If you enjoy reading novels by Elmore Leonard then you might also like the following authors:
George V. Higgins was a master at writing sharp dialogue and gritty crime stories set in Boston. If you like Elmore Leonard, you might enjoy his book “The Friends of Eddie Coyle.”
The story centers on Eddie, a small-time gunrunner caught between the law and his criminal associates.
As Eddie tries to maneuver his way out of trouble, you’ll meet a cast of crooks, informants, and law enforcement officers, all navigating their own shady deals and fragile loyalties. The conversations drive the story, pulling you into a world that feels raw and real.
Carl Hiaasen has a knack for weaving humor into crime stories set in Florida, making his work stand out with its quirky characters and chaotic situations.
In “Skinny Dip,” a man attempts to murder his wife by throwing her off a cruise ship, but she survives and secretly plots her revenge. Along the way, you meet a crooked environmentalist, a unique ex-cop, and a host of other colorful people.
It’s fast-paced and full of unexpected twists, with a lot of offbeat charm. Fans of Elmore Leonard might appreciate how Hiaasen combines crime with clever, sarcastic dialogue and wild, unexpected moments.
Donald E. Westlake wrote sharp, clever crime novels with memorable characters and dark humor. One of his standout books is “The Hot Rock.” It follows John Dortmunder, a clever but unlucky thief, who is hired to steal a valuable emerald.
What seems like a straightforward heist turns into a series of mishaps, with the gem slipping through Dortmunder’s fingers again and again. The story is packed with unexpected twists and dry wit, making it a fast and enjoyable read.
If you like Elmore Leonard’s knack for quirky criminals and smart dialogue, Westlake’s style might catch your interest.
James Ellroy is a writer who brings crime and noir to life with sharp dialogue and murky moral landscapes. One of his best-known books, “The Black Dahlia,” follows two LAPD detectives as they investigate the brutal murder of an actress in 1940s Los Angeles.
The story explores obsession, corruption, and the dark corners of Hollywood’s golden age. Ellroy doesn’t shy away from the gritty details, creating a world where characters’ flaws drive the drama.
If you enjoy Elmore Leonard’s tight, crime-centered narratives, you might find Ellroy’s style scratches a similar itch.
Dennis Lehane writes sharp and gritty crime stories with vivid characters and tense plots. One of his standout books, “Mystic River,” begins with three childhood friends whose lives take very different paths after a chilling incident in their past.
Years later, a murder in their old neighborhood drags them back together. The book explores loyalty, betrayal, and the weight of old wounds. Lehane creates a world where even small decisions have big consequences, and nobody escapes unscathed.
If you enjoy Elmore Leonard’s knack for tough characters and lived-in dialogue, Lehane could be a great find for you.
Michael Connelly is an author known for crime fiction that feels grounded and sharp. One of his novels, “The Lincoln Lawyer,” introduces Mickey Haller, a defense attorney who works out of the back seat of his car.
Mickey gets hired to defend a wealthy man accused of assault, but the case quickly turns darker than he expects. As he pieces together the truth, he starts to realize that the past might be catching up with him in ways he didn’t anticipate.
The book captures the gritty world of law and crime with memorable characters and a plot that keeps you turning the pages.
Lawrence Block is famous for his sharp dialogue and gritty, urban settings, which might remind you of Elmore Leonard. One of his standout books is “Eight Million Ways to Die.” The story follows Matt Scudder, an ex-cop turned unlicensed private investigator in New York.
A prostitute hires him to help her leave her dangerous lifestyle, but she’s killed not long after. Scudder can’t let it go, and his search for answers pulls him through the darker corners of the city.
The book dives deep into the complexities of the people he meets, and Scudder’s own struggles with alcohol give the story even more depth.
Charles Willeford had a knack for creating gritty crime stories with sharp dialogue and characters who felt real, even when they were up to no good. One of his standout books is “Miami Blues.”
The story kicks off with a sociopathic ex-con named Junior Frenger arriving in Miami and quickly leaving chaos in his wake. After stealing a cop’s badge, gun, and even his identity, Junior starts walking a thin line between hustler and impostor, dragging others into trouble.
