If you are drawn to stories set in wild, windswept places, and if you appreciate a good mystery with characters that feel real, you might already know Ann Cleeves. She writes these wonderful books set in places such as Shetland and Northumberland.
Her mysteries often explore small communities and the hidden lives of the people there. If you want authors who offer a similar reading experience, here are some names you might want to check out.
Readers who enjoy Ann Cleeves’ intricate detective novels may find Ruth Rendell equally engaging. Rendell is known for psychological crime stories that explore the darker side of human nature.
Her novel “A Judgement in Stone” opens with a chilling revelation—the identity of a murderer and the victims right in the first sentence.
From there, the book reveals piece by piece the background of Eunice Parchman, a housekeeper whose inability to read profoundly shapes her relationships and ultimately leads to tragedy. Rendell masterfully shows how ordinary lives can quietly spiral toward shocking events.
Fans of character-driven mysteries with deep psychological insight will find this story unforgettable.
Readers who enjoy Ann Cleeves’ atmospheric mysteries might appreciate Louise Penny’s thoughtful approach to crime fiction. Penny’s novels are set in the small Canadian village of Three Pines, a cozy yet mysterious place filled with complex characters and hidden secrets.
In “Still Life,” Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is called to investigate the suspicious death of a beloved local artist, Jane Neal.
At first glance, her death appears accidental, but Gamache soon realizes that beneath the village’s peaceful exterior lies deception and concealed hostility.
Penny builds the tension slowly and carefully, offering readers glimpses into each villager’s personal struggles and motives. The novel unravels community secrets while highlighting Gamache’s gentle wisdom and thoughtful investigative style.
Val McDermid is a Scottish crime writer known for her absorbing crime stories and intriguing characters. If you enjoy Ann Cleeves, McDermid’s “The Mermaids Singing” might be a good mystery to pick up next.
It’s the first in her Tony Hill series, set in Northern England, where a serial killer stalks victims with chilling precision. Psychologist Tony Hill teams up with detective Carol Jordan to untangle each grim clue.
McDermid adds sharp psychological depth to both heroes and villains, and this mix of thoughtful character work and gritty suspense makes her writing stand out.
Readers who enjoy Ann Cleeves’ atmospheric mysteries might also appreciate the novels of Elly Griffiths. Griffiths crafts engaging mysteries set in evocative coastal landscapes, bringing together suspense, history, and relatable characters.
Her novel “The Crossing Places” introduces Ruth Galloway, a witty, sharp forensic archaeologist who lives alone by a remote saltmarsh.
When police detective Harry Nelson finds ancient human remains near the marsh, he seeks Ruth’s expertise to unravel the truth behind a long unsolved disappearance—and soon another girl goes missing.
Layers of archaeological detail blend seamlessly with a modern mystery, making “The Crossing Places” an enticing start to a captivating series.
Readers who enjoy Ann Cleeves might also appreciate Tana French, an engaging author known for psychological depth and atmospheric mysteries set in Ireland.
French’s novel “In the Woods” introduces detective Rob Ryan, a Dublin Murder Squad investigator haunted by a troubling childhood memory.
When a young girl’s murder brings him back to the forest where his own friends vanished years earlier, Rob faces unsettling mysteries from his past. This gripping storyline blends intricate police work with an emotional exploration of loss, friendship, and unresolved trauma.
The vivid Irish setting and well-crafted characters will resonate with fans of character-driven mysteries.
Books by Peter May often attract readers who enjoy Ann Cleeves’ atmospheric settings and layered mysteries.
His novel “The Blackhouse” introduces Detective Fin Macleod, who returns to his childhood home on the Scottish Isle of Lewis to solve a crime that mirrors one he investigated in Edinburgh.
As Fin confronts old friendships, family drama, and unresolved tragedies, he realizes the past casts a deep shadow over the present. May captures the isolation and beautiful harshness of the Hebrides, bringing the landscape itself vividly into the heart of the story.
Readers who appreciate Ann Cleeves’ skill with characters and remote settings may find much to enjoy in May’s storytelling and richly crafted suspense.
Susan Hill is an English author known for her atmospheric mysteries rich in psychological depth and vivid settings.
Her novel “The Woman in Black” follows Arthur Kipps, a young solicitor who travels to a remote English village to attend an elderly client’s funeral and sort her affairs. Soon, Kipps encounters hauntings and eerie occurrences connected to a mysterious woman dressed in black.
As he unravels the sinister history of the village, he confronts secrets hidden in shadows and tragedies buried deep in memory.
If you enjoy Ann Cleeves’ stories that blend suspenseful storytelling with intricate places and engaging characters, Susan Hill’s novels may resonate with you.
Deborah Crombie writes intelligent, atmospheric mysteries set in Britain that readers of Ann Cleeves often enjoy. One great place to start is “A Share in Death”.
