What Are The Books Like "Red Notice"?

By Rakib Sarwar Written by Rakib Sarwar
Updated on March 10, 2022

Do you like reading suspenseful crime novels? If so, then you’ll love books like red notice. These page-turners will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. So if you’re looking for a new read, be sure to check out some of these great titles. You won’t regret it!

If you’re looking for books like Red Notice, here are some of our favorites. Make sure to read Billion Dollar Whale by Tom Wright, From Russia with Blood by Heidi Blake, American Kingpin by Nick Bilton, and The Spy and the Traitor by Ben Macintyre if you haven’t already! 

Red Notice is a book about Bill Browder, an American businessman who was active in the international financial markets. The book follows his story from 1998 to 2005, covering major events like the Russian financial crisis of 1998 and the Police Raid on Hermitage Capital Management.

Is ‘Red Notice’ based on a true story?

Yes. Red Notice is a true story, which was written by Bill Browder, who also serves as the main character in the story. The story was based on the true story of Sergei Magnitsky, who was Browder’s attorney and the person responsible for uncovering a $230 million scam of a company called Kamea. However, the book is not a direct retelling of Magnitsky’s story and does not use his name for legal reasons.

Books to read if you like ‘Red Notice’?

The following books are maybe even better than Red Notice. There are many crime novels like red notice to choose from, but these ones come highly recommended:

Book #1: Billion Dollar Whale by Tom Wright

This book is written by a Wall Street Journal reporter Tom Wright. Billion Dollar Whale tells the story of one of the world’s most infamous financiers. This book is an international bestseller that has also been translated into 28 languages. The Billion Dollar Whale is the story of an entirely different set of scammers and how they managed to siphon $4.5 billion from Malaysia’s sovereign wealth fund, known as 1MDB. The book is told in a similar fashion to how Red Notice was written, with reconstructed dialogue between the main characters.

Book #2: From Russia with Blood by Heidi Blake

This book is written by a former journalist who used to work for an investigative news agency called Reuters. From Russia with Blood retells the story of Alexander Perepilichny and the circumstances surrounding his death. ‘From Russia with Blood’ is a non-fiction book and might be considered as an extension of ‘Red Notice’. This book deals with the aftermath of the Sergei Magnitsky case and his murder. ‘From Russia with Blood’ also deals with some other cases which came as a result of the Sergei Magnitsky case.

Book #3: American Kingpin by Nick Bilton

This book is written by an author who also serves as an executive editor at Vanity Fair. American Kingpin tells the story of the notorious Ross Ulbricht, who is widely known as Dread Pirate Roberts. There are many similarities between the book and Red Notice. American Kingpin is also based on a true story, which tells about an infamous dark web drug dealer’s rise and fall.

Book #4: The Spy and the Traitor by Ben Macintyre

The Spy and the Traitor is also based on true events like Red Notice. It follows the story of Oleg Gordievsky, who was a high-level KGB officer who spied for Britain. When the book was published, it sold over 250,000 copies within three weeks of its release.

Page-turner nonfiction similar to “Red Notice” by Bill Browder

The following books are nonfiction page-turners that are similar to Red Notice by Bill Browder. These are all based on true stories.

Book #1: The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright

This book is written by Pulitzer Prize-winning author and staff writer at The New Yorker. In this book, Lawrence Wright retells the story of Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaeda. Both Red Notice and The Looming Tower are dramatized real-life accounts that put into perspective political history.

Book #2: Kill the Messenger by Nick Schou

This book is written by an author who has also served as the editor of OC Weekly. Kill the Messenger retells the story of a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who uncovered a CIA conspiracy in Central America. The main theme of the story is not very different from Red Notice, but it focuses on an even more recent time period. The book talks about the consequences of having an activist journalist in this digital age, which poses different kinds of risks.

Book #3: The Big Rich by Bryan Burrough

This book is written by an author who has also served as a special correspondent for Vanity Fair. The Big Rich retells the story of the wealthy American oil tycoons of the 1980s like the Hunts, the Rockefellers, and the Gettys. The Big Rich offers the same compelling readability as Red Notice, but it examines the lives of billionaires in Texas.

Book #4: The Operator by Jesse Ausubel

This book is written by an author who has also served as a senior fellow at the Center for Human Environments. The Operator retells the story of a real estate tycoon who turned his family’s business into an international empire. There are a lot of similarities between the two books. They both revolve around the protagonist Bill Browder and his business in Russia. Both show a lot of insight into a deep and complicated world, which most people know very little about.

Non-Fiction similar to Red Notice

If you like Red Notice, then the following nonfiction books are good alternatives. This is based on true stories that haven’t been adapted into movies yet.

Book #1: Rogue Operator by Carl Higbie

This book is written by an ex-Navy SEAL who served for more than a decade. Rogue Operator recounts the story of Carl Higbie’s final mission in Iraq, where he was captured by insurgents and nearly died. If you liked Red Notice by Bill Browder, Rogue Operator will be a good read for you. The only difference is that it is the other side of the story with a focus on Carl Higbie, a Navy SEAL. However, both stories revolve around Russian-American relations and Russian politics.

Book #2: The Hunt for KSM by Terry McDermott

This book is written by an author who has won numerous awards. The Hunt for KSM recounts the story of a manhunt by the CIA and FBI for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who masterminded the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Both Red Notice and The Hunt for KSM are based on true stories. They also both have a lot of information about the people involved in the story, which is important for understanding the motivations behind their actions.

If you are looking for a book to read that is similar in content and style to Red Notice, then these four books may be worth your time. All of the books on this list have been written by journalists who were given access to some of the most important players involved in Russia’s recent political history.

These titles will help readers learn more about corruption, blackmailing, money laundering, cybercriminals, and spies – all topics covered extensively in Bill Browder’s best-selling memoir “Red Notice.” Which one of these nonfiction reads sounds like something you would enjoy?