Conspiracy Theory novels - any recommendations?

[Blue_Sargasso]

Unfashionable though it may be, I've thoroughly enjoyed all of Dan Brown's novels, and I'm looking forward to his next one: The Solomon Key. My current favourite conspiracy theory thriller writer is some unknown guy called mike hockney who wrote "The Armageddon Conspiracy". I'm now reading another book by him called "Prohibition A" about CIA mind control. I'm about a third of the way through and loving it. When I finish that, I'll be looking for other conspiracy theory novels to read. Can anyone recommend any good ones? I like bizarre ideas, lots of obscure research and little-known facts, fast pace, cliff-hanger chapter endings and a twist ending. Thanks in advance for any recommendations you care to make.

[Liszt]

what about a real life CT book?

Maury Terry's The Ultimate Evil is 500 pages about the Son of Sam murders. It is a page turner, brilliantly written, and also true. Terry behaves like a private investigator (because that is what he is). I read the thing in 2 days.

[Worm]

Umburto Eco's 'Foucault's Pendulum' had me grippped from start to finish.

[Lurker]

Umburto Eco's 'Foucault's Pendulum' had me grippped from start to finish.

Damn, I was going to recommend that one. IF you like Brown, I would suggest Steve Berry. Berry is not as good but the books read pretty fast.

[Drudgewire]

Umburto Eco's 'Foucault's Pendulum' had me grippped from start to finish.

Getting through the first 60 pages was probably one of the stressful experiences I've ever had reading a book. But then it gets totally awesome.

Of course you can't go wrong with The Illuminatus! Trilogy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Illuminatus!_Trilogy) either.

[njslim]

I enjoy Clive Cussler novels - usually have as plot base a worldwide eathshattering
conspiracy by some meglomanic. It is up to the hero(s) Dirk Pitt, Juan Cabrillo (Oregon
series) or Kurt Austin (Numa files) to foli the plot and kill the evil genius behind it....

[SDC]

Charles McCarry, "Tears of Autumn," an old one, is my favorite. About the Kennedy assassination and the Vietnam war in the context of international espionage. McCarry, now close to 80, has achieved a rather sudden late fame -- he's been writing novels for 50 years.

[yodaluver28]

Focault's Pendulum is dense with material so the beginning is a little overwhelming but once you get going it's probably the best conspiracy themed novel out there.