If you are drawn to the kind of thrillers Michael Robotham creates, with their clever plots and characters you can really believe in, then you are in the right place. He is an author who knows how to build suspense and keep you guessing until the very end.
His books often have layers of secrets that are revealed slowly, making for a truly satisfying read. For readers who want authors with a similar approach, here are some recommendations.
Readers who enjoy Michael Robotham’s suspenseful thrillers may appreciate Peter Robinson’s crime novels. Robinson, best known for his Inspector Alan Banks series, crafts intricate mysteries set in the English countryside, filled with complex characters and atmospheric plots.
In “In a Dry Season,” Detective Chief Inspector Banks must solve a decades-old mystery when a dry spell reveals a submerged village and a hidden crime scene.
As Banks uncovers secrets buried deep in the past, readers are drawn into a story filled with twists, tension, and psychological depth, similar to Robotham’s tightly constructed narratives.
Tana French is an Irish author known for atmospheric psychological thrillers and strong character development. Her novels often blend intricate investigative plots with deep explorations of human motivation and emotional tension.
If you enjoy Michael Robotham’s style of suspense and psychological depth, “In the Woods” could be a great introduction to French’s Dublin Murder Squad series.
It follows detective Rob Ryan, who must investigate the disappearance of a child in the same woods where, years before, he himself was found as a child covered in blood, unable to recall what happened to him or his missing friends.
As the present case intertwines with his haunted past, Ryan faces painful questions he’s spent most of his life avoiding. It’s a powerful story with unexpected turns and emotional intensity that keeps readers engaged all the way through.
Gillian Flynn is an author who crafts dark, psychological thrillers filled with complex characters and surprising twists. If you’re interested in suspenseful mysteries by Michael Robotham, you may enjoy Flynn’s bestseller “Gone Girl.”
The novel follows Nick Dunne after his wife, Amy, mysteriously disappears. As investigations unfold, suspicion quickly focuses on Nick. He discovers shocking truths about his marriage, bringing to light hidden lies and manipulations.
Flynn’s clever storytelling keeps readers guessing until the very end.
Lisa Gardner is a talented author known for psychological thrillers filled with suspense and intricate characters. If you enjoy Michael Robotham’s style, you’ll likely appreciate Gardner’s ability to create tense plots that explore complex human emotions.
One great example to start with is “The Perfect Husband.” Tess Beckett thought she had escaped her violent past when her husband went to prison. But her sense of safety disappears when he escapes.
Gardner builds chilling tension through shifting alliances, secret motives, and surprises you don’t see coming. If you’re a fan of stories that combine psychological depth with great storytelling, Lisa Gardner offers a satisfying reading experience.
Harlan Coben is a popular thriller writer known for suspenseful plots and stories filled with twists. If you enjoy Michael Robotham’s psychological thrillers, you’ll probably like Coben’s “Tell No One.”
The novel centers around Dr. David Beck, whose life was shattered when his wife was tragically murdered eight years ago. But when he receives a strange email suggesting she might still be alive, his entire understanding of the past unravels fast.
Beck struggles to uncover the truth while being hunted by powerful people who want old secrets to stay buried. The story is fast-paced, intense, and keeps readers questioning what really happened until the very end.
If you enjoy Michael Robotham’s suspenseful storytelling and vivid portrayals of crime and psychology, you may appreciate Stuart MacBride. MacBride’s novels are gritty, atmospheric, and packed with sharp dialogue.
His book “Cold Granite” introduces Detective Sergeant Logan McRae, who finds himself drawn into a harrowing case after returning to work following an injury.
Set during a bleak Aberdeen winter, the story begins when the city’s peace shatters: children’s bodies surface in gruesome circumstances. Logan battles pressure from bosses, intrusive media attention, and his own uneasy return to duty.
The characters are memorable, flawed, and real, while the chilling setting contributes to a tension-filled plot that keeps you hooked until the final page.
Readers who enjoy the psychological thrillers of Michael Robotham will find Val McDermid’s crime novels equally captivating. Val McDermid is a Scottish author famous for intense plots, deep psychological insights, and memorable characters.
In “The Mermaids Singing,” the first book of the Tony Hill and Carol Jordan series, McDermid introduces readers to a partnership between clinical psychologist Tony Hill and detective inspector Carol Jordan.
Together, they tackle a chilling series of murders committed by a killer obsessed with medieval torture instruments. The plot unfolds with suspense, unexpected twists, and a detailed look into the psychology of both crime-solving and crime-committing.
Those who appreciate Robotham’s layered storytelling and authentic characters will find McDermid’s work equally rewarding.
