Anthony Gilbert was the pseudonym used by British mystery author Lucy Beatrice Malleson. Known primarily for crime fiction, Gilbert's best-known works include The Clock in the Hatbox and Portrait of a Murderer, featuring compelling plots and engaging detective narratives.
If you enjoy reading books by Anthony Gilbert then you might also like the following authors:
Margery Allingham offers readers stylish and cleverly structured detective mysteries, often featuring witty dialogue and intriguing plots. Her detective Albert Campion is charming and resourceful, guiding readers through puzzles full of twists and humor.
A great book to start exploring Allingham's style is The Tiger in the Smoke, a suspenseful story set in post-war London, blending excellent characterization with ingenious plotting.
Ngaio Marsh is celebrated for detective mysteries that balance intriguing puzzles with sharp social observations. Her character, Inspector Roderick Alleyn, approaches crimes thoughtfully and intelligently, bringing clarity to complex cases.
If Anthony Gilbert's blend of suspense and character intrigues you, Marsh's A Man Lay Dead is a strong debut novel, showcasing her skill in crafting satisfying detective fiction with a distinctive British atmosphere.
Christianna Brand creates intriguing mysteries with intricate plots, fascinating characters, and surprising conclusions. Her detective stories often explore human psychology in a subtle, insightful way, making them enjoyable reads for fans of Anthony Gilbert.
Try her classic mystery Green for Danger, in which Inspector Cockrill investigates murder in an English wartime hospital, a tense puzzle full of compelling characters.
Josephine Tey's detective novels often focus on character depth and psychological nuance, moving beyond traditional mystery structures. Her work feels fresh and engaging, with plots unfolding naturally from character interactions and thoughtful dialogue.
Consider reading The Daughter of Time, an imaginative novel where her detective Alan Grant investigates a historical mystery—the truth behind King Richard III's crimes.
Dorothy L. Sayers' detective stories offer readers clever plots blended with sophisticated writing, literary references, and memorable characters. Her amateur sleuth Lord Peter Wimsey is witty, observant, and immensely personable.
For an engaging introduction to Sayers' novels, try Gaudy Night, where crime-solving meets academic life in Oxford, exploring complex relationships, morality, and personal growth.
Cyril Hare writes detective novels that revolve around clever legal puzzles and witty observations of English society. His humor is subtle and droll, and he pays close attention to legal details, as he was himself a lawyer.
In An English Murder, Hare sets the mystery in a snowed-in ancestral home, mixing tradition, wit, and an intelligently constructed crime. Fans of Anthony Gilbert will appreciate Hare's sharp insights into society and thoughtful plotting.
Michael Innes crafts sophisticated mysteries featuring witty dialogue, literary references, and inventive plot twists. He is appreciated for his sparkling prose and refined humor.
His inspector, John Appleby, has an academic intelligence that makes the investigations especially engaging. Innes's Hamlet, Revenge!
cleverly blends Shakespearean references with an intriguing murder investigation, sure to delight readers who enjoy Gilbert’s style of elegant and well-crafted puzzles.
Edmund Crispin's mysteries are known for their eccentric characters, playful tone, and witty literary allusions. His detective, Gervase Fen, is quirky and engaging, bringing charm and humor to complex investigations.
In The Moving Toyshop, Crispin creates a clever, fast-paced mystery filled with surreal twists and a uniquely whimsical style. Readers who enjoy Anthony Gilbert's imaginative storytelling and sense of humor will find Crispin's work similarly enjoyable.
John Dickson Carr excels at locked-room mysteries and impossible crimes. His detective stories feature intricate, puzzling plots and an eerie, atmospheric style.
In The Hollow Man, Carr delivers one of the most famous locked-room mysteries ever written, combining suspenseful storytelling with an impressive solution.
Fans of Anthony Gilbert who appreciate tightly plotted mysteries with clever misdirection will find much to admire in Carr's work.
Patricia Wentworth's mysteries blend intriguing puzzles with cozy, comfortable settings and gentle characterization. Her detective, Miss Maud Silver, solves mysteries with insight, compassion, and quiet determination.
In Grey Mask, the first Miss Silver mystery, Wentworth offers readers memorable characters and a thoughtful mystery wrapped in subtle suspense.
Those who love Anthony Gilbert's engaging characters and well-paced narrative will find Patricia Wentworth's mysteries warmly appealing.
Freeman Wills Crofts is great for readers who enjoy watching detectives methodically piece together clues. His mysteries rely on careful logic, detailed police work, and meticulous plotting. If you like puzzles that unfold step by step, you'll probably enjoy Crofts.
Try his novel The Cask, which follows the painstaking investigation of a mysterious cask containing a dead body.
R. Austin Freeman offers mysteries that focus on "inverted detective stories," where readers know the culprit from the start. His narratives emphasize how lawyers and medical experts methodically uncover the truth.
If you enjoy following thorough, intellectual reasoning, Freeman's detective, Dr. Thorndyke, is worth exploring. His book The Red Thumb Mark is a great introduction to Freeman's precise style and careful attention to forensic techniques.
Patrick Quentin creates mysteries filled with psychological suspense and complex characters. Readers who appreciate Anthony Gilbert's insight into human motives and hidden secrets might enjoy Quentin's sophistication and depth.
A Puzzle for Fools introduces character Peter Duluth, who faces murder in a psychiatric facility, blending a strong psychological angle with a tense mystery.
Agatha Christie is famous for her inventive plots, clever misdirection, and memorable characters. If you're drawn to those classic detective puzzles and unexpected conclusions, Christie is a natural choice.
Her novel The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is a standout mystery, known for its clever narrative twist and intriguing investigation.
C. S. Forester is best known for his exciting adventure stories that explore courage, leadership, and strategic thinking.
Though his work differs from traditional detective fiction, readers attracted to Anthony Gilbert's strong characterization might enjoy Forester's compelling protagonists and unpredictable plots.
His naval adventure novel The African Queen, featuring mismatched characters navigating dangerous situations, provides intense, character-driven storytelling.