Karen Kijewski is an American mystery novelist known for her engaging Kat Colorado detective series. Her popular books include Katwalk and Kat Scratch Fever, featuring a sharp, relatable female investigator navigating complex cases.
If you enjoy reading books by Karen Kijewski then you might also like the following authors:
If you enjoy Karen Kijewski's tough, independent sleuths, you'll probably like Sue Grafton. Her books feature the witty private investigator Kinsey Millhone, known for solving cases her own way. Grafton's writing style is clear, humorous, and engaging.
Readers often start with her first Kinsey Millhone novel, A is for Alibi, the beginning of an alphabetically titled mystery series.
Sara Paretsky's mysteries star the tough, smart-talking V.I. Warshawski, a private detective who navigates Chicago's gritty streets and complex social issues.
Her novels often combine intense action with thoughtful social commentary, making them deeper than a typical detective story. A great example to check out is her popular novel Indemnity Only.
Fans of Karen Kijewski who appreciate strong, resourceful female detectives would also enjoy Marcia Muller. Her books revolve around Sharon McCone, a determined and realistic P.I. known for taking on intricate cases in San Francisco.
Muller's engaging style and believable characters are showcased brilliantly in novels such as Edwin of the Iron Shoes, the first in the long-running McCone series.
Linda Barnes writes books featuring Carlotta Carlyle, a Boston private investigator who is both tough and approachable. Readers who enjoy Kijewski's characters' confidence and street-smart charm will find similar enjoyment in Barnes' writing.
Try A Trouble of Fools, the debut novel that introduces Carlotta Carlyle as she untangles a complex web of deceit.
If you appreciate the realistic characters and nuanced storytelling found in Kijewski's works, Laura Lippman may offer a similarly satisfying read.
Known for her engaging detective Tess Monaghan, Lippman combines strong mysteries with complex character studies set against the vivid backdrop of Baltimore. A recommended book to begin with is her acclaimed novel, Baltimore Blues.
If you enjoy Karen Kijewski’s Kat Colorado mysteries, you might also like Nevada Barr. Her novels follow park ranger Anna Pigeon as she solves mysteries in various national parks around the country.
Barr weaves crime with vivid descriptions of the natural world and explores the challenges faced by women working in traditionally male fields. Start with Track of the Cat, the first in the series, set in the rugged beauty of West Texas.
Janet Evanovich writes lively mysteries featuring Stephanie Plum, a quirky bounty hunter from New Jersey. If you’re drawn to Kijewski's sharp, relatable heroine and humor-infused plots, Evanovich might be your next favorite author.
Her books mix action and humor, and Plum's eccentric family and romantic complications add extra charm. Check out One for the Money, the first fun-filled book in the series.
Like Kijewski, Robert B. Parker built his reputation on dynamic private eyes you can root for. His detective, Spenser, featured in a long-running series starting with The Godwulf Manuscript.
Parker's crisp style, sharp dialogue, and examination of moral ambiguity may appeal to you if you appreciate Kat Colorado's intelligence and integrity.
If you like smart, engaging mysteries with flawed but likable protagonists, Lawrence Block's Matthew Scudder series might be just the thing.
Scudder, an ex-cop turned detective, roams through a shadowy, gritty New York in novels that explore complex characters and human morality. Try When the Sacred Ginmill Closes, one of the series' stand-out titles, to see Block at his thoughtful best.
Dennis Lehane crafts atmospheric mysteries with vivid settings and intense emotion. His stories dive deeply into characters' backstories and motivations, often highlighting troubled pasts and moral struggles.
Readers who value Kijewski’s nuanced characters and emotional depth might appreciate Lehane’s novels, especially Gone, Baby, Gone, which follows private detectives Patrick Kenzie and Angela Gennaro through a heart-rending Boston mystery.
Readers who enjoy Karen Kijewski’s lively mysteries may appreciate S. J. Rozan. Rozan crafts sharp, intriguing crime stories highlighted by clever dialogue and a strong sense of place, often set in New York City's vibrant Chinatown.
Her Lydia Chin and Bill Smith series offers smart detective work paired with rich character relationships. A good one to try first is China Trade, which introduces private investigator Lydia Chin as she navigates family expectations and challenging cases with sly humor.
If you like Karen Kijewski’s strong female leads, you'll enjoy Dana Stabenow. Her Kate Shugak series is set in Alaska, loaded with local details and rugged scenery. Stabenow focuses on complex plots filled with tension and richly developed characters.
Start with A Cold Day for Murder, where investigator Kate Shugak returns to her remote Alaskan hometown to solve a mystery that brings up old secrets and surprising twists.
Fans of Karen Kijewski looking for witty, quirky mysteries might appreciate Lisa Lutz. Her writing style blends humor and suspense, focusing on clever plots and eccentric characters.
Lutz’s The Spellman Files introduces Isabel Spellman, a private detective whose sharp wit and dysfunctional but lovable family keeps readers entertained and guessing at every twist.
For those who appreciate the depth and psychological insight found in Karen Kijewski's mysteries, Tana French provides captivating crime fiction set in Ireland.
French's writing explores the darker aspects of personality and the lingering effects of the past, packaged in tense, atmospheric storytelling.
Try her novel In the Woods, the first book of the Dublin Murder Squad series, where a detective finds his current investigation uncomfortably connected to his own troubled childhood.
Readers of Karen Kijewski who like strong mysteries with sharp insight into human nature should try Denise Mina. Mina’s novels, often set in gritty Glasgow, dive into tough themes like class struggles and social justice with clear-eyed realism.
Her thriller Garnethill features Maureen O'Donnell, an engaging protagonist confronting trauma while investigating a murder case close to home.