What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedTURN: Washington's Spies
Craig Silverstein · Series · 2014
If you loved TURN: Washington's Spies, start with Spies, Patriots, and Traitors (Kenneth A. Daigler, 2014) — a book on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to TURN: Washington's Spies across media.
What hooked you in TURN: Washington's Spies was the way clandestine operations and moral compromise shape the course of history.
Books on the same thread
The American Revolution
Geoffrey C. Ward and Ken Burns · Book
Explores: nation building, revolutionary warfare, constitutional origins.
If the historical backdrop of TURN: Washington's Spies fascinated you, this companion to the PBS series provides the essential context regarding the political origins of the nation's fight.
George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution
Brian Kilmeade · Book · 2013
Shares a thread with TURN: Washington's Spies: American Revolution.
Fans of the espionage depicted in TURN: Washington's Spies will appreciate this focused account of the actual Culper Ring members who risked everything to secure a new country.
Spies, Patriots, and Traitors
Kenneth A. Daigler · Book · 2014
Explores: Espionage, Intelligence Gathering, Revolution.
This exploration of intelligence gathering expands on the complex spy craft seen in TURN: Washington's Spies, detailing how secret information directly influenced the outcome of the American Revolution.
George Washington's Secret Spy War
John A. Nagy · Book · 2016
Explores: Leadership, Intelligence Gathering, Early American History.
Those captivated by George Washington's leadership in TURN: Washington's Spies will find this analysis of his early intelligence efforts a revealing look at his mastery of strategic deception.
Films on the same thread
Quiz Show
Robert Redford · Film · 1994
Explores: Integrity vs. Ambition, The Price of Fame, Truth vs. Deception.
The tension between truth and deception that defined the double lives in TURN: Washington's Spies is mirrored here as contestants navigate the high-stakes moral compromises of television fame.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Tomas Alfredson · Film · 2011
Shares a thread with TURN: Washington's Spies: Espionage Thriller.
If you enjoyed the paranoid atmosphere of TURN: Washington's Spies, this cold war thriller perfectly captures the exhausting, high-stakes nature of identifying a traitor within one's own ranks.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Joe Russo · Film · 2014
Shares a thread with TURN: Washington's Spies: Espionage Thriller.
Just as in TURN: Washington's Spies, this story features a protagonist navigating government conspiracies and moral ambiguity while attempting to serve a cause greater than themselves.
The Imitation Game
Film · 2014
Explores: Code-breaking, Genius, Persecution.
The desperate, high-pressure race to crack codes in this film echoes the dangerous intelligence work performed by the Culper Ring characters throughout TURN: Washington's Spies.
Podcasts on the same thread
1619
The New York Times · Podcast · 2019
Explores: systemic racism, national identity, legacy of slavery.
This documentary series provides the foundational historical context for the American struggle, deepening your understanding of the complex national identity explored within TURN: Washington's Spies.
The Charlie Kirk Show
Charlie Kirk · Podcast · 2026
Explores: grassroots activism, populism, media criticism.
If the grassroots activism and political maneuvering of the characters in TURN: Washington's Spies appealed to you, this podcast offers a contemporary look at similar populist dynamics.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is TURN: Washington's Spies based on a true historical organization?
Yes, TURN: Washington's Spies depicts the formation of the Culper Ring. This was an actual group of childhood friends who acted as an unlikely network of spies to assist the American fight for independence during the Revolutionary War.
What is the primary focus of the plot in TURN: Washington's Spies?
The plot of TURN: Washington's Spies centers on New York farmer Abe Woodhull. He joins forces with his childhood friends to establish the Culper Ring, a clandestine group that provides intelligence to turn the tide of the American Revolutionary War.
Who created the television series TURN: Washington's Spies?
The television series TURN: Washington's Spies was created by Craig Silverstein. It first premiered in 2014 and explores the espionage activities of the Culper Ring during the American struggle for independence from British rule.
Does TURN: Washington's Spies depict the American Revolutionary War?
Yes, TURN: Washington's Spies is set during the American fight for independence. The narrative follows Abe Woodhull and his associates as they operate as spies to influence the outcome of the war against the British.