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15 Authors like Luke Jennings

Luke Jennings is a British writer known for his compelling thrillers. His acclaimed series Codename Villanelle inspired the popular TV show Killing Eve, earning him recognition for vivid storytelling and intriguing characters.

If you enjoy reading books by Luke Jennings then you might also like the following authors:

  1. Mick Herron

    If you enjoyed Luke Jennings' mix of intrigue and offbeat characters, you'll appreciate Mick Herron's spy fiction. Herron's books often blend suspense, sharp humor, and spycraft gone wrong.

    His novel Slow Horses kicks off a series set in Slough House, a dumping ground for disgraced spies needing a shot at redemption.

  2. Charles Cumming

    Charles Cumming delivers complex plots packed with realistic espionage details and vivid settings, ideal for readers drawn to Jennings' tense storytelling.

    His novel A Foreign Country explores themes of betrayal, identity, and deception through the story of MI6 operative Thomas Kell, putting readers in the heart of international intrigue.

  3. John le Carré

    John le Carré writes classic stories of spycraft that reveal the reality beneath espionage—difficult moral choices and flawed characters trying to navigate a murky world.

    Readers who enjoyed the psychological realism of Jennings' stories may love le Carré’s iconic novel Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, where British Intelligence hunts a mole within its ranks.

  4. Stella Rimington

    Stella Rimington, former director general of MI5, uses her firsthand experience to craft suspenseful espionage thrillers steeped in authenticity. If you enjoyed Jennings' realistic espionage scenes, Rimington's style offers a similar insider’s look at intelligence operations.

    In her novel At Risk, Liz Carlyle, an MI5 officer, investigates an imminent terrorist threat, balancing gripping suspense and complex characterization.

  5. Olen Steinhauer

    Olen Steinhauer creates intricate, character-driven narratives with morally ambivalent spies inhabiting shades of gray.

    Fans of Luke Jennings' exploration of ethically complex characters might enjoy Steinhauer's novel The Tourist, featuring CIA operative Milo Weaver caught in a deadly web of lies and international conspiracies.

  6. Gayle Lynds

    Gayle Lynds writes tightly-paced espionage thrillers filled with international intrigue and hidden layers of conspiracy. Her style mixes intense action with clever plotting, appealing to readers who enjoy complex spy stories.

    A great start is her novel The Assassins, where multiple assassins become entangled in a deadly hunt after a mysterious killing rocks the global spy community.

  7. Kate Atkinson

    Kate Atkinson crafts intricate novels with expressive characterization and clever plotting. Her stories often blend crime mysteries with deeper explorations of human experience and emotion.

    Try reading Case Histories for a compelling and intelligent mystery featuring private investigator Jackson Brodie, whose cases reveal secrets that reach deep into family histories and personal tragedies.

  8. Sarah Pinborough

    Sarah Pinborough delivers psychological suspense with surprising twists and unsettling atmospheres. Her novels explore the secrets inside intimate relationships that lead to unexpected consequences.

    Check out Behind Her Eyes, where a seemingly uncomplicated affair turns into a suspenseful journey full of hidden motives and shocking revelations.

  9. Flynn Berry

    Flynn Berry creates atmospheric thrillers focused on subtle tension and nuanced character portraits. Her writing is sharp and understated, delving into themes like family secrets, memory, and hidden dangers beneath ordinary life.

    Under the Harrow is an excellent choice—a haunting story of a woman investigating her sister's murder and the unsettling truths she uncovers along the way.

  10. Gillian Flynn

    Gillian Flynn is known for dark thrillers with morally complex characters and unpredictable twists. Her style is intense and character-driven, exploring dysfunctional relationships and sometimes disturbing truths beneath seemingly normal lives.

    Gone Girl offers an unforgettable narrative on the unsettling dynamics of marriage, manipulation, and deception, pulling readers deep into the chilling psychology of its unforgettable central characters.

  11. Deon Meyer

    If you like Luke Jennings' sharp, suspenseful storytelling, you might enjoy Deon Meyer. Meyer is a South African crime novelist known for fast-paced thrillers set against the backdrop of his country's complex social issues.

    His plots are tightly woven and filled with authentic detail and vivid characters. You might start with his book Thirteen Hours, a high-tension mystery that unfolds in a single day, immersing you in Cape Town's dangerous streets alongside Detective Benny Griessel.

  12. Tana French

    Tana French writes atmospheric, psychological mysteries filled with richly developed characters. Her storytelling style immerses the reader in the narrative, building layers of tension with subtlety and nuance.

    Like Jennings, French explores darker human impulses with sophistication and intelligence. Check out In the Woods, the first novel in her acclaimed Dublin Murder Squad series, where detective Rob Ryan investigates a child's death that echoes the trauma of his own past.

  13. Paula Hawkins

    Paula Hawkins delivers suspenseful, tightly plotted psychological thrillers centered around unreliable narrators and shifting perspectives. Like Jennings, she understands how compelling complex characters can be and explores themes of obsession, memory, and betrayal.

    Her novel The Girl on the Train is a page-turner that draws you into a world of secrets, lies, and suburban intrigue.

  14. S.J. Watson

    Fans of Luke Jennings will appreciate S.J. Watson's psychological thrillers featuring intricate plots and unreliable narrators. Watson keeps readers guessing up to the last page, with suspense built around themes of memory, identity, and trust.

    Watson’s novel Before I Go to Sleep tells the story of Christine, whose memory erases itself every night, leaving her unsure of whom to trust—and making you anxiously question everything along with her.

  15. Megan Abbott

    If you're intrigued by Jennings' focus on complex, morally ambiguous characters, Megan Abbott should be on your reading list. Abbott excels at exploring psychological tensions and hidden desires in everyday settings.

    Her novel Dare Me examines teen friendship and betrayal inside a fiercely competitive cheerleading squad, diving into the secrets and lies that can lead to devastating consequences.