Contents
- The 2025 Sensation: The Master Returns
- The Intellectual Heavyweights: Origins of the Genre
- The Historical Adventures: Templars and Chess
- The Academic Mysteries: Ivy League Secrets
- The Modern Successors: New Puzzles for 2025
- The Action-Thriller Specialists
- Final Thoughts
- Books Similar to John Grisham
- 10 Books Similar To The Kingkiller Chronicles [2026 Updated]
- 12 Books Similar To Atlas Shrugged [2026 Updated]
- 9 Books Similar To Beautiful Disaster [2026 Updated]
If you are anything like me, you remember exactly where you were the first time you cracked open Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code. I remember sitting in a coffee shop, intending to read just one chapter before getting back to work, only to look up hours later with my coffee stone cold and my mind racing through the streets of Paris. There is a specific kind of magic in that book. It is the perfect cocktail of arcane history, religious conspiracy, and pulse-pounding action that makes you feel smarter just for reading it.
Fast forward to 2025, and the genre has exploded. We have seen countless imitators, but only a few authors have truly captured that same lightning in a bottle. As book enthusiasts, we crave more than just a cheap chase scene. We want the intellectual thrill. We want hidden codes in Renaissance art, secret societies guarding dangerous truths, and protagonists who use their brains more than their brawn.
Whether you are looking for the latest 2025 bestseller that everyone is whispering about or a dense, atmospheric classic that inspired Dan Brown himself, this list has you covered. I have curated a selection of books that scratch that specific itch for cryptic puzzles and high-stakes history.
The 2025 Sensation: The Master Returns
1. The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown
Author: Dan Brown Genre: Technothriller / Historical Mystery
It feels impossible to start a list about books similar to The Da Vinci Code without mentioning the man himself, especially with his massive return to form in late 2025. If you haven’t picked this up yet, you are in for a treat that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly modern.
In The Secret of Secrets, we find a Robert Langdon who is slightly older, perhaps a bit more weary, but just as brilliant. The plot kicks off not in a dusty European cathedral, but in the gleaming, sterile hallways of a quantum computing facility in Silicon Valley, which is a fascinating shift. Brown masterfully weaves the ancient mysticism of the Kabbalah and Hermetic traditions with the terrified urgency of modern AI development. The central premise revolves around a lost manuscript rumored to contain the “ultimate code” of the universe, a secret that terrified Isaac Newton enough to hide it away centuries ago.
What makes this book a must-read for 2025 is how Brown updates his formula. He isn’t just looking at the past; he is asking how ancient wisdom threatens our digital future. The puzzles are denser, relying on a mix of binary code and alchemical symbology that will have you Googling obscure 17th-century texts at 2 AM. The pacing is relentless, the villains are terrifyingly shadowy, and the stakes feel genuinely global. It is the perfect bridge between the classic Langdon adventures and the new age of technological thrillers.
Why it fits: It is the King of Conspiracies doing what he does best. If you loved the symbology of the original, this 2025 update adds a layer of digital intrigue that feels incredibly relevant.
The Intellectual Heavyweights: Origins of the Genre
2. Foucault’s Pendulum
Author: Umberto Eco Genre: Literary Fiction / Satire
If The Da Vinci Code is a pop song, Foucault’s Pendulum is the entire symphony orchestra playing in a burning library. Often cited as the “thinking person’s Dan Brown,” this novel is a dense, rewarding challenge that every lover of conspiracy fiction needs to tackle at least once.
The story follows three bored editors at a vanity press in Milan who, for their own amusement, decide to invent a conspiracy theory. They feed a supercomputer random data about the Knights Templar, the Rosicrucians, and other occult groups to create “The Plan,” a grand unifying theory of history. The terrifying twist comes when actual secret societies begin to believe “The Plan” is real and will stop at nothing to get their hands on it.
This book is over 150 words of description alone because it is so massive in scope. Eco does not hold your hand. He dives deep into the history of science, magic, and religion. You will read pages of intense historical analysis that suddenly snap into a thrilling mystery. It is a cautionary tale about the human need to find patterns where none exist. Where Dan Brown presents conspiracies as fact for the sake of the story, Eco dissects why we love conspiracies in the first place. It is funny, terrifying, and brilliantly smart.
Why it fits: It features the ultimate secret society plot. It covers the Templars, the Holy Grail, and ancient secrets, but with a literary depth that will leave you pondering it for years.
3. The Name of the Rose
Author: Umberto Eco Genre: Historical Mystery
Yes, another Eco, but it is unavoidable. Before Robert Langdon was solving murders in the Vatican, William of Baskerville was solving them in a 14th-century Italian monastery. This book is the blueprint for the scholarly detective.
