If you are drawn to the suspenseful world of Mary Higgins Clark, you probably enjoy stories with a good mystery, a touch of thriller, and characters that feel real. She’s a master of crafting tales that keep you guessing until the very end.
Her books often have strong female leads and plots that unfold in familiar places, making the suspense all the more effective. For readers who find themselves looking for something similar, here are some authors you might want to explore.
Lisa Gardner is a suspense author whose stories feature unforgettable characters and plots filled with mystery, twists, and tension. In her novel “The Perfect Husband,” Tess Beckett believes she has finally escaped her past when her dangerous husband, Jim, ends up behind bars.
But when Jim breaks free, Tess knows he will stop at nothing to find her and have his revenge. With nowhere else to turn, Tess relies on a troubled Marine to help her learn the skills she needs to survive and stay ahead of Jim.
If you enjoy Mary Higgins Clark’s suspenseful style and strong heroines, Lisa Gardner offers stories with similar tension, surprising twists, and characters you’ll root for.
Harlan Coben writes fast-paced thrillers packed with suspense and twists that fans of Mary Higgins Clark will appreciate. His stories often center around ordinary people thrown into extraordinary circumstances, with secrets surfacing from their pasts.
In “Tell No One,” Dr. David Beck still mourns his wife Elizabeth, eight years after she was tragically murdered. But everything turns upside down when he receives an email hinting she might actually be alive.
As David begins looking for the truth, he becomes tangled in a dangerous web of secrets, deceit, and unexpected revelations. This story delivers plenty of tension and surprising turns, building to an ending readers won’t see coming.
Readers who enjoy Mary Higgins Clark might appreciate Lisa Jackson. She specializes in suspenseful thrillers with engaging plots and well-developed characters. In her book “If She Only Knew,” Marla wakes up after a terrible accident with no memory of her past.
Everyone around her claims to know who she is, but Marla feels uneasy. Something is off.
As she attempts to piece together her lost memories, Marla soon realizes that someone close to her wants those secrets to remain hidden—and will do anything to stop her from discovering the truth.
Fans of Clark’s “Where Are the Children?” will find “If She Only Knew” by Lisa Jackson equally absorbing and suspense-filled.
Joy Fielding writes psychological suspense novels filled with intriguing characters and unexpected twists.
Her novel “See Jane Run” revolves around Jane Whittaker, a woman who suddenly finds herself on a street corner, covered in blood, holding $10,000 in cash, with no memory of who she is or how she got there.
As Jane attempts to piece together her past and identity, she uncovers disturbing truths and hidden dangers.
Readers who enjoy Mary Higgins Clark’s books with their blend of everyday characters and suspenseful mysteries will appreciate Joy Fielding’s storytelling and the emotional tension she creates in “See Jane Run.”
Heather Graham is an author known for her blend of suspense, romance, and mystery. Readers who enjoy Mary Higgins Clark’s style will find familiar ground in Graham’s thrillers, especially in her novel “The Unseen.”
Set in historic San Antonio, the story follows Logan Raintree, a Texas Ranger with a unique ability. He can sense the dead. When a woman disappears near the Alamo under strange circumstances, Logan teams up with Kelsey O’Brien, a detective with skills of her own.
The setting mixes past and present, and the case involves secrets, hidden dangers, and plenty of suspenseful turns. Graham weaves romance into the mystery, building characters readers quickly care about.
If you appreciate Mary Higgins Clark’s suspenseful storytelling with sympathetic characters and tight-knit plots, Heather Graham’s “The Unseen” might be exactly what you’re looking for.
If you enjoy Mary Higgins Clark’s mix of mystery and suspense, Sandra Brown is an author worth exploring. Brown skillfully blends suspenseful plots, engaging characters, and emotional depth in her novels.
In “Mean Streak,” she introduces readers to Dr. Emory Charbonneau, a dedicated pediatrician who disappears during a mountain trail run. Waking up injured and trapped by a mysterious stranger, Emory must unravel the truth behind her captor’s intentions.
Secrets, lies, and suspense abound, keeping readers guessing who can truly be trusted until the very last page. Sandra Brown delivers thrills and twists that fans of Mary Higgins Clark will appreciate.
Tess Gerritsen is an author known for tight, suspenseful novels that fans of Mary Higgins Clark often enjoy. Her book “The Surgeon” introduces detective Jane Rizzoli as she hunts a brutal killer in Boston.
The story begins when several women are found murdered with surgical precision, leading police to suspect someone with medical knowledge. Rizzoli must navigate the investigation’s twists and traps, facing danger at every corner.
Gerritsen skillfully weaves suspense with medical details into a story that’s hard to put down. If you’re drawn to mysteries with smart protagonists and layered plots, “The Surgeon” offers an exciting read.
Books by Iris Johansen offer suspenseful mysteries and intriguing psychological depth that will appeal to Mary Higgins Clark readers.
