Laura Lippman crafts mysteries set in Baltimore. Her books often have complex plots and feature well-developed characters, particularly women.
If you are drawn to her style of crime fiction and want to find authors who offer a similar reading experience, you have come to the right place. This article highlights some writers you might like to check out.
Gillian Flynn crafts dark psychological thrillers that keep readers guessing. Her novel “Gone Girl” revolves around Nick Dunne, whose wife, Amy, mysteriously disappears on their wedding anniversary. As suspicion falls on Nick, secrets unravel layer by layer.
Flynn carefully reveals the complex relationship behind their seemingly perfect marriage, masterfully building tension with sharp dialogue and twists readers won’t see coming.
Readers who enjoy Laura Lippman’s suspenseful plots and deep character explorations will likely find Flynn’s storytelling equally captivating.
Readers who enjoy Laura Lippman’s novels might also appreciate Tana French. French is known for creating atmospheric mysteries set in Ireland, where the characters’ personal lives intertwine closely with complicated criminal investigations.
In her novel “In the Woods,” Detective Rob Ryan investigates the murder of a young girl near the same woods where, decades ago, his two childhood friends mysteriously disappeared. His past trauma resurfaces, and the case becomes increasingly personal.
French weaves rich psychological depth into a suspenseful narrative, keeping readers guessing about what really happened, both in Rob’s troubled past and in the present-day murder.
Readers who enjoy Laura Lippman’s mysteries will appreciate Louise Penny’s novels, especially her book “Still Life”. Penny masterfully paints the setting of Three Pines, a small Canadian village that feels picturesque but holds darker secrets beneath its friendly surface.
When a beloved local artist named Jane Neal is found dead, at first glance it seems to be a tragic hunting accident. Inspector Armand Gamache soon realizes it might be murder, and hidden beneath the village’s cozy charm is an undercurrent of suspicion and long-held grudges.
Penny creates a vivid cast of complex, memorable characters, revealing their stories layer by layer as Gamache uncovers clues that add intriguing twists to the plot.
This combination of careful storytelling and emotional depth gives readers a rich and satisfying mystery to unravel alongside Inspector Gamache.
Readers who enjoy Laura Lippman’s sharp mysteries and nuanced character portrayals may appreciate Dennis Lehane’s suspenseful storytelling. Lehane crafts authentic characters caught in morally complex situations, especially evident in his novel “Mystic River.”
The story revolves around three childhood friends whose lives take painful turns after a tragedy. Years later, as adults, they are forced back together by a shocking crime, and buried emotional tensions resurface.
Lehane’s writing evokes the gritty atmosphere and rich neighborhoods of working-class Boston, making the novel hard to put down.
Readers who appreciate Laura Lippman’s suspenseful storytelling might enjoy Megan Abbott’s novels. Abbott is known for exploring dark secrets beneath everyday lives, particularly among seemingly ordinary characters.
In her novel “Dare Me,” Abbott takes readers into the competitive world of high school cheerleading. When a charismatic new coach arrives, loyalty shifts and tensions rise.
Friendships fracture, rivalries deepen, and soon a shocking event reveals the true dangers behind the team’s perfection and ambition. Abbott’s sharp characters and tense pacing make “Dare Me” a satisfying read for fans of psychological mysteries.
Lisa Unger is an author known for psychological thrillers with sharp characters and unexpected twists. Her novel “Confessions on the 7:45” follows Selena Murphy, a woman whose life unravels after she shares secrets with a stranger she meets on a stalled commuter train.
Soon after, Selena’s nanny disappears, and she finds herself in a web of deception, suspicion, and betrayal. Readers who enjoy Laura Lippman’s blend of crime and complex personal dynamics may find Lisa Unger’s tense storytelling equally captivating.
Ruth Ware is a British author known for weaving suspenseful mysteries that keep readers guessing and engaged from start to finish. If you enjoy Laura Lippman’s thoughtful storytelling and sharp-eyed exploration of characters, Ware may capture your interest.
Her novel “The Woman in Cabin 10” follows journalist Lo Blacklock, assigned to cover a luxury cruise through Norway’s fjords.
After hearing a scream and witnessing someone thrown overboard, Lo’s search for answers becomes complicated—the ship’s crew insists all passengers remain accounted for.
Ware brilliantly builds tension and paranoia as Lo struggles to distinguish reality from illusion, creating a mystery that lingers until the final page.
Readers who enjoy Laura Lippman’s crime fiction might also appreciate the novels of Karin Slaughter. Slaughter writes intense, character-driven thrillers that explore dark secrets and complex relationships.
