If you enjoy reading books by Anthony Berkeley then you might also like the following authors:
Francis Iles, a pseudonym of Anthony Berkeley himself, explores mysteries from a psychological angle. He goes beyond the whodunit formula and focuses deeply on why characters behave as they do.
His novel, Malice Aforethought, flips traditional mystery conventions by revealing the murderer's identity from the start and pulling readers into the motivations behind the crime.
Dorothy L. Sayers combines clever plotting with sharp characterization in her British mysteries. Her investigations feature the brilliant detective Lord Peter Wimsey, a witty and cultured amateur sleuth.
In Gaudy Night, she blends mystery with thoughtful insights into academic life, personal integrity, and feminist themes.
Margery Allingham's stories balance crime-solving with vivid settings and memorable characters, especially her detective, Albert Campion. Her style mixes suspense and humor seamlessly.
The Tiger in the Smoke stands out, capturing post-war London in atmospheric detail while exploring themes of good versus evil.
Nicholas Blake, the pseudonym of Cecil Day-Lewis, writes mysteries that are both intellectual and emotionally satisfying. His detective, Nigel Strangeways, solves crimes through insightful observation and psychological understanding.
A notable book is The Beast Must Die, which dives deeply into themes of revenge and the ethical complexities of justice.
Michael Innes delivers mysteries filled with literary references, wit, and clever plots. His detective, Inspector John Appleby, frequently encounters quirky cases and intriguing intellectual puzzles.
Innes's Hamlet, Revenge! combines a murder investigation with Shakespearean themes, creating a smart and entertaining reading experience.
Christianna Brand is a great choice if you enjoy the witty puzzle-solving and clever plot twists found in Anthony Berkeley's stories. Brand excels at classic detective fiction set in tight-knit communities, with humor, red herrings, and sharp insights into human nature.
Her novel Green for Danger is a standout mystery set in a wartime hospital, where suspicion falls on the medical staff after a patient’s death.
If you appreciate Berkeley’s intelligent and inventive approach, Josephine Tey offers a refreshing twist in mystery writing. Her stories often tackle questions of truth and identity, with crisp prose and believable characters.
The Daughter of Time is especially notable: Inspector Alan Grant, stuck in the hospital, investigates the historical mystery of King Richard III, turning detective methods onto history itself in a fresh way.
Cyril Hare pairs neatly with Berkeley due to his dry wit and perceptive social commentary woven into traditional mysteries. Hare is skilled at highlighting absurdities and injustices within English society, usually through courtroom drama or legal-themed puzzles.
An English Murder is one of Hare’s best—a country house mystery featuring sharp dialogue, lively characters, and biting social humor.
If Anthony Berkeley’s cleverness and playful mysteries appeal to you, Edmund Crispin will likely win you over with his humorous, whimsical style and eccentric detective Gervase Fen.
His novel The Moving Toyshop combines mystery and literary charm, involving a murder that occurs in a toyshop—one that inexplicably disappears overnight. Crispin’s smart writing and quirky plot are a perfect mix for Berkeley fans.
Richard Hull is ideal if you enjoy the unconventional structures and dark humor often found in Berkeley’s novels. Hull tells his stories in creative, ironic ways, often exploring a criminal’s point of view or unexpected narrative twists.
In The Murder of My Aunt, Hull humorously narrates the mischievous plotting of a nephew trying—and failing repeatedly—to eliminate his domineering aunt, creating an entertaining and unconventional read.
Julian Symons wrote crime fiction focused on psychology and character. Like Anthony Berkeley, his books often question the reliability of appearances and explore human motives and moral ambiguity.
His novel The Colour of Murder examines a seemingly ordinary man whose life spirals into suspicion and crime, highlighting Symons's talent for suspense through insight into character.
Patricia Highsmith specialized in psychological thrillers that explore guilt, deception, and unreliable characters. Her works inhabit a dark psychological terrain, similar to Anthony Berkeley's investigation of twisted motives and moral complexity.
In Strangers on a Train, Highsmith portrays obsession and manipulation through a disturbing pact between two strangers, delivering tense, understated suspense.
Milward Kennedy wrote clever detective stories filled with wit, humor, and unexpected twists, themes likely familiar to Anthony Berkeley fans. He enjoyed satirizing the detective genre while maintaining a solid puzzle element in his plots.
In The Murderer of Sleep, Kennedy crafts a puzzle-driven narrative with entertaining wit and playful twists, reminiscent of Berkeley's spirited approach to crime fiction.
John Dickson Carr was a master of the locked-room puzzle and impossible crime scenarios. Fans of Berkeley's ingenious plotting and meticulous attention to detail might enjoy Carr's clever plots.
The Hollow Man (also published as The Three Coffins) stands out for its brilliant and satisfyingly puzzling impossible murder scenario, making it a mystery classic.
Henry Wade's crime fiction tends toward methodical plotting, credible characters, and realistic police investigations.
Similar to Anthony Berkeley, Wade explores moral ambiguity and foibles of human nature, offering thoughtful mysteries grounded in psychological realism and detailed settings.
His novel Lonely Magdalen skillfully blends police procedural methods with nuanced character studies, resulting in a satisfying and convincing mystery.