If you enjoy reading novels by Boris Akunin then you might also like the following authors:
If you enjoy Boris Akunin’s clever mysteries set in richly historical backgrounds, you might appreciate Umberto Eco’s novels. Eco was an Italian author and philosopher known for his detailed storytelling and complex historical references.
His novel “The Name of the Rose” is a great starting point. Set in the Middle Ages, the book follows William of Baskerville, a Franciscan friar who travels to a remote monastery to investigate a series of mysterious deaths.
The monastery’s dark secrets slowly unfold amid library corridors filled with rare manuscripts and hidden clues. The plot combines history, mystery, and medieval scholarship in a way that draws readers deeply into the story.
Fans of Akunin’s sleuthing heroes and historical settings might find Eco’s thoughtful, layered storytelling equally enjoyable.
Readers who enjoy Boris Akunin’s historical mysteries full of intrigue could find Arturo Pérez-Reverte equally engaging. Pérez-Reverte, a Spanish author famous for his vivid storytelling, combines detailed history with suspenseful narratives.
His novel “The Club Dumas” follows Lucas Corso, a rare book hunter hired to authenticate an ancient manuscript connected to the occult. Corso’s investigation leads him across Europe, through secret societies and literary puzzles, as fiction and reality begin to blur.
Rich in historical references and twisting mysteries, Pérez-Reverte’s writing offers readers who love intelligent detective plots a rewarding adventure.
Books by Patrick Süskind offer readers cleverly plotted narratives filled with mystery and dark humor. His novel “Perfume: The Story of a Murderer” explores the life of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, a man born without any scent of his own.
Set in 18th century France, Grenouille possesses an extraordinary sense of smell that drives him into obsession and eventually murder. Süskind combines historical detail with psychological insight, creating a suspenseful tale that exposes human desire and madness.
Fans of Boris Akunin’s layered storytelling and intriguing historical backdrops will find Patrick Süskind’s work equally appealing.
Wilkie Collins was a master of suspense and mystery during Victorian times. If you’re a fan of Boris Akunin’s clever plots and historical puzzles, Collins’s novel “The Moonstone” could keep you hooked.
It begins with the strange disappearance of a rare diamond, originally from India, after it arrives as a birthday gift at an English country estate. As different characters take turns narrating, the events become complicated, secrets surface, and motives twist around each other.
Collins slowly uncovers a trail of clues and false leads, building a mystery some critics point to as the first modern detective novel.
If you enjoy Boris Akunin’s atmospheric historical mysteries, you’ll likely appreciate Carlos Ruiz Zafón, a Spanish author who weaves suspenseful plots with richly depicted historical settings.
His novel “The Shadow of the Wind” transports readers to post-war Barcelona, where young Daniel Sempere stumbles upon a rare, forgotten book in the mysterious Cemetery of Forgotten Books.
Intrigued by its unknown author, Daniel begins a journey through the city’s dark alleys and hidden secrets. As he digs deeper, parallels between his life and the enigmatic author’s past emerge, leading him into danger and uncovering a decades-old conspiracy.
Zafón’s elegant writing style, coupled with vivid images of Barcelona, creates an absorbing literary mystery perfect for anyone drawn to Akunin’s blend of history, suspense, and intriguing characters.
Readers who enjoy Boris Akunin’s blend of history and mystery might appreciate the novels of Iain Pears. Pears is a British author known for crafting clever historical crime fiction.
His novel “An Instance of the Fingerpost” transports readers to 17th-century England, a time of scientific discoveries, political tension, and dangerous intrigue.
The story revolves around the suspicious death of an Oxford scholar, narrated through four separate eyewitness accounts. Each narrator sees events differently, and as their stories unfold, truths shift and suspicion grows.
Pears offers readers a richly detailed historical setting and layers of mystery, similar to Akunin’s Erast Fandorin series.
Maurice Leblanc was a French author famous for his character Arsène Lupin, an elegant and witty gentleman thief who navigates crime and mystery with brilliant finesse.
If you’re a fan of Boris Akunin’s clever detective novels starring Erast Fandorin, you might enjoy Leblanc’s “The Extraordinary Adventures of Arsène Lupin,” where Lupin matches wits with skilled detectives, slyly outsmarts wealthy victims, and charms readers with humor and style.
In one exciting story within this collection, Lupin announces his theft in advance to the wealthy Baron Cahorn, creating suspense that engages readers to follow every clever twist.
Leblanc combines crime plots, clever riddles, and vibrant characters to create detective stories that feel fresh and entertaining even decades later.
Readers who enjoy Boris Akunin’s historical mysteries and intricate plots may find Dorothy Dunnett equally satisfying. Dunnett, a Scottish author, skillfully blends vivid historical settings with smartly crafted characters.
Her novel “The Game of Kings,” the first in the “Lymond Chronicles,” introduces Francis Crawford of Lymond, an intriguing Scottish nobleman accused of treason.
