Best Cold War Books?

[Tommy_Harn]

I'm looking for some works (both fiction and non) set in Eastern Europe during the Cold War. Any suggestions?

[Beaver]

How about some Robert Ludlum? He does Cold War spy thrillers. The Matarese Circle was good.

[wendersfan]

The Arkady Renko novels, by Martin Cruz Smith:

Gorky Park
Polar Star
Red Square

I think he's continued the series, but I'm guessing the more recent ones have a post-Cold War setting.

Lots of spy novels by guys like le Carre and Deighton have Cold War concerns, but were primarily set on the western side of the Iron Curtain. Still, pick up The Spy Who Came In From the Cold by le Carre, and see how you like it.

[djmont]

There's a new crime fiction author named Olen Steinhauer who just came out with his second novel. Both are set in Eastern Europe in the 50s and feature police, KGB, etc.

I haven't had a chance to read him yet, but his work comes very highly recommended.