Joseph Heywood is known for captivating mystery novels set in the wilderness. He created the popular Woods Cop Mystery series, including titles like Ice Hunter and Blue Wolf in Green Fire, showcasing adventures of Michigan conservation officers.
If you enjoy reading books by Joseph Heywood then you might also like the following authors:
Fans of Joseph Heywood’s outdoor-themed mysteries will appreciate C.J. Box’s novels about game warden Joe Pickett. Box combines vivid descriptions of the American West with realistic portrayals of rural law enforcement.
His book Open Season introduces the straightforward, honest Joe Pickett, dealing with tensions between small-town values and modern-day pressures.
Craig Johnson writes mysteries set in the rugged landscapes of Wyoming, centered around Sheriff Walt Longmire. Like Heywood, Johnson creates realistic characters and explores issues of justice, community, and personal dignity.
His novel The Cold Dish is the first in the Longmire series and features a thoughtful sheriff facing complex moral questions amidst harsh country conditions.
If you’re drawn to natural settings and strong characters like in Joseph Heywood’s books, you might enjoy William Kent Krueger's novels. Set in rural Minnesota, his stories combine suspenseful plots with deep insights into human psychology and community ties.
Iron Lake, the first Cork O'Connor novel, introduces readers to a former sheriff internally conflicted by his mixed heritage and driven by his need for justice.
Paul Doiron crafts mysteries set in the backwoods of Maine and features game warden Mike Bowditch. Fans of Joseph Heywood will connect easily to Doiron's outdoor themes and authentic portrayal of conservation law enforcement.
In his debut novel, The Poacher’s Son, Doiron explores a complex father-son relationship and larger environmental themes, wrapped in an engaging mystery.
Readers who enjoy Heywood’s portrayal of wilderness settings and law enforcement officers might appreciate Nevada Barr’s novels. Her stories center on Anna Pigeon, a national park ranger who faces challenges that test her courage, resourcefulness, and ethics.
In Track of the Cat, readers follow Anna into the remote landscapes of West Texas as she investigates a mysterious death and confronts harsh natural elements.
Dana Stabenow brings vivid Alaskan locations to life through richly drawn characters and intriguing mysteries. Readers who enjoyed Joseph Heywood’s blend of wilderness settings and regional authenticity may appreciate her series featuring Alaska investigator Kate Shugak.
In A Cold Day for Murder, Stabenow immerses readers in the unforgiving Alaskan wilderness as Kate Shugak investigates a mysterious disappearance, navigating local customs and harsh terrain.
Tony Hillerman captures readers with his insightful exploration of Native American culture blended naturally into detective mysteries. His atmospheric storytelling and deep respect for tradition remind readers of Heywood’s dedication to cultural and environmental realism.
In Dance Hall of the Dead, Hillerman introduces detectives Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee, who investigate intricate crimes set against the backdrop of Navajo traditions and Southwestern landscapes.
Steve Hamilton writes engaging, character-driven mysteries set around Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, much like Joseph Heywood.
Readers who appreciate Heywood’s authenticity and feeling for outdoor regions will find similar appeal in Hamilton’s sharply crafted plots and the affectionately rendered small-town settings of his Alex McKnight series.
In A Cold Day in Paradise, Hamilton follows ex-cop Alex McKnight as a haunting past returns, requiring him to confront chilling mysteries in the Upper Peninsula's isolated communities.
Peter Bowen is known for blending crime-solving with a dose of humor and Western culture. Fans of Joseph Heywood’s vivid location-setting and memorable characters should enjoy Bowen’s series featuring Montana cattle-brand inspector and investigator Gabriel Du Pré.
In Coyote Wind, Du Pré tackles complex mysteries while navigating issues of heritage, family, and rural community life, pairing a distinctive regional tone with solid mystery storytelling.
Ace Atkins delivers fast-paced mysteries set in small towns filled with vivid characters, local history, and tight plots. Those drawn to Joseph Heywood’s compelling heroes and attention to authentic detail might also enjoy Atkins's Quinn Colson series, set in the deep South.
In The Ranger, Atkins introduces Quinn Colson, an Army ranger returning to his Mississippi hometown to discover issues of corruption, crime, and family dramas waiting to be solved.
If you like Joseph Heywood's suspenseful mysteries set in richly depicted wilderness, then J.A. Jance may appeal to you. Her novels often feature smart, determined investigators working in strikingly portrayed landscapes, such as Arizona's deserts or Washington State's forests.
In Desert Heat, Jance introduces Joanna Brady, a compelling sheriff solving a complex murder in a vividly described Southwestern setting.
Readers drawn to Heywood's emphasis on nature and Native American culture might enjoy Sandi Ault's work. Her stories center around the outdoors, wildlife, and aspects of indigenous culture in New Mexico.
Wild Indigo showcases Ault's style beautifully, providing readers with a captivating mystery intertwined with themes of nature conservation and cultural understanding.
Fans of Heywood's outdoor settings and thoughtful exploration of environmental issues might appreciate Scott Graham. Graham portrays the stunning beauty and environmental threats facing America's national parks through his character Chuck Bender, an adventurous archaeologist.
In Canyon Sacrifice, Graham sets the suspenseful mystery against the spectacular backdrop of the Grand Canyon, highlighting both its beauty and vulnerability.
Christine Carbo shares Heywood’s knack for bringing the wilderness vividly to life, creating mysteries that feel strongly tied to their natural environments.
She sets her novels in Montana's ruggedly beautiful Glacier National Park, using the harsh landscape to heighten the tension in her stories.
In The Wild Inside, Carbo crafts an atmospheric mystery that explores darkness, grief, and survival in a landscape both magnificent and dangerous.
If you enjoy Heywood's detailed portrayal of dedicated law enforcement officials investigating crime with a steady pace, Kirk Russell is another writer you might enjoy.
Russell's novels often blend careful detective work with environmental concerns, featuring believable characters committed to justice.
In Shell Games, Russell introduces John Marquez, a wildlife investigator dealing with illegal trafficking and ecological exploitation along the California coastline.