Laura Lippman is an acclaimed American author known for compelling crime fiction. Her popular series featuring detective Tess Monaghan includes notable titles such as What the Dead Know and Every Secret Thing.
If you enjoy reading books by Laura Lippman then you might also like the following authors:
Megan Abbott is an author known for crafting psychological thrillers and mysteries filled with sharp insight into complicated relationships and tension beneath suburban facades.
If you enjoy Laura Lippman’s suspenseful explorations of secrets and intrigue, Abbott’s You Will Know Me may appeal to you. The novel follows Katie and her family, whose lives revolve around the intensely competitive world of elite gymnastics.
When a sudden death rocks their tight-knit community, Katie faces uncomfortable truths about ambition, family loyalty, and the lengths people will go to achieve their goals. Abbott’s storytelling pulls you into the dark reality behind youthful ambition and family expectations.
Tana French is an Irish-American author known for suspenseful mysteries set in and around Dublin. Her style blends psychological depth and complex characters, making her books a great pick for readers who enjoy Laura Lippman’s stories.
One of French’s standout novels is In the Woods, which introduces detective Rob Ryan. As a child, Ryan survived an unsolved case in the same woods he’s now investigating. When another child disappears decades later, Ryan must confront his past while solving the new crime.
The story moves between Ryan’s haunting memories and the twists of the current case, pulling readers deeper into the shadowy woods with each chapter.
If you enjoy Laura Lippman’s sharp, suspenseful mysteries, you might want to pick up Gillian Flynn’s novels. Flynn crafts thrillers filled with dark twists and complex characters that keep you guessing until the last page.
Her novel Gone Girl follows Nick Dunne, whose wife Amy disappears on their fifth wedding anniversary. At first, Nick seems innocent enough, but soon secrets surface that make him the prime suspect.
The story switches perspectives between husband and wife, revealing conflicting narratives and hidden motives that slowly unravel the truth. If you’re drawn to psychological suspense and flawed, memorable characters, Gone Girl might be a great fit.
If you enjoy Laura Lippman’s mysteries that explore crime and emotional depth, try Dennis Lehane. Lehane offers gritty suspense and sharp character studies, particularly evident in his novel Mystic River.
Set in a blue-collar Boston neighborhood, it begins with three childhood friends whose lives diverge sharply after one traumatic event. Years later, another tragedy reunites them: the murder of one man’s daughter.
Secrets, suspicion, and loyalty collide as the men confront their pasts and each other, resulting in a masterful story about friendship, loss, and redemption.
Readers who enjoy Laura Lippman’s blend of gritty crime stories and rich, compelling characters might appreciate George Pelecanos. Pelecanos is known for his realistic portrayal of Washington D.C.'s dark side, offering crime narratives filled with depth and complexity.
His novel The Night Gardener follows detective Gus Ramone as he investigates a case eerily resembling the murders from a notorious unsolved crime spree years earlier.
Pelecanos skillfully weaves past events into the present story, building suspense and exploring how violence can scar communities and individual lives.
The narrative is precise and intense, with strong dialogue and well-defined characters that stay memorable long after the book ends.
Karin Slaughter is a crime novelist known for intense thrillers filled with complex characters and shocking twists. Her book Pretty Girls pulls readers into a haunting story of family secrets and unsolved mysteries.
The novel revolves around two estranged sisters forced back together after a tragic event reveals disturbing truths about their past. Slaughter weaves multiple perspectives to steadily build suspense and keep you questioning everything until the end.
Fans of Laura Lippman’s realistic portrayals and dark family dramas will appreciate Slaughter’s approach to storytelling.
Val McDermid is a Scottish crime writer known for her psychological depth and detailed characterization. If you enjoy Laura Lippman’s stories, McDermid’s The Mermaids Singing might draw your interest.
This novel introduces criminal profiler Tony Hill, who teams up with Detective Inspector Carol Jordan to investigate a brutal series of murders in Northern England. The killer targets young men, leaving eerie and unsettling clues behind.
The story explores both the investigation’s suspenseful twists and the complex dynamics between Hill and Jordan. McDermid’s style keeps tension high while offering fully realized, memorable characters throughout.
Kate Atkinson is an author worth discovering if you enjoy Laura Lippman’s mysteries and complex characters. Atkinson blends crime fiction with deep character studies. Her novel Case Histories introduces Jackson Brodie, a former police detective turned private investigator.
Brodie is tasked with looking into three seemingly unrelated cold cases: a young girl’s disappearance, the murder of a teenage girl, and a tragic event that shook a family’s foundation years ago.
