Gregg Olsen has a way of crafting stories that really get under your skin. He writes true crime and thrillers, and his books often explore some very dark corners of the human psyche.
If you enjoy stories that keep you guessing, and you are searching for authors who create books with a similar suspenseful atmosphere, then you might want to take a look at these writers.
Readers who enjoy Gregg Olsen’s suspenseful crime thrillers may appreciate novels by Lisa Gardner. Gardner writes exciting mysteries focused on psychological depth and detailed detective work.
Her novel “The Perfect Husband” follows FBI profiler Pierce Quincy as he helps Tess Beckett face a terrifying threat from her escaped convict husband. The story combines intense suspense, complex character relationships, and unexpected twists, making it hard to put down.
Fans of dark thrillers featuring investigators who face personal risks may find Gardner’s writing style engaging and satisfying.
Readers who enjoy Gregg Olsen’s chilling true-crime stories might also appreciate Karin Slaughter’s thrillers. Slaughter crafts tense and emotionally charged narratives that keep readers hooked page after page.
Her novel “Pretty Girls” revolves around two estranged sisters brought together after the disappearance of a teenage girl. As they reconnect, they uncover shocking truths about their own family’s dark past.
With memorable characters and carefully plotted twists, Slaughter delivers suspenseful storytelling that fans of realistic crime fiction will find hard to put down.
If you enjoy Gregg Olsen’s true crime storytelling, you’ll appreciate Ann Rule’s detailed and engaging style. Her book “The Stranger Beside Me” tells the chilling true story of Ted Bundy from Ann Rule’s unique perspective.
She knew Bundy personally before discovering he was one of the most infamous serial killers in history. Rule reveals a compelling blend of friendship, trust, and betrayal, along with a thoughtful exploration of Bundy’s crimes and personality.
It’s a first-hand account that will capture the attention of readers interested in criminal psychology and investigative depth.
Tess Gerritsen is an author who creates intense thrillers wrapped in medical mysteries and crime scenes. Readers who enjoy Gregg Olsen’s books for their detailed investigative narratives will likely become absorbed by Gerritsen’s storytelling.
In her novel “The Surgeon,” detective Jane Rizzoli must track down a brutal killer who terrorizes Boston with surgical precision. The murderer carefully plans each step, forcing Rizzoli and her team to race against time and piece together clues from grisly crime scenes.
Gerritsen expertly blends medical details with criminal elements, bringing vivid realism and suspense to a story that is hard to put down.
Lisa Unger is an author known for psychological thrillers filled with suspense and complex characters. Her novel “Confessions on the 7:45” centers around Selena Murphy, whose life takes a dark turn after a chance encounter with a mysterious stranger on a delayed commuter train.
When the stranger shares a troubling confession, Selena finds herself unexpectedly drawn into disturbing secrets and hidden betrayals. Fans of Gregg Olsen’s twist-filled narratives and tense storytelling will likely find Unger’s approach equally captivating.
If you enjoy Gregg Olsen’s suspenseful storytelling and his knack for creating chilling atmospheres, you’ll probably appreciate Riley Sager. Sager is known for thrillers that twist unexpectedly, pulling the reader deep into complex mysteries.
A good place to start is “Home Before Dark.” This novel focuses on Maggie Holt, who returns to her childhood house years after her family fled under mysterious circumstances. Her father’s best-selling memoir of supernatural encounters made the house infamous.
Maggie doesn’t believe in ghosts, but once back home, her skepticism faces challenges. The secrets she unearths could force her to reconsider everything she thought she knew. It’s a tense and surprising read that stays with you.
If you enjoy Gregg Olsen’s suspenseful true crime and thrillers, Michael Connelly might be a great fit for your next read. Connelly, a master of crime fiction, delivers authentic and intense detective stories, often centered around the streets and legal twists of Los Angeles.
In his novel “The Lincoln Lawyer,” Connelly introduces readers to Mickey Haller, a charismatic defense attorney who runs his practice from the backseat of his Lincoln Town Car.
When Haller lands a wealthy client accused of a violent crime, an intriguing plot unfolds with unexpected turns, risky dealings, and gritty courtroom action.
With sharp dialogue and engaging characters, this story pulls readers deep into conflicts of justice, guilt, and moral ambiguity.
Gillian Flynn is a master of suspenseful and darkly psychological fiction. Her novel “Gone Girl” tells the story of Nick Dunne, whose wife Amy disappears without warning on their fifth wedding anniversary.
