A suspense drama set in Washington, D.C., the plot was considerably revised for the 1975 film adaptation Three Days of the Condor.

Ronald Malcolm is a CIA employee who works in a clandestine operations office in Washington, D.C. responsible for analyzing the plots of mystery and spy novels.

Seeking shelter, Malcolm kidnaps a paralegal named Wendy Ross whom he overhears saying she will spend her coming vacation days holed up in her apartment.

Sydney Pollack directed the 1975 film Three Days of the Condor, adapted by David Rayfiel and Lorenzo Semple from Grady's novel.

Both the novel and the film were blended for the television adaptation Condor, first aired in 2018 on the Audience network, with Max Irons in the role of Condor/Joe Turner.