If you enjoy reading novels by Dorothy Simpson then you might also like the following authors:
If you enjoy Dorothy Simpson’s mysteries, you may also like Agatha Christie. Christie created clever murder mysteries around intriguing twists and interesting characters. A good one to try is “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.”
In the story, a quiet village doctor named James Sheppard narrates the puzzling murder case of Roger Ackroyd, a wealthy man found dead in his study. Everyone seems to have something to hide, and detective Hercule Poirot must sort through secrets and lies to uncover the truth.
Christie keeps things surprising and consistent throughout the story, which makes the ending memorable.
If you like Dorothy Simpson, you may also enjoy the crime novels of Ruth Rendell. Her writing style is clear and direct, and the characters feel realistic.
One of her well-known novels, “A Judgement in Stone,” follows the story of Eunice, a housekeeper hired by the Coverdale family. Eunice has a secret that she is very afraid someone will find out.
The suspense builds gradually around Eunice’s hidden fear, until something terrible finally happens. Rendell draws the reader into Eunice’s uneasy world and makes the tension feel very real.
P.D. James was a British author known for creating mysteries featuring detective Adam Dalgliesh. If you enjoy Dorothy Simpson’s novels, you might appreciate “Cover Her Face,” James’s first book in the Dalgliesh series.
It begins with the death of Sally Jupp, a maid at Martingale manor house. Detective Dalgliesh arrives to solve the murder, uncover secrets, and question every member of the household.
The quiet atmosphere of the English countryside is similar to Simpson’s stories, where suspicions slowly emerge beneath respectable appearances. “Cover Her Face” allows readers to follow Dalgliesh step-by-step as he untangles the truth behind each character’s facade.
Caroline Graham writes mysteries featuring Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby. Her book “The Killings at Badger’s Drift” introduces the quiet English village of Badger’s Drift. After Emily Simpson dies suspiciously, Barnaby investigates.
He quickly notices unusual tensions beneath the polite facade of village life. Barnaby’s careful questioning gradually reveals secrets hidden for years. The story’s atmosphere and careful detective work might appeal to readers who enjoy Dorothy Simpson’s Inspector Thanet series.
Elizabeth George writes detective novels set in England, similar in style to Dorothy Simpson. Her mysteries often feature Inspector Thomas Lynley and Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers.
In “A Great Deliverance,” Lynley and Havers look into a disturbing murder case in a small Yorkshire village. People in the village keep quiet about what they have seen, and clues about family secrets slowly appear.
The detectives gradually piece the mystery together as they speak with townspeople and uncover hidden truths behind closed doors.
Readers drawn to Dorothy Simpson’s style and settings often appreciate the careful detective work and character relationships in Elizabeth George’s novels.
Deborah Crombie is a mystery writer who creates intriguing stories set around London detectives Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James. Her book “Dreaming of the Bones” follows Kincaid as he investigates the mysterious past behind a poet’s sudden death.
The plot moves smoothly between scenes of Cambridge life and clues from old poems and letters. Anyone who enjoys Dorothy Simpson’s mysteries featuring Inspector Thanet will appreciate Crombie’s character-driven approach and thoughtful plotting.
Margery Allingham wrote great detective mysteries. Her main character is Albert Campion, a detective who is smart and observant. A good example of her style is “The Tiger in the Smoke.”
In that story, London is covered by thick fog, and a killer named Jack Havoc escapes from prison. Campion must track him down and stop him from causing more harm. Allingham’s writing has clever plots with clear clues and characters who feel real and believable.
Readers who enjoy Dorothy Simpson’s Inspector Thanet series could enjoy Allingham’s mysteries as well.
Ngaio Marsh was an author from New Zealand who created intelligent and thoughtful detective stories. Her book “A Man Lay Dead” introduces Inspector Roderick Alleyn, who calmly and cleverly solves crimes in a methodical way.
