Diane Setterfield writes books that many readers adore. Think of *The Thirteenth Tale* or *Once Upon a River*; they have such atmosphere and mystery.
If you enjoy her novels, with their historical settings and plots full of twists, you are likely interested in authors who provide a similar reading experience.
Sarah Waters is an author known for historical fiction filled with mystery, atmospheric settings, and intriguing characters. If you enjoyed Diane Setterfield’s “The Thirteenth Tale,” Waters offers a similar blend of suspense and intricate storytelling.
For instance, “The Little Stranger” takes readers to rural England in the period shortly after World War II. Doctor Faraday encounters the Ayres family, who live in a declining estate called Hundreds Hall.
As strange events unfold, the family struggles to determine whether their home is haunted or psychological distress is to blame. Waters builds suspense gradually, keeping the reader guessing until the end.
Readers who enjoyed Diane Setterfield’s atmospheric storytelling and intriguing mysteries might find Carlos Ruiz Zafón equally fascinating. Zafón is a Spanish author known for dark and mysterious tales set in gothic Barcelona.
His novel, “The Shadow of the Wind,” introduces readers to a boy named Daniel, who discovers a rare book by a mysterious author named Julian Carax. Daniel becomes captivated by Carax’s story and soon finds out someone is determined to destroy every book Carax ever wrote.
As Daniel investigates, he uncovers hidden secrets from Barcelona’s past and faces dangers he never imagined.
Fans of Setterfield’s richly crafted mysteries will likely appreciate Zafón’s ability to weave suspenseful plots and memorable characters into a vivid historical setting.
Books by Kate Morton often blend family secrets and layered narratives with vivid historical settings. Readers who enjoy Diane Setterfield’s atmospheric storytelling might find Morton’s style appealing.
In her novel “The Forgotten Garden,” Morton weaves together the stories of three women across generations. The plot follows Cassandra, who inherits a mysterious cottage in England from her grandmother. As Cassandra explores the cottage, she uncovers pieces of a family puzzle.
The novel moves back and forth between the early 1900s and the present day, gradually revealing the mysteries hidden within a forgotten garden.
Morton’s careful balance between past and present, combined with engaging characters and unexpected twists, offers a reading experience similar to Setterfield’s careful blend of history and mystery.
Readers who enjoy Diane Setterfield’s atmospheric storytelling and blend of history and mystery might appreciate the books of Susanna Kearsley. Kearsley’s novels often weave together past and present timelines with a touch of romance, making them engaging and layered reads.
Her novel “The Winter Sea” combines historical fiction with a modern perspective. It follows author Carrie McClelland as she moves to Scotland to work on her book about the 1708 Jacobite rebellion.
As Carrie writes, the lines between history and her own experiences begin to blur, bringing secrets from the past vividly into the present. The setting is beautifully evocative; the tension builds gently yet persistently; and the story resonates with depth and emotion.
For readers drawn to Setterfield’s “The Thirteenth Tale,” Kearsley’s style and storytelling offer a similarly rich experience.
Tana French is an Irish-American author known for her atmospheric mysteries and rich storytelling. She has a talent for weaving suspense with deep characterization, which may appeal to fans of Diane Setterfield.
If you enjoyed Setterfield’s style in “The Thirteenth Tale,” you might also appreciate French’s novel, “The Likeness.” This book is part of her Dublin Murder Squad series and follows detective Cassie Maddox when she’s drawn into a peculiar and unsettling investigation.
A young woman bearing an uncanny resemblance to Cassie has been found murdered, and Cassie goes undercover to assume the victim’s identity and find answers. French creates an eerie, tense mood as Cassie navigates complex relationships, uncovering hidden secrets along the way.
Readers who like intriguing plots and immersive settings might discover a new favorite in Tana French.
Elizabeth Kostova is an author whose storytelling appeals to fans of Diane Setterfield, blending history, mystery, and eerie atmospheres. Her novel “The Historian” follows a gripping search across Europe.
A young woman discovers letters belonging to her father, which detail his pursuit of the truth behind the terrifying legend of Dracula.
As the story moves through lush settings of ancient libraries and medieval monasteries, it creates a suspenseful narrative that mixes historical depth with a chilling Gothic touch.
Kostova weaves together past and present seamlessly, crafting an absorbing tale ideal for readers drawn to Setterfield’s complex plots and rich historical detail.
If you enjoy Diane Setterfield’s atmospheric storytelling and magical elements, Alice Hoffman’s novels may appeal to your taste.
In her book “The Rules of Magic,” Hoffman introduces readers to the Owens family, whose members live with an old family curse related to love and tragedy.
Set in the backdrop of 1960s New York City, the story follows siblings Franny, Jet, and Vincent as they discover their unique magical gifts and grapple with family secrets.
The Owens’ journey is filled with emotional depth, vivid descriptions, and subtle enchantment woven into ordinary life. Hoffman explores family bonds, romantic complications, and fate in a warm yet haunting tale that gently pulls you into its world.
