If you enjoy reading books by C. J. Box then you might also like the following authors:
Craig Johnson is an author known for his modern western crime novels featuring Sheriff Walt Longmire. His book “The Cold Dish” introduces Walt, the dedicated sheriff of Wyoming’s fictional Absaroka County.
After the suspicious death of a local young man, Walt investigates the connections to an old crime involving the victim and his friends. Johnson combines authentic Western settings, a smart plot, and compelling characters to create a realistic portrayal of small-town life.
For readers who love the Wyoming landscapes and law enforcement themes found in C. J. Box’s novels, Craig Johnson’s books offer a similar blend of regional authenticity and engaging mysteries that keep readers hooked until the very end.
William Kent Krueger writes mysteries set in rugged landscapes filled with complex characters and tense storylines. Readers who enjoy C. J. Box’s suspenseful storytelling will find Krueger’s “Iron Lake” worth checking out.
This book introduces Cork O’Connor, a former sheriff living in northern Minnesota surrounded by pristine wilderness and deadly secrets. When a judge mysteriously vanishes during a harsh winter storm, Cork must confront corruption, revenge, and hidden motives.
Krueger does an excellent job blending crime-solving with a realistic portrayal of small-town tensions and wilderness survival.
Nevada Barr is a former National Park ranger turned mystery novelist who creates suspenseful mysteries set against the backdrops of national parks throughout America.
Readers who enjoy C. J. Box’s vivid wilderness settings will appreciate Barr’s authentic nature descriptions and engaging storytelling.
Her book “Track of the Cat” introduces ranger Anna Pigeon, who investigates a suspicious death in the remote wilderness of Texas’ Guadalupe Mountains National Park.
As Anna faces the dangers of wildlife, harsh terrain, and elusive clues, the reader experiences the beauty and isolation of the setting alongside her. The mystery deepens with every step Anna takes, pulling readers along toward a surprising ending.
Paul Doiron is an author who writes outdoor thrillers set in rugged landscapes. His Mike Bowditch series follows a Maine game warden who solves crimes in remote wilderness settings, often facing isolation, harsh elements, and unexpected dangers.
In “The Poacher’s Son,” the first book of the series, Mike Bowditch confronts a challenging personal crisis when his estranged father becomes the prime suspect in a disturbing murder investigation.
Balancing family loyalty with his duties as a game warden, Mike must navigate the rugged backwoods of Maine to uncover the truth.
Readers who appreciate C. J. Box’s Joe Pickett series, full of wilderness suspense and complex moral choices, will find Paul Doiron’s storytelling engaging and familiar.
Readers who enjoy the outdoor settings and suspense-filled mysteries of C. J. Box will appreciate Tony Hillerman’s novels set in the vivid Southwest. Hillerman’s “Dance Hall of the Dead” introduces readers to Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn, a Navajo tribal police officer.
Leaphorn investigates the strange disappearance of two teenage boys, one Zuni and the other Navajo, in the dramatic landscape of New Mexico.
As his investigation crosses cultural lines and ancient traditions, Leaphorn faces dangers and long-kept secrets in a fascinating story rich in local customs and storytelling depth.
If you enjoy C. J. Box’s thrilling mysteries set in the wild landscapes of Wyoming, Margaret Coel might be your next favorite author.
Her novel “The Eagle Catcher” introduces readers to Father John O’Malley, a dedicated Jesuit priest, and attorney Vicky Holden featured in a captivating mystery on Wyoming’s Wind River Reservation.
After a tribal chairman is murdered, suspicion casts a wide shadow, pulling Father O’Malley and Vicky into a complex investigation that highlights issues around both reservation politics and personal secrets.
Coel’s writing captures the spirit and struggles of reservation life, with vivid descriptions of the rugged Wyoming scenery.
Readers who appreciate Box’s blend of suspense, strong sense of place, and believable characters will find much to enjoy in Coel’s thoughtful storytelling.
Readers who enjoy the vivid storytelling and detailed characters of C. J. Box may also find interest in novels by C.J. Sansom. Sansom is best known for his historical mystery series featuring the lawyer Matthew Shardlake, set in Tudor England.
In “Dissolution,” Shardlake travels to a remote monastery to investigate a gruesome murder amidst the backdrop of Henry VIII’s harsh reforms. The quiet suspense builds as Shardlake uncovers hidden secrets, religious tensions, and strong motives.
Sansom weaves careful historical details into compelling detective work, creating an atmosphere filled with intrigue and tension.
Books by James D. Doss offer a mystery series set against vivid Rocky Mountain backdrops, similar to the Joe Pickett novels by C. J. Box. In “The Shaman Sings,” Doss introduces readers to Ute police officer Charlie Moon.
