Claire Askew is a Scottish author celebrated for her compelling crime fiction. Her notable detective novel All the Hidden Truths has been praised for strong characters and intriguing storylines.
If you enjoy reading books by Claire Askew then you might also like the following authors:
If you enjoy Claire Askew’s powerful crime stories set in gritty, realistic settings, Denise Mina might be a perfect match. Mina’s writing captures the darker sides of Glasgow, drawing readers into complex crimes and unforgettable characters.
In her book Garnethill, we meet Maureen O’Donnell, a strong, complicated young woman from Glasgow who wakes up one day to a shocking discovery—a man murdered in her own flat. The victim isn’t a stranger; he’s someone Maureen knows and trusted.
Quickly accused and left on her own, she decides to dig into the mystery herself. The deeper she goes, the more she realizes the crime connects to her past and many hidden secrets around her.
This book offers tension, surprising twists, sharp dialogue, and a memorable protagonist who won’t give up.
Readers who enjoy Claire Askew’s blend of suspense and complex characters might also appreciate Val McDermid, a Scottish crime author known for intense thrillers and intriguing plots.
Her novel The Mermaids Singing introduces forensic psychologist Tony Hill as he teams up with detective Carol Jordan to track down a brutal serial killer in the fictional town of Bradfield.
The story carefully explores psychological suspense and police procedural elements and offers readers authentic investigations and intriguing, realistic characters.
McDermid doesn’t shy away from dark themes; instead, she immerses readers in chilling scenarios while developing well-rounded and believable characters. If absorbing crime fiction with realistic detail suits your taste, The Mermaids Singing is a powerful place to start.
Readers who enjoy Claire Askew’s engaging Scottish crime mysteries might also appreciate Ian Rankin’s Inspector Rebus novels. Rankin sets his books in the gritty streets of Edinburgh, often highlighting the city’s darker side.
In Knots and Crosses, we meet Detective John Rebus, a flawed Edinburgh detective who finds himself drawn into a series of chilling murders. The killer is sending him cryptic clues, forcing Rebus to confront a traumatic past he prefers to forget.
Through the twists and turns of this dark mystery, Rankin creates vivid settings, memorable characters, and a suspenseful atmosphere readers won’t easily forget.
Readers who enjoy Claire Askew’s engaging mysteries may also find Tana French’s novels appealing. French writes suspenseful crime fiction with deep psychological layers and vivid characters.
Her novel In the Woods introduces Detective Rob Ryan, who is assigned to investigate the murder of a young girl on the outskirts of Dublin.
Coincidentally, decades earlier, Rob himself survived a childhood incident in the very same woods where two friends disappeared without a trace.
As the current murder investigation unfolds, Rob grapples with fragmented personal memories that blur the lines between past and present. The book explores themes of memory, trauma, and deception, offering a tense atmosphere and plenty of surprises along the way.
Readers who enjoy Claire Askew’s mysteries might appreciate Ann Cleeves, an author known for atmospheric storytelling and richly developed characters.
In her novel The Long Call, Cleeves introduces Detective Matthew Venn, a thoughtful and reserved investigator drawn back into a community he once left behind. Set along the rugged North Devon coast, the story opens with a body found on a secluded beach.
As Matthew investigates, he uncovers secrets hidden within those closest to him, forcing him to reconcile personal struggles with the demands of his case.
Cleeves creates an immersive sense of place and quietly builds tension in a way that will feel familiar to fans of Askew’s style.
Readers who enjoy Claire Askew’s sharp storytelling and realistic characters may find Stuart MacBride equally engaging. MacBride is known for his gritty crime novels set in Scotland, filled with dark humor, vivid dialogue, and strong character development.
One good place to start is Cold Granite, the first book featuring Detective Sergeant Logan McRae. In a chilly Aberdeen winter, McRae returns to work after a serious injury and immediately faces a chilling case: the disappearance and murder of local children.
As the pressure builds, McRae must navigate tense office politics, relentless media coverage, and haunting clues leading to a grim, twisting investigation.
Fans of cleverly plotted police dramas set against realistic city backdrops are likely to appreciate MacBride’s distinctive narrative voice.
Books by Susie Steiner offer sharp storytelling and intricate character development that fans of Claire Askew will appreciate. In Missing, Presumed, Steiner introduces detective Manon Bradshaw, whose personal life is complicated and relatable.
When Edith Hind, a graduate student from a powerful family, disappears mysteriously, Manon must navigate media pressure, political tensions, and tangled relationships to uncover the truth.
Steiner crafts a thoughtful exploration of human connection and loneliness, wrapped in a tightly plotted police investigation. Readers who enjoy the emotional depth and authentic characters of Askew’s novels are likely to find Steiner’s storytelling equally absorbing.
Readers who enjoy Claire Askew’s atmospheric mysteries might also appreciate Jane Harper’s novels set in rural Australia. Harper crafts suspenseful stories filled with intriguing characters and vivid landscapes.