In this book, a weekend house party meant as playful entertainment quickly becomes a real murder mystery. Alleyn talks to each guest, carefully picks up clues, and slowly uncovers what’s hidden beneath their friendly appearances.
His quiet approach will feel familiar to anyone who enjoys the detectives Dorothy Simpson writes about.
Ann Cleeves writes crime novels set in small English towns with realistic characters and subtle mysteries. In her book “The Crow Trap,” three women arrive separately in a rural cottage to study the landscape for an environmental project, and soon one of them is found dead.
Detective Vera Stanhope steps in to figure out why it happened and who is responsible, uncovering hidden relationships and quiet tensions beneath ordinary lives.
Readers who enjoy Dorothy Simpson’s thoughtful and quietly suspenseful style will feel at home in Ann Cleeves’ detailed settings and strong characters.
Catherine Aird writes crime novels with clever plots and detectives who feel believable and relatable. Readers who enjoyed Dorothy Simpson would find lots to like with Aird’s mysteries. A good book to start with is “The Religious Body.”
It begins when Inspector Sloan investigates a nun’s mysterious death inside a convent. Sloan has to piece together clues in a community known for secrecy and silence. The case takes twists that keep Sloan guessing right up to the end.
Peter Lovesey is a British author known for detective novels with likable characters and clever plots. Readers who enjoy Dorothy Simpson might also appreciate his book “The Last Detective.”
This book introduces Detective Peter Diamond, a straightforward detective who likes old-fashioned methods more than modern scientific techniques. Diamond investigates the mysterious death of an unidentified woman found floating in a lake.
The case seems straightforward at first but gradually shows unexpected secrets and twists. The story is easy to follow, and the clues along the way keep readers guessing until the truth comes out in the end.
Martha Grimes is an author known for her mystery novels that often feature thoughtful detective Richard Jury. If you enjoy Dorothy Simpson’s style of detective stories, you might be interested in Grimes’ book “The Man with a Load of Mischief.”
In this story, Inspector Jury travels to a small English village to investigate murders connected to local pubs. Each pub has a strange, distinctive name, and Jury must figure out how all these places relate to the deaths.
The book has a clear sense of setting with well-developed characters, which appeals to readers who like solving mysteries alongside the detective.
Dorothy L. Sayers wrote detective novels about Lord Peter Wimsey, an intelligent and witty British amateur detective. In her book “Whose Body?”, a strange mystery begins when a man finds an unknown body in his bathtub.
Lord Peter Wimsey then carefully sets out to untangle the puzzle of who the stranger is and how he ended up there. Readers who enjoy the clever mysteries and steady investigations of Dorothy Simpson’s detective books may find Dorothy L. Sayers’ novels appealing.
Frances Fyfield writes crime novels with a thoughtful style and subtle suspense. In her book “Deep Sleep,” the main character Helen West, a prosecutor, investigates the strange death of Margaret Carlton.
Margaret seemed to lead a quiet and ordinary life, but as Helen examines the clues, she uncovers secrets nobody could have guessed. Fyfield builds up the tension through Helen’s careful detective work and uncovers surprising truths in ordinary people’s lives.
If you enjoy Dorothy Simpson’s calm yet intriguing style, Frances Fyfield’s mysteries such as “Deep Sleep” offer stories well worth reading.
Simon Brett is a British mystery author who writes engaging detective stories with a cozy and enjoyable feel. Readers who enjoy Dorothy Simpson’s carefully plotted mysteries might find Brett’s style appealing.
In his book “The Body on the Beach,” Brett introduces readers to Carole Seddon, a newly retired woman settled in a peaceful seaside town.
Carole’s quiet life takes an unexpected turn when she discovers a body on the local beach, but when she calls the police, the body has vanished. The mystery grows more puzzling as Carole investigates the disappearance herself.
Brett’s storytelling combines gentle humor with intriguing puzzles, which may attract readers who appreciate Simpson’s type of mysteries.