When a local college student is found dead under mysterious circumstances, Moon and his aunt Daisy Perika, a Ute shaman, team up to unravel what happened. The story is rich in Native American traditions and folklore.
The rugged Colorado landscape shapes each character and scene, which readers of Box’s Wyoming mysteries will surely appreciate.
Books by Kathy Reichs feature exciting mysteries and realistic forensic details that thrill fans of crime fiction. Her novel “Déjà Dead” introduces Temperance Brennan, a forensic anthropologist who solves murder cases in Montreal.
When Brennan finds a set of human bones in trash bags, authorities dismiss her belief that a serial killer is responsible.
Determined to prove she’s right, Brennan follows clues around the city, faces danger head-on, and races to uncover the truth before the killer claims another victim. Reichs writes fast-paced stories rooted in real-world forensic science and strong characters.
Readers who enjoy C. J. Box’s suspenseful storytelling and realistic crime-solving methods may find Kathy Reichs equally satisfying.
Dana Stabenow is an author worth checking out if you enjoy C. J. Box’s thrilling adventures set in vast wilderness areas. In her book “A Cold Day for Murder,” Stabenow introduces Kate Shugak, a tough, determined investigator in the rugged landscapes of Alaska.
Kate takes on cases others would rather avoid, and in this story, she searches for a missing park ranger who disappeared under mysterious circumstances. The isolation, cold atmosphere, and well-developed characters create a suspenseful narrative rich with local color.
If remote settings and outdoor mysteries appeal to you, Dana Stabenow’s Kate Shugak novels offer intrigue and realism in equal measure.
Peter May is a Scottish crime writer known for atmospheric mysteries set against compelling natural landscapes. If you enjoy C. J. Box’s vivid descriptions of wilderness and intense mysteries, you’ll likely appreciate “The Blackhouse”.
This story follows detective Fin Macleod, who returns to his remote Scottish island hometown to investigate a brutal murder that closely resembles one from his current case in Edinburgh.
While confronting his own past, Fin encounters suspicious locals, harsh weather conditions, and deeply buried secrets. May weaves cultural tensions, stark emotion, and scenic beauty into a suspenseful narrative.
Anne Hillerman continues the legacy of her father, Tony Hillerman, by creating absorbing mysteries set in the vivid landscapes of the American Southwest.
Her novel “Spider Woman’s Daughter” brings back beloved characters Joe Leaphorn, Jim Chee, and introduces an engaging new protagonist, Officer Bernadette Manuelito.
After someone shoots a legendary detective, Bernie Manuelito finds herself thrown into an intense investigation that takes readers deep into Navajo culture and traditions. Rich storytelling and intriguing characters combine with authentic portrayals of the Southwest region.
Readers who enjoy C. J. Box’s detailed settings and intricate plots will feel right at home with Anne Hillerman’s thoughtful mysteries that celebrate culture, tradition, and crime-solving skill.
A.J. Tata is an author whose action-packed thrillers blend military expertise and gripping suspense. If you enjoy the fast-paced, well-crafted narratives of C.J. Box, you might appreciate Tata’s “Besieged.”
In this book, former Delta Force operative Jake Mahegan finds himself facing a dangerous terrorist plot on American soil. After an attack on a North Carolina military base, Jake must uncover the truth behind a shadowy conspiracy before time runs out.
Readers will find believable characters, authentic tactical detail, and plenty of unexpected twists.
If you enjoy C. J. Box’s thrilling mysteries set in remote locations, you might like Louise Penny and her Inspector Gamache series. Penny crafts intriguing plots set in the quiet yet deceptively complex village of Three Pines in Quebec.
In “Still Life,” Chief Inspector Armand Gamache arrives in this cozy town after the suspicious death of a beloved local artist. Gamache encounters quirky characters, hidden secrets, and layers of mystery beneath Three Pines’ charming exterior.
Penny blends small-town investigations with rich character development and vivid storytelling, delivering a story that keeps you questioning motives until the very end.
Readers who enjoy C. J. Box’s tense mysteries set in rugged landscapes might appreciate Ragnar Jónasson’s novels set in Iceland’s chilly, isolated regions.
Jónasson is an Icelandic author known for his atmospheric “Dark Iceland” series, featuring Ari Thór Arason, a young police officer in an isolated northern town.
In “Snowblind,” Ari Thór moves to the remote fishing village of Siglufjörður, where a sudden murder shatters the small-town quiet. Winter storms block roads in and out, trapping citizens—and a killer—in close quarters.
As secrets surface and tension mounts, Ari Thór races to solve the crime before more harm is done. Jónasson’s sharp portrayal of Iceland’s stark, snow-bound setting adds real chills to an absorbing mystery.