If you enjoy reading books by Mario Puzo then you might also like the following authors:
Readers who enjoy Mario Puzo’s vivid portrayal of organized crime may find Nicholas Pileggi equally captivating. Pileggi is a journalist and author known for insightful storytelling that uncovers the hidden realities of mob life.
His book “Wiseguy” offers a true-crime narrative told directly from mob insider Henry Hill. The story reveals the daily workings of the Mafia, from daring heists to complex relationships among gangsters, illustrating the allure and danger of living outside the law.
“Wiseguy” immerses readers in a suspenseful yet realistic account of crime family life, narrated with clarity and authenticity.
Gay Talese is an author known for his insightful, narrative-driven nonfiction that reads as smoothly as a well-crafted novel. If you liked Mario Puzo’s intimate glimpses into the hidden sides of power and crime, Talese’s “Honor Thy Father” will resonate with you.
This book explores the world of the Bonanno crime family, depicting mob life through the eyes of Bill Bonanno, the son of a powerful mafia boss.
Through detailed, deeply observed storytelling, Talese portrays the complexities of loyalty, family dynamics, and the pressures of organized crime.
This close-up look at the inner workings of a notorious family makes “Honor Thy Father” a memorable read, especially if you’re fascinated by the inner struggles and moral choices that Puzo captures in his novels.
Don Winslow writes fast-paced crime novels that explore power, corruption, and the violent underside of American life. His novel “The Power of the Dog” follows Art Keller, a determined DEA agent who becomes entangled in a dangerous struggle with powerful drug cartels.
Set across decades and borders, the story takes readers deep inside the drug trade, law enforcement conflicts, and personal vendettas. This novel offers vivid characters, intense action, and layered storytelling that fans of Mario Puzo’s “The Godfather” often enjoy.
George V. Higgins was an American novelist known for his authentic look at gritty crime and tough, street-smart characters.
His book “The Friends of Eddie Coyle” dives into the shadowy side of Boston’s criminal world through the eyes of Eddie, a small-time gangster caught between loyalty and survival.
The dialogue is sharp, real, and reveals the harsh realities criminals face when loyalty hits rock bottom.
Readers who enjoyed Mario Puzo’s “The Godfather,” which shows the complex web of organized crime and personal tension, will find the realistic portrayal of betrayal and desperation in Higgins’ writing similarly engaging.
Readers who enjoy Mario Puzo’s exploration of crime families and complex characters will find plenty to enjoy in Elmore Leonard’s novels. Leonard is known for sharp dialogue and characters who blur the lines between hero and outlaw.
In his book “Get Shorty,” loan shark Chili Palmer navigates the flashy and dangerous world of Hollywood while chasing down a debt. The story blends organized crime with movie-industry antics in a witty plot that keeps readers hooked.
Leonard’s mix of comedy, crime, and memorable characters makes “Get Shorty” entertaining for anyone who likes clever storytelling packed with sharp humor.
Dennis Lehane is an author known for his intense crime stories filled with complex characters and moral dilemmas. His novel “Mystic River” takes place in a working-class Boston neighborhood haunted by tragedy and buried secrets.
The story revolves around three childhood friends whose lives take drastically different paths after a traumatic event. Decades later, the murder of one friend’s daughter brings the trio back together, forcing them to confront their pasts.
This tense crime drama explores themes of loyalty, revenge, and lost innocence, reminiscent of the themes Mario Puzo tackles in his expansive novels about family and power struggles.
James Ellroy is an American novelist known for gritty, intense crime fiction that explores the dark side of power, corruption, and politics. If Mario Puzo’s “The Godfather” intrigued you, Ellroy’s “L.A. Confidential” might be appealing.
Set in the early 1950s, the story exposes layers of corruption within the Los Angeles Police Department after a brutal multiple murder.
Three very different detectives become rivals and unlikely allies as they unravel connections involving organized crime, Hollywood glamour, and police misconduct. Ellroy serves up vivid characters, fast-paced storytelling, and plot twists that make it difficult to put down.
If you enjoy Mario Puzo’s vivid portrayals of the gritty criminal underworld, Joseph Wambaugh might catch your interest with his raw stories about police life and crime.
A former LAPD officer, Wambaugh brings real-life insight and authenticity to his novels, especially in “The Choirboys.” This novel revolves around a group of Los Angeles policemen who regularly meet after their shifts for wild, unruly parties they call “choir practices.”
