5 Books To Read If You Like Netflix's The Diplomat

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Netflix's "The Diplomat" is set to return for its fourth season in October 2026. If you've ever watched the Emmy-winning series about an unexpectedly appointed ambassador navigating international crises while managing a volatile political marriage, you know it is highly addictive. The international scope, snappy dialogue, and tangled personal lives draw viewers in and keep them hooked. Of course, then there's also Keri Russell — who's had quite a few hair looks that had everyone talking — who is a brilliant match for showrunner Debora Cahn's sharp and intense storytelling. 

With its gripping plot centered around civil servants and nuanced character development, the show was bound to be a hit. Because who doesn't love the insane world of politics when brilliant women are pulling the strings? That said, it's not easy waiting for each season, which is why Women thought it was time to introduce our readers to some books to hold them over.

If you've been craving more intense political drama and powerful heroines, you may want to consider adding some political thrillers to your TBR. There's no denying that "The Diplomat" possesses a unique plot and that there's no story out there quite like it, but there are books that capture a similarly complex feminine energy, as well as the show's political tension.

We knew instantly that one book had to be on this list: "State of Terror" by Hillary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny, which was one of the best celeb-author collaborations based on real reader reviews. The book boasts an impressive 4.0-star+ rating on both Goodreads and Amazon, and beyond that, it offers a similar blend of intense diplomatic drama, sharp dialogue, and complex female relationships that viewers see in "The Diplomat." If you love the international setting of the show, you'll appreciate how effortlessly the plot hops across global capitals.

Although fiction, this book will have you wondering how much of the narrative was pulled straight from the archives of the State Department. Clinton and Penny tell the story of a newly appointed Secretary of State who has to deal with an international crisis after a series of terrorist attacks threaten global security. Readers have praised this book and its co-authors for the humor, unexpected plot twists, and real-world authenticity throughout the story. A 5-star Amazon reviewer wrote, "I read it from cover to cover in two [days] because the story seemed so real while being incredibly thrilling. Clinton's personal and private knowledge based upon her own diplomatic experiences made the plot so intriguing and believable that I hope she and her co-author develop this into a series."

If your favorite elements of "The Diplomat" are the psychological strain of intelligence work and the pure absurdity of government bureaucracy, then you'll definitely want to add "Transcription" by Kate Atkinson to your TBR. Though not set in the modern day, it gives readers a look into a young woman's life during World War II, turned upside down when she's unexpectedly recruited into the covert world of MI5. 

Much like Kate Wyler in "The Diplomat," the story's main character is a brilliant, slightly uncouth woman navigating the moral gray areas and lethal stakes of political power. Atkinson captures a similar dark humor, statecraft paranoia, and the friction of civil servant work that showrunner Debora Cahn executes so effortlessly. Although set decades apart, there are plenty of moments that feel like you're watching the historical prequel to Wyler's chaotic world. 

We must say, this book has mixed reviews across platforms like Goodreads and Amazon, largely due to its lack of action and non-linear storytelling. In fact, many readers who enjoyed the book refer to it as something along the lines of an unconventional spy story. Our writer also read this book and warns readers that it's not an action-packed spy book. There's slow-burning tension, secret betrayals, and a lot of tedious transcription work filling the early chapters. You will, however, enjoy the story if you value thorough character development and political friction.

Next on the list is "Red Widow" by Alma Katsu. If there's anyone as deserving and qualified to write a fictional story about intelligence and foreign policy as Hillary Clinton, it's Katsu. The author spent more than two decades working for the CIA and NSA, so her stories are steeped in authentic operational tradecraft and real-life experience. Katsu tells the story of Lyndsey Duncan, a CIA officer tasked with finding the mole within the agency's Russian assets. 

What begins as a targeted internal investigation quickly reveals that there may be very few who can be trusted within the agency. Much like Kate Wyler's ongoing battles with D.C.'s internal power plays, "Red Widow" also demonstrates that sometimes the fiercest opposition is inside your own institution. Lyndsey Duncan will remind "The Diplomat" fans of Kate's unwillingness to back down in the face of career-ending pressure or backroom cover-ups. Duncan is as fiercely capable as Wyler and refuses to yield when institutional optics collide with the truth. 

A Goodreads reviewer gave the book four stars, saying, "My favorite part of the story is that its main character is female and most who work with her are female. At last, a spy novel featuring the strength of females. Not to say this is only a spy story highlighting women, it's a spy story that shows the dark underbelly of the CIA and FBI."

While "The Diplomat" thrives on fast-paced political maneuvering and backroom sparring, "Intimacies" by Katie Kitamura offers a different view of women's lives on the international stage. This book entirely shifts the focus away from jaw-dropping crises to the quiet, psychological toll of translating power behind closed doors. The story is centered around a court interpreter working at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, tasked with translating for a former African leader on trial for war crimes.

Slowly, the unnamed interpreter finds herself drawn into the complexities of the accused leader's psychological orbit. Without realizing it, she finds herself having a difficult time setting and maintaining professional boundaries. For fans of "The Diplomat" who are captivated by Kate Wyler's encounters with moral gray zones, "Intimacies" offers an in-depth look at the human cost of global justice.

While the interactions and events that occur may not be as loud and profound as the high-stakes crises on the Netflix show, the author proves that sometimes the most subtle exchanges behind the scenes can carry just as much tension as a public fallout. As you read, you'll have constant questions floating around in your head. In fact, one Goodreads review noted, "'Intimacies' makes you question so much of what fades into the monotony of quotidian life: What is it to know someone? To find intimacy with them? To literally have it in proximity without having it in the poetic sense, and the inverse?"

Unlike the other books on this list, Stella Rimington's "The Moscow Sleepers" is the last in a 10-book series. But don't worry; you don't have to read the whole series to understand what's happening. Rimington is another author with unmatched real-world experience, having made history as the very first female Director-General of MI5.

Liz Carlyle is a seasoned MI5 officer who can navigate just about anything, from foreign threats to internal enemies and institutional politics. In "The Moscow Sleepers," Carlyle must expose a sophisticated Russian intelligence operation, attempting to plant long-term sleeper agents into powerful educational and political circles. Much like "The Diplomat," "The Moscow Sleepers" shines in the messy interactions where intelligence work meets geopolitical optics. 

There may not be loud explosions or car chases, but Rimington builds an incredible amount of tension through the quiet mechanics of counterintelligence, creating a whodunnit-style mystery that'll have you double-checking every character's motives. One 4-star Amazon reviewer said, "Like the others in this series, it was a very good mystery, thriller. Setting and issues are very current. Feels authentic, due to Rimington's background," and went on to praise how the story effectively built tension without leaning on gratuitious action.

There are some shows, especially in the romance or thriller genre, that will instantly remind you of a book you've read. After all, many popular TV shows are based on books. But then there are shows like "The Diplomat" that feel both new and uniquely familiar, so much so that you can pinpoint the exact books that can give you the same rush. The lives of America's civil servants, marital problems, and intense foreign policy give the show a feel of familiarity, yet its execution is so sharp and fresh that it stands completely on its own.

That said, preparing a list of books for fans of "The Diplomat" wasn't easy. The modern-day setting, globetrotting excitement, and strong female leads meant we couldn't just pick any classic political thriller off the shelf and put it on our list. We wanted books that matched creator Debora Cahn's energy, so we stuck to books with strong female leads immersed in the world of politics and written by a female author. It was the only way to truly do the show justice.