. Both lean hard on lies and human nature to make you doubt everything in exchange for a juicy story.

When it comes to conspiracy fiction books, you’ll find that the story isn’t as simple as you thought. When you pull a single thread, you’ll suddenly find yourself unraveling a scheme that has duped everyone and altered everything that you know.

Best Conspiracy Fiction Books

In conspiracy fiction, you’ll find that behind the lies, propaganda, and rumors are the hidden hands making moves that affect humanity. Unfortunately, these conspiracies are often only to the advantage of a select few.

Here are a few books that blend fact and fiction to create stories that seem to be true, playing on the paranoia and chaos that affects us in real life.

1. Nemesis By Brendan Reichs

Every two years since she was eight, a strange man would take Min on her birthday and murder her in cold blood. Hours later, she’ll wake up on the outskirts of town with nothing to prove of the crime.

Meanwhile, Earth is in danger of being destroyed by a meteor. As it hurtles towards the planet, Min finally vows to discover what is happening in her tiny Idaho town. What she finds is a conspiracy that doesn’t just affect her, but all the 64 students in her sophomore class.

2. Foucault’s Pendulum By Umberto Eco

Out of boredom, three Milanese book editors concoct a hoax involving the Knights Templar and occult groups across the centuries. They draw up a map, pointing to Focault’s Pendulum, from which the world can be controlled.

But the joke becomes all too real as different groups hear of their work. One group would even go as far as to kill one of them in their quest for world domination.

3. The Da Vinci Code By Dan Brown

Louvre curator and Priory of Sion grand master Jacques Saunière is found murdered. Robert Langdon, a symbologist, is called to interpret the strange puzzle that was left near the body.

What he finds is a trail of clues hidden within Da Vinci’s works. Teaming up with French cryptologist, Sophie Neveu, they must race against an unknown power as they search for what may be history’s most explosive truth.

4. Deep State By Chris Hauty

Washington, DC is in the midst of a severe political rift when the White House Chief of Staff is found dead. Ex-military, now West Wing intern Hayley Chill thinks it’s murder.

Digging into the case, she finds evidence of a threat against democracy itself. The Deep State is real, and it’s not happy with the president.

5. Mumbo Jumbo By Ishmael Reed

The “Jes Grew” is a plague currently spreading from the streets of New Orleans to the skyscrapers of New York. It makes people desperate to dance, sing, and overturn strictly-placed social norms.

The Wallflower Order, dedicated to monotheism and control, seeks to end this pandemic. Against them are voodoo priest PaPa LaBas and his companion Black Herman.

6. Libra By Don DeLillo

Lee Harvey Oswald is a troubled man who imagines himself as an agent of history. His overtly communist political views make him ill-fitted for American society, leading him to the Soviet Union, and ultimately settling back in Texas.

Disgruntled CIA agents are alerted to his return, realizing he is the perfect scapegoat. They lead him toward the path of assassination—one that will forever change history.

7. Blonde By Joyce Carol Oates

Marilyn Monroe—an icon who’s reached mythic levels of adoration, died from a drug overdose. But what if her troubled lifestyle had a hand in it?

Narrated by the fictitious voice of the superstar, this book follows the many twists and turns that made her who she is, including the many speculations about her demise.

8. 11/22/63 by Stephen King

Jake Epping, a local high school teacher, finds out that his favorite diner hides a secret. It’s a portal back in time—to 1958, five years before JFK’s assassination.

So begins Jake’s attempt to change history for the better. But his efforts seem to make things worse, even his life in the present.

9. Shelter By Harlan Coben

Mickey Bolitar is experiencing the worst year of his life. His father is dead, his mom is in rehab, and he’s forced to live with an estranged uncle.

But when meets Ashley, his new girlfriend, life seems to finally be improving—until she disappears without a trace. Following her into the seedy underworld, he finds a conspiracy that proves she’s not who she says she is. Neither is his father, who might just be alive.

10. The White Lioness By Henning Mankell

Inspector Kurt Wallander is called to investigate the execution of a Swedish housewife. Though the local police have a suspect, his alibi turns out airtight.

Digging deeper, Wallander discovers the murder to be more than a crime of passion. The case takes him to apartheid South Africa, going against the South African secret service and a ruthless ex-KGB operative.

Why People Read Conspiracy Thrillers

When times are tough, uncertain, and troubled, people often find ways to cope and enjoy life. Some people play games, others play sports, and a few read conspiracy fiction.

These books are morality plays where the good guys unravel the truth and eventually solve the crisis. In the end, order is restored, peace is achieved, and the wicked are punished.

People go down a rabbit hole of half-truths and dark conjectures about what’s really “happening” in the world. It’s a wild ride that has captured the attention of thousands, leaving them pondering upon humanity’s duplicitous nature and history’s truthfulness.

What is your favorite conspiracy fiction book to read? Share them in the comments below!

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Cole Salao

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!