The year is 1327. Brother William arrives at a wealthy abbey to attend a theological debate, only to find the community in the grip of terror. Monks are dying in bizarre, gruesome ways that seem to mirror the Book of Revelation. William, using logic and reason (a radical concept for the time), must navigate the labyrinthine library (literally a maze) to find the killer.
The library itself is one of the best characters in fiction. It is a forbidden fortress of knowledge, housing books that the Church deems too dangerous for human eyes. The parallels to The Da Vinci Code are striking: a religious setting, a cover-up by the powers that be, and a hero who values truth above dogma. However, The Name of the Rose is also a rich historical document that immerses you completely in the medieval mindset. You smell the incense and the rotting manuscripts. It is slower than Brown’s work but infinitely richer in atmosphere.
Why it fits: The setting is a character in itself. The forbidden library and the “book that kills” trope are pure catnip for fans of literary mysteries.
The Historical Adventures: Templars and Chess
4. The Last Templar
Author: Raymond Khoury Genre: Historical Thriller
If you finished The Da Vinci Code and immediately wanted more Knights Templar action, this is your next stop. Raymond Khoury writes with a cinematic flair that makes his books feel like summer blockbusters in written form.
The book opens with one of the best hooks in the genre: four horsemen dressed as Knights Templar storm the Metropolitan Museum of Art in modern-day New York, hacking down security guards with swords and stealing a mysterious decoding device. It is brutal, shocking, and instantly grips you. The story then splits between two timelines. We follow the last days of the historical Templars in the 13th century as they try to smuggle their secret out of a falling Acre, and a modern FBI agent and archaeologist trying to solve the crime in the present.
Khoury excels at the dual-timeline structure. He gives you the gritty, mud-and-blood reality of the Crusades alongside a slick modern police procedural. The “secret” at the heart of the novel challenges the foundations of the Church, much like Brown’s work, but Khoury focuses more on the adventure and the chase. The pacing is relentless, and the characters, while archetypal, are incredibly fun to follow as they hop across the globe.
Why it fits: It hits all the Dan Brown bingo squares: The Vatican, lost Templar treasure, a strong female archaeologist, and a controversial religious secret.
5. The Eight
Author: Katherine Neville Genre: Historical Adventure
Published years before The Da Vinci Code, this book was a pioneer of the puzzle-quest genre. If you like your mysteries to span centuries and feature a cast of famous historical figures, The Eight is a masterpiece of complex plotting.
The plot revolves around the Montglane Service, a legendary chess set once owned by Charlemagne. The pieces of the set are scattered across the globe because, when united, they grant the owner a terrifying power. The story alternates between the French Revolution, where nuns are trying to hide the pieces, and the 1970s, where computer expert Catherine Velis is dragged into the hunt.
What makes The Eight so special is the sheer audacity of its scope. You have appearances by Napoleon, Robespierre, Catherine the Great, and Voltaire. It feels like a “Who’s Who” of history, yet Neville weaves them into the narrative seamlessly. The puzzle element is deeply tied to the game of chess and musical mathematics. It is a dense, swirling vortex of a story that demands your full attention. It is less of a sprint than Brown’s books and more of a marathon, but the payoff is incredibly satisfying.
Why it fits: It features a powerful ancient artifact, a strong heroine, and a mystery that relies on mathematics and history. It is a cult classic for a reason.
6. Labyrinth
Author: Kate Mosse Genre: Historical Fiction / Mystery
Set in the visually stunning landscape of Carcassonne, France, Labyrinth is perfect for readers who want the Holy Grail mystery but with a heavier dose of atmospheric history and perhaps a touch of the supernatural.
Like many great books in this genre, it utilizes two timelines. In 1209, we follow Alaïs, a young woman living through the brutal Albigensian Crusade, who is entrusted with a secret book that contains the true nature of the Grail. In 2005, Alice Tanner stumbles upon two skeletons in a cave during an archaeological dig, triggering a chain of events that links her to Alaïs.
Mosse is a historian at heart, and her love for the Languedoc region bleeds onto every page. The descriptions of the landscape, the food, and the heat are visceral. While Dan Brown focuses on the puzzle, Mosse focuses on the lineage and the emotional weight of keeping a secret for 800 years. The conspiracy here involves the Cathars, a real religious group persecuted as heretics, which adds a layer of tragic reality to the fiction. It is a beautiful, haunting read that feels more grounded in the soil of history than the marble of the Vatican.
Why it fits: It deals with the “true” Grail legends and the persecution of heretics. The dual-timeline mystery is masterfully handled, connecting the past and present through blood and secrets.
The Academic Mysteries: Ivy League Secrets
7. The Rule of Four
Author: Ian Caldwell & Dustin Thomason Genre: Academic Thriller
This is perhaps the most “scholarly” entry on the list, often described as The Da Vinci Code meets The Secret History. If you loved the campus vibes of Langdon’s Harvard or the puzzle-solving aspect of the genre, this book is essential.
