Barry Gifford is an American novelist known primarily for noir fiction. He wrote Wild at Heart, famously adapted into a film by David Lynch, and co-authored Lost Highway, another Lynch collaboration.
If you enjoy reading books by Barry Gifford then you might also like the following authors:
Jim Thompson is an author known for his dark, gritty crime fiction focused on troubled characters and unsettling, noirish situations.
In his novel The Killer Inside Me, Thompson introduces readers to Lou Ford, a seemingly polite deputy sheriff who hides disturbing impulses behind his calm demeanor.
Readers who like Barry Gifford's raw and unpredictable characters will find plenty to appreciate in Thompson's darkly compelling stories.
Charles Bukowski's writing is straightforward and unapologetic, often centered on outsiders, misfits, and characters living on society's margins. His semi-autobiographical novel Post Office explores gritty everyday life through stark realism, dark humor, and blunt honesty.
If you appreciate Gifford's quirky, offbeat characters, Bukowski's rough-edged, humorous approach might appeal to you.
Harry Crews writes about eccentric outsiders, grotesque situations, and American Southern culture with brutal honesty and dark humor.
In A Feast of Snakes, Crews portrays desperation, primal instincts, and violence unfolding around an annual rattlesnake roundup festival, capturing both the absurdity and raw human emotions beneath the surface.
Fans of Barry Gifford's strange and vivid scenes might enjoy Crews' wild and intense storytelling.
Denis Johnson explores the lives of characters on society's fringes—from addicts to drifters—in a poetic, haunting style.
His short-story collection Jesus' Son follows interconnected characters struggling with addiction, loneliness, and despair, but infused with surprising beauty and grace.
Johnson's lyrical approach to dark and chaotic moments should resonate with readers who appreciate Gifford's mix of harsh realities and sharp insight.
Daniel Woodrell brings readers vivid stories set in the poor, rural Ozarks, featuring tough characters facing challenging situations.
In his novel Winter's Bone, Woodrell tells the story of Ree Dolly, a resilient teenage girl dealing with crime, poverty, and family responsibilities as she searches for her missing father.
Woodrell's sharp prose and tense storytelling would likely appeal to those who enjoy Gifford's gritty tales about determined individuals dealing with harsh circumstances.
Cormac McCarthy is a powerful storyteller known for intense narratives and sharp, vivid prose, often set against bleak, gritty backdrops. His novels explore survival, violence, moral decay, and humanity's darker impulses.
Readers intrigued by Barry Gifford's gritty plots and dark characters will find much to admire in McCarthy's bleak yet beautifully crafted novel, No Country for Old Men.
Donald Ray Pollock creates stories filled with dark humor and harsh realities, set in small-town America. His writing captures grim lives and troubled characters who battle poverty, violence, and their own dark impulses.
His novel, The Devil All the Time, is an intense and disturbing journey that Barry Gifford fans will appreciate for its bleak, gritty storytelling and memorable characters.
James Crumley writes gritty crime fiction featuring flawed characters, tangled plots, and dark humor. His books often explore corruption, violence, and moral ambiguity through sardonic and hard-boiled prose.
Readers who enjoy Barry Gifford's approach will love Crumley's classic noir detective novel, The Last Good Kiss.
Charles Willeford writes offbeat crime stories set in morally gray worlds. He mixes dry wit with dark psychological depth, creating complex characters who inhabit gritty underground scenes.
Willeford's style shares Barry Gifford's taste for oddball characters and unconventional storytelling. His novel Miami Blues is a darkly funny crime tale readers won't soon forget.
Elmore Leonard creates sharp, witty, and fast-paced crime stories filled with memorable characters, clever dialogue, and plenty of quirky twists. Known for economical, punchy prose, Leonard brings humor and authenticity to his underworld tales.
Fans of Barry Gifford will find similar rough-edged characters and irreverent plotting in Leonard's entertaining novel, Get Shorty.
Hubert Selby Jr. writes raw, gritty fiction about life on society's margins and the dark side of human nature. His style is direct and vivid, filled with strong emotions and brutal honesty.
His novel Last Exit to Brooklyn explores desperation, violence, and hopelessness among people struggling in a tough urban environment.
James M. Cain is famous for tense crime stories with complex characters and a cynical, hard-edged outlook. His writing draws readers into morally ambiguous situations, often driven by passion, greed, and betrayal.
In his classic book The Postman Always Rings Twice, Cain portrays a sinister romance leading quickly to crime, setting the standard for noir fiction.
Dennis Lehane is known for gritty, page-turning thrillers filled with strong dialogue and emotionally complex characters. He often sets his stories in working-class neighborhoods, exploring crime, redemption, and moral conflict.
His novel Mystic River tells a gripping story about friendship, tragedy, and the painful consequences of past choices.
Scott Phillips creates sharp-edged crime fiction with a darkly comic twist. His stories explore themes of corruption, obsession, and chaotic consequences, set in small towns with quirky characters and deep secrets.
In The Ice Harvest, Phillips combines crime, humor, and tension in a snow-covered noir tale of betrayal and greed.
William S. Burroughs pushes narrative boundaries with bold experimentation and satiric wit. His writing often explores addiction, control, and social decay through surreal imagery and provocative style.
Naked Lunch exemplifies Burroughs' wild, controversial approach, giving readers a hallucinatory trip through the disturbing underbelly of human desire.