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List of 15 authors like Dashiell Hammett

Dashiell Hammett, known for his hardboiled detective novels such as “The Maltese Falcon” and “The Thin Man,” has influenced many authors in the crime and mystery genre.

If you enjoy his work, you might also like the following authors, who write in a similar vein:

  1. 1
    Raymond Chandler – Known for creating the iconic private detective Philip Marlowe, his novels are classics in the hardboiled genre.
  2. 2
    Ross Macdonald – His Lew Archer series has a similar tone and complexity to Hammett's work.
  3. 3
    James M. Cain – Author of “The Postman Always Rings Twice” and “Double Indemnity,” he's another key figure in the hardboiled and noir fiction genres.
  4. 4
    Jim Thompson – Known for his gritty and bleak crime novels such as “The Killer Inside Me.”
  5. 5
    Mickey Spillane – Creator of Mike Hammer, a tough private investigator who is the protagonist of many pulp detective stories.
  6. 6
    John D. MacDonald – While known for his Travis McGee series, he wrote many crime and suspense novels.
  7. 7
    Elmore Leonard – His crime novels, featuring sharp dialogue and complex characters, are highly regarded.
  8. 8
    Patricia Highsmith – Author of psychological thrillers like “Strangers on a Train” and the Ripley series.
  9. 9
    Chester Himes – Known for his Harlem detective series featuring Coffin Ed Johnson and Grave Digger Jones.
  10. 10
    Walter Mosley – His Easy Rawlins series, set in post-WWII Los Angeles, is reminiscent of classic hardboiled fiction.
  11. 11
    Lawrence Block – Creator of the Matthew Scudder and Bernie Rhodenbarr series, Block's work is often compared to Hammett's.
  12. 12
    Dennis Lehane – Contemporary author known for his Kenzie-Gennaro series and stand-alone novels with a strong grasp on the gritty aspects of crime fiction.
  13. 13
    Sara Paretsky – Her V.I. Warshawski novels brought a female perspective to the traditionally male-dominated detective genre.
  14. 14
    George Pelecanos – As a writer and producer for “The Wire,” his novels often deal with crime, culture, and the urban environment.
  15. 15
    Jonathan Lethem – Incorporates elements of detective fiction, notably in “Motherless Brooklyn,” which is influenced by the hardboiled tradition.

These authors offer a range of styles within the crime, mystery, and detective genres and should provide plenty of gripping reads for fans of Dashiell Hammett.