If you enjoy reading books by Jonathan Latimer then you might also like the following authors:
If you're a fan of Jonathan Latimer's sharp wit and hard-boiled detective style, Raymond Chandler is a great author to explore next. Chandler's detective, Philip Marlowe, is famous for his quick thinking and dry humor.
His novels capture the gritty atmosphere of 1930s and 40s Los Angeles, filled with corruption and crime. A good place to start is The Big Sleep, a mystery filled with colorful characters and memorable dialogue.
Dashiell Hammett created smart, gritty detective fiction that influenced many authors, including Jonathan Latimer. He often portrays morally complex detectives navigating crime-filled worlds where violence and corruption prevail.
A standout example is his novel The Maltese Falcon, centered around tough-guy detective Sam Spade and a cast of intriguing and deceitful characters searching for a valuable statuette.
James M. Cain's novels bring powerful storytelling with sharp dialogue and dark themes. Fans of Latimer might appreciate Cain's realistic settings and strong characters, usually defined by greed, passion, or desperation.
One of Cain's best-known books is The Postman Always Rings Twice, a tense, psychological crime story about illicit romance and murder.
Cornell Woolrich specializes in atmospheric, suspense-filled stories rich with tension and uncertainty. Like Latimer, Woolrich excels at creating a sense of threat and impending doom.
His novel Rear Window (originally titled It Had to Be Murder) sets up a suspenseful premise about voyeurism, suspicion, and paranoia, offering an engaging exploration of psychological suspense.
Ross Macdonald is well-regarded for his insightful, layered detective novels featuring investigator Lew Archer. His stories revolve around complex family secrets, personal loss, and moral dilemmas.
Fans of Latimer’s thoughtful approach to crime fiction will appreciate Macdonald’s character-driven style. Try The Chill, a novel in which Archer untangles deep-rooted family secrets that reveal dark truths about human nature.
If you like Jonathan Latimer's tough and gritty style, you might also appreciate Mickey Spillane. Spillane is famous for his hard-hitting detective novels featuring the relentless private investigator Mike Hammer.
His books are known for action-packed scenes, gritty realism, and sharp dialogue. A great place to start is I, the Jury, a fast-paced mystery that pulls no punches and dives straight into crime and vengeance.
Fans of Jonathan Latimer's gritty mysteries will also enjoy Jim Thompson's dark and disturbing stories. Thompson's writing explores crime through the eyes of deeply flawed characters, creating morally complex and tense plots.
His crime classic The Killer Inside Me puts readers into the unsettling perspective of a psychopathic sheriff, making it disturbing yet impossible to put down.
Horace McCoy's stories share with Latimer a sense of gritty realism and vivid characterization. McCoy examines the dark side of American life in the 1930s. He highlights society's pressures and desperation through intense, dramatic characters.
Check out They Shoot Horses, Don't They?, a powerful novel set during a grueling dance marathon that portrays desperation, disillusionment, and tragedy—all tightly written and emotionally compelling.
Like Latimer, David Goodis creates a moody atmosphere filled with psychological tension and empathetic characters. His novels often revolve around desperate, alienated protagonists struggling to survive in tough urban environments.
Dark Passage is a gripping thriller that showcases Goodis's moody style and his skillful exploration of identity, isolation, and redemption.
Readers who love Latimer's lean style and gritty narrative will also appreciate Paul Cain’s stripped-down, hardboiled storytelling. Cain’s novels move quickly, driven by tight dialogue, sharp characterizations, and bursts of intense violence and suspense.
Fast One is his best-known book. It's a rapid-fire crime story packed with corruption, violence, and tough-talking characters, with a pace that keeps readers hooked.
Fredric Brown writes clever detective stories with sharp dialogue and dark humor. His plots often twist unexpectedly, keeping readers guessing until the end.
In The Fabulous Clipjoint, Brown combines a classic murder mystery with colorful characters and gritty city life, similar in mood to Jonathan Latimer's style.
Kenneth Fearing creates suspenseful noir mysteries by carefully building tension in everyday settings. His novels explore themes like crime, corruption, and alienation with a sharp sense of irony.
In The Big Clock, he skillfully portrays a man caught up in corporate intrigue, paranoia, and murder, echoes of the tangled plots and dark atmosphere that Latimer fans appreciate.
Raoul Whitfield crafts hardboiled crime stories featuring tough, fast-paced action and vividly depicted settings. His writing shows life on the gritty side of crime and corruption, often filled with tough-talking detectives.
In Green Ice, Whitfield delivers gripping crime drama and tough characters, ideal for readers who enjoy Latimer's streetwise interpretations of the genre.
Bruno Fischer is known for intense psychological suspense wrapped in gritty, realistic mysteries. His style is direct, pulling readers into disturbing situations with flawed, believable characters.
In The Evil Days, Fischer reveals dark secrets hidden within a small town, a suspenseful story perfect for readers who appreciate Jonathan Latimer's noir sensibilities.
Steve Fisher excels at fast-moving plots, rich characterization, and atmospheric storytelling. His novels often focus on conflicted, realistically flawed heroes caught in dangerous circumstances.
In I Wake Up Screaming, Fisher presents a tense, energetic narrative that delves into obsession and murder, making it appealing for Jonathan Latimer fans interested in edgy, character-driven crime fiction.