If you are drawn to the novels of Giles Blunt, it’s probably because you enjoy stories set in the stark landscapes of Northern Ontario. His books often feature Detective John Cardinal, a character dealing with personal struggles while solving complex and dark crimes.
If you appreciate authors who create atmospheric suspense, explore the human psyche, and craft mysteries with a similar tone, there are several writers you might find interesting.
Peter Robinson is a British-born Canadian author known for his Inspector Alan Banks novels, set in the Yorkshire countryside. Fans of Giles Blunt and his northern Ontario mysteries might enjoy Robinson’s “In a Dry Season.”
In this novel, Inspector Banks investigates the discovery of a decades-old skeleton revealed by a dried-up reservoir. As Banks unearths buried secrets from World War II-era England, the narrative weaves together past and present to create a layered mystery.
Robinson’s vivid characters and richly detailed settings keep readers closely connected to the unfolding case.
If you enjoy Giles Blunt’s atmospheric crime novels centered around layered characters and intense investigations, Louise Penny is an author worth exploring.
Her novel “Still Life” introduces Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, a thoughtful detective who investigates complex cases in Quebec’s picturesque village of Three Pines.
After a beloved local artist is found dead in the tranquil woods, Gamache and his team explore the mysteries beneath the town’s peaceful surface. Penny crafts memorable characters, subtle humor, and rich descriptions of small-town life.
The book builds an intricate puzzle that engages readers until the final reveal.
Readers who enjoy Giles Blunt’s suspenseful storytelling might want to try Gillian Flynn. Flynn excels at crafting dark mysteries with complex characters. Her novel “Gone Girl” is about the disappearance of Amy Dunne, whose husband Nick quickly becomes the prime suspect.
The story switches perspectives between the characters Amy and Nick, raising doubts about their reliability. Flynn skillfully explores deception, marriage, and media obsession, keeping readers uncertain about whom to trust until the end.
Tana French is an Irish novelist known for her atmospheric mysteries and deeply drawn characters. Fans of Giles Blunt’s psychological depth and well-crafted plots might find a similar appeal in French’s writing.
In her novel “In the Woods,” detective Rob Ryan investigates a chilling murder case in a small Dublin suburb. This case hits close to home for Rob, as years ago he survived something disturbing and traumatic in the same woods, an event he can’t quite remember.
The suspense deepens with each page, pulling readers into both the mystery unfolding now and the one from Rob’s past. French draws readers into her complex characters and emotional storytelling, perfect for anyone who appreciates crime fiction with depth.
Books by John Connolly offer suspenseful and atmospheric crime novels that fans of Giles Blunt may appreciate. Connolly’s stories often feature private investigator Charlie Parker, a character driven by personal tragedy and a haunting past.
In “Every Dead Thing,” Parker faces a horrifying loss when his wife and daughter become victims of a brutal killer. Tormented by guilt, he dedicates himself to uncover the truth behind their deaths.
The trail leads Parker through the dark corners of the human soul, blending vivid crime drama with chilling supernatural elements. Connolly delivers intricate plots, memorable characters, and a tense narrative that keeps readers eagerly turning pages.
Books by Ann Cleeves offer great choices for readers who enjoy Giles Blunt’s intense crime stories set in cold, isolated locations. Cleeves is known for atmospheric mysteries that focus on complex characters and detailed settings.
Her novel “Raven Black,” the first book in the Shetland series, is especially appealing. Set on the isolated Scottish Shetland Islands, it begins with local suspicion falling on a lonely outsider after a teenager is found dead.
Detective Jimmy Perez, thoughtful and patient, investigates the tight-knit community, uncovering hidden secrets and resentments beneath the quiet surface. Fans of Blunt who appreciate careful storytelling and moody, remote locations will find much to enjoy in Ann Cleeves’ work.
Readers who enjoy Giles Blunt’s atmospheric detective fiction might also appreciate Ian Rankin. Rankin’s novels set in Edinburgh are filled with gritty realism and complex characters, especially through his detective, Inspector John Rebus.
In “Knots and Crosses,” Rebus receives cryptic messages containing knot and cross symbols. Unable at first to make sense of the clues, Rebus must confront difficult memories from his past to solve crimes haunting the city.
Rankin creates a tense narrative that captures the darker aspects of Edinburgh alongside a detective who struggles to find truth in chaos.
Readers who enjoy Giles Blunt’s atmospheric crime novels would likely appreciate Michael Connelly’s stories featuring detective Harry Bosch.
