What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedTaken 2
Film · 2012
If you loved Taken 2, start with The Take (Martina Cole, 2009) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Taken 2 across media.
If Taken 2 kept you glued to the screen, it is because you crave the high-stakes intensity of protective fathers fighting impossible odds.
Books on the same thread
Heat 2
Michael Mann and Meg Gardiner · Book
Explores: professional obsession, criminal underworld, cat and mouse.
Like the relentless pursuit of vengeance seen in Taken 2, this narrative explores the heavy legacy of violence and the professional obsession that defines a man’s criminal life.
No Second Chance
Harlan Coben · Book · 2004
Explores: Missing child, Vigilante father, Conspiracy thriller.
This story mirrors the desperate parental quest for justice found in Taken 2, forcing a father to go to extreme lengths when his own family is violently torn away.
A Stolen Life: A Memoir
Jaycee Dugard · Book · 2011
Explores: child abduction, captivity, Stockholm Syndrome.
While Taken 2 focuses on the rescue, this memoir offers a harrowing, grounded look at the long-term reality of kidnapping survival, resilience, and the endurance of the human spirit.
Reacher: Persuader
Lee Child · Book
Explores: undercover operations, lone wolf protagonist, ruthless justice.
Jack Reacher embodies the same lethal competence as Bryan Mills in Taken 2, using his specialized tactical skills to navigate dangerous territory and execute a precise, ruthless rescue mission.
Series on the same thread
Person of Interest
Jonathan Nolan · Series · 2011
Explores: Artificial Intelligence, Surveillance State, Moral Ambiguity.
Much like the former CIA operative in Taken 2, this protagonist utilizes his specialized background in covert operations to deliver his own brand of justice against violent threats.
It Takes a Thief
Roland Kibbee · Series · 1968
Shares a thread with Taken 2: Espionage.
This series captures the espionage tension of Taken 2 while layering in a complex father-son dynamic, showing how past skills are repurposed to navigate a dangerous, high-stakes game.
The Take
Martina Cole · Series · 2009
Explores: organized crime, ambition, power struggles.
If you enjoyed the gritty, high-stakes underworld of Taken 2, you will appreciate this drama centered on the power struggles and consequences that follow a life of crime.
SPY x FAMILY
Series · 2022
Shares a thread with Taken 2: Espionage.
This show takes the espionage and secret identity themes from Taken 2 and injects them into a family dynamic, proving that protecting those you love requires constant deception.
Podcasts on the same thread
Up and Vanished
Tenderfoot TV · Podcast · 2026
Explores: missing persons, small town secrets, pursuit of truth.
The relentless search for truth in this investigative series echoes the urgency of the kidnapping rescue mission in Taken 2, focusing on the dark secrets hidden in isolated places.
S-Town
Serial Productions · Podcast · 2024
Explores: small-town isolation, eccentricity, social decay.
This deep dive into a small-town mystery provides a similar sense of investigative intrigue found in Taken 2, as a persistent outsider begins to uncover deep-seated family secrets.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Taken 2 a direct sequel to the first film?
Yes, Taken 2 continues the story of retired CIA operative Bryan Mills. In this installment, he and his wife are taken hostage in Istanbul by the father of a kidnapper Mills killed during the rescue of his daughter in the previous film.
Where does the action in Taken 2 take place?
The events of Taken 2 are set in Istanbul. This is where Bryan Mills and his wife are held hostage by the father of a kidnapper whom Mills previously killed while rescuing his daughter.
Who are the primary targets in Taken 2?
In Taken 2, the primary targets are retired CIA operative Bryan Mills and his wife. They are taken hostage by the father of a kidnapper whom Mills killed during the rescue of his daughter in the first movie.
Why is Bryan Mills targeted in Taken 2?
Bryan Mills is targeted in Taken 2 because he killed a kidnapper while rescuing his daughter. The father of that kidnapper seeks revenge by taking Mills and his wife hostage while they are visiting Istanbul.