If you enjoy reading books by David Wellington then you might also like the following authors:
Jonathan Maberry writes fast-paced horror and thriller novels that mix intense action with creepy settings. He often creates believable threats like zombies, shadowy organizations, or secret conspiracies.
If you liked Wellington's mix of horror and military action, you'll probably enjoy Maberry's Patient Zero, which kicks off the Joe Ledger series. Ledger fights bio-terrorists and undead outbreaks in adrenaline-packed adventures.
Mira Grant (also known as Seanan McGuire) writes novels that combine science fiction, horror, and keen social commentary. Her books have believable characters and explore how society deals with diseases, technology, and ethical problems.
Fans of Wellington's realistic take on horror might enjoy Grant's Feed, a tense story about journalists living with—rather than just running from—zombies in a world forced to adapt after an apocalypse.
Max Brooks approaches horror by making it feel realistically grounded, often imitating historical and journalistic styles. He shows how disasters impact individuals as well as whole nations.
If you appreciate how Wellington's work blends realistic situations with supernatural threats, check out Brooks' World War Z. The novel chronicles the human struggle against a global zombie threat through vivid interviews with survivors.
Brian Keene is known for gritty, dark horror fiction with tense plots and grim survival scenarios. He often writes about ordinary people facing terrifying supernatural forces and examining the darker sides of humanity.
Readers who love Wellington's relentless storytelling might enjoy Keene's The Rising. It's a bleak but exciting zombie tale that reimagines zombies as intelligent, malevolent beings determined to wipe out humanity.
Robert Kirkman creates dramatic horror with strong personal conflicts. His zombie-filled stories often consider how extreme circumstances affect personal morality as much as physical survival.
If Wellington's exploration of human responses to high-stakes horror interests you, you'll likely enjoy Kirkman's graphic novel series The Walking Dead. It follows a group of survivors navigating relationships and moral dilemmas after civilization collapses in a zombie outbreak.
Joe Hill blends supernatural horror and psychological tension in his novels. His style is sharp and character-driven, with themes exploring human fears, family dynamics, and dark mysteries.
A good introduction to his work is Heart-Shaped Box, where a rock star unwittingly buys a ghostly presence online, leading to terrifying consequences.
Scott Sigler creates tense horror and sci-fi thrillers that don't let readers relax. He leans into action-driven plots, biological terrors, and fast-paced narratives.
You might like his novel Infected, in which a mysterious infection triggers horrifying mental and physical changes that escalate into chaos.
Adam Nevill writes atmospheric horror stories steeped in dread and tension. His novels often involve ancient evil forces, unsettling settings, and a slow-building terror that lingers.
Try The Ritual, where a group of friends hiking in a remote forest realize they're being stalked by an ominous entity lurking in the darkness.
J.A. Konrath offers readers sharp, quick-paced thrillers packed with suspense and violence. His writing is lean and intense, usually involving killers, twisted villains, and chilling events.
Check out Afraid, which follows a small town's nightmarish encounter with a group of terrifying and sadistic strangers bent on destruction.
Richard Laymon wrote stories that are gritty, violent, and filled with frightening situations. He had a straightforward style known for explicit content and shocking twists.
You can start with The Traveling Vampire Show, about teenagers who decide to attend a mysterious vampire-themed carnival, only to find themselves pulled into danger and terror.
Guillermo del Toro is known for blending supernatural elements with gritty realism and strong characters. His writing is vivid and atmospheric, filling everyday scenes with hidden menace and suspense.
If you like David Wellington, you'll probably enjoy del Toro's novel The Strain, a creepy thriller about a vampire plague that infests modern-day New York City.
Chuck Hogan writes intense, fast-paced thrillers grounded in reality but laced with eerie supernatural threats. He expertly combines character-driven drama with moments of genuine horror.
Readers of David Wellington might appreciate Hogan's involvement with The Strain, co-written with Guillermo del Toro, which mixes elements of science, mystery, and classic vampire lore into a chilling modern story.
Justin Cronin crafts stories that seamlessly blend horror with compelling human drama and big-picture storytelling. His narratives often show humanity adapting and surviving amid monstrous threats and apocalyptic scenarios.
Fans of David Wellington should consider Cronin's epic novel The Passage, which follows survivors navigating a world transformed by a devastating vampire-like plague.
Nick Cutter specializes in visceral, claustrophobic horror that gets right under your skin. His style emphasizes psychological tension and physical scares, focusing on characters pushed to their breaking point.
If you enjoy David Wellington's combination of suspense and horror, you might like Cutter's novel The Troop, which tells of a scout troop facing a horrifying infection during a camping trip gone wrong.
Stephen King creates believable characters drawn into situations that are both terrifying and relatable. His blend of psychological horror, supernatural forces, and sharp insights into human nature appeals broadly to horror enthusiasts.
Fans of David Wellington could find much to love in King's classic novel Salem's Lot, a disturbing story of vampires slowly corrupting a small Maine town.