Her novel “Pretty Girls” tells a chilling story about two estranged sisters who reunite after years of distance when a tragedy confronts their family.
While investigating the truth behind their sister’s disappearance decades earlier, shocking secrets surface, putting everything they believed to be true into question. The novel moves quickly, its twists and shocking reveals keeping readers anxiously turning pages.
Fans of Laura Lippman’s talent for suspense and intricate character portrayals might find Karin Slaughter equally satisfying.
Readers who enjoy Laura Lippman’s blend of intriguing mysteries and authentic characters might also appreciate S.J. Rozan. Rozan, known for her vivid storytelling and nuanced protagonists, offers readers a satisfying sense of place and realism.
In her novel “Winter and Night,” private detectives Lydia Chin and Bill Smith look into a troubling event from Smith’s nephew’s high school.
As Smith uncovers suspicions of violence involving teenagers in a small town, secrets surface that put family relationships and personal loyalties to the test.
Rozan creates suspense through believable people facing tough moral dilemmas, making this a memorable read for mystery lovers.
Readers who enjoy Laura Lippman’s novels might find Val McDermid equally engaging. McDermid is a Scottish author known for crime fiction that spotlights complex characters and psychological depth.
Her book “The Mermaids Singing” introduces criminal psychologist Tony Hill and detective Carol Jordan, whose collaboration offers a fascinating look into the psychology behind violent crimes.
This story kicks off with a troubling series of murders in the fictional town of Bradfield, where the killer leaves twisted clues behind.
As Tony and Carol build a profile of the perpetrator, the suspense grows tighter, giving readers plenty of twists and sharp insights that make McDermid’s writing unforgettable.
Harlan Coben writes suspenseful mysteries filled with unexpected twists and rich, believable characters. If you enjoy Laura Lippman’s nuanced look at everyday people caught in extraordinary circumstances, Coben’s “Tell No One” is a great place to start.
The book follows Dr. David Beck, whose wife was murdered eight years earlier—or so he thought. Suddenly, he receives a mysterious message hinting she might actually still be alive. Beck quickly learns the truth is buried deeper and darker than he imagined.
The fast-paced plot and the emotional depth of the characters make “Tell No One” hard to put down.
Books by Elizabeth George offer intriguing crime mysteries filled with complex characters, psychological depth, and atmospheric settings.
If you enjoy Laura Lippman’s sharp portrayal of detectives and the inner lives of her characters, you might appreciate George’s novel “A Great Deliverance.” The story introduces Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley and Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers.
They investigate a disturbing murder in a small English village. The victim is a respected local farmer, and the accused is his withdrawn teenaged daughter, found at the scene covered in blood.
As Lynley and Havers unravel the truth, the book explores dark family secrets and hidden motives beneath the surface of the seemingly quiet community. Elizabeth George crafts a suspenseful plot and vividly drawn characters in a way that keeps readers invested until the very end.
Books by Paula Hawkins often explore the darker side of human nature and the secrets hidden beneath everyday lives.
Her psychological thriller “The Girl on the Train” centers around Rachel, a troubled woman who rides the same commuter train every day and becomes fixated on a seemingly perfect couple she observes through the window.
When the woman from the couple goes missing, Rachel finds herself tangled in the mystery. Hawkins’s storytelling builds suspense through unreliable characters and unexpected twists.
Readers who enjoy Laura Lippman’s mysteries about complex relationships and hidden truths could appreciate Hawkins’s engaging approach.
Readers who enjoy Laura Lippman’s blend of crime and complex characters might also appreciate Alafair Burke. Burke, a former prosecutor turned novelist, writes crime fiction that explores justice, secrecy, and human motives.
Her book “The Wife” introduces readers to Angela Powell, whose seemingly perfect life unravels after serious allegations against her prominent husband surface. As Angela tries to protect her family, buried secrets emerge that force her to question everything.
Burke’s knack for suspense and multi-layered plots makes her work worth a look for fans of realistic psychological thrillers.
Sue Grafton is a great choice for readers who enjoy Laura Lippman’s captivating stories featuring determined female leads. Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone series follows a smart and tough private investigator through cases filled with suspenseful twists and compelling mysteries.
In “A is for Alibi,” Kinsey Millhone takes a case that challenges her sharp instincts. Nikki Fife, just released after years in prison for her husband’s murder, hires Kinsey to find the real killer.
Kinsey soon uncovers secrets that complicate her search, leading her into dangerous territory. Grafton offers intriguing plots, fascinating characters, and plenty of surprises along the way.