Books by Linwood Barclay offer suspenseful plots full of unexpected twists, similar to the thrillers of Michael Robotham. Barclay creates stories that explore ordinary lives thrown into chaos.
In “No Time for Goodbye,” fourteen-year-old Cynthia wakes up one morning to find her family has vanished without a trace. Years later, Cynthia, now an adult with her own family, struggles to overcome the unanswered questions about her parents’ disappearance.
But when strange events suggest her past is catching up to her, she realizes that the truth she’s always sought may be darker and closer than she ever imagined.
Barclay keeps readers hooked with relatable characters, realistic dialogue, and mysteries that peel away layer by layer until the shocking truth surfaces.
Mark Billingham is a British author known for his intense and character-driven crime novels that capture the darker side of London with precision and depth. If you’re a fan of Michael Robotham’s psychological thrillers, Billingham’s “Sleepyhead” is a book worth checking out.
This chilling novel introduces Detective Inspector Tom Thorne and follows his pursuit of a twisted killer.
The criminal doesn’t aim to kill his victims outright but instead wants to induce an unusual medical condition called locked-in syndrome, where victims remain fully aware yet completely paralyzed.
In this disturbing scenario, the only success story is Alison Willetts, who miraculously survives—but loses control over her body. Thorne becomes obsessed with stopping the killer, but to do so he must unlock secrets that push him to confront his own darkest fears.
Books by Jane Harper offer suspenseful mysteries set in vivid Australian backdrops. If you enjoy Michael Robotham’s style of psychological thrillers, Harper’s novel “The Dry” might capture your interest.
The book centers on Federal Agent Aaron Falk, who returns to his hometown after two decades for a friend’s funeral. Tragedy hits hard in this small, drought-ridden farming community, and suspicion falls heavily upon one family.
Falk tries to untangle past secrets to solve the present mystery. Harper skillfully builds tension and layers each piece of the puzzle against a stark, atmospheric rural landscape.
Ruth Ware offers psychological thrillers with atmospheric settings and suspenseful storytelling, appealing to fans of Michael Robotham. In her novel “The Woman in Cabin 10,” travel journalist Lo Blacklock gets an assignment aboard a luxury cruise ship.
What should be an exciting career move becomes terrifying when Lo witnesses a woman being thrown overboard—but all passengers remain accounted for. As paranoia grows and her credibility is questioned, Lo realizes she cannot trust anyone onboard.
With each page, suspicion mounts, and readers are kept guessing through twists and hidden secrets right until the shocking ending.
Books by Jo Nesbø often appeal to readers who enjoy Michael Robotham’s intense plots and complex characters. In Nesbø's “The Snowman,” detective Harry Hole investigates the mysterious disappearance of a woman whose scarf is found wrapped around an eerie snowman.
As Hole explores a series of bizarre and disturbing disappearances, he uncovers links to older, unsolved cases. The dark Norwegian winter, vivid investigative details, and flawed yet deeply human detective make Nesbø's storytelling engaging and difficult to put down.
Those who appreciate Robotham’s psychological depth and suspenseful pacing may find Nesbø's novels rewarding as well.
Books by Shari Lapena offer suspenseful stories with realistic characters and complex relationships. If you enjoy psychological thrillers by Michael Robotham, you may like Lapena’s novel “The Couple Next Door.”
This book tells the story of Anne and Marco Conti, a young married couple whose lives fall apart after their baby disappears from home while they’re at a neighbor’s dinner party. Soon everyone becomes a suspect.
The novel explores hidden secrets and tangled personal lives, keeping the reader guessing until the surprising ending.
Karin Slaughter is a great choice for readers who appreciate Michael Robotham’s psychological thrillers and complex characters. She writes gritty suspense novels that often explore small-town secrets and complicated family dynamics.
In her book “Pretty Girls,” sisters Claire and Lydia haven’t spoken to each other for years after their family was torn apart by tragedy. But after another girl goes missing locally, they reunite and uncover shocking connections to their own past.
Slaughter pulls readers into a dark mystery layered with unexpected twists, suspenseful revelations, and emotional depth.
Readers who enjoy Michael Robotham’s suspense-filled thrillers might want to explore Chris Carter’s books. Carter, a former criminal psychologist, uses his experience in criminal behavior to create realistic and scary scenarios.
In “The Crucifix Killer,” Detective Robert Hunter investigates a series of gruesome murders that resemble a case he solved years ago.
The killer leaves behind a signature double-crucifix symbol on victims, suggesting either a copycat or that Hunter imprisoned the wrong suspect in the past.
The story’s pace is swift, the crimes chilling, and Hunter’s intense investigation will keep readers glued to the pages until the surprising conclusion.