If you enjoy reading books by Ace Atkins then you might also like the following authors:
Joe R. Lansdale is an author known for writing gritty, action-packed crime fiction full of memorable characters and sharp dialogue. If you enjoy Ace Atkins’ realistic crime novels, Lansdale’s “The Thicket” might be exactly what you’re looking for.
Set in turn-of-the-century East Texas, it follows Jack Parker, a teenager whose family is brutally attacked. Jack searches for his kidnapped sister accompanied by a bounty-hunter dwarf and a resourceful grave-digger.
The group navigates dangerous terrain and ruthless outlaws in a tense journey across a lawless frontier. Lansdale combines suspense, humor, and raw humanity in this thrilling, unforgettable tale.
Robert B. Parker was an American author known for sharp dialogue, gritty, realistic storytelling, and memorable characters. Fans of Ace Atkins, who appreciate solid detective novels with depth and pace, might enjoy Parker’s hard-boiled mysteries.
One standout title is “Early Autumn,” featuring his famous private investigator Spenser. In this installment, Spenser is hired to protect a young boy caught amidst a bitter custody battle.
The routine job soon evolves into something more personal, as Spenser tackles not only external threats but also the boy’s struggle with self-worth. Parker combines fast-paced action, thoughtful scenes, and crisp wit into an engaging detective novel.
Books by Craig Johnson feature Sheriff Walt Longmire, a strong-willed lawman from Absaroka County, Wyoming. In the series starter “The Cold Dish,” Longmire confronts a complex revenge case tied to a violent crime that shocked the local community years earlier.
Readers familiar with Ace Atkins’ gritty characters and realistic settings might find Johnson’s Sheriff Longmire equally appealing. Johnson offers skillful storytelling, authentic dialogue, and characters full of dry humor and genuine heart.
Wyoming’s open landscape sets a vivid stage for Longmire’s thoughtful crime-solving approach and explores small-town life’s subtle tensions and loyalties.
C.J. Box is an author whose work will appeal to readers who enjoy Ace Atkins. Box writes vivid mysteries set in the rugged landscapes of the American West, with authentic characters and crisp plots that pull you into the heart of rural communities.
In “Open Season,” readers meet Joe Pickett, a Wyoming game warden, whose quiet life gets shaken when he discovers a murdered outfitter near his home. As Joe investigates, he faces corruption, family tensions, and deeper threats hidden beneath the surface of his small town.
Readers looking for strong storytelling, outdoor settings, and realistic heroes will find themselves hooked by “Open Season” and other C.J. Box novels.
Readers who enjoy Ace Atkins’ engaging crime stories might also appreciate Michael Connelly’s detailed police procedurals. Connelly is known for his detective character Harry Bosch, a seasoned LAPD investigator with a strong sense of justice.
In “The Black Echo,” Bosch investigates the death of a fellow Vietnam War veteran found dead in a drainage tunnel. Initially ruled an overdose, Bosch suspects there’s more to the story.
His search uncovers hidden connections between a decades-old crime and his own unsettling past in Vietnam. The tension escalates steadily with each clue revealed.
Readers who value careful detective work, multi-dimensional characters, and believable storytelling will find plenty of reasons to follow Bosch’s journey.
Readers who enjoy Ace Atkins’ mix of crime fiction, distinctive characters, and rich, atmospheric storytelling may appreciate James Lee Burke. Burke’s novels skillfully portray Louisiana’s complex history, scenic landscapes, and flawed but deeply human characters.
In his book “The Neon Rain,” detective Dave Robicheaux investigates the mysterious death of a young woman found in a Louisiana bayou.
As Dave confronts dangerous criminals, corruption, and personal demons, readers experience the tension and vivid details of New Orleans and southern Louisiana. Burke fuses gritty realism with poetic prose to keep readers absorbed from start to finish.
Books by John Sandford often center around gritty crime and vivid characters, similar to Ace Atkins’ style. If you enjoy tough investigators and intense storylines, you might like Sandford’s novel “Rules of Prey.”
In this book, we meet Lucas Davenport, a sharp-minded detective chasing a clever and ruthless serial killer called the “maddog.” Set in Minneapolis, Davenport sets a dangerous cat-and-mouse game in motion, as he tries to predict the killer’s next move.
Sandford brings authenticity to his storytelling, keeping readers intrigued until the very end.
Don Winslow writes crime fiction that’s fast paced, intense, and rooted in realism. If you’re into Ace Atkins’ gritty, vivid stories, you’ll find something special in Winslow’s novels.
