Clayton Rawson was an American mystery author known for his magician-detective, The Great Merlini. His notable works include the classic mystery Death from a Top Hat and its entertaining sequel, The Footprints on the Ceiling.
If you enjoy reading books by Clayton Rawson then you might also like the following authors:
If you like Clayton Rawson's flair for impossible mysteries and ingenious puzzle-solving, you'll likely enjoy John Dickson Carr. He's famous for locked-room mysteries and elaborate setups that challenge logic.
In his classic The Hollow Man, Carr presents one of his most baffling cases involving a murder in a locked room, with no apparent way in or out. Fans of clever detective work and tricky puzzles will find plenty to love in Carr's mysteries.
Ellery Queen is both the author pseudonym and the detective character in a series beloved by puzzle-loving mystery fans. Similar to Rawson, these books offer carefully crafted plots and complex clues that invite readers to solve along with the detective.
A good starting point is The Greek Coffin Mystery, a notable book famous for its detailed plotting and meticulously fair presentation of clues.
If you enjoy Clayton Rawson because of his playful, puzzle-focused style, try Hake Talbot. Talbot wrote imaginative mysteries, often with eerie or supernatural undertones that echo Rawson’s sense of suspense and clever twists.
Check out Rim of the Pit, where a séance in a snow-bound lodge leads to bizarre events and an astonishing impossible crime.
Anthony Boucher combines sharp wit, clear prose, and elaborate puzzle construction, appealing to readers who appreciate Rawson’s combination of clever narratives and smart detective work.
His book Nine Times Nine is particularly notable for its engaging detective, Sister Ursula, and an intriguing, seemingly impossible crime. Fans of Rawson’s creativity and careful plotting will find much to enjoy here.
Fans of Clayton Rawson’s entertaining mysteries might also appreciate Stuart Towne. Under this pen name, Clayton Rawson himself wrote stories featuring magician detective Don Diavolo.
Death Out of Thin Air collects stories filled with clever illusions, skillful misdirection, and tricky, puzzle-focused mysteries. If you enjoy Rawson’s style, Towne’s stories will naturally be a perfect fit.
If you enjoy Clayton Rawson's clever impossible crimes and locked-room mysteries, you might love Paul Halter. Halter specializes in intricate puzzle mysteries with a dash of the supernatural atmosphere. His novel The Fourth Door is a great example.
It's filled with mystery, suspense, meticulously planned crimes, and seemingly impossible outcomes that'll keep you guessing.
G. K. Chesterton's detective fiction combines puzzling crimes, whimsical language, and thoughtful, philosophical touches. His famous detective, Father Brown, solves mysteries with intuition and understanding of human nature.
Check out The Innocence of Father Brown, a collection of stories that gives a great taste of Chesterton's thoughtful yet playful style.
Fans of Clayton Rawson's intellectual puzzle-solving style will appreciate S. S. Van Dine. His detective, Philo Vance, solves complicated crimes with an elegant and logical approach.
In The Benson Murder Case, Van Dine crafts meticulous plotting, clever clues, and sophisticated dialogue that make for enjoyable puzzle-solving.
If you're drawn to clever mysteries with witty humor and literary charm, Edmund Crispin is a fine choice. His quirky detective, Gervase Fen, is both eccentric and brilliant.
The Moving Toyshop perfectly captures Crispin's sense of playful humor, tangled plots, and a light-hearted yet puzzling mystery.
Edward D. Hoch published hundreds of short mystery stories, often featuring impossible crimes and clever twists that Rawson readers will admire. Hoch excelled in compact yet satisfying puzzles that deliver unexpected outcomes.
Diagnosis: Impossible collects several of his best impossible crime stories, showcasing his talent for sharp twists and satisfying conclusions.
Joseph Commings wrote clever, puzzle-driven mystery stories, often featuring locked-room mysteries similar to Clayton Rawson. He is best known for creating Senator Brooks U. Banner, a detective famous for solving seemingly impossible crimes.
A great book highlighting his puzzle-solving approach is Banner Deadlines, a collection of intriguing locked-room mysteries.
Isaac Asimov is most famous for his science fiction, but fans of Clayton Rawson will enjoy his sharp and logical mystery stories. Asimov carefully constructs mysteries like puzzles, clearly laying out clues and giving readers a satisfying solution.
His book The Caves of Steel, which combines classic mystery structure with futuristic elements, nicely demonstrates his style.
Anthony Wynne's writing is ideal for readers who love elaborate clues and cleverly constructed impossible crimes. He often explored situations that seemed inexplicable at first, carefully unraveling the logic behind them.
The Silver Scale Mystery is a strong example of his skill, featuring a seemingly supernatural crime explained with clear, clever reasoning.
Freeman Wills Crofts excels at methodical detective stories. Like Rawson, he focuses on precise details, logical reasoning, and elaborate alibis. Crofts' meticulous storytelling style gives readers thorough satisfaction as each clue is carefully unraveled.
In his novel The Cask, the plot is built around thorough police investigation, giving readers the pleasure of solving a complex puzzle alongside the detective.
Christianna Brand brings both wit and emotional depth to her mysteries. Though she emphasizes careful puzzle-solving, her stories are also filled with intriguing characters and sharp humor.
Her novel Green for Danger stands out, blending the tension of wartime Britain with a clever, detailed plot that makes it satisfying for puzzle-mystery fans.