Connelly, a former crime reporter, creates characters that are realistically flawed and easy to relate to, set against detailed Los Angeles backdrops. In “The Black Echo,” Harry Bosch investigates the mysterious death of a fellow Vietnam War veteran found in a drainage pipe.
As Bosch searches for answers, he uncovers secrets buried in his own past and the dangerous world beneath the city streets. The investigation pulls you deeper with every twist, where crime, corruption, and past loyalties collide.
Stieg Larsson was a Swedish author known for his Millennium series, a set of crime novels filled with suspense, intricate puzzles, and dark characters.
If you enjoy Giles Blunt’s blend of gritty atmosphere and compelling mysteries, Larsson’s “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” could be an exciting discovery.
The book introduces Mikael Blomkvist, a journalist facing disgrace after a courtroom scandal, and Lisbeth Salander, an enigmatic computer hacker with a troubled past.
Together, they investigate the decades-old disappearance of Harriet Vanger, a teenager from a wealthy family, connected to dark family secrets and unsettling crimes lurking beneath the respectable surface of Swedish society.
Larsson’s talent for sharply drawn characters and atmospheric tension might closely align with your taste if Giles Blunt is on your reading list.
Readers who enjoy the suspenseful crime thrillers of Giles Blunt may find Angela Marsons equally captivating. She is a British writer known for her detective Kim Stone series set in the gritty West Midlands.
A great place to start is her gripping novel “Silent Scream,” which follows Detective Kim Stone as she investigates deaths connected to a children’s home closed years before. As she digs deeper into the past, dark secrets surface, putting her own life at risk.
The narrative is fast-paced, filled with twists, and offers readers complex characters they can truly care about.
Val McDermid is a Scottish crime writer known for building intense psychological tension and creating characters with depth. Fans of Giles Blunt might enjoy her Tony Hill and Carol Jordan series, particularly “The Mermaids Singing”.
In this novel, criminal profiler Tony Hill teams up with Detective Inspector Carol Jordan to track down a killer who preys on victims with disturbing precision. McDermid’s story moves at a brisk pace and digs deep into the dynamics that form between investigator and killer.
The plot is sharp and realistic, painting a convincing portrait of criminal investigations and dark psychology.
Arnaldur Indriðason is an Icelandic author known for atmospheric crime novels set against Iceland’s stark landscapes. If you enjoy Giles Blunt’s layered storytelling and intriguing characters, Indriðason may resonate with you.
His novel “Jar City” revolves around detective Erlendur Sveinsson, who investigates a grim murder connected to hidden family secrets. Detective Erlendur is methodical and brooding, similar to Blunt’s protagonist John Cardinal.
Indriðason explores Icelandic society and culture through sharp dialogue and chilling settings, creating suspense and depth.
“Jar City” pulls you into its vivid portrayal of Reykjavik, making Indriðason appealing to fans of police procedurals with strong surrounding atmosphere and complex plots.
Readers who enjoy Giles Blunt’s atmospheric crime novels might also appreciate Henning Mankell, a Swedish author known for his Wallander detective series.
His book “Faceless Killers” introduces Kurt Wallander, a seasoned inspector faced with a brutal double murder in rural Sweden.
The investigation becomes complicated when xenophobic tensions emerge within the community, making Wallander’s search for answers challenging and morally complex. The intricate plot and vivid portrayal of Scandinavian society create a captivating narrative.
Fans of intricate characters and immersive settings will find plenty to like in Mankell’s storytelling.
Elizabeth George is an American crime novelist known for her detailed character studies and sophisticated plots, especially in her Inspector Lynley series set in Britain.
If you like Giles Blunt’s atmospheric mysteries with nuanced investigations, you may enjoy George’s “A Great Deliverance.”
In this first novel of the series, Inspector Thomas Lynley and Sergeant Barbara Havers travel to rural Yorkshire to unravel the brutal murder of a local farmer.
The case reveals dark secrets hidden within the community, combining psychological depth with carefully constructed suspense. Elizabeth George’s writing skillfully captures the human element of every crime, making each page deeply rewarding.
Colin Dexter was an English crime writer best known for his Inspector Morse mystery series. Fans of Giles Blunt’s detective novels might enjoy Dexter’s carefully plotted and atmospheric mysteries set around Oxford.
In “Last Bus to Woodstock,” Dexter introduces readers to Inspector Morse. Morse investigates the murder of a young woman found in a pub parking lot.
As Morse navigates clues from bus tickets to hidden affairs, readers are treated to sharp dialogue, richly drawn characters, and intriguing twists. Dexter weaves a captivating story that sets the stage perfectly for the iconic detective Morse.