In “The Power of the Dog,” Winslow takes on the brutal world of drug cartels, law enforcement, and politics along the US-Mexico border. The story follows Art Keller, a determined DEA agent who spends decades pursuing a ruthless cartel boss.
Filled with corruption, moral complexity, and violent confrontations, the book shows the harsh reality of the drug trade and its effect on those caught within it.
If you enjoy Ace Atkins’ action-packed crime novels with richly developed characters, you’ll likely appreciate T. Jefferson Parker.
Parker’s books blend realistic crime-solving with compelling character stories that draw readers deep into the lives of detectives and criminals alike.
In his novel “California Girl,” readers are transported to Orange County in the tumultuous 1960s, where the murder of a young woman named Janelle Vonn shocks the community.
The story follows the Becker brothers, each uniquely connected to the case, as their search for answers brings out family secrets, complicated friendships, and unexpected twists.
Parker delivers a powerful narrative that captures a moment in history and provides a thrilling mystery that’s hard to put down.
Readers who enjoy Ace Atkins’ blend of crime fiction and quirky characters might find Tim Dorsey’s novels appealing. Dorsey is known for creating Serge Storms, an eccentric antihero obsessed with Florida’s bizarre trivia and history.
In “Florida Roadkill,” Serge and his unpredictable sidekick Coleman chase after a suitcase filled with stolen money. Along the way they cross paths with oddball characters, ruthless criminals, and surreal situations unique to Florida.
The book is a wild ride filled with humor, action, and a satirical look at the state’s chaotic culture.
Randy Wayne White is an American author known for absorbing mysteries set in vivid Florida locales. Readers who enjoy Ace Atkins’ Southern noir mysteries will find a similar pull in White’s work.
A great place to start is “Sanibel Flats,” the first novel in his series featuring marine biologist Doc Ford. In this book, Ford returns to Sanibel Island, Florida, hoping for a peaceful life away from espionage and danger.
But when an old friend disappears, Ford finds himself caught between shady dealings and sinister figures in the murky world of crime. With evocative characters, strong pacing, and a vivid Florida setting, White captures the essence of suspenseful storytelling readers crave.
If you enjoy Ace Atkins’ vivid storytelling, Dennis Lehane offers plenty of suspense and memorable characters in his novels. Lehane’s “Gone, Baby, Gone” introduces Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro, two Boston private detectives faced with a tough, emotional case.
They search for a missing little girl in a complex neighborhood full of secrets, troubled relationships, and questionable loyalties. As they uncover clues, the detectives confront moral challenges that blur lines between right and wrong.
Lehane crafts realistic dialogues, strong characters, and a story that’ll keep you turning pages until the surprising end.
Readers who appreciate Ace Atkins might enjoy trying William Kent Krueger, an author known for vivid characters and atmospheric storytelling. A great starting point is his novel “Iron Lake,” the first entry in the Cork O’Connor mystery series.
Set in the harsh winter of northern Minnesota, the story follows former sheriff Cork O’Connor as he investigates a local judge’s mysterious death. As he digs deeper into the crime, Cork confronts corruption and complex relationships within his small town.
Krueger skillfully blends suspenseful scenes, nuanced characters, and realistic rural settings, much as Ace Atkins does in his novels.
George Pelecanos is an author known for crime fiction set in the gritty neighborhoods of Washington D.C. His characters are complex men and women caught up in violence and crime, yet often driven by their own moral compass.
In “The Night Gardener,” Pelecanos introduces Detective Gus Ramone, a family man confronting his memories when a teenage murder echoes a decades-old unsolved case. The detective pursues justice in a community scarred by past crimes, corruption, and buried secrets.
The vivid portrayal of urban landscapes and moral struggle will resonate with readers who enjoy the southern noir and authentic atmosphere found in the novels of Ace Atkins.
Daniel Woodrell is an American author known for his gritty, atmospheric novels set in the Missouri Ozarks. His storytelling captures rural crime and complex characters in morally ambiguous situations.
In “Winter’s Bone,” Woodrell paints a stark picture of Ree Dolly, a determined teenager who must venture through harsh terrain and dangerous company to track down her missing father.
Ree’s journey into the tightly guarded, secretive world of the backwoods criminal community creates suspense and tension at every turn.
For readers who appreciate the Southern noir style and sharp realism of Ace Atkins’ books, Daniel Woodrell provides similarly haunting and memorable stories.