Returning secretly to Scotland, Lymond seeks to clear his name amid dangerous political intrigue and shifting loyalties. The plot twists through rich historical detail, sharp dialogue, and clever encounters that keep readers hooked from start to finish.
P.D. James P.D. James was an English crime novelist famous for her detective fiction and clever storytelling. Readers who love Boris Akunin’s clever plots and memorable detective Erast Fandorin might also enjoy P.D. James’s detective Adam Dalgliesh.
One of her most popular novels, “Cover Her Face,” introduces Dalgliesh, an intelligent and reflective detective investigating the murder of a young maid found dead in bed, behind a locked door.
Everyone seems to have had reasons for disliking the victim; Dalgliesh must unravel each person’s secret to discover the real killer.
Fans of carefully plotted mysteries and thoughtful detectives will appreciate the detailed atmosphere and tense human relationships that James brings to life.
Elizabeth Kostova is an American author known for her detailed historical fiction that blends mystery and intrigue. If you enjoyed the historical detective work in Boris Akunin’s novels, you might appreciate her book “The Historian”.
This novel follows a young woman who finds a mysterious book and letters hidden in her father’s study. She uncovers her father’s research into the legend of Vlad the Impaler, the real-life figure who inspired Dracula.
The search takes readers across Europe and deep into dark historical mysteries. Kostova weaves together suspense, history, and gothic atmosphere into one captivating narrative.
Anne Perry is a British author known for historical detective mysteries set in Victorian London. Her novel “The Face of a Stranger” introduces William Monk, a skilled detective who wakes up after an accident without any memory of who he is or the work he does.
While investigating a high-profile murder, Monk not only has to find the killer but also must piece together his own forgotten past.
Perry’s storytelling captures the social atmosphere and moral complexities of Victorian society, combined with an absorbing, character-driven mystery.
Fans of Boris Akunin’s Erast Fandorin series, which also blends historical settings with compelling detective work, might find William Monk an equally intriguing protagonist.
Readers who appreciate Boris Akunin’s blend of mystery and historical settings will find Alexander Pushkin’s work intriguing. Pushkin, often celebrated as Russia’s greatest poet, also wrote engaging prose filled with suspenseful storytelling and vivid characters.
His short novel “The Queen of Spades” revolves around Hermann, a cautious young officer who learns of a secret gambling strategy rumored to guarantee victory.
Consumed by curiosity and ambition, Hermann becomes obsessed with persuading an elderly countess to reveal her guarded secret.
As tension builds and the line between reality and obsession blurs, the narrative draws the reader into a thrilling exploration of human greed and supernatural suspense.
Pushkin’s direct writing style and sharp psychological insights create a gripping atmosphere readers of Akunin’s stories would surely find appealing.
Readers who enjoy Boris Akunin’s detective mysteries might also appreciate G.K. Chesterton, an English writer known for his sharp wit and clever crime puzzles.
“The Man Who Was Thursday” is one of Chesterton’s standout novels, blending detective fiction with philosophical themes and a dose of humor. The story follows Gabriel Syme, a poet turned detective who infiltrates a secret anarchist society.
Each member of the society is named after a day of the week, adding intrigue and a sense of mystery. As Syme navigates a maze of deception and double identities, readers encounter twists, witty dialogues, and thought-provoking reflections on order, chaos, and society itself.
Those who like Akunin’s imaginative plots and intelligent heroes might find Chesterton’s storytelling equally enjoyable.
Andrea Camilleri is an Italian author celebrated for his witty and intelligent detective novels centered around Inspector Salvo Montalbano.
Fans of Boris Akunin’s intricate mysteries and charismatic detective Erast Fandorin may find Camilleri’s Sicilian crime stories equally intriguing.
In “The Shape of Water,” the first book of the series, Inspector Montalbano investigates the mysterious death of a prominent local politician found in a compromised situation.
Set against a vividly detailed Sicilian backdrop, the novel explores corruption, humor, and sharp social commentary, all wrapped into a clever detective story.
Montalbano himself is a delightfully quirky character—a lover of good food, frank conversation, and justice, whose methods are unconventional but highly effective.
Readers who enjoy cultural depth alongside engaging detective plots will appreciate Camilleri’s unique storytelling style.
Readers who enjoy Boris Akunin’s mysteries and historical settings may appreciate the work of Javier Marías, a Spanish author known for thoughtful novels full of intrigue and moral dilemmas.
His novel “A Heart So White” opens dramatically, as a woman commits suicide shortly after her wedding. The reasons remain hidden for years, until her nephew, Juan, becomes curious about his family’s secretive past.
Marías examines the power of secrets, family bonds, and the truth that people prefer to keep buried. The novel moves between past and present, slowly revealing the relationships and decisions that shaped their lives.