Mary Higgins Clark was widely admired for her suspense thrillers, earning her the nickname "Queen of Suspense." Her notable novels include Where Are the Children? and A Stranger is Watching.
If you enjoy reading books by Mary Higgins Clark then you might also like the following authors:
Agatha Christie is the queen of the classic mystery. Her style is clever and engaging, with tightly constructed plots centered around suspense and unexpected twists. Christie often explores human motives such as jealousy, greed, and revenge with thoughtful insight. Her novel
And Then There Were None is a great example—it draws you into a tense, atmospheric puzzle that keeps you guessing until the very end.
Lisa Gardner writes gripping thrillers that blend psychological suspense with in-depth explorations of her characters’ inner lives. Her stories often focus on complex heroines placed in terrifying situations.
The Perfect Husband showcases Gardner's talent at unfolding carefully crafted suspense, along with unexpected plot turns that build tension page by page.
Karin Slaughter creates intense, character-driven thrillers known for their gritty realism and emotional depth. Her narratives are fast-paced and unafraid to confront darker aspects of human nature.
Her novel Pretty Girls stands out as a powerful example, combining compelling characters, a thought-provoking storyline, and a relentless, heart-pounding pace.
Tess Gerritsen masterfully combines medical drama with dark psychological thrillers. She writes with clear, precise prose that brings her detailed settings and believable characters to life. Her stories often include forensic analysis and intricate plots.
In The Surgeon, Gerritsen vividly blends medical intrigue with suspenseful storytelling, hooking readers from the very first chapter.
Sandra Brown crafts suspenseful thrillers filled with unexpected reveals and intriguing characters. Her approachable style balances romantic tension with suspense, creating narratives that are both compelling and readable.
Her novel Mean Streak exemplifies Brown’s skill, blending suspense and romance into a story filled with surprising twists that keep readers turning pages into the night.
Joy Fielding creates intense suspense by placing sympathetic characters into unsettling situations. Like Mary Higgins Clark, she writes emotional thrillers with strong female protagonists, unexpected twists, and psychological tension.
Her novel See Jane Run follows a woman who wakes up with no memory and finds herself trapped in a dangerous mystery, perfectly capturing Fielding's ability to keep readers guessing.
Gillian Flynn is well-known for writing psychological thrillers that explore dark emotions, flawed characters, and intense plotlines. If you like Mary Higgins Clark's complex plots and suspenseful storytelling, Flynn's Gone Girl is a good pick.
It's a tense, unsettling story about a marriage filled with lies, secrets, and betrayal—a great choice if you're looking for mysteries with psychological depth.
Paula Hawkins tells suspenseful, character-focused stories about ordinary people caught in dangerous circumstances. If you enjoy Mary Higgins Clark's detailed exploration of secrets hidden behind everyday lives, you'll appreciate Hawkins' The Girl on the Train.
The novel centres on unreliable memories, complex relationships, and hidden violence beneath suburban life.
Lisa Jewell specializes in psychological thrillers that examine complicated family dynamics, twisted relationships, and buried secrets. Like Mary Higgins Clark, Jewell keeps readers invested by gradually uncovering the truth and revealing hidden motives.
Her bestseller Then She Was Gone tells the unsettling story of a mother searching for answers after her daughter mysteriously disappears, combining suspense, emotional resonance, and surprising revelations.
Shari Lapena writes suspenseful domestic thrillers exploring the hidden secrets behind seemingly perfect facades. Like Mary Higgins Clark, Lapena uses everyday settings to tell engaging stories full of twists, suspicion, and tension.
Her popular novel The Couple Next Door revolves around a missing child, tangled relationships, and unsettling revelations, showcasing Lapena's ability to keep readers turning pages until the surprising conclusion.
Harlan Coben creates suspenseful mysteries with sharp twists and emotionally deep characters. He often explores family secrets and past events returning to haunt the present.
If you liked Mary Higgins Clark, you might appreciate Coben's novel Tell No One, a story about a man who receives mysterious messages suggesting his supposedly murdered wife might still be alive.
David Baldacci offers thrilling plots with complex conspiracies and high-stakes situations. He writes at a fast pace and knows how to keep readers guessing.
Fans of Clark would enjoy Baldacci's The Camel Club, which uncovers powerful secrets hidden deep within political corruption.
James Patterson's novels feature short, rapid chapters and gripping storylines that build suspense quickly. His characters face intense and often deadly threats.
If you enjoy Clark's style, consider picking up Patterson's Along Came a Spider, the first Alex Cross thriller about a psychologist-detective hunting down a formidable serial kidnapper.
John Grisham is famous for his courtroom dramas and legal mysteries filled with strong ethical challenges.
He uses compelling characters and tense courtroom scenes in novels like The Firm, the classic thriller about a young attorney discovering dark secrets behind his prestigious law firm.
His stories will appeal to readers who enjoy the drama and suspense that Mary Higgins Clark provides.
Carol O'Connell writes psychological mysteries with detailed and intriguing characters. Stories unfold through nuanced investigations where the killer's motivations gradually surface.
If you enjoy Clark's careful unraveling of suspense, you might appreciate O’Connell’s Mallory's Oracle, introducing Kathy Mallory, a brilliant detective confronting personal trauma while pursuing dark mysteries.