If you can't be good vs Palace of Treason: Which Should You Read?
Both live on shelves: Spy Fiction, Fiction
If you can't be good
More
An old CIA connection brings trouble for a Washington, DC, barman in this thriller from "America's best storyteller" (The New York Times Book Review).   As the saying goes, you can't pick your friends. If you…
vs
Side by side
The verdict
- Ratings are close across the board — any is a safe pick by score.
- If you can't be good is the quickest read — about 4 hours vs 8 for Palace of Treason.
- Palace of Treason has the widest readership — 24979 ratings behind its score.
- Palace of Treason runs the darker storyline; If you can't be good stays the lighter read.
Affiliate links: we may earn a commission on purchases.
How to choose
Scores by source
| If you can't be good | Palace of Treason | |
|---|---|---|
| Goodreads | 4.1 (201) | 4.2 (24979) |
| Hardcover | — | 4.2 (50) |
| Apple Books | — | 4.5 (696) |
| Check price → | Check price → |
Reception
| If you can't be good | Palace of Treason | |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | 201 | 24979 |
| Editions | 8 | 10 |
| Film adaptations | — | 1 |
| Want to read | — | 12409 |
| Reading it now | — | 3916 |
| Written reviews | — | 1589 |
| Pages | 249 | 480 |
| Check price → | Check price → |
Questions readers ask
Which is rated higher: If you can't be good or Palace of Treason?
Palace of Treason has the higher combined reader rating across sources (Palace of Treason 4.2/5, If you can't be good 4.0/5).
Which is shorter to read: If you can't be good or Palace of Treason?
If you can't be good is the quickest read. Estimated at 225 words per minute: If you can't be good (249 pages, ≈ 4 h 37 m); Palace of Treason (480 pages, ≈ 8 h 53 m).
Which is harder to read: If you can't be good or Palace of Treason?
Estimated difficulty, based on era, reader shelves and length — If you can't be good: Moderate; Palace of Treason: Moderate.