The story takes place at Princeton University, where two seniors, Tom and Paul, are obsessed with the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, a real (and notoriously difficult) Renaissance text from 1499. For centuries, scholars have tried to decode it, believing it contains a hidden message. As the two students inch closer to the solution, they realize that people are willing to kill to keep the book’s secrets buried.
The Rule of Four is slower and more contemplative than a Dan Brown novel. It focuses heavily on the relationships between the friends and the pressures of academic life. However, the puzzle itself is fascinating because it is based on a real book. The authors do an incredible job of making 15th-century syntax and architectural metaphors feel like life-or-death stakes. It captures that specific feeling of being young, brilliant, and in over your head.
Why it fits: It is literally about decoding a Renaissance text. The stakes are personal and academic rather than global, which gives it a unique, intimate intensity.
8. The Historian
Author: Elizabeth Kostova Genre: Gothic Mystery
While Dan Brown tackles Jesus, Elizabeth Kostova tackles Dracula. But do not let the vampire theme fool you; this is not a fantasy novel. It is a rigorous, historical investigation into the life of Vlad the Impaler and the dark folklore that surrounds him.
The novel is told through a series of letters and narratives spanning the 1930s, 1950s, and 1970s. A young woman discovers a mysterious blank book with a woodcut of a dragon in her father’s library, launching a quest that takes her from American universities to the dark heart of Eastern Europe. She uncovers a secret history of scholars who have hunted—and been hunted by—a shadow figure who might be the historical Vlad Tepes.
The Historian is lush and atmospheric. Kostova describes dusty archives and Romanian monasteries with such vivid detail that you will feel the chill on your neck. It shares the travelogue aspect of The Da Vinci Code, taking you to Istanbul, Budapest, and Bulgaria. It treats the vampire myth as a historical puzzle to be solved through research, geography, and folklore, rather than action scenes. It is a long, immersive read perfect for a rainy weekend.
Why it fits: It is a scholarly hunt for a dark historical truth. It features libraries, ancient texts, and a multi-generational conspiracy that feels terrifyingly real.
The Modern Successors: New Puzzles for 2025
9. The Cartographers
Author: Peng Shepherd Genre: Magical Realism / Mystery
Maps are the ultimate symbol of hidden knowledge, and The Cartographers takes this concept to a brilliant new level. This is a more modern, slightly fantastical take on the genre that has been gaining massive traction leading up to 2025.
Nell Young is a cartographer who ruined her career and her relationship with her legendary father over a seemingly worthless 1930s gas station highway map. When her father is found dead in his office at the New York Public Library—clutching that very same map—Nell discovers that it hides a secret that destroys the boundary between reality and representation.
This book appeals to the same part of the brain that loves symbology. It posits that maps don’t just describe the world; they can shape it. The “phantom settlements”—fake towns cartographers used to put on maps to catch copyright violators—become the center of a deadly mystery. It is a love letter to old paper, libraries, and the secrets hidden in plain sight. The “dark academia” vibe is strong here, and the puzzle is incredibly inventive.
Why it fits: It centers on a secret hidden within an obscure document (a map) and a secret society (The Cartographers) sworn to protect it.
10. The Gilded Wolves
Author: Roshani Chokshi Genre: Historical Fantasy / Heist
Imagine The Da Vinci Code mixed with Ocean’s Eleven and set in Belle Époque Paris. This book brings a diverse, energetic flair to the genre, perfect for readers who want the puzzles but crave a younger, sharper cast of characters.
Set in 1889 Paris, the story follows Séverin Montagnet-Alarie, a wealthy hotelier and treasure hunter who has been denied his inheritance by the Order of Babel. To get it back, he assembles a crew of experts: a historian, an engineer, a dancer with a dark past, and a gardener who specializes in poisons. Their mission is to find an ancient artifact that can manipulate matter itself.
While it includes magical elements (“Forging”), the core of the story is deciphering riddles and navigating secret societies. The puzzles are woven into the architecture of Paris itself, much like Langdon’s adventures. Chokshi addresses the colonialism and politics of the era, adding a layer of depth that modernizes the “treasure hunter” trope. It is fast, witty, and incredibly stylish.
Why it fits: It is a team-based treasure hunt in Paris. It is full of codes, secret orders, and historical trivia, but with a fresh, 2025-ready energy.
11. Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore
Author: Robin Sloan Genre: Contemporary Fiction
If you want the code-breaking fun without the grim murder and apocalypse stakes, this is the book for you. It is a delightful, whimsical mystery that bridges the gap between old books and new technology.
Clay Jannon, a web designer who lost his job during the recession, takes a night shift at a strange bookstore in San Francisco. He soon realizes that the few customers who come in never buy anything; instead, they borrow obscure, unreadable books and return them later. Clay, using his tech skills, decides to analyze the store’s data and inadvertently stumbles upon a 500-year-old secret society dedicated to solving the world’s hardest puzzle.
