City of Thieves

All the Light We Cannot See

Anthony Doerr

Set during WWII, this novel follows a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France. Like City of Thieves, it explores survival, humanity, and unlikely connections during wartime. The story weaves together themes of courage and friendship against the backdrop of historical events. Features similar elements of coming-of-age and adventure during conflict.

The Book Thief

Markus Zusak

Narrated by Death, this story follows young Liesel in Nazi Germany as she discovers the power of books and words while her foster family hides a Jewish man in their basement. Similar to City of Thieves, it combines dark humor with profound humanity during WWII. The novel explores survival, friendship, and courage in the face of overwhelming odds. Shares themes of youth confronting the harsh realities of war.

The Bronze Horseman

Paullina Simons

A love story set during the Siege of Leningrad, following a young woman who falls for a Red Army officer. Shares the same setting as City of Thieves and similarly depicts the struggles of survival during the blockade. The novel combines historical detail with personal drama and adventure. Offers a complementary perspective on the same historical events.

The Narrow Road to the Deep North

Richard Flanagan

An Australian doctor struggles with love and survival while a prisoner of war on the Thai-Burma Death Railway. Like City of Thieves, it balances darkness with moments of humanity and hope. The novel explores similar themes of survival, friendship, and maintaining dignity under extreme circumstances. Features comparable narrative complexity and emotional depth.

Between Shades of Gray

Ruta Sepetys

A young Lithuanian girl and her family are deported to Siberia during Stalin's cleansing of the Baltic region. Like City of Thieves, it combines coming-of-age elements with survival in the Soviet era. The story showcases similar themes of resilience, friendship, and maintaining humanity in desperate circumstances. Features comparable historical detail and emotional depth.

Child 44

Tom Rob Smith

Set in Stalin's Soviet Union, this thriller follows a disgraced MGB agent investigating a series of child murders that the state refuses to acknowledge. Like City of Thieves, it presents a vivid portrayal of life in Soviet Russia while combining elements of adventure and moral complexity. The story explores themes of loyalty, survival, and maintaining humanity in a brutal system. Features similar atmospheric tension and historical detail.

Life After Life

Kate Atkinson

Ursula Todd lives through multiple versions of her life, repeatedly experiencing the events of WWII. While more experimental than City of Thieves, it shares its wartime setting and exploration of human resilience. The novel combines historical detail with unique storytelling. Features similar themes of survival and courage during wartime.

The Invisible Bridge

Julie Orringer

A Hungarian Jewish student pursues his dreams in Paris before being caught in the maelstrom of WWII. Similar to City of Thieves, it combines personal journey with historical tragedy. The novel explores themes of love, survival, and maintaining hope during wartime. Shares the same attention to historical detail and character development.

The Winter of Our Discontent

John Steinbeck

A tale of moral struggle following a man tempted to abandon his principles for success in a small New England town. While not set during war, it shares City of Thieves' exploration of moral choices under pressure. Features similar dark humor and psychological depth. The story examines how circumstances can challenge personal integrity.

The Good German

Joseph Kanon

An American journalist searches for his former lover in post-WWII Berlin while uncovering darker truths about the emerging Cold War. Like City of Thieves, it combines historical events with personal quest. The novel features similar themes of moral complexity and survival in a war-torn city. Shares the same attention to period detail and atmosphere.