If you enjoy reading novels by Mickey Spillane then you might also like the following authors:
If you’re into Mickey Spillane, give Raymond Chandler a shot. His writing has the same tough, no-nonsense style, but with a smoother edge. Start with “The Big Sleep,” where his detective Philip Marlowe gets tangled in a web of lies and danger.
“Farewell, My Lovely” is another great one, full of shady characters and unexpected twists. Chandler’s work has that gritty vibe fans of Spillane will appreciate, paired with sharp dialogue and plenty of action.
Dashiell Hammett wrote sharp, gritty stories that pack a punch. If you like Mickey Spillane, you’ll probably appreciate his no-nonsense style. Hammett’s “The Maltese Falcon” introduces Sam Spade, a tough, smart private eye who doesn’t pull his punches.
Another standout is “The Glass Key,” a tale of loyalty, crime, and betrayal that keeps things lean and mean. His writing feels raw and straight to the point, so it’s easy to get hooked.
If you’re into Mickey Spillane’s hard-edged crime stories, you might find Ross Macdonald worth checking out. His Lew Archer novels, like “The Moving Target” and “The Chill,” serve up sharp investigations with a focus on human flaws and secrets.
Archer gets wrapped up in cases that unravel lives piece by piece, delivering twists without losing that tough, no-nonsense vibe.
If you like Mickey Spillane, you’ll probably appreciate James M. Cain’s style. He’s known for hard-edged stories with sharp dialogue and characters who don’t follow the rules. His novel “The Postman Always Rings Twice” packs a punch with its mix of lust and crime.
“Double Indemnity” is another standout, filled with tension and betrayal. Cain’s work is all about raw, gritty storytelling that grabs you right away.
If you like Mickey Spillane, you might enjoy Elmore Leonard’s sharp style and tough characters. His crime novels keep things lean and action-packed, with a smart twist of humor.
Check out “52 Pick-Up,” where a businessman faces blackmailers after an affair, or “Swag,” which follows two small-time crooks trying to pull off the perfect string of robberies. For something with a gritty Western edge, “Hombre” delivers a tense and raw story of survival.
Leonard’s work moves fast and keeps you hooked.
Jim Thompson tells stories that hit you hard. If you’re into Mickey Spillane’s tough, no-nonsense style, you’ll get a kick out of Thompson’s work. In “The Killer Inside Me,” he takes you deep into the mind of a charming but chilling small-town deputy.
“Savage Night” pulls you into a world of crime that’s sharp and unpredictable. His writing doesn’t mess around, and his characters stay with you long after you close the book.
If you’re into Mickey Spillane, Andrew Vachss might be right up your alley. His “Burke” series is brutal and straight to the point. Start with “Flood,” where a streetwise outlaw takes on scum most people wouldn’t even think about.
“Blue Belle” is another one worth checking out, diving deeper into the underworld with a mix of grit and vengeance. Vachss has a raw, no-nonsense way of laying it all out that fans of Spillane will appreciate.
Lawrence Block writes stories with sharp edges and gritty characters. Fans of Mickey Spillane might enjoy “Eight Million Ways to Die,” where Matt Scudder, an ex-cop turned private investigator, takes on the seedy underbelly of New York.
“A Walk Among the Tombstones” goes deeper into Scudder’s world, as he faces danger and moral choices at every turn. Block’s work has that tough, no-nonsense feel that fans of Spillane can appreciate.
Donald E. Westlake wrote stories with sharp dialogue and fast-paced action, which might grab you if you’re into Mickey Spillane’s style.
His “The Hunter” (published under the name Richard Stark) introduces Parker, a cold and relentless criminal who stops at nothing to get what he’s after. If you prefer something with a darkly humorous twist, try “The Hot Rock,” where a heist spirals into chaos.
Westlake knew how to craft characters who operate outside the law, keeping everything unpredictable.
Michael Connelly writes crime fiction with a hard edge that fans of Mickey Spillane might appreciate. His books focus on tough characters and gritty investigations. “The Black Echo” introduces Harry Bosch, a detective who doesn’t shy away from danger.
Another favorite, “The Lincoln Lawyer,” follows Mickey Haller, a defense attorney working from the back of his car. Both have their fair share of twists and dark turns.
If you like Mickey Spillane, you’ll probably enjoy Robert B. Parker. His stories have sharp dialogue and characters that don’t mess around. Start with “The Godwulf Manuscript,” which kicks off the Spenser series.
Another good one is “Early Autumn,” where Spenser steps in to help a young boy get his life straight. These books have the same hard-hitting feel as Spillane’s, with a little extra wit thrown in.
If you’re into Mickey Spillane, you might enjoy John D. MacDonald’s work. His stories often dive into tough characters and dangerous situations. Check out “The Deep Blue Good-by,” where Travis McGee, a self-described salvage consultant, takes on unpredictable cases.
Another good one is “A Deadly Shade of Gold,” which mixes mystery and revenge in a way that keeps things moving fast. MacDonald’s style has that no-nonsense punch, perfect if you like hardboiled tales.
Max Allan Collins is a great pick if you’re into Mickey Spillane. He actually worked closely with Spillane, taking on unfinished manuscripts after Spillane passed away. Collins completed books like “The Big Bang” and “Kiss Her Goodbye,” capturing Spillane’s hardboiled style.
He also created his own gritty stories, like “Quarry,” which follows a hitman navigating the dangerous, dark underworld. If you’re a fan of sharp dialogue and no-nonsense crime, his work is worth checking out.
Walter Mosley knows how to deliver gritty, hardboiled stories with sharp dialogue and tough characters. If you’re into Mickey Spillane’s style, you’ll probably enjoy Mosley’s “Devil in a Blue Dress” and “Black Betty.”
Both feature Easy Rawlins, a complex detective navigating dangerous cases in mid-20th-century Los Angeles. His writing pulls you into the streets, where danger and secrets lurk around every corner.
Chester Himes wrote gritty crime stories that hit hard and move fast. If you’re into Mickey Spillane, you might enjoy the razor-sharp plots and tough characters in Himes’ books. “Cotton Comes to Harlem” is one of his best, packed with action and dark humor.
“The Real Cool Killers” is another standout, full of brutal twists and sudden violence. His writing pulls no punches, delivering crime fiction that feels raw and alive.