If you enjoy reading books by David Liss then you might also like the following authors:
Susanna Clarke creates a fascinating blend of historical fiction and fantasy that fans of David Liss will appreciate. Her novel “Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell” is set in 19th-century England during the Napoleonic Wars.
It imagines a world where magic was once real but has since faded into myth. Two magicians emerge and attempt to use magic practically to influence war efforts and politics. Their relationship soon falls into rivalry, a rivalry that impacts the people and the world around them.
Clarke masterfully crafts historical detail, complex characters, and rich magical lore into a narrative that feels authentic and immersive. Readers who enjoy the intriguing plots and historical settings in Liss’s works will find plenty to love in Clarke’s storytelling.
Matthew Pearl is a historical fiction author known for blending intriguing mysteries with vivid historical figures and events. Readers who enjoy David Liss’s clever plotlines and atmospheric historical settings may find Pearl’s novels engaging.
His debut novel, “The Dante Club,” is set in 1865 in Boston, featuring a group of scholars that includes poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. They are translating Dante’s “Inferno” into English for the first time when a series of gruesome murders start occurring.
Each murder scene closely mirrors punishments described in Dante’s work. The scholars become determined to solve these terrifying crimes before the literary inspirations continue into reality.
Pearl captures readers with fascinating historical details, memorable characters, and a suspenseful plot that mixes literature, murder, and mystery.
Iain Pears is an author whose historical mysteries blend intrigue and rich detail, perfect for readers who enjoy David Liss. One of his standout novels is “An Instance of the Fingerpost,” set in 17th-century England.
This clever story unfolds through four eyewitness accounts of a puzzling murder in Oxford. Each narrator offers a dramatically different perspective. Hidden secrets emerge, suspicion shifts, and Pears keeps readers questioning who to trust until the end.
This intense narrative gives readers a vivid glimpse into science, politics, and religion in a time of turmoil.
Diana Gabaldon crafts vivid historical fiction blended seamlessly with adventure, romance, and mystery—a great pick if you enjoy David Liss’s historical thrillers.
Gabaldon’s series opener, “Outlander,” follows Claire Randall, a strong-willed WWII nurse who accidentally travels back in time to 18th-century Scotland. Suddenly, she is caught between two worlds.
She navigates Jacobite rebellions, intricate clan politics, and a growing love for Jamie Fraser, a charismatic highlander with secrets of his own. Gabaldon’s attention to historical detail, exciting plotlines, and rich character development make the novel memorable and engaging.
If you appreciate Liss’s lively historical settings and intrigue-filled plots, Diana Gabaldon’s “Outlander” is certainly worth a look.
Books by Arturo Pérez-Reverte offer historical adventures and suspenseful plots that fans of David Liss will appreciate. Pérez-Reverte is a Spanish novelist known for blending richly drawn historical details with engaging mysteries.
In “The Club Dumas,” a rare book dealer named Lucas Corso receives an unusual assignment: authenticating a mysterious manuscript supposedly tied to ancient devil worship.
As Corso digs deeper into the rare-book world, strange events unfold, and shadowy figures emerge who will stop at nothing to possess the manuscript’s secrets. This novel immerses readers into a puzzling world of rare literary treasures, secret societies, and hidden dangers.
If you enjoy historical intrigue and literary puzzles, Arturo Pérez-Reverte’s stories are worth discovering.
Umberto Eco was an Italian novelist known for mixing historical settings with mystery and intrigue. If you enjoyed David Liss’s historical thrillers, Eco’s “The Name of the Rose” offers a similar blend of suspense, history, and clever storytelling.
Set in the Middle Ages, this novel follows the Franciscan friar William of Baskerville, who investigates a string of strange deaths in a secluded monastery.
As William uncovers clues hidden in ancient texts, he encounters secret codes, tense religious debates, and unexpected twists that lead to a memorable conclusion. Eco’s vivid, historically rich backdrop and his intelligent mysteries offer readers a satisfying experience.
If you enjoy David Liss and his knack for historical detail and intriguing plots, you might find Ken Follett equally appealing. Follett is an author celebrated for his vivid storytelling and thorough historical research.
His novel “The Pillars of the Earth” transports readers to 12th-century England during a time of war, political intrigue, and religious conflicts. At the heart of the story is the effort to build a magnificent cathedral in Kingsbridge.
Personal ambitions, rivalries, and deep secrets affect the lives of builders, clergy, and noble families. The novel gives a rich look into the struggles and triumphs of everyday people caught up in turbulent historical events.
It’s an immersive read, packed with drama, suspense, and detailed period settings.
Readers who enjoy David Liss might also appreciate Sarah Waters. Waters is known for her vivid portrayal of Victorian England and captivating historical mysteries.
Her novel “Fingersmith” takes readers to 19th-century London, into the gritty world of thieves, deceit, and unexpected twists. Sue Trinder is raised among thieves, trained to pick pockets and survive on cunning.
