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List of 15 authors like Michael Connelly

If you enjoy reading books by Michael Connelly then you might also like the following authors:

  1. 1
    John Grisham

    John Grisham is a master of legal thrillers who writes stories filled with suspense and courtroom drama. One of his standout novels, “The Firm,” follows a young attorney, Mitch McDeere, who lands a high-paying job at a prestigious law firm.

    Everything seems perfect until Mitch uncovers secrets that put his life in danger. The firm isn’t what it seems, and his dream job quickly turns into a nightmare. Grisham pulls readers into the world of high-stakes law, with danger lurking around every corner.

    Fans of Michael Connelly’s tense, fast-moving plots will feel right at home here.

  2. 2
    Patricia Cornwell

    Patricia Cornwell is known for her crime novels, especially the Scarpetta series. Her book “Postmortem” introduces Dr. Kay Scarpetta, a forensic pathologist who solves brutal murders using science and wit. In this story, she faces a killer targeting women in Richmond.

    As Scarpetta follows the trail of forensic clues, the tension builds with every discovery. Cornwell does a great job blending the personal life of her heroine with the challenges of chasing a murderer, creating a vivid and immersive experience.

    If you enjoy Michael Connelly’s attention to detail in crime investigations, you might find this book a satisfying read.

  3. 3
    James Patterson

    James Patterson is a master at creating tense, fast-paced stories that grab you right away. One of his standout books is “Along Came a Spider,” which kicks off the Alex Cross series. It starts with a horrible crime: the kidnapping of two children from a wealthy family.

    Alex Cross, a detective and psychologist, gets dragged into a case that quickly unravels into something much darker. The story keeps you hooked with its twists and unforgettable villain, Gary Soneji, a teacher with a chilling obsession.

    Fans of Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch might enjoy following Alex Cross as he fights for justice while dealing with personal struggles.

  4. 4
    Dennis Lehane

    Dennis Lehane is known for writing stories that dig into crime, complex characters, and their moral struggles. One of his standout novels, “Mystic River,” tells the story of three childhood friends whose lives take different paths after a traumatic event.

    Years later, they are brought back together when one of their daughters is murdered, and each of them is pulled into the investigation in different ways. The book weaves together the personal pain of the characters with the search for the truth about the crime.

    If you enjoy Michael Connelly’s sharp focus on crime and its impact on people’s lives, Lehane’s style and storytelling might grab your attention.

  5. 5
    Harlan Coben

    Harlan Coben is a master at creating mysteries that keep you hooked from start to finish. One of his standout books is “Tell No One.” The story follows Dr. David Beck, a man still grieving the loss of his wife, Elizabeth, who was murdered eight years earlier.

    One day, he receives an email with a link to a video that looks like Elizabeth is alive. As David investigates, he becomes the target of dangerous people who want the truth buried. It’s full of twists that keep surprising you as you piece the puzzle together.

    Fans of Michael Connelly will see a similar knack for weaving complex plots with characters you can’t stop thinking about.

  6. 6
    Lee Child

    Lee Child is known for creating Jack Reacher, a former military policeman who drifts across America, finding trouble wherever he goes. In “The Enemy,” Reacher is still in the army when a two-star general turns up dead in a seedy motel.

    The story dives into a world of corruption, betrayal, and secrecy within the military. Reacher uses his sharp instincts and relentless drive to uncover what’s really happening.

    Fans of Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch might find Reacher’s moral code and determination equally fascinating.

  7. 7
    Tess Gerritsen

    Tess Gerritsen writes gripping crime thrillers with vivid characters and plenty of suspense. If you’re into Michael Connelly, you might enjoy her book “The Surgeon.”

    The story follows Detective Jane Rizzoli as she works to catch a serial killer who targets lone women in their homes. What’s chilling is how the killer operates with medical precision, leaving behind eerie clues that point to his background in surgery.

    The tension builds as Rizzoli uncovers connections to an older case, where another woman survived a nearly identical attack. Every chapter pulls you deeper into the hunt for the calculating and dangerous murderer.

  8. 8
    Ian Rankin

    Ian Rankin is a Scottish crime writer who is best known for his Inspector Rebus series. His novels are atmospheric and focus on gritty investigations led by detective John Rebus in Edinburgh.