This novel introduces readers to Scotland Yard Superintendent Duncan Kincaid and Sergeant Gemma James, a detective duo whose chemistry and insightful methods develop throughout the series.
Kincaid goes on vacation at an elegant Yorkshire timeshare estate, expecting a peaceful break. However, what should have been relaxation quickly turns sinister after a suspicious death occurs among the guests.
With skillful plotting, Crombie evokes the British countryside and village life vividly. Her blend of detective work and intriguing character dynamics makes Kincaid and James as engaging as Ann Cleeves’ iconic Vera Stanhope or Jimmy Perez.
Kate Ellis writes crime mysteries set in atmospheric English locations, blending past secrets with present-day suspense. If you enjoy Ann Cleeves, you’ll find Ellis’s novel “The Merchant’s House” engaging.
This book introduces Detective Sergeant Wesley Peterson, who uncovers connections between a modern-day murder and an archaeological dig in the seaside town of Tradmouth.
As Peterson investigates, historical clues surface from a centuries-old mystery, and the parallel threads slowly piece together. Ellis masterfully weaves detective work, history, and small-town characters into a plot full of twists.
Readers who enjoy Ann Cleeves’ atmospheric mysteries might appreciate Martin Edwards, a British crime writer noted for his thoughtful detective novels and sense of place.
His book “The Coffin Trail” introduces readers to Daniel Kind, an Oxford historian who moves to a quiet village in England’s Lake District.
Daniel soon learns that the peaceful countryside hides dark secrets, as he becomes intrigued by an old, unsolved murder involving a woman whose body was found on a nearby footpath.
Teamwork between Daniel and detective Hannah Scarlett slowly uncovers the village’s tangled relationships and buried suspicions.
“The Coffin Trail” offers both an absorbing mystery and vivid descriptions of the English countryside, perfect for readers who value atmosphere and carefully plotted stories.
If you enjoy Ann Cleeves’ atmospheric mysteries set in evocative landscapes, Arnaldur Indriðason might be the next author to add to your reading list. He is an Icelandic writer known for stark yet deeply human crime novels.
His book “Jar City” introduces Detective Erlendur Sveinsson, a thoughtful and brooding investigator. In Reykjavik, Erlendur is faced with solving a seemingly ordinary murder that soon reveals layers of hidden secrets and surprising connections stretching back decades.
Indriðason skilfully portrays Iceland’s cold, isolated setting alongside subtle and complex characters, blending suspense with emotional depth.
If you enjoy crime novels by Ann Cleeves, Minette Walters could be a great find. Walters is known for sharp psychological tension and intricate plotting in her mysteries.
Her book “The Sculptress” introduces Olive Martin, a woman convicted of murdering her mother and sister in a brutal and notorious crime. When journalist Rosalind Leigh begins interviews for a book about Olive, unexpected questions arise.
Is Olive really guilty, or does something deeper lie beneath the surface? Walters keeps you guessing until the very end, with vivid characters and an unsettling psychological depth that stays with you.
Elizabeth George is an American author known for her intricate mysteries set in the British countryside, featuring Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley and his partner Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers.
If you enjoy Ann Cleeves’s atmospheric mysteries and solidly built detective teams, Elizabeth George offers a similar depth. In her novel “A Great Deliverance,” readers follow Lynley and Havers as they investigate a disturbing double murder in a secluded Yorkshire village.
Dark family secrets surface, personal tensions rise, and the detectives gradually uncover a tragedy hidden behind the village’s quiet exterior. Elizabeth George crafts authentic, complex characters and captures the nuances of investigative teamwork and rural England.
If you enjoy Ann Cleeves’ atmospheric mysteries set in tightly-knit communities, then you might want to try Ian Rankin. Rankin writes gritty and realistic crime novels that feature Inspector John Rebus.
In his book “Knots and Crosses,” we meet Rebus, an Edinburgh detective drawn into a disturbing case. The story opens with a mysterious serial killer targeting young girls in Edinburgh, sending cryptic notes that hint at past secrets.
As Rebus investigates, a puzzle from his own troubled past slowly surfaces. Rankin builds tension skillfully and offers intricate characters who uncover hidden layers of city life and human nature.
If you enjoy Ann Cleeves’s atmospheric mysteries with intriguing characters, Barbara Vine is an author worth exploring. This is Ruth Rendell’s pen name for her psychological thrillers. Vine’s stories are rich in suspense and focus on deep, unsettling secrets.
One excellent starting point is “A Dark-Adapted Eye.” It uncovers the dark past and hidden family tensions behind a notorious murder, as the narrator seeks to understand what really happened decades earlier.
Vine carefully builds the storyline around family relationships, guilt, and the painful memories people carry quietly. It’s the type of mystery that slowly reveals surprising facts about each character and keeps readers eager to discover more.