She becomes part of a scheme to defraud a wealthy young woman named Maud Lilly. But the closer Sue gets to carrying out her plan, the harder it is for her to separate lies from truth. The characters are richly drawn, the setting atmospheric, and the plot surprises at every turn.
It’s a historical crime novel that blends suspense, complex relationships, and dark secrets, perfect for fans of intricate storytelling.
Readers who enjoy David Liss’s novels filled with historical detail and engaging storytelling may also appreciate Edward Rutherfurd. Rutherfurd specializes in historical fiction on a grand scale, often following generations of families through significant events.
His book “London” captures the city’s rich history from Roman times to the 20th century. It weaves together the lives of families from widely different backgrounds and social classes.
You’ll see vivid portraits of merchants, craftsmen, aristocrats, and peasants, each character linked to London’s evolving story. This novel brings history to life through personal dramas and historic conflicts against the colorful backdrop of a changing city.
C.J. Sansom is a British author known for historical mystery thrillers set in vivid, historically accurate worlds. If you enjoy David Liss’ combination of history, mystery, and compelling narratives, try “Dissolution,” Sansom’s first book in the Matthew Shardlake series.
Set during the turbulent reign of Henry VIII, the novel follows lawyer Matthew Shardlake, a keen-minded reformer tasked with investigating a brutal murder at a remote monastery.
As Shardlake probes deeper into the monastery’s secrets, he’s thrust into religious politics, power struggles, and human cruelty.
Sansom skillfully mixes rich period detail with suspenseful storytelling, and Matthew Shardlake’s principled character adds depth that will appeal to David Liss’ fans.
Readers who enjoy David Liss might also find Neal Stephenson appealing. Stephenson writes adventurous and detailed historical novels. His book “Quicksilver” takes readers to the ambitious era of 17th-century Europe.
The book introduces vivid characters caught up in scientific discoveries, political schemes, and financial experiments that transform nations. Historical figures like Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibniz come alive through vibrant storytelling.
Stephenson builds a vast and intriguing plot set amid intrigues, espionage, and the heated pursuit of knowledge and power.
This mix of rich historical detail, adventure, and intellectual puzzle makes “Quicksilver” engaging to readers who appreciate how Liss blends history, suspense, and financial drama.
If you enjoy David Liss’s historical novels filled with intrigue and rich character development, you might appreciate Hilary Mantel. Mantel is well known for her vivid portrayals of historical figures, particularly in her novel “Wolf Hall.”
This book captures the world of Tudor England through the eyes of Thomas Cromwell, advisor to King Henry VIII. Readers enter the complex politics and personal struggles behind the rise and eventual power of Cromwell at Henry’s turbulent court.
Mantel brings Cromwell and historical figures such as Anne Boleyn and Cardinal Wolsey to life in ways that feel authentic and deeply engaging. Her approachable yet sharp storytelling will resonate with fans who like their history both intelligent and entertaining.
Readers who enjoy David Liss might also appreciate Jess Walter. Walter is a versatile author who seamlessly blends historical detail with intriguing characters and smart storytelling.
His novel “The Cold Millions” transports readers to the gritty streets of Spokane, Washington during the labor unrest of the early 1900s. The plot follows two brothers who get caught up in the turmoil of workers fighting against exploitation and inequality.
Walter creates a vibrant cast of hustlers, union organizers, and corrupt forces that shape the city’s destiny.
With sharp dialogue and vivid portrayals of struggle, friendship, and determination, “The Cold Millions” offers a captivating exploration of a historical era often overlooked in fiction.
Rebecca Stott is an author whose novels often blend sharp historical detail with suspenseful storytelling. Her book “Ghostwalk” is set in Cambridge, highlighting a captivating mystery surrounding Isaac Newton’s alchemical experiments.
When Lydia Brooke, a writer, takes over finishing a manuscript on Newton left by a friend who died mysteriously, she uncovers hidden connections between past and present.
Stott effectively draws a parallel between intriguing historical mysteries and present-day events, making the book a perfect fit for readers of David Liss who enjoy the puzzles of history wrapped inside compelling mysteries.
Readers who enjoy David Liss’s atmospheric historical mysteries might find Carlos Ruiz Zafón equally captivating. Zafón is a Spanish novelist known for blending mystery, history, and a vivid depiction of Barcelona.
His novel “The Shadow of the Wind” introduces readers to young Daniel, a boy who discovers a rare book by a mysterious author named Julián Carax. As Daniel searches for more about Carax, he learns someone is systematically destroying all copies of the author’s works.
His quest leads him to intriguing and dangerous secrets hidden beneath Barcelona’s shadowy streets. Rich in twists, colorful characters, and an intense sense of place, Zafón crafts a story that transports readers to a world of books, secrets, love, and revenge.