As Jackson gets deeper into each mystery, surprising connections begin to surface, revealing secrets about loss, love, and the unexpected ways strangers’ lives intersect.
The combination of intricate storytelling, memorable characters, and quiet humor makes Kate Atkinson’s work appealing to fans of Laura Lippman.
Denise Mina is an author you might enjoy if you’re a fan of Laura Lippman’s crime novels filled with sharp insights and complex plots. Mina’s stories go deep into Glasgow’s gritty undercurrents and realistic characters.
In her book Garnethill, we meet Maureen O’Donnell, a woman who wakes up one morning to find her boyfriend murdered in her apartment. Maureen becomes a primary suspect and feels she can’t trust anyone—not even the police.
She sets out alone to find answers, uncovering hidden family secrets and exposing layers of corruption and trauma she’s been keeping hidden from herself. Mina expertly captures the eerie feeling of paranoia, betrayal, and a relentless pursuit of truth in the city she knows best.
If you enjoy Laura Lippman’s sharp mysteries and strong characters, you might appreciate Attica Locke’s storytelling. Locke writes suspenseful crime novels that explore complex social issues and rich character dynamics. Her book Bluebird, Bluebird is especially engaging.
It follows Darren Mathews, a black Texas Ranger, who returns to his rural East Texas hometown to investigate two unrelated murders that may be connected by racial tensions.
Locke creates an absorbing sense of place, vividly capturing the small-town atmosphere and simmering conflicts. Her plot takes unexpected turns, keeping readers guessing through the final pages.
If you enjoy Laura Lippman’s blend of suspense and psychological depth, Lisa Unger could become your next favorite author. Her novel Confessions on the 7:45 offers a sharp, tense exploration of the secrets hidden just beneath everyday life.
When Selena Murphy strikes up a candid conversation with a stranger on her daily commute, the exchange appears harmless at first, but quickly spirals into deception and danger.
Missing persons, tangled secrets, and unexpected betrayals emerge from seemingly ordinary lives, pulling you deeper into a story that’s hard to put down. Lisa Unger knows how to reveal uncomfortable truths and keep readers guessing until the very last page.
Readers who enjoy Laura Lippman’s suspenseful crime novels might also appreciate Alafair Burke’s writing. Burke, a former prosecutor turned novelist, blends intriguing legal details and deep character insights in her thrillers.
Her book The Wife centers around Angela Powell, whose life appears perfect on the surface—until her husband, a celebrated author, is accused of misconduct. As the truth unfolds, Angela must confront hidden secrets and difficult choices.
The narrative twists and emotional depth make this novel a strong pick for those seeking another skilled storyteller in crime fiction.
Sara Gran is an author known for crafting suspenseful mysteries with vivid characters and a strong sense of place. If you enjoy Laura Lippman’s layered stories, try Gran’s Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead.
Set in post-Katrina New Orleans, the book follows Claire, a talented but unusual private investigator. She returns to the city to solve the disappearance of a respected district attorney while navigating the chaos and emotional scars Katrina left behind.
Claire relies on intuition, dreams, and a mysterious detective handbook, methods that set her apart from typical detectives. Gran captures a city in recovery, filled with secrets, despair, and odd glimpses of hope.
Fans of smart mysteries will appreciate Gran’s thoughtful approach to character and setting.
Books by Steph Cha offer readers character-driven mysteries that explore complex moral questions within realistic urban settings. In Your House Will Pay, Cha crafts a story around two Los Angeles families bound together by tragedy and history.
Grace Park and Shawn Matthews come from very different communities, yet both are touched by violence rooted in racial tensions. Cha portrays characters dealing with pain, justice, and forgiveness through a nuanced and thoughtful lens.
Readers who enjoy Laura Lippman’s layered narratives and sharp insights into family and society may find Steph Cha’s storytelling equally rewarding.
Ivy Pochoda is an author known for her atmospheric and gritty crime novels that explore urban settings and complex characters. Her book Visitation Street is set in the tight-knit neighborhood of Red Hook, Brooklyn.
After two teenage girls take a nighttime raft trip on the bay, only one returns, and the mystery shakes the community. As neighbors become suspicious and tensions rise, Pochoda skillfully portrays the hidden side of urban life.
Fans of Laura Lippman’s crime stories, rich with authentic settings and believable characters, will appreciate Pochoda’s ability to capture the complexities of human relationships alongside an absorbing mystery.