A good place to start is “The Face of Deception,” which introduces Eve Duncan, a forensic sculptor haunted by the unsolved disappearance of her daughter.
When billionaire John Logan hires Eve to identify a mysterious skull, she gets pulled into a dangerous scenario involving hidden identities, powerful conspirators, and fatal secrets.
Johansen crafts an emotionally intense mystery populated with vividly drawn characters and unexpected turns, similar in feel to Clark’s carefully plotted suspense novels.
Books by Ruth Ware offer suspenseful plots and mysterious atmospheres that readers of Mary Higgins Clark often enjoy. Ware crafts psychological thrillers filled with dark secrets, complicated pasts, and surprising twists.
Her novel “The Woman in Cabin 10” follows travel journalist Lo Blacklock, who sets off on a luxury cruise hoping it will revive her career.
However, the voyage turns sinister when she witnesses a woman thrown overboard—yet all passengers remain accounted for, and nobody believes her. Readers who appreciate Clark’s blend of suspense, thriller, and mystery will find Ware’s storytelling style equally absorbing.
Karin Slaughter is a crime fiction author known for sharp storytelling, relatable characters, and suspenseful plots. Readers who appreciate Mary Higgins Clark’s suspense and character-driven mysteries will particularly enjoy “Pretty Girls” by Karin Slaughter.
This thriller follows Claire and Lydia, two sisters who haven’t spoken in years because of a tragedy in their past. When another girl vanishes decades later, events push the sisters back together and force them to revisit unanswered questions.
Family secrets, missing persons, and tension between siblings shape a mystery filled with unexpected twists. It’s the kind of story that keeps you guessing—and turning pages—until the very end.
Readers who enjoy Mary Higgins Clark’s suspenseful storytelling might also appreciate Dean Koontz, an author who blends thriller, mystery, and elements of the supernatural into his novels.
“Intensity” is a page-turner that follows Chyna Shepherd, a young woman staying at her friend’s family home when she witnesses a terrifying attack by a methodical killer named Edgler Foreman Vess.
Over the course of just one night, Chyna faces extraordinary danger and suspense, drawn into a chilling game of survival. Koontz crafts a tense atmosphere and deep psychological insight, making the reader anxiously root for Chyna until the dramatic final chapters.
Readers who enjoy Mary Higgins Clark may want to explore the mysteries of P.D. James. James is known for her intricate detective stories that combine suspenseful plots with rich, detailed characters.
One book to start with is “Cover Her Face,” her first novel introducing detective Adam Dalgliesh. The story centers around the murder of a young maid, Sally Jupp, who was found dead after attending a tense family gathering.
Dalgliesh investigates thoroughly, uncovering family secrets and hidden motives as the list of suspects grows. Fans of intriguing characters, intricate plots, and carefully constructed mysteries will find “Cover Her Face” a rewarding read.
Readers who enjoy Mary Higgins Clark’s suspenseful mysteries may also appreciate Sue Grafton’s smart and engaging detective thrillers. Grafton is best known for her “alphabet series,” featuring private investigator Kinsey Millhone.
In “A is for Alibi,” the first book of the series, Kinsey takes on the case of Nikki Fife, a woman recently released from prison after serving eight years for her husband’s death. Nikki insists she was falsely accused and hires Kinsey to uncover the truth behind the murder.
The trail quickly becomes twisted with dangerous secrets, hidden agendas, and surprising revelations that push Kinsey into unexpected danger. Sue Grafton captures readers with sharp dialogue, clever storytelling, and an unforgettable lead character you’ll want to follow.
If you enjoy Mary Higgins Clark’s blend of suspense, intricate plotting, and memorable characters, you’ll appreciate Louise Penny. Penny crafts thoughtful mysteries set in the cozy yet complex village of Three Pines in Quebec.
In “Still Life,” Penny introduces Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, a wise and perceptive detective who solves crimes with patience and compassion. The story begins with the discovery of a beloved local artist found dead in the woods.
As Gamache searches for clues among the village’s secrets, readers are gradually drawn into a mystery rich with intriguing personalities and subtle twists. With Penny, you’ll find not just suspense, but vivid storytelling and emotional depth.
Readers who enjoy Mary Higgins Clark may appreciate the suspenseful, character-driven mysteries of J.D. Robb. Robb is the pen name of Nora Roberts, an author known for writing engaging thrillers that blend crime, romance, and a touch of futuristic detail.
In “Naked in Death,” the first book of her popular “In Death” series, we meet Eve Dallas—a determined New York City detective set in the mid-21st century.
Dallas investigates a shocking murder involving a senator’s granddaughter, drawn into a complex case that reveals dangerous secrets about power and society. Along the way, the novel explores Eve’s tough past and her complicated attraction to the enigmatic billionaire Roarke.
Robb crafts a suspenseful mystery with rich character development, making this a fast-paced and addictive read.