If you enjoy reading novels by Attica Locke then you might also like the following authors:
Walter Mosley is known for his sharp and vivid storytelling, often set against the backdrop of mid-20th century Los Angeles. One of his most famous books, “Devil in a Blue Dress,” introduces Easy Rawlins, a Black World War II veteran trying to make a life for himself in 1948.
When he’s hired to find a missing woman named Daphne Monet, his search pulls him into a dangerous world of secrets, lies, and violence. The way Mosley captures the atmosphere of post-war LA and explores issues of race and survival gives the story real depth.
You can’t help but want to follow Easy as he tries to navigate such a gritty and unpredictable setting.
Gillian Flynn is known for her dark, twisty stories that dig into the messy side of human nature. Her book “Gone Girl” tells the story of a seemingly perfect marriage between Nick and Amy Dunne.
When Amy disappears on their fifth wedding anniversary, suspicion grows around Nick, who doesn’t seem like the grieving husband everyone expects.
As the story flips between Nick’s present-day perspective and Amy’s past journal entries, secrets come to light that change everything. It’s full of sharp twists and a view of relationships that keeps you glued to the page.
Tayari Jones writes stories that explore relationships, family, and the ways people’s lives are shaped by their circumstances.
Her novel, “An American Marriage,” focuses on Celestial and Roy, a married couple whose life is turned upside down when Roy is wrongly convicted of a crime. As Roy serves time in prison, their bond is tested in ways that redefine their understanding of love and loyalty.
The story examines how injustices ripple through personal lives, making every choice the characters face feel deeply human and emotionally raw.
S.A. Cosby writes crime stories with a strong sense of place and complex, flawed characters. His book “Razorblade Tears” follows two fathers—one Black, one white—who join forces after their sons, a married gay couple, are murdered.
The men, both ex-cons, start digging into the lives their sons led and take matters into their own hands when the police don’t do enough. The story explores themes of family, grief, and redemption, while packing in plenty of action and raw emotion.
Rachel Howzell Hall writes crime fiction with characters and situations that feel real and immediate. In “And Now She’s Gone,” the story follows Grayson Sykes, who works for a private investigator and is tasked with finding a missing woman named Isabel Lincoln.
As Grayson digs deeper into Isabel’s life, she realizes that Isabel might not want to be found. The book explores secrets, identity, and the lengths people will go to escape their past.
Fans of Attica Locke’s work will enjoy the strong sense of place and the flawed but fascinating characters in Hall’s stories.
Ruth Ware writes mysteries and thrillers that often focus on characters caught in dark and unsettling situations. Her book, “The Woman in Cabin 10,” is about a journalist named Lo Blacklock who gets the chance to cover a luxury cruise.
What starts as an exciting opportunity soon turns nightmarish when she witnesses a woman being thrown overboard. The problem? None of the passengers on the ship seem to be missing. As Lo tries to figure out the truth, the tension builds, leaving you wondering who she can trust.
Ware’s style keeps readers hooked from start to finish.
Laura Lippman writes mysteries that focus on complex characters and sharp storytelling. Her book “Sunburn” is about a drifter named Polly who walks away from her family and ends up in a small town. She meets Adam, a man with secrets of his own.
Their relationship grows, but the story unfolds with lies, betrayal, and a murder that hangs over everything. Lippman takes typical noir elements and twists them to keep you guessing.
Fans of Attica Locke’s layered plots and morally gray characters might enjoy this, as it offers tension and surprises at every corner.
Denise Mina writes sharp and thoughtful crime stories that pull readers into complex characters and situations. One of her books, “Conviction,” follows Anna, a woman who escapes her unremarkable life by obsessing over true-crime podcasts.
Her routine gets thrown into chaos when she recognizes someone she knows in one of the cases. Desperate for answers, Anna makes some questionable decisions and gets wrapped up in a dangerous pursuit of the truth.
The story captures how ordinary lives can shift drastically and explores hidden motives people carry. Fans of Attica Locke might enjoy Mina’s attention to flawed characters and layered mysteries.
James Lee Burke writes crime novels that are rich with atmosphere and vivid characters. One of his books, “The Tin Roof Blowdown,” is set in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Detective Dave Robicheaux navigates a world shattered by the storm, investigating a brutal murder tied to looters and the chaos of the city. The story brings you into the deeply flawed lives of its characters and the devastated, haunting landscapes of New Orleans and the bayou.
It’s a layered tale with a strong sense of place and moments that stay with you long after reading.
Megan Abbott writes crime and psychological thrillers that often explore secret lives and fractured relationships. Her book “The Fever” focuses on a small town where a mysterious illness spreads through a group of teenage girls, creating fear and chaos.
The story builds around the Nash family, where Deenie, a high school student, becomes tied to the hysteria unraveling in her town. Abbott paints a vivid picture of how suspicion and paranoia seep into ordinary lives, creating tension in unexpected ways.
Fans of Attica Locke’s ability to weave in personal and social layers might enjoy Abbott’s sharp focus on human behavior.
Jacqueline Woodson writes stories that focus on family, identity, and the ties that shape us. Her book “Red at the Bone” explores how a teenage pregnancy ripples through generations of a Black family in Brooklyn.
The story begins with a ceremony celebrating sixteen-year-old Melody, but through the memories of her relatives, you see how her parents’ choices and dreams influenced her life before she was even born.
It’s a heartfelt look at love, ambition, and how the past continues to affect the present.
Jesmyn Ward writes stories that explore family, survival, and community in the face of hardship. Her novel “Salvage the Bones” takes place in a small Mississippi town in the days leading up to Hurricane Katrina.
It focuses on Esch, a pregnant teenager, and her family as they prepare for the storm and deal with struggles in their lives. The story captures the raw bond between siblings and the unexpected ways they find strength in each other.
Ward paints a vivid picture of their world, from their rundown home to the fierce loyalty they share, making the weight of their challenges feel real.
Colson Whitehead is a writer known for crafting stories that tackle history and identity in fresh ways.
His novel, “The Nickel Boys,” is set in the Jim Crow-era South and follows a boy named Elwood Curtis, who dreams of a better future but finds himself sent to a brutal reform school.
At the Nickel Academy, Elwood meets Turner, and their friendship becomes a lifeline in a place filled with violence and corruption. The story is rooted in real events, giving readers a raw look at injustice.
Fans of Attica Locke will appreciate the way Whitehead captures characters grappling with systems stacked against them.
Tana French is known for her character-driven mysteries that focus on the emotional and psychological layers of crime. Her book, “In the Woods,” follows Detective Rob Ryan as he investigates the murder of a young girl in a small Irish town.
Years earlier, Rob was found in the same woods where the girl’s body turns up, but his two childhood friends disappeared that day and were never found.
The story weaves together Rob’s current case and the haunting questions of his own past, creating an intimate look at memory, loss, and the weight of unsolved truths.
Fans of Attica Locke’s sharp narratives might enjoy French’s ability to blend human struggles with crime stories.
Valerie Wilson Wesley is a mystery writer known for her smart and engaging storytelling. One of her standout novels is “A Glimmer of Death.” It’s the first in her Tamara Hayle series, where Tamara is a private investigator with a knack for solving tough cases.
In the book, Tamara takes on a suspicious case involving her friend and former client, Randie. Randie’s husband has died under strange circumstances, and the police seem all too eager to pin the blame on her.
As Tamara digs into the case, she uncovers secrets about Randie’s past and the dangerous connections surrounding her. The mix of suspense and Tamara’s sharp sense of humor makes the story impossible to put down.