What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedAmsterdam
Film · 2022
If you loved Amsterdam, start with Amsterdam (Ian McEwan, 2010) — a book from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Amsterdam across media.
What hooked you in Amsterdam was the way historical conspiracies collide with the unpredictable bonds of unlikely, deep-seated friendships.
Start with the source
Books on the same thread
Murder Must Advertise
Dorothy L. Sayers · Book · 2022
Explores: Social Satire, Class Conflict, Corporate Espionage.
Like the sprawling plot of Amsterdam, this novel captures the sharp wit and social satire of the 1930s while pulling you into a complex, high-stakes corporate conspiracy.
Death on the Nile
Agatha Christie · Book · 1992
Shares a thread with Amsterdam: Betrayal.
The sense of mounting dread and betrayal found in Amsterdam is mirrored here as Poirot navigates a web of hidden motives among an elite, privileged group of suspects.
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
Agatha Christie · Book · 2022
Explores: unreliable narrator, subversion of genre tropes, small-town secrets.
If you appreciated the way Amsterdam subverts historical expectations, you will enjoy this masterpiece for its legendary ability to dismantle genre tropes and keep you guessing until the end.
The Christie Affair
Nina de Gramont · Book · 2022
Shares a thread with Amsterdam: betrayal.
If Amsterdam hit, The Christie Affair shares the thread.
Series on the same thread
Only Murders in the Building
Steve Martin · Series · 2021
Explores: True Crime Obsession, New York City, Intergenerational Friendship.
The core of Amsterdam is the chemistry between three friends caught in a mystery, a dynamic that drives this series as three strangers investigate a suspicious death together.
Babylon Berlin
Tom Tykwer · Series · 2017
Shares 2 threads with Amsterdam: Political Intrigue, Political Thriller.
This series captures the same atmosphere of moral decay and political instability that defines the interwar period setting of Amsterdam, offering a grittier look at a society fracturing.
The Crowded Room
Akiva Goldsman · Series · 2023
Explores: Mental Illness, Memory and Trauma, Identity.
You will find the exploration of trauma and complex identity in this psychological thriller to be a natural evolution of the darker, character-focused mystery themes seen in Amsterdam.
Wednesday
Miles Millar · Series · 2022
Explores: Outsider Perspective, Coming-of-Age, Murder Investigation.
The sarcastic outsider perspective that makes the protagonist of Amsterdam so compelling is present here, as Wednesday navigates a school full of secrets and dangerous, twisted mysteries.
Podcasts on the same thread
Killer Stories with Harvey Guillén
Spotify Studios · Podcast · 2026
Explores: dark human nature, criminal psychology, public fascination.
This podcast explores the same dark human nature and obsession with criminal psychology that underpins the outrageous conspiracies and deadly rivalries featured throughout the film Amsterdam.
1619
The New York Times · Podcast · 2019
Explores: systemic racism, national identity, legacy of slavery.
If the historical scope of the plot in Amsterdam fascinated you, this series offers a deeper, essential look at the systemic forces that shaped the American identity.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Amsterdam based on a true story?
The 2022 film Amsterdam is a fictionalized narrative set in the 1930s. While it centers on three friends—a doctor, a nurse, and an attorney—who uncover an outrageous plot in American history, the specific characters and the murder mystery they witness are creative elements of the screenplay.
What is the plot of the 2022 movie Amsterdam?
The 2022 film Amsterdam follows three friends who witness a murder in the 1930s. As they become suspects in the crime, they work together to uncover one of the most outrageous and secret plots in American history while navigating the legal and social challenges of the era.
Should I read the 2010 book Amsterdam before watching the movie?
The 2010 book Amsterdam and the 2022 film Amsterdam are separate works. The film focuses on a historical murder mystery involving a doctor, a nurse, and an attorney in the 1930s, so reading the book is not required to understand or enjoy the plot of the movie.
Are there multiple versions of Amsterdam?
Yes, there is a 2010 book titled Amsterdam and a 2022 movie titled Amsterdam. These titles share the same name but represent different creative works. The film is a historical drama about a murder investigation, while the book is a distinct literary work published twelve years earlier.