Mike Craven is a talented British crime fiction author known for his compelling novel The Puppet Show. He skillfully crafts intriguing mysteries featuring Detective Washington Poe, capturing readers with suspenseful storytelling and memorable characters.
If you enjoy reading books by Mike Craven then you might also like the following authors:
Stuart MacBride writes gritty crime novels with dark humor and vivid, realistic characters. He sets most of his stories in Aberdeen, focusing on police investigations that explore complex crimes and flawed personalities.
If you enjoyed Mike Craven's intriguing police work and sharp wit, you might like MacBride's Cold Granite, the first Logan McRae novel, which combines dark humor with gripping storytelling.
Peter James is known for tightly woven plots, realistic police procedures, and suspenseful mysteries set around Brighton. He builds solid and believable characters that readers grow attached to through multiple novels.
Try his book Dead Simple, the first in the Roy Grace series, if you're looking for a suspenseful story with believable detective work similar to Mike Craven's style.
Mark Billingham creates authentic, deeply flawed characters that readers relate to. His plots delve into psychological complexities and realistic portrayals of criminal motives.
Fans of Mike Craven's gritty storytelling might appreciate Billingham's Sleepyhead, the suspenseful first novel featuring Detective Inspector Tom Thorne.
Ian Rankin creates engaging mysteries rooted deeply in the streets of Edinburgh. His books have atmospheric storytelling, solid mysteries, and quite human detectives like the iconic Inspector Rebus.
If you like Mike Craven's detailed plotting and rich setting, Rankin's Knots and Crosses is a terrific starting point into his Rebus novels.
Val McDermid's crime fiction explores psychological depth and gritty realism. Like Mike Craven, she creates morally complex characters and tense narratives, focusing on the dark side of society and human nature.
Her novel The Mermaids Singing, featuring criminal profiler Tony Hill, is a powerful example that offers psychological depth and memorable storytelling.
Ann Cleeves writes mysteries that pull readers into unique, vividly drawn settings, especially rural areas of northern England and Scotland. Her detective stories weave careful character development and a powerful sense of place.
If you enjoy Mike Craven’s balance of intriguing mysteries and strong characterization, try her book Raven Black, part of the Shetland Island series.
Peter Robinson is known for his detailed, believable police procedurals featuring Detective Inspector Alan Banks. Like Mike Craven, his stories explore darker human emotions, moral ambiguities, and are set against striking northern English backdrops.
His style combines thoughtful realism with suspenseful storytelling. Check out In a Dry Season, one of his most notable novels.
Elly Griffiths brings a distinctive and atmospheric setting to her mysteries, often blending archaeology and detective fiction. Her plots unfold steadily, and her characters form believable connections with readers.
For fans of Mike Craven who appreciate clear storytelling and well-crafted characters, The Crossing Places, the first book in the Ruth Galloway series, is well worth reading.
Tana French creates psychological thrillers anchored in complex and vivid characters. Her ability to convey subtle layers of human relationships and emotional truths makes her novels deeply satisfying.
Like Mike Craven, she explores darkness in human nature without losing empathy. Consider reading In the Woods, known for its polished dialogue and absorbing narrative.
Denise Mina offers gritty crime novels set mainly in Glasgow, portraying the realities of urban life with honesty and depth. Her books have authentic characters filled with conflicted emotions, and readers experience both moral challenges and suspenseful plots.
Those who like Mike Craven’s tone of realism and social insight will appreciate Mina’s writing in Garnethill.
Steve Cavanagh writes legal thrillers full of suspense, clever twists, and fast-paced courtroom drama. His plots often involve tricky cases and intriguing characters who outsmart others with sharp intelligence and the occasional dash of humor.
Readers who appreciate Mike Craven's engaging mysteries and strong character dynamics will likely enjoy Cavanagh's style. Try his book Thirteen, an exciting thriller where the real killer is not on trial—he's actually part of the jury.
Jo Nesbø is known for dark, atmospheric Norwegian crime novels featuring complex plots, gritty settings, and flawed yet relatable characters.
Like Mike Craven, Nesbø crafts intense psychological tension and explores the emotional struggles of investigators tracking ruthless criminals.
A great place to start is his novel The Snowman, an unsettling thriller that follows detective Harry Hole’s tense chase after a terrifying serial killer.
David Mark creates atmospheric crime fiction that vividly portrays gritty Northern England settings and the personal struggles of his lead detectives.
His writing style has a strong sense of place and realism, much like Mike Craven's work, and he effectively combines character-driven storytelling with suspenseful plotlines.
If you're new to Mark, consider his novel Dark Winter, the first book featuring detective Aector McAvoy as he investigates gruesome murders in Hull.
Angela Marsons writes suspenseful police procedurals that blend fast-paced plots with compelling puzzles and memorable characters.
Like Mike Craven, Marsons builds intricate yet accessible stories featuring detectives who face their own emotional baggage as they handle chilling investigation after investigation.
Check out her novel Silent Scream, the first in the DI Kim Stone series, where a determined detective works to solve a series of horrific murders tied to buried secrets.
Chris Carter's novels are known for delivering intense suspense, graphic crime scenes, and sharp psychological insights. He often explores the darkest side of human nature through challenging investigations that thoroughly test his detective's resilience and intelligence.
Fans of Mike Craven's gripping storytelling and unsettling villains will appreciate Carter's novel The Crucifix Killer, where detective Robert Hunter tracks a brutal serial killer who leaves behind cryptic clues and gruesome scenes.