Dominick Dunne wrote about the glittering world of high society, but he also showed its shadows. His books often had a true crime feel, and they explored the scandals and secrets of the wealthy.
If you are interested in authors who write in a similar vein, here are some you might find interesting.
Truman Capote shares Dominick Dunne’s talent for captivating storytelling that explores true crime and the darker side of human nature.
His book “In Cold Blood” is a fascinating true crime classic that details the brutal murders of the Clutter family in a peaceful Kansas farming community.
Capote examines the lives of both victims and perpetrators, offering an intimate and often unsettling look into their backgrounds, motives, and fates.
His vivid storytelling and detailed journalism bring each character sharply to life, creating a narrative that’s both engaging and chillingly realistic.
If you appreciate Dominick Dunne’s approach in exploring crime’s glamorous facade and disturbing core, Truman Capote provides a similarly immersive experience into real-life drama and human psychology.
If you enjoy Dominick Dunne’s sharp wit and vivid portrayals of high society drama, you’ll appreciate Edith Wharton. Wharton skillfully exposes the lives and secrets of New York’s wealthy elite in novels like “The Age of Innocence.”
This book follows Newland Archer, a young lawyer, torn between societal expectations and his feelings for the intriguing Countess Olenska. Wharton explores themes of love, tradition, and moral choices within a world governed by strict social rules.
Her careful observation and critical eye will captivate readers drawn to Dunne’s portrayals of privilege and scandal.
Gore Vidal was an American author known for insightful stories about politics, power, and society’s elite circles. If you enjoy Dominick Dunne’s sharp take on wealth and influence, Gore Vidal’s “Washington, D.C.” may interest you.
The novel follows political figures and their ambitious families as they navigate scandals, alliances, and betrayals in Washington’s corridors of power between the 1930s and the 1950s.
“Washington, D.C.” paints a fascinating picture of America’s political class through well-developed characters and sharp, witty dialogue.
Like Dunne, Vidal uses fiction to pull back the curtain on powerful people, offering readers a behind-the-scenes look at ambition and human nature.
Christina Alger writes novels that explore the hidden dealings of affluent society, similar to author Dominick Dunne. Her book “The Banker’s Wife” dives into the mysterious death of a young Swiss banker, Matthew Werner.
When Annabel Werner learns about her husband’s suspicious plane crash, she begins to question everything she thought she knew about him. On a parallel path, journalist Marina Tourneau investigates a massive financial scandal involving powerful figures in politics and finance.
Alger skillfully reveals the secret lives of wealth and power, turning money, betrayal, and loss into a fast-paced thriller. If you enjoyed Dunne’s behind-the-scenes glimpses into high society, Alger’s novels offer equally fascinating stories filled with secrets and intrigue.
Readers who enjoy Dominick Dunne’s sharp portrayals of high society scandals might appreciate Jay McInerney’s novels about New York City’s glamorous yet flawed elite. One standout is “Bright Lights, Big City,” a novel set in the fast-paced Manhattan of the 1980s.
It follows a young man working in magazine publishing who becomes caught up in extravagant nightlife, partying, drugs and complicated relationships. With dry humor and keen insights into human weakness, McInerney captures the thrill and emptiness of luxury amid personal crisis.
Readers drawn to Dunne’s tales of wealth, scandal and moral ambiguity will find plenty to enjoy in McInerney’s tart, stylish writing.
F. Scott Fitzgerald captures the glamour and tragedy of wealthy American society, a theme readers of Dominick Dunne will appreciate.
In his famous novel “The Great Gatsby,” Fitzgerald introduces readers to Jay Gatsby, an enigmatic millionaire whose dazzling parties define the Roaring Twenties. Gatsby’s life hides secrets and fierce ambitions beneath the glittering surface.
Nick Carraway, Gatsby’s observant neighbor, narrates the unfolding drama of desire, betrayal, and lost dreams. Fitzgerald reveals the dark underside of wealth and power, offering a sharp, unforgettable portrait of American society in an era of excess.
Readers who enjoy Dominick Dunne’s sharp observation of high society and scandal will likely appreciate Tom Wolfe. In his novel “The Bonfire of the Vanities,” Wolfe takes readers deep into the world of New York’s wealthy elite in the greed-driven 1980s.
Sherman McCoy, a powerful Wall Street bond trader, finds himself facing ruin after a wrong turn in the Bronx spirals into a scandal involving politics, race, and media frenzy.
Wolfe gives readers an insightful glimpse into money, corruption, and privilege, delivering a vivid portrait of ambition and excess.
Patricia Highsmith was a talented writer known for psychological thrillers filled with complex characters and chilling suspense, which fans of Dominick Dunne will appreciate.
