If you enjoy reading books by Mo Hayder then you might also like the following authors:
Tess Gerritsen writes gripping medical and crime thrillers that often mix science with chilling twists. One of her standout books, “The Surgeon,” introduces a killer who targets women while mimicking surgical precision.
Detective Jane Rizzoli teams up with Dr. Catherine Cordell, a survivor of a similar attack, as they try to stop him. As the case unfolds, the details get darker, and the tension keeps building.
Gerritsen’s background as a physician brings authenticity to the forensic and medical details, which makes the story feel unsettlingly real. Fans of Mo Hayder’s dark and atmospheric style might find Gerritsen’s work equally absorbing.
Karin Slaughter is a crime writer known for her intense and dark storytelling. One of her stand-out books is “Pretty Girls.” It follows two sisters, Claire and Lydia, who have been estranged for years. Their lives are torn apart when their other sister, Julia, disappears.
Decades later, after the murder of Claire’s husband, the two women reconnect and start uncovering buried secrets about their family. The story dives into the pain of loss and the deep ties of family, with twists that keep the pages turning.
Fans of Mo Hayder’s gritty crime novels might find Slaughter’s style equally gripping.
Val McDermid writes crime fiction with a sharp edge, exploring the darker sides of human nature. In her book “The Mermaids Singing,” she introduces psychologist Tony Hill and detective Carol Jordan as they hunt a killer targeting men in a small English town.
The murderer uses methods that reveal deep, twisted motivations, and the story pulls you into the cat-and-mouse chase between investigators and the unseen threat. McDermid’s focus on the psychology behind the crimes adds a chilling layer to the mystery.
Fans of Mo Hayder’s grim and intense stories will feel at home here.
John Connolly is an author who blends crime and mystery with a layer of the supernatural. One of his books, “The Book of Lost Things,” tells the story of a boy named David who, grieving the loss of his mother, discovers an unusual world hidden inside his books.
As David ventures into this strange and dangerous land, he encounters twisted fairy tale figures and uncovers a deeper truth about himself and the stories he once loved. The mix of dark imagination and emotional depth makes it hard to put down.
Fans of Mo Hayder’s darker narratives might find a similar atmosphere in Connolly’s work.
Chelsea Cain writes dark and intense thrillers with plots that pull you into dangerous and deeply unsettling worlds.
One of her standout books is “Heartsick,” which introduces Detective Archie Sheridan as he recovers from being tortured by a sadistic serial killer, Gretchen Lowell.
Gretchen, who turns herself in after ