Joseph Knox is a British crime fiction author known for his atmospheric thrillers. His popular books include Sirens and The Smiling Man, featuring the detective Aidan Waits in gritty Manchester settings.
If you enjoy reading books by Joseph Knox then you might also like the following authors:
If you enjoy the bleakness and gritty atmosphere in Joseph Knox's novels, you're likely to appreciate Ian Rankin. Rankin writes with sharp realism about Edinburgh's crime and moral complexities, especially in his Inspector Rebus series.
A great introduction is Knots and Crosses, where detective John Rebus tries to track down a chilling serial killer while facing haunting memories from the past.
Stuart Neville delivers intense, tightly crafted thrillers often focusing on the dark shadows of Northern Ireland's troubled history. His suspenseful narratives feature flawed characters navigating deep moral conflicts, much like Knox's atmospheric crime fiction.
Try Neville's exceptional The Twelve, an intense thriller centered on a former paramilitary killer who desperately seeks redemption from past violence.
Denise Mina writes sharp, intelligent crime stories set around Glasgow, with flawed yet appealing characters and authentic urban settings. If Joseph Knox's noir style grabs you, Mina's novels will pull you into vivid portrayals of crime and humanity.
A great place to start is Garnethill, which introduces intriguing character Maureen O'Donnell, dealing with trauma, crime, and gritty Glasgow life.
For readers fascinated by the dark side of human psychology in Joseph Knox's work, Val McDermid is another rewarding author. McDermid's novels skillfully merge psychological depth with gripping mystery, offering readers tense literary journeys with complex characters.
Consider reading The Mermaids Singing, which features fascinating criminal profiler Tony Hill hunting a deeply unsettling serial killer.
Adrian McKinty crafts gripping crime fiction with fast-paced plots and dark humor, tackling heavy themes set against the violent backdrop of Northern Ireland.
Readers who like Knox's blend of compelling dialogue and gritty atmosphere should try McKinty's popular novel The Cold Cold Ground. It introduces Detective Sean Duffy, a sharp, cynical detective investigating murder cases that blur moral lines amidst political chaos.
Mark Billingham writes crime novels set in dark, gritty urban environments. His stories are tense and character-driven, focusing more on realistic interactions and moral ambiguity rather than simple twists or elaborate plots.
A good entry point into his style is Sleepyhead, the first Tom Thorne novel, following a detective unraveling twisted, disturbing cases.
Mick Herron's spy thrillers blend typical espionage intrigue with relatable characters and a dash of dark humor.
His Slough House series features disgraced intelligence agents reassigned to mundane tasks, capturing themes of betrayal and redemption through vivid dialogue and sharp social observation.
Try Slow Horses, the first book in the series, to experience his distinct and engaging style.
David Peace crafts tense, atmospheric novels filled with dark historical settings. His writing creates a vivid portrayal of bleak, unsettling landscapes, often exploring injustice and corruption in society.
1974, the opening novel of his Red Riding Quartet, is worth checking out if you're looking for an intense, gripping crime drama with an emotional punch.
Tana French creates psychological mysteries where the characters' inner lives are just as fascinating as the crimes they investigate.
Starting with In the Woods, the first novel in her Dublin Murder Squad series, French explores the tensions between memory, trauma, and the pursuit of justice. Her nuanced prose and richly developed characters make her stand out within crime fiction.
Benjamin Myers specializes in literary crime and noir set in rural landscapes, bringing out the rugged and bleak beauty of the countryside. His writing style is lyrical yet direct, capturing the complex dynamics of isolated communities and strange local happenings.
Try his novel Turning Blue, which explores rural crime, secrecy, and human darkness through gripping characters and vivid settings.
If you liked Joseph Knox's gritty and unconventional take on crime fiction, you'll probably enjoy Will Carver. He writes dark, provocative thrillers that often explore human psychology and societal relationships in unexpected ways.
His novel Good Samaritans is an unsettling yet addictive story about obsession, loneliness, and twisted desires.
Steve Cavanagh writes fast-paced crime thrillers with sharp plotting and clever twists. Much like Joseph Knox, his books keep you guessing until the very end.
A good place to start is Thirteen, about a killer who isn't just on trial, but secretly part of the jury deciding his own fate.
If you're looking for something that blends atmospheric settings with compelling historical crime fiction, Ray Celestin might be your next great read. His books are immersive mysteries that evoke the sights and sounds of captivating cities.
Try his novel The Axeman's Jazz, which plunges you deep into 1910s New Orleans to catch a real-life serial killer amid a city alive with jazz, corruption, and fascinating characters.
Luca Veste writes gritty crime novels with complex characters and a solid sense of place. Like Joseph Knox, he's skilled at portraying the darker sides of urban landscapes.
You might enjoy The Bone Keeper, a suspenseful thriller where urban legends intersect chillingly with reality, set against the atmospheric backdrop of Liverpool.
Jake Arnott gives readers vivid, thought-provoking stories centered around organized crime, history, and rich character studies. His novels often blend fact and fiction to create an immersive experience of the past.
Check out The Long Firm, a novel set in the gangster underworld of 1960s London, packed with violence, glamour, and fascinating, morally ambiguous protagonists.