Initially he has everyone’s sympathy, but things quickly turn complicated. Secrets begin to emerge, and suddenly Nick finds himself at the center of suspicion—the main suspect rather than the victim.
The narrative is clever and full of twists, told from different perspectives that keep readers guessing the truth behind the disappearance.
Fans who enjoy the unsettling mystery and psychological depth of Gregg Olsen’s stories will find plenty to appreciate in Flynn’s sharp storytelling.
Readers who enjoy Gregg Olsen may appreciate Mary Higgins Clark, an author known for suspenseful mysteries with unexpected twists. In her novel “Where Are the Children?”, Clark tells the story of Nancy Harmon, a woman rebuilding her life after a tragic past.
Years ago, Nancy’s two young children vanished, and despite her claims of innocence, suspicion haunted her. Eventually cleared, she begins anew in a quiet seaside town. However, history threatens to repeat itself when Nancy’s second set of children suddenly disappears.
Clark weaves suspense through each chapter, keeping readers questioning whom to trust until the final revelation.
J.T. Ellison is a thriller author known for creating intense suspense and complex characters. Her book “Lie to Me” centers around the troubled marriage of Ethan and Sutton Montclair, both successful novelists living a carefully curated life.
When Sutton mysteriously disappears, suspicion lands immediately on Ethan. Secrets come to light as the story unfolds—a hidden diary, accusations, and doubts that unravel the carefully constructed illusions.
Readers who enjoy Gregg Olsen’s fast-paced storytelling and psychological twists will likely appreciate Ellison’s attention to detail and layered plots that keep readers guessing until the last page.
Linwood Barclay is an author known for crafting fast-paced thrillers filled with suspense, relatable characters, and surprising twists. Fans of Gregg Olsen, who appreciate tense, character-driven mysteries, will likely find Barclay’s style engaging.
In “No Time for Goodbye,” Cynthia Archer wakes up one morning at age fourteen to find her entire family vanished without a trace. Decades pass, yet questions remain unanswered until ominous hints emerge, forcing Cynthia to face a truth she never imagined.
Barclay keeps readers guessing with each page, delivering a compelling blend of intrigue, suspense, and emotional depth that lingers long after the story ends.
C.J. Box is an author who expertly blends tense storytelling with vivid descriptions of the American West. His novel “Open Season” introduces readers to Joe Pickett, a Wyoming game warden whose quiet life takes a dark turn when a murder victim turns up on his property.
Pickett stands out as a relatable, everyman character faced with dangerous crimes and complex cover-ups in a small-town setting.
Those who appreciate Gregg Olsen’s realistic crime scenarios but enjoy outdoor settings and themes of wilderness survival might find this combination particularly appealing.
Readers who enjoy Gregg Olsen’s thrilling and suspenseful style will likely appreciate James Patterson. Patterson is well known for his suspenseful storytelling, tight plots, and short, fast-paced chapters that keep pages turning quickly.
In his book “Along Came a Spider,” detective Alex Cross faces off against Gary Soneji, a smart and ruthless criminal who abducts two young children from a prestigious school.
As Cross follows each clue closer to the truth he finds himself trapped in a tense battle of wits, danger, and absolute terror. The novel introduces Cross as a character whose intelligence and persistence make him unforgettable.
Patterson crafts a story that is sharp-edged and impossible to set aside.
Books by Heather Gudenkauf offer suspenseful plots and rich characters that fans of Gregg Olsen will appreciate. In her novel “The Weight of Silence,” two young girls vanish from their homes overnight. One of the girls, Calli, hasn’t spoken a word in years due to trauma.
As the search unfolds, secrets and strained relationships in their tight-knit community come to light. Each character has something to hide, creating multiple layers of mystery and suspicion.
Gudenkauf weaves together family drama and chilling suspense in a way readers of Olsen’s books will find familiar and engrossing.
Meg Gardiner is a thriller author known for sharp suspense and intricate plotting. Readers who enjoy Gregg Olsen’s intense, true-crime-inspired thrillers will appreciate Gardiner’s “UNSUB”.
The book follows detective Caitlin Hendrix as she hunts a ruthless serial killer called the Prophet.
What makes this story particularly interesting is the chilling psychological games the Prophet plays, pointing back to the unsolved crimes of a killer who eluded capture decades earlier.
As Caitlin races against the clock, readers get pulled into a dark, tense cat-and-mouse chase, full of surprising twists and heart-racing suspense.