Her novel The Dry introduces readers to Federal Agent Aaron Falk, who returns to his drought-stricken hometown for a tragic funeral. While there, Falk becomes involved in investigating a family’s mysterious deaths, which brings old suspicions and buried secrets to the surface.
Harper skillfully portrays drought conditions so intense that readers almost feel the heat penetrating every scene. Readers drawn to Askew’s attention to detail and character-driven plots will find Jane Harper’s storytelling equally captivating.
Belinda Bauer is a British author known for crafting suspenseful, character-driven crime novels that keep readers hooked until the very end. If you’re interested in Claire Askew’s sharp, tightly-woven mysteries, you’ll likely enjoy Belinda Bauer’s Snap.
The novel begins with an unsettling event: three young siblings are abandoned in a broken-down car on a hot summer day while their mother sets out to find help and never returns.
Years later, the oldest boy, Jack, is carrying a heavy secret, determined to protect his siblings and uncover the truth behind their mother’s disappearance.
Meanwhile, across town, a pregnant woman finds herself alone at home when someone mysteriously breaks in, leaving behind clues that tie her fate directly to Jack.
The novel explores loss, resilience, and the surprising ways people’s paths cross, all wrapped up in deep emotional layers that linger long after the story ends.
Books by Sharon Bolton offer readers sharp suspense and psychological depth similar to the style of Claire Askew. Bolton’s thriller, Little Black Lies, is set in the remote Falkland Islands, a place haunted by secrets and painful memories.
In a community shaken by the disappearance of children, three troubled people become intertwined: Catrin, burdened by tragedy; Rachel, filled with guilt over past mistakes; and Callum, a returning soldier whose loyalty leads him into suspicion.
Bolton creates complex characters who must confront their darkest truths against a chilling backdrop. For those readers who appreciate Claire Askew’s well-developed characters and suspenseful narratives, Sharon Bolton’s Little Black Lies offers an engrossing new discovery.
Readers who enjoy Claire Askew’s mysteries may also appreciate Elly Griffiths. Griffiths writes engaging crime novels filled with intriguing characters and thoughtful plots. Her book The Crossing Places introduces readers to forensic archaeologist Dr. Ruth Galloway.
Ruth is called by detectives to help identify bones found near a remote coastal marshland. The investigation becomes even more tense when connections emerge to a long-unsolved child disappearance.
Griffiths blends archaeology and modern detective work beautifully, creating a strong sense of place and believable characters that keep readers absorbed until the last page.
Mari Hannah is an author worth discovering if you enjoy Claire Askew’s sharp crime fiction. Her book The Murder Wall introduces readers to Detective Chief Inspector Kate Daniels, a strong and determined detective based in Northumberland.
The story pulls you into a case that becomes deeply personal for Daniels when she recognizes one of the murder victims. Her investigation stirs up intense emotions and buried secrets, affecting her professional judgment and personal life.
Hannah builds a realistic and intriguing mystery, layering complex characters over a twisting plot to keep readers guessing until the very end.
If Askew’s novels appeal to you, Mari Hannah’s detailed police procedurals and vivid character portrayals will likely captivate your interest too.
Eva Dolan is a crime novelist known for gritty detective stories that explore social issues and dark mysteries.
If you’re a fan of Claire Askew’s realistic characters and tense narratives, Eva Dolan’s writing shares that same blend of suspenseful plotting and deep, relatable storytelling.
Her novel Long Way Home follows detectives Zigic and Ferreira as they unravel the complexities behind a deadly fire at a migrant workers’ shelter.
With a sharp eye for social tensions and a plot full of unexpected twists, Dolan delivers both an absorbing mystery and a thoughtful look at contemporary society.
Liz Nugent is an Irish author known for tense psychological thrillers and deeply flawed characters. If you enjoy Claire Askew’s unsettling narratives and dark insights into human behavior, Nugent’s writing hits a similar nerve.
Her novel Unraveling Oliver explores the disturbing layers behind Oliver Ryan, a charming author who violently attacks his wife. The story peels back Oliver’s charismatic facade to expose dark secrets from his past.
Nugent reveals each layer through multiple perspectives, building suspense and shock until the very end. For readers drawn to troubling characters and intense narratives, Liz Nugent offers a gripping reading experience.
If you enjoy Claire Askew’s thoughtful mysteries with sharp, gritty characters, Sarah Hilary might be a great author to explore next.
In her novel Someone Else’s Skin, Hilary introduces Detective Inspector Marnie Rome, a character with depth and emotional complexity who faces a challenging and disturbing case.
Rome investigates a violent incident at a women’s shelter, uncovering hidden secrets, conflicted loyalties, and troubling truths about the people around her.
Hilary writes realistic, tense stories filled with psychological twists that challenge readers’ assumptions about victims and villains. Fans of Askew’s tense and layered storytelling might appreciate Sarah Hilary’s gripping narratives and vivid, nuanced characters.