If you enjoy reading novels by Giles Blunt then you might also like the following authors:
Peter Robinson is known for his crime novels, especially the Inspector Alan Banks series. One of his books, “In a Dry Season,” begins with a drought revealing a long-submerged village.
Amid the ruins, a skeleton is discovered, sparking an investigation that connects a decades-old murder to the present. The story goes back and forth, showing the secrets of those who lived in the village during World War II.
Alan Banks must uncover these old truths while dealing with challenges in his personal life. Fans of Giles Blunt’s moody crime writing will find a similar atmospheric pull in Robinson’s work.
Louise Penny is the author of the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series, which is set in the small, picturesque village of Three Pines in Quebec. In “Still Life,” the first book in the series, the peaceful village is shaken when a beloved local artist is found dead in the woods.
At first, it looks like a hunting accident, but Gamache begins to uncover secrets hidden beneath the seemingly serene surface of the town. He investigates the relationships among the villagers, discovering motives and long-held grudges.
The story combines a strong sense of place with a thoughtful exploration of human nature. Readers who enjoy Giles Blunt’s ability to create atmosphere and intricate characters might find Louise Penny’s style engaging as well.
Gillian Flynn writes dark, psychological thrillers that keep you hooked with their intense characters and sharp twists.
One of her most well-known books, “Gone Girl,” follows Nick and Amy, a married couple whose relationship takes a sinister turn when Amy disappears on their fifth wedding anniversary.
As the story unfolds, you get both Nick’s perspective and excerpts from Amy’s diary, painting two very different pictures of what their life together was really like.
The story peels back layers of secrets, creating an atmosphere of distrust and tension that keeps you guessing until the end. Flynn’s characters feel raw and deeply human, which makes their actions all the more chilling.
Tana French writes crime novels that focus heavily on character and atmosphere. If you enjoyed Giles Blunt’s work, you might like her book “In the Woods.”
The story follows Rob Ryan, a detective with a complicated past, as he investigates the murder of a young girl found near the same woods where two of his childhood friends disappeared years earlier.
Haunted by fragmented memories of that time, he tries to uncover the truth about the current case while confronting his own unresolved trauma. The book pairs a gripping mystery with complex, flawed characters, making it hard to put down.
John Connolly writes crime fiction with a dark and eerie edge. His book “Every Dead Thing” introduces Charlie Parker, a former cop haunted by the brutal murder of his wife and daughter. The story follows Parker as he hunts for a sadistic killer known as The Traveling Man.
This journey takes him into the shadows of human nature, as he uncovers disturbing secrets and confronts his own grief. The blend of crime, atmosphere, and a touch of supernatural makes Connolly’s work memorable.
Ann Cleeves is a British crime writer known for crafting stories that explore atmospheric settings and intricate characters. One of her books, “The Crow Trap,” introduces readers to Detective Vera Stanhope.
The story begins with three women working on an environmental study in the North Pennines. When one of them is found dead, it’s dismissed as a suicide.
Vera, an unconventional detective with a sharp mind and blunt demeanor, steps in and begins to uncover tensions and secrets buried in the lives of those involved. Cleeves brings the stark beauty of the English countryside to life while weaving mysteries that keep readers hooked.
Ian Rankin is a master of crime fiction, known for his gritty police procedurals set in Scotland. One of his standout books is “Black and Blue,” featuring Detective Inspector John Rebus.
In this story, Rebus investigates a modern-day serial killer inspired by an old, unsolved murder from the 1970s. The case sends him across Scotland, from oil rigs to seedy neighborhoods, as he wrestles with corruption, old grudges, and his own demons.
The backdrop of Scotland is vividly drawn, adding depth to the gritty, atmospheric narrative. Fans of Giles Blunt’s intricate plots might enjoy following Rebus as he pieces together the dark, tangled threads of the case.
Michael Connelly is a crime fiction writer known for his sharp storytelling and strong characters. One of his books, “The Poet,” starts with a detective named Jack McEvoy investigating his brother’s apparent suicide.