This book captures the joy of discovery. It celebrates the smell of old paper and the power of Google. The “conspiracy” is less about world domination and more about the pursuit of immortality through knowledge. It is lighthearted but deeply smart, perfect for a palate cleanser after reading heavy historical thrillers.
Why it fits: It features a secret society of book lovers and a protagonist who uses modern tech to solve an ancient puzzle. It is basically The Da Vinci Code for the Google generation.
The Action-Thriller Specialists
12. Map of Bones
Author: James Rollins Genre: Action Thriller
James Rollins is the master of the “science meets history” thriller. If you felt The Da Vinci Code needed more explosions and special forces operatives, Rollins is your man. Map of Bones is the book that really put his Sigma Force series on the map.
The story begins with a massacre at a cathedral in Cologne, Germany, where the bones of the Three Magi are stolen. These aren’t just holy relics; they are composed of a monatomic gold that holds the key to a terrifying energy source. Commander Gray Pierce and the Sigma Force team must race against a dragon-court of alchemists to find the truth.
Rollins does an amazing job of blending real science (quantum physics, metallurgy) with religious history. The pacing is breakneck. You go from the Vatican to Alexandria to hidden fortresses. It is violent, loud, and incredibly fun. Where Brown is a professor giving a lecture, Rollins is an action movie director blowing up the lecture hall.
Why it fits: It uses the “Vatican secret” trope as a launching pad for a high-octane global chase.
13. The Shadow of the Wind
Author: Carlos Ruiz Zafón Genre: Gothic Mystery
We return to the literary side for a book that is widely considered a modern masterpiece. Set in Barcelona in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, this novel is a love letter to books and the people who protect them.
Daniel Sempere is taken by his father to the Cemetery of Forgotten Books, a secret library where he is allowed to choose one book to protect. He chooses The Shadow of the Wind by Julian Carax. Captivated by the story, he tries to find other books by the author, only to discover that a man calling himself Laín Coubert (the devil in Carax’s book) is burning every copy in existence.
The mystery of why someone wants to erase this author from history leads Daniel into the dark heart of Barcelona. It is a story of doomed love, family secrets, and the power of literature. The atmosphere is thick and gothic, and the unraveling of the mystery is as satisfying as any thriller.
Why it fits: The “Cemetery of Forgotten Books” is one of the best concepts in fiction. It appeals to the same desire for hidden knowledge and secret places that drives Dan Brown fans.
14. The Lost Apothecary
Author: Sarah Penner Genre: Historical Mystery
This recent hit has stayed on the bestseller lists through 2025 for good reason. It taps into the “secret history of women” angle that made the Mary Magdalene plotline in Da Vinci Code so compelling.
In 18th-century London, a secret apothecary shop caters to an unusual clientele: women who need to kill the men who have wronged them. The apothecary, Nella, keeps a register of every victim and every poison used. In the present day, Caroline Parcewell, an aspiring historian, finds an old vial in the River Thames that links her to the unsolved “apothecary murders” of the past.
The book alternates between Nella’s dark world of poisons and Caroline’s modern investigation. It is a story about secrets that refuse to stay buried. The research into herbalism and poisons is fascinating, acting as the “code” that the protagonist must decipher. It is a shorter, sharper read that delivers a great mystery punch.
Why it fits: It uncovers a secret history hidden in the margins of the official record. The investigation relies on physical clues and archival research.
15. The Geneva Option
Author: Adam LeBor Genre: Political Thriller
To round out the list, let’s look at a book that leans into the political conspiracy angle. If you liked the “powerful organizations pulling the strings” aspect of Brown’s work, this is a terrifyingly realistic alternative.
Yael Azoulay is a high-level negotiator for the UN who brokers secret deals between superpowers. When she is sent to negotiate with a Hutu warlord, she uncovers a conspiracy that links the world’s biggest corporations to mass genocide.
While less about ancient history, it captures the paranoia of The Da Vinci Code perfectly. It suggests that the world we see on the news is a lie, constructed by a cabal of powerful men in shadowed rooms. The “puzzle” here is the global economy and international politics. It is smart, cynical, and feels very 2025 in its skepticism of authority.
Why it fits: It scratches the itch for a high-stakes global conspiracy where the protagonist cannot trust anyone, not even their own bosses.
Final Thoughts
The appeal of The Da Vinci Code has never really been about just the writing; it is about the promise. The promise that the world is more interesting than it looks. The promise that if you look hard enough at a painting, or a building, or an old book, you will find a door to another world.
Whether you dive into the dense philosophy of Umberto Eco, the high-octane action of James Rollins, or the fresh 2025 digital mysteries of Dan Brown’s latest, you are keeping that curiosity alive.