After moderate success as an ad writer and Hollywood agent, Condon turned to writing in 1957. His second novel, The Manchurian Candidate (1959), and the movie made from it in 1961, made him famous. Prizzi's Honor (1982) was likewise made into a successful movie.

Condon was known for his multiplex plotting, fascination with trivia, and loathing for those in power; at least two of his books featured thinly disguised versions of Richard Nixon. His characters tend to be driven by obsession, usually sexual or political, and by family loyalty. His plots often have elements of classical tragedy, with protagonists whose pride leads them to a place to destroy what they love. Some of his books, most notably Mile High (1969), are secret history. In one sense, he is a victim of his own success. His conspiratorial writings may seem tame and old-fashioned compared to the writings of Thomas Pynchon and Robert Anton Wilson, but they are building on his work.

Novels