Meanwhile, the detective tracking him, Hoke Moseley, is a fascinating mix of world-weary determination and personal quirks. It’s a crime novel with surprising layers, set against the sweaty, sunlit backdrop of 1980s Miami.
Andrew Vachss is an author known for his hard-edged crime novels, often featuring dark, gritty worlds. His book “Flood” introduces Burke, an ex-con and investigator who operates outside the law.
When a woman named Flood hires him to track down a man who assaulted her friend, Burke dives deep into the underworld. The story is filled with unforgettable characters, from a mute genius skilled in electronics to a psychic bartender.
Vachss writes with a raw style that doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of life on the fringe of society.
Raymond Chandler is one of the masters of hardboiled detective fiction. His writing has a sharp edge and paints vivid pictures of both the grit and glamour of Los Angeles.
In his book “The Big Sleep,” private detective Philip Marlowe takes on the case of a wealthy family tangled in blackmail and vice. The story pulls Marlowe through a shadowy world of corruption, dangerous women, and deadly secrets.
His sharp wit and steady moral code set him apart in a city that’s rotting from the inside. If you enjoy Elmore Leonard’s sharp dialogue and characters with questionable morals, Chandler’s work delivers a similar hard-edged thrill.
Ross Macdonald was a master of the hardboiled detective genre, creating stories filled with smart dialogue and sharp observations about human nature.
One of his best-known novels, “The Galton Case,” follows private investigator Lew Archer as he is hired to uncover the whereabouts of a missing heir. What starts as a simple job turns into a deeper mystery tied to secrets buried in a wealthy family’s past.
As Archer peels back the layers, he discovers lies, betrayals, and chilling connections to murder. Macdonald’s stories often focus on family breakdowns and lost identities, which makes them feel personal and grounded.
If you enjoy Elmore Leonard’s gritty, fast-moving plots, you might find Macdonald’s work just as engaging.
James Crumley was a crime writer known for his gritty, hard-boiled stories packed with flawed characters and dark humor. One of his most famous books is “The Last Good Kiss.”
The story follows C.W. Sughrue, a private investigator hired to hunt down an alcoholic writer but who ends up searching for a bartender’s missing daughter instead. The plot takes Sughrue through seedy bars, desolate highways, and tense showdowns.
It’s brutal, sharp, and full of twists. Fans of Elmore Leonard will appreciate Crumley’s sharp dialogue and unpredictable characters.
Walter Mosley writes crime fiction with sharp dialogue and vibrant characters. One of his standout books is “Devil in a Blue Dress,” the first in his Easy Rawlins series.
Set in Los Angeles after World War II, it follows Ezekiel “Easy” Rawlins, a Black war veteran, as he reluctantly takes on a job to find a missing woman named Daphne Monet. What starts as a simple task pulls Easy into a web of danger, secrets, and corruption.
Mosley brings postwar LA to life with a mix of grit and atmosphere, filling it with shady figures and unexpected twists.
Robert B. Parker was a writer known for his punchy dialogue and fast-paced stories. If you’re into Elmore Leonard, you might enjoy Parker’s “Looking for Rachel Wallace.” It’s about Spenser, a private detective hired to protect a feminist author who receives death threats.
Their personalities clash because she’s strict about rules and Spenser isn’t, but when she disappears, he stops at nothing to find her. The story mixes a sharp sense of humor with action and tough, no-nonsense characters.
Parker’s style keeps things snappy and focused, making it a quick, satisfying read.
Jim Thompson wrote sharp, gritty crime stories loaded with tension. One of his standout novels, “The Killer Inside Me,” follows Lou Ford, a small-town deputy sheriff who seems plain and polite on the surface.
But Lou hides a dark and twisted side that starts to show as things spiral out of control. The book takes readers deep into his cold and calculating mind, giving a close look at how his double life unravels.
Thompson’s style centers on flawed characters and the dangerous worlds they create for themselves.