What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Thirteen
Honore de Balzac · Book · 2014
If you loved The Thirteen, start with The Musketeers (Adrian Hodges, 2014) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Thirteen across media.
What hooked you in The Thirteen was the way secret brotherhoods and hidden agendas dictate the fates of those caught within them.
Films on the same thread
The Three Musketeers
Richard Lester · Film · 1973
Shares a thread with The Thirteen: Loyalty.
If the unwavering loyalty found in The Thirteen resonated with you, you will appreciate how this film portrays the unbreakable bonds of friendship among men navigating dangerous political intrigue.
Children of Paradise
Film · 1945
Explores: Unrequited Love, Theatricality, Fatalism.
Much like the atmospheric exploration of 19th-century society in The Thirteen, this film captures the complex interplay of class and unrequited devotion within the chaotic backdrop of Paris.
The Third Man
Carol Reed · Film · 1949
Explores: Moral Ambiguity, Post-War Disillusionment, Betrayal.
The Thirteen explores the dark influence of hidden groups, and this film echoes that unease as a man uncovers a deep-seated conspiracy that challenges his understanding of truth.
The Name of the Rose
Jean-Jacques Annaud · Film · 1986
Explores: Religious Conspiracy, Clash Between Faith and Reason, Suppression of Knowledge.
The Thirteen uses secret societies to expose institutional corruption, a theme mirrored here as a monk investigates mysterious deaths to challenge the rigid, hidden power of the Church.
Series on the same thread
13 Reasons Why
Brian Yorkey · Series · 2017
Explores: Suicide Contagion, Bullying, Mental Health.
If you enjoyed the way The Thirteen slowly peels back layers of mystery through a shared secret, you will be drawn to how this narrative unfolds through recorded revelations.
The Musketeers
Adrian Hodges · Series · 2014
Shares a thread with The Thirteen: Loyalty.
Mirroring the deep commitment between members of the society in The Thirteen, this series showcases how an elite group of men relies on absolute trust to survive.
The Bureau
Éric Rochant · Series · 2015
Explores: Undercover Operations, Moral Ambiguity, Identity.
The Thirteen relies on the tension of clandestine operations, a feeling perfectly replicated in this series as intelligence agents navigate the precarious world of secrecy and moral ambiguity.
Sherlock Holmes
John Hawkesworth · Series · 1984
Explores: Deductive Reasoning, Intellectual Superiority, Solving Puzzles.
Just as the characters in The Thirteen work in the shadows to resolve problems, this series highlights the intellectual partnership required to solve cases beyond the reach of law.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Archers
Podcast
Explores: family life, community, farming.
If The Thirteen hit, The Archers shares the thread.
Backlisted
Backlisted · Podcast · 2026
If The Thirteen hit, Backlisted shares the thread.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What is the premise of The Thirteen?
The Thirteen consists of three novellas centered on a mysterious secret society. The members of this group are bound by a pledge of eternal loyalty, requiring them to come to the aid of any fellow member who finds himself in peril throughout the interconnected tales.
Is The Thirteen a single novel or a collection?
The Thirteen is a series of three novellas unified by a single overarching motif. While each story functions as an individual tale, they are linked by the presence of the secret society and the shared pledge of loyalty among its members.
How are the stories in The Thirteen connected?
The stories in The Thirteen are connected by the recurring presence of a secret society. This organization acts as the central device for the novellas, ensuring that the men involved support one another through their sworn duty to intervene whenever a member is in danger.
What is the role of the secret society in The Thirteen?
In The Thirteen, the secret society serves as a narrative device that allows the author to explore a wide range of themes. The group functions behind the scenes of the three novellas, with members committed to providing mutual assistance whenever any individual faces personal peril.