The Icarus AgendaThe Icarus Agenda
Score Classic
What it's about
Evan Kendrick, a little-known congressman from Colorado, was secretly the man who freed the American hostages held by terrorists in an embassy in the Middle East. When a mysterious group leaks his secret and turns him into a national hero, he's suddenly a candidate for vice president, and the terrorists he crossed want revenge.
Why it's worth reading
It spent weeks at #1 on the New York Times list. It's a fast political thriller from the creator of Jason Bourne.
You'll love it if you liked
The Matarese Circle
The Bourne Identity
The Whole TruthGood to know
It's long and full of conspiracies. Its portrayal of Arabs reflects 1980s thriller stereotypes.
By the numbers
- Readers41 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller50 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #303 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #523 of the 762 classics we rank
- #1817 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping, Adventurous
More by Robert Ludlum
The Bourne SupremacyThe Bourne IdentityThe Matarese Circle
The Bourne UltimatumIf you like this, read next
The Godfather
The Pillars of the Earth
In Cold Blood
The Day of the Jackal
Rebecca
Crime and PunishmentExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Icarus Agenda worth reading?
Yes. It spent weeks at #1 on the New York Times list. It ranks #1,817 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 65.4 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Icarus Agenda about?
Evan Kendrick, a little-known congressman from Colorado, was secretly the man who freed the American hostages held by terrorists in an embassy in the Middle East. When a mysterious group leaks his secret and turns him into a national hero, he's suddenly a candidate for vice president, and the terrorists he crossed want revenge.
How long does it take to read The Icarus Agenda?
About 20 hours (812 pages), or about 6 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Icarus Agenda?
If you liked it, try The Matarese Circle by Robert Ludlum, The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum or The Whole Truth by David Baldacci.