Through a mix of dark humor, tragedy, and sharp observations, Wambaugh exposes the hidden humanity, struggles, and fears behind the badge—showing cops not as heroes or villains but as real, flawed people.
Readers who enjoy Mario Puzo’s blend of crime drama and complex characters might find Lorenzo Carcaterra appealing. Carcaterra’s “Sleepers” explores loyalty, revenge, and the dark side of justice.
Set in Hell’s Kitchen, the book follows four friends whose prank ends tragically, sending them to a brutal reform school. Years later, their paths cross again, and they face choices that test friendship and morality.
Carcaterra weaves themes of loyalty and betrayal into a story rooted in gritty realism, similar to Mario Puzo’s exploration of personal honor within a criminal underworld.
If you enjoy Mario Puzo’s vivid portrayal of gritty characters and mafia conflicts, Richard Price could be a great find. Price excels at creating realistic stories filled with criminal undertones and authentic dialogue.
His novel “Clockers” explores the world of drug dealers and detectives in an urban neighborhood. The story follows Strike, a young street-level dealer caught up in a murder investigation, and Rocco Klein, a determined detective trying to untangle the truth.
Like Puzo’s works, Price’s “Clockers” reveals the harsh realities of criminal life and the complicated characters who inhabit it.
If you enjoy Mario Puzo’s stories of crime families and intricate plots, Donald E. Westlake may be another author worth your time. His novel “The Hunter” introduces Parker, a tough-guy criminal betrayed and left for dead by his accomplices.
Parker’s quest for revenge takes readers into the gritty underworld of organized crime, where alliances break easily and violence is always a step away. Westlake crafts tense scenes and memorable characters, and his writing maintains a smart balance of action and strategy.
If you’re drawn to the detailed criminal worlds Mario Puzo creates, the cold, calculated storytelling in “The Hunter” should appeal to you.
Readers who enjoy Mario Puzo’s vivid portrayal of crime families and complex characters might also appreciate Lawrence Block. Block’s crime novels pull you into gritty worlds and shady characters.
In “The Sins of the Fathers,” he introduces Matthew Scudder, an ex-cop turned private investigator. Scudder works without a license in the shadowy underbelly of New York City. In this first Scudder novel, he’s hired to investigate the seemingly simple murder of a young woman.
Soon he uncovers buried secrets and complicated motives. Fans of Puzo’s blend of suspense and morally gray characters will find Lawrence Block’s storytelling captivating and hard to put down.
Readers who enjoy Mario Puzo’s intense stories about organized crime will appreciate T.J. English for his vivid portrayals of real-life mob drama.
In his book “Havana Nocturne,” English captures the thrilling yet dangerous partnership between notorious gangsters like Meyer Lansky and the Cuban government during the explosive 1950s.
The story pulls back the curtain on glamorous casinos, corruption, and power struggles that turned Havana into the mafia’s glittering playground. English blends historical accuracy with sharp storytelling, giving readers a gripping account of ambition and betrayal.
Roberto Saviano is an Italian author known for exploring the hidden world of organized crime, particularly the ruthless networks of the Italian mafia. If you’re drawn to Mario Puzo’s storytelling, Saviano’s “Gomorrah” may catch your interest.
This non-fiction book takes readers deep inside the Camorra, a vicious criminal organization based in Naples, Italy. Saviano brings readers face-to-face with money laundering, murder, illegal waste disposal, and international drug trafficking.
Through gripping first-hand accounts and vivid descriptions, “Gomorrah” reveals a disturbing picture of influence, corruption, and violence. The author’s bold narrative style immerses readers fully in the dark reality of modern organized crime.
Books by Michael Connelly offer gritty crime stories filled with moral complexity and intense characters that readers of Mario Puzo will appreciate.
In “The Lincoln Lawyer,” Connelly introduces Mickey Haller, a defense attorney who operates out of the backseat of his Lincoln car.
Haller thinks he’s landed a straightforward, lucrative case with a wealthy realtor accused of assault, but soon realizes the situation is far darker and more dangerous than he imagined.
Michael Connelly builds intricate, suspenseful plots around richly developed characters who navigate the blurred lines between justice and corruption, themes familiar to Mario Puzo fans.