In her novel “The Talented Mr. Ripley,” Highsmith introduces readers to Tom Ripley, a charismatic yet disturbingly amoral young man. Ripley travels to Italy on a seemingly innocent errand, but he soon becomes entangled in deceit, murder, and stolen identities.
Highsmith masterfully explores the darker aspects of human psychology and morality, making Ripley’s adventures fascinating and unsettling.
Readers familiar with Dunne’s sharp eye for high society scandals will find Highsmith’s exploration of moral ambiguity and dark human impulses equally captivating.
Books by Candace Bushnell often explore the glossy yet complicated lives of New York’s elite circles. If you enjoy Dominick Dunne’s sharp perspective on wealth and privilege, Bushnell’s “One Fifth Avenue” offers intriguing insights into high society through elegant storytelling.
The narrative follows the residents of an upscale apartment building in Manhattan as they navigate ambition, rivalry, and scandal beneath glamorous surfaces.
Through Bushnell’s sharp eye for the social dynamics and hidden tensions of luxury living, readers find engaging characters and satisfying plot twists that reveal truths about status and identity in modern urban life.
William Makepeace Thackeray was an English novelist famous for his sharp wit and clear-eyed observation of high society’s vanity and greed. If you like Dominick Dunne’s portrayal of the powerful and privileged, Thackeray’s “Vanity Fair” might appeal to you.
“Vanity Fair” follows ambitious Becky Sharp, a charming but cunning young woman determined to rise through society’s ranks.
Thackeray exposes the hypocrisy and trivial pursuits of the wealthy, highlighting the lengths people will go in their pursuit of status, money, and social acceptance.
The story is lively, satirical, and full of memorable moments that sharply critique society yet still entertain the reader.
Books by Tama Janowitz might appeal to readers who enjoy Dominick Dunne’s sharp, satirical take on glamorous but often troubled social circles. Her novel “Slaves of New York” captures New York’s edgy 1980s art scene with humor and biting wit.
The story follows Eleanor, an artist navigating relationships, rent-controlled apartments, and eccentric friends while struggling for creative and personal independence.
Janowitz is great at exposing the absurdity and ambition lurking beneath the flashy lifestyle, creating honest characters readers can relate to.
Fans of Dunne’s social commentary and observation of privilege and excess could appreciate Janowitz’s approach to similar themes in a different cultural scene.
Bret Easton Ellis is an author known for capturing the dark side of American affluent society with sharp wit and keen observation. Readers who enjoy Dominick Dunne’s insights and characters may appreciate Ellis’s novel “American Psycho.”
The story is narrated by Patrick Bateman, a young, wealthy Wall Street executive deeply obsessed with maintaining status and appearances. Beneath Bateman’s polished image lies a disturbing and violent inner world that gradually surfaces throughout the book.
Ellis portrays a satirical yet chilling look at 1980s materialism, excess, and moral emptiness in elite society. The novel explores themes of identity, consumer culture, and isolation, all wrapped up in a character readers won’t soon forget.
Kit Reed was an American author known for her sharp stories about the complexities beneath societal appearances. Her novel “Thinner Than Thou” explores a dystopian world obsessed with body image and perfection.
The story centers on Annie, a teenager entangled within a system where extreme health worship dominates society, creating both chillingly perfect citizens and dark secrets.
Reed combines intrigue, sharp social commentary, and suspense, a style readers of Dominick Dunne can appreciate. This book takes you behind closed doors, revealing the hidden truths and hypocrisy lurking beneath an outwardly polished society.
Readers who enjoy Dominick Dunne’s blend of glamour, deep family secrets, and suspenseful storytelling will likely appreciate Elizabeth Adler. Adler often crafts stories set in luxurious settings, where intriguing characters hide surprising secrets.
In her novel “The House in Amalfi,” Adler tells the story of Lamour Harrington, a woman who loses her husband under circumstances she cannot accept and travels to Italy for answers.
Her search takes her to a beautiful cliffside villa on the Amalfi Coast, a place filled with mystery, romance, and unexpected revelations about her own family’s past. Adler brings readers vivid settings, layered characters, and plots filled with twists and plenty of drama.
Jackie Collins wrote novels full of glamour, wealth, scandal, and secrets. She brought readers into worlds of luxury where ambition and betrayal went hand in hand. In her bestseller “Hollywood Wives,” Collins exposes the hidden side of Hollywood’s elite.
The story follows powerful, ambitious women married to producers, actors, and directors. Behind closed doors, these characters navigate power struggles, infidelity, manipulation, and scandalous pasts.
If Dominick Dunne’s insider perspective on high society scandals intrigues you, Jackie Collins offers a similar view of Hollywood’s wealthiest circles.