    In “Knots and Crosses,” the first book in the series, Rebus is drawn into a case involving the abduction and murder of young girls. The killer taunts him with cryptic messages, forcing Rebus to confront secrets from his own past.

    The story is tense and layered with personal struggles and sharp insights into city life. Rankin’s Edinburgh feels alive, soaked in shadows and secrets, making it a memorable backdrop for a crime story.

  9. 9
    Robert Crais

    Robert Crais is an author known for his fast-paced crime fiction and sharp characters. Fans of Michael Connelly might enjoy his book “The Monkey’s Raincoat.” In this story, private investigator Elvis Cole takes on a case involving a missing husband and child.

    The search pulls him into the dangerous world of Hollywood’s underbelly, where secrets and crime collide. Elvis, with his witty personality and unwavering determination, keeps the story taut and entertaining.

    The twists and risks he faces drive the plot forward, making every chapter hard to put down.

  10. 10
    Jonathan Kellerman

    Jonathan Kellerman writes psychological crime novels that focus on intense investigations and complex characters. One of his standout books, “When the Bough Breaks,” introduces Dr. Alex Delaware, a child psychologist turned detective, and his cop friend Milo Sturgis.

    In this story, Alex is pulled into a murder case involving a psychiatrist’s death and a young girl who may hold the key to it all. The blend of psychology and crime-solving creates a gritty, tense atmosphere as secrets are unraveled.

    Fans of Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch series might enjoy the way Kellerman builds a darker view of human nature alongside clever detective work.

  11. 11
    Jeffery Deaver

    Jeffery Deaver is a master at crafting intense crime thrillers that keep you hooked from the very start. One of his standout books is “The Bone Collector,” which introduces Lincoln Rhyme, a brilliant forensic expert who is paralyzed after an accident.

    In this story, Rhyme teams up with a young patrol officer, Amelia Sachs, to stop a terrifying serial killer stalking the streets of New York. The twists are sharp, and the investigative process is packed with clever details that bring the case to life.

    If you enjoy Michael Connelly’s ability to build layered investigations, Deaver is worth checking out.

  12. 12
    Karin Slaughter

    Karin Slaughter is known for her ability to create gritty crime novels that balance strong characters with dark, twisting plots. One of her standout books, “Pretty Girls,” centers on two sisters, estranged after the disappearance of their older sister years earlier.

    When a young woman goes missing under eerie circumstances, their lives collide again. The story pulls readers into a world filled with family secrets, unexpected connections, and a chilling mystery.

    Fans of Michael Connelly’s layered storytelling might find Karin Slaughter’s work equally engaging.

  13. 13
    Ruth Rendell

    Ruth Rendell is known for blending crime with sharp insights into human behavior. Her book “The Water’s Lovely” begins with two sisters, Ismay and Heather, living with the haunting memory of their stepfather’s death in their family home.

    Ismay is convinced Heather committed murder, but the truth is buried in layers of mistrust and unspoken secrets. The story pulls you into the lives of the sisters as their relationships unravel and suspicions deepen.

    It doesn’t focus only on solving a crime—it’s about exploring the characters and what lies beneath their actions. Fans of Michael Connelly, who enjoy complex lives built around a mystery, might like Rendell’s work for its focus on the darker sides of ordinary people.

  14. 14
    Michael Robotham

    Michael Robotham is an Australian author known for his tense crime and psychological thrillers. In “The Suspect,” the story kicks off with clinical psychologist Joe O’Loughlin getting pulled into a murder investigation.

    A nurse has been brutally killed, and Joe discovers he has a connection to her that he can’t explain away. What starts as him trying to clear his name turns into a web of secrets and lies, with his own life and family at risk.

    The book is gritty and full of sharp twists, making you question everyone’s motives. If you enjoy the detailed investigations and flawed but brilliant characters in Michael Connelly’s books, you might find Joe O’Loughlin’s world hard to put down.

  15. 15
    Peter Robinson

    Peter Robinson is best known for his crime series featuring Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks. One of his standout novels, “In a Dry Season,” begins with a drought that reveals a long-submerged village and the skeleton of a murder victim.

    Banks investigates the case, which takes him into an old world of secrets and betrayal connected to World War II. The story is layered with complex characters and vivid settings, weaving together the present-day investigation with events from decades in the past.

    Fans of Michael Connelly will appreciate Robinson’s skill in crafting deeply personal cases for his detective, often blending human drama with crime.