If you enjoy reading books by Jo Nesbø then you might also like the following authors:
Stieg Larsson was a Swedish author and journalist known for his exciting crime novels and intense plots. His most famous work is “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” the first book in the Millennium series.
The story follows Mikael Blomkvist, a journalist hired to solve a mysterious disappearance from decades ago. To help solve the mystery, he teams up with Lisbeth Salander, a sharp but withdrawn investigator skilled in computers and hacking.
Together, they uncover dark family secrets and unexpected crimes hidden beneath the surface. If you’re a fan of Jo Nesbø and enjoy suspenseful storytelling with intriguing characters, Stieg Larsson’s novels provide plenty of mystery and excitement.
Henning Mankell is a Swedish author famous for his Kurt Wallander detective novels. His stories often have a dark atmosphere and realistic characters, similar to Jo Nesbø's Harry Hole series. A good novel of his to start with is “Faceless Killers.”
In this book, Inspector Wallander investigates the brutal murder of an elderly couple on a remote farm. The only clue he finds points to someone foreign, which sets off rising tensions in the local community.
The story shows Wallander’s struggle with his personal life while he tries to solve this difficult case. If you enjoy Jo Nesbø, Henning Mankell might be worth exploring.
Camilla Läckberg is a Swedish crime author known for her Fjällbacka series, set in a small seaside village in Sweden. Her novel “The Ice Princess” begins when Erica Falck returns to Fjällbacka after the death of her parents.
Soon after, she discovers the mysterious death of her childhood friend, Alex. Teaming up with local detective Patrik Hedström, Erica begins to uncover decades-old secrets hidden within the community.
Fans of Jo Nesbø will find suspense, strong twists, and realistic characters in Läckberg’s detective stories.
If you enjoy Jo Nesbø's mysteries, you might also appreciate Karin Fossum. She is a Norwegian crime writer known for her Inspector Konrad Sejer series. One great place to start is with “Don’t Look Back.”
In this story, Inspector Sejer investigates the death of a teenage girl found near a quiet lake. Through patient questioning and careful observation, Sejer gradually uncovers secrets hidden beneath the calm exterior of a small Norwegian village.
The strength of Fossum’s books lies in the believable characters and thoughtful exploration of human emotions beneath every crime.
If you’re a fan of Jo Nesbø and enjoy Nordic crime fiction, Håkan Nesser might be an author you’d enjoy too. Nesser is a Swedish writer known for mysteries with strong character development and atmospheric storytelling.
One of his popular books is “Mind’s Eye,” the first in the Inspector Van Veeteren series. It follows Inspector Van Veeteren as he investigates a husband’s claim of memory loss after he wakes up to find his wife dead.
Readers who like clever detective work and psychological twists will probably find a lot to enjoy here.
Lars Kepler is the pen name for the Swedish couple Alexandra Coelho Ahndoril and Alexander Ahndoril. Together they create tense psychological thrillers perfect for fans of Jo Nesbø.
In their book “The Hypnotist,” detective Joona Linna investigates a brutal murder where the only survivor is a severely traumatized young boy. To understand what happened that night, Linna seeks the help of a controversial hypnotist.
But as secrets start emerging from the boy’s memory, the story takes unexpected turns and reveals a dark side to the human mind. If you like intense Scandinavian crime fiction with complex characters, this book by Lars Kepler is worth exploring.
Jussi Adler-Olsen is a Danish crime fiction author known for writing engaging detective stories with intriguing characters and dark plots. If you enjoy Jo Nesbø's books, you might appreciate Adler-Olsen’s novel “The Keeper of Lost Causes.”
The story introduces Carl Mørck, a Danish detective assigned to head Department Q, a department focused on solving cold cases. Alongside his assistant Assad, Mørck investigates the mysterious disappearance of a politician named Merete Lynggaard.
The case had been closed years ago, but as Carl digs deeper, he uncovers disturbing clues that challenge the original investigation. The story blends tense action with moments of unexpected humor, bringing both the characters and the investigation vividly to life.
Åsa Larsson writes crime novels set in northern Sweden. Her book “Sun Storm” follows the story of a lawyer returning to her hometown to unravel the mystery of a murder linked to a local church.
In “The Black Path,” another crime unfolds involving dark secrets and corporate greed. Her stories often explore small-town life and the darkness beneath the surface.
Arne Dahl writes crime novels with smart plots and dark twists. If you’re into Jo Nesbø's style, you might enjoy his work. “Misterioso” is about a secret team hunting a killer who targets businessmen.
“Bad Blood” follows the same group as they track a murderer with connections to America. The stories balance gritty crimes with sharp investigations.
Peter Høeg is known for writing stories that mix mystery with thought-provoking ideas. His novel, “Smilla’s Sense of Snow,” follows a woman investigating a boy’s mysterious death in Copenhagen.
“The Quiet Girl” tells the story of a circus performer with unusual hearing abilities, who gets caught up in a dangerous search for missing children.
Tana French writes crime stories with rich characters and plenty of twists. If you enjoy Jo Nesbø’s work, you might like her books. “In the Woods” follows a detective investigating a murder that stirs up memories of his own troubled past.
“The Likeness” explores an undercover case where a detective takes on the identity of a murdered woman who looks exactly like her. Both books mix mystery with personal drama, keeping you hooked.
Michael Connelly writes crime and mystery novels. One of his popular books, “The Lincoln Lawyer,” follows Mickey Haller, a defense attorney who works out of his car and takes on a dangerous case.
Another well-known title, “The Black Echo,” introduces Harry Bosch, a detective investigating a murder that links to his past. These stories focus on crime, justice, and complex characters.
Ian Rankin writes crime stories with a dark edge, similar to Jo Nesbø's style. His famous series follows Detective John Rebus, a hard-nosed investigator working in Edinburgh. In “Knots and Crosses,” Rebus hunts a killer targeting young girls.
“The Falls” has him investigating a missing student and discovering secrets hidden in the shadows of the city. If you enjoy gritty, atmospheric mysteries, Rankin’s books are worth exploring.
Lee Child has written action-packed thrillers featuring Jack Reacher, a tough ex-military cop. In “Killing Floor,” Reacher roams into a small town and gets wrapped up in deadly secrets. “61 Hours” sees him caught in a dangerous game in a freezing South Dakota town.
These books focus on Reacher using his wits and fists to face serious trouble.
Val McDermid writes crime novels with sharp plots and dark twists. If you enjoy Jo Nesbø, you might want to try her book “The Mermaids Singing,” which introduces profiler Tony Hill as he tracks a serial killer.
“A Place of Execution” is another gripping story, following a journalist uncovering secrets tied to a decades-old case of a missing girl. These books are filled with tension and clever storytelling.