Lucinda Riley offers stories filled with secrets from the past, captivating family mysteries, and emotion-driven plots that readers of Diane Setterfield might enjoy. Her novel “The Seven Sisters” begins with six adopted sisters gathered after their father’s unexpected death.
Each receives a letter and a clue about her origins. Maia, the eldest sister, takes the first journey. Her path leads to Brazil, where she uncovers the story of her family background intertwined with the creation of Rio’s iconic Christ the Redeemer statue.
Riley’s storytelling skillfully blends historical detail, romance, and intricate family drama that leaves readers eager to uncover each sister’s secrets.
If you enjoy Diane Setterfield’s atmospheric novels filled with mystery and intriguing characters, Jess Kidd might become your next favorite author.
Kidd creates imaginative stories where everyday life blends seamlessly with elements of fantasy, mystery, and a subtle touch of humor.
Her novel “Things in Jars” takes you to Victorian London, where Bridie Devine, a sharp-minded and fearless female detective, finds herself on a peculiar case.
She must uncover the truth behind the disappearance of a child with supernatural abilities, challenging society’s boundaries between wonder and danger. Jess Kidd crafts vivid settings, memorable characters, and twists that keep you absorbed until the final page.
Readers who enjoy Diane Setterfield’s atmospheric and character-driven storytelling might appreciate Hannah Kent’s novels. Kent is an Australian author known for her dramatic historical fiction that immerses the reader in vivid settings and emotional narratives.
Her novel “Burial Rites” is based on a true story set in Iceland during the 1820s. It follows Agnes Magnúsdóttir, a woman sentenced to death for murder, as she is sent to live out her final months with a local farming family.
As winter descends, Agnes slowly reveals fragments of her past and the events leading to the murder. Through Kent’s evocative and poignant writing, readers experience the harsh landscape, community tensions, and the powerful connections woven among the characters.
Readers who enjoy Diane Setterfield’s atmospheric storytelling may appreciate Erin Morgenstern’s captivating style and vibrant imagination.
Morgenstern’s novel “The Night Circus” offers readers a magical journey into a mysterious, traveling circus that appears without notice, opening its gates only at nightfall.
Within its enchanting tents lies an intense competition between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, bound by their mentors into a secret duel.
Rich in sensory detail and filled with vivid imagery, “The Night Circus” explores love, destiny, and dazzling illusions, providing a layered narrative that satisfies those who love Setterfield’s blend of mystery, romance, and subtle magic.
Books by Madeline Miller blend mythology with richly drawn characters and emotional storytelling. In her novel “Circe,” Miller offers a vivid retelling of the Greek myth of Circe, the witch who famously turned Odysseus’ sailors into pigs.
Through Miller’s thoughtful and lyrical style, readers journey alongside Circe as she grows from an overlooked daughter of the gods into a powerful figure determined to define her own fate.
Madeline Miller’s writing style shares similarities with Diane Setterfield’s novels, especially in character depth and atmospheric storytelling.
If Setterfield’s layered narratives and exploration of complex characters captivate you, you’ll likely enjoy the emotional depth and mythic resonance found in Miller’s “Circe.”
Readers who enjoy Diane Setterfield’s atmospheric storytelling may also find Maggie O’Farrell’s novels intriguing. O’Farrell has a talent for creating intricate family dynamics and emotional depth.
Her novel, “The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox,” follows the story of a woman named Iris, who unexpectedly learns about Esme, a great-aunt she never knew existed. Esme spent most of her life hidden away in an institution with secrets surrounding her confinement.
The narrative flips back in time to reveal family betrayals, long-buried memories, and emotional mysteries. For readers drawn to stories exploring hidden family pasts with complex characters, Maggie O’Farrell will be an appealing discovery.
If you enjoy Diane Setterfield’s atmospheric tales filled with mystery and haunting secrets, you might appreciate Laura Purcell’s “The Silent Companions”. Purcell specializes in dark, gothic novels that pull readers deep into eerie historical settings.
“The Silent Companions” revolves around Elsie Bainbridge, newly widowed and sent to live at an old country estate. There, she discovers life-sized wooden figures known as silent companions.
At first they seem harmless decorations, but soon Elsie realizes there’s something unsettling about their watchful eyes, their unexplained movements, and their terrifying connections to the house’s tragic past.
Purcell creates a suspenseful narrative with a strong sense of dread that builds page after page. This chilling story might appeal to readers captivated by Setterfield’s blend of history, mystery, and the supernatural.
A.S. Byatt is a British novelist known for richly layered storytelling that blends mystery, literature, and history. Readers who enjoy Diane Setterfield’s atmospheric approach may appreciate Byatt’s novel “Possession.” This book tells two parallel stories.
One involves a pair of Victorian poets whose relationship unfolds through hidden letters, diaries and poems. The other features two modern-day literary scholars who uncover these secret writings and struggle with their own complicated emotions.
Byatt skillfully reveals the connections between past secrets and present-day discoveries. The story captures the joy of literary detective work while exploring deep human relationships.