Hi! I’m brainstorming a Christmas book for my brother. He is a law student and doesn’t have a lot of down time so I’m looking for something fun and engaging but also decent prose, think more Robert Harris than Dan Brown or James Patterson. He doesn’t read a ton of fiction as an adult but as a kid he loved stuff like Alex Rider, Ranger’s Apprentice, Young Samurai, etc. Can you guys think of a book—preferably standalone—that feels like an adult version of those books, but isn’t just totally schlocky/pulpy? He doesn’t like fantasy so no magic elements please
by Confident-Park-4718
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Wolf Hall is the obvious answer, although I feel you’re going to get a lot of people saying Shogun too.
The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco
Fatherland by Robert Harris
honestly robert harris is hard to beat for this.. try fatherland if he hasn’t read it yet, such a good alt-history thriller that’s actually well written.
Pillars of the Earth, set around 1200 in England.