As Jack digs deeper, he notices strange details that don’t add up, leading him to suspect a serial killer is behind it all. The killer leaves cryptic messages based on Edgar Allan Poe’s works, adding a chilling layer to the case.
The mix of personal stakes and the hunt for a dangerous predator makes this story hard to put down. Fans of dark mysteries would likely find it engaging.
Stieg Larsson was a Swedish journalist and author best known for his “Millennium” series. The first book, “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” introduces Mikael Blomkvist, a journalist, and Lisbeth Salander, a fiercely intelligent hacker with a troubled past.
They come together to solve a decades-old mystery involving a missing girl from a wealthy family. The story weaves through family secrets, corporate corruption, and dark personal histories.
Lisbeth’s resourcefulness and unique personality make her an unforgettable character, and the tension in the investigation keeps the stakes high.
Angela Marsons is a crime fiction author best known for her “DI Kim Stone” series. In “Silent Scream,” the first book in the series, a gruesome murder at a children’s home sets off a trail of dark secrets.
DI Kim Stone is relentless as she digs into the case, uncovering hidden connections and long-buried horrors.
The story pulls you into a world full of tension and shocking twists, while introducing Kim as a tough, no-nonsense detective with a sharp mind and a deep, complicated past. Fans of chilling investigations and complex characters will find a lot to enjoy here.
Val McDermid is a Scottish author known for her thrilling crime novels that often explore dark and twisted cases. One of her standout books is “A Place of Execution.”
The story follows Detective George Bennett as he investigates the disappearance of a young girl named Alison Carter in a remote English village during the 1960s.
The villagers are secretive, and the case seems impossible to solve, but George uncovers shocking details that shake the community. Years later, a journalist revisits the case, only to find there’s more to the truth than anyone expected.
If you enjoy complex mysteries and vivid storytelling, McDermid’s work might catch your interest.
Arnaldur Indriðason is an Icelandic author known for his atmospheric crime novels. One of his books, “Jar City,” introduces Detective Erlendur, a gruff and methodical investigator working in Reykjavik.
The story begins with a man found dead in his apartment under suspicious circumstances. As Erlendur digs into the victim’s past, he uncovers unsettling secrets tied to genetic research and past crimes that still haunt families involved.
The chilly Icelandic setting adds an extra layer of isolation and tension to the case, drawing the reader further into the mystery. Fans of Giles Blunt will appreciate the way Indriðason weaves personal turmoil into his characters’ lives while unraveling dark puzzles.
Henning Mankell was a Swedish author known for his crime novels, especially the ones featuring Inspector Kurt Wallander. One of his famous books, “Faceless Killers,” opens with the brutal murder of an elderly couple on a rural farm.
Wallander is called to solve the case, and it gets complicated when the only clue is the word “foreigner” uttered by one of the victims before dying. The investigation pulls him into a web of racism and immigration tension in Sweden.
Mankell’s writing adds a strong sense of place, grounding you in a cold, bleak atmosphere that suits Wallander’s relentless search for answers.
Elizabeth George is known for her detective novels that focus on deeply developed characters and complex investigations. “A Great Deliverance” is the first in her Inspector Lynley series.
It follows Scotland Yard detective Thomas Lynley, who comes from an aristocratic background, and Sergeant Barbara Havers, who is blunt and socially awkward.
They are assigned a murder case in a small English village where a man is gruesomely killed and his daughter confesses but refuses to explain why. The contrast between Lynley and Havers adds tension as they navigate secrets that shake the close-knit community.
It’s the kind of story that pulls you into the lives of the characters as much as the mystery itself.
Colin Dexter is best known for his crime novels featuring Inspector Morse, a brilliant but flawed detective solving murders in Oxford. In “The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn,” Morse investigates the death of a deaf academic who worked at an examination board.
The story unravels through Morse’s attention to small clues and his unfailing ability to read human nature. It’s not just about the case; there’s always more going on, as hidden motives and secrets surface in this academic setting.
Dexter writes with sharp intelligence and builds a strong sense of place. Fans of layered mysteries, like those by Giles Blunt, may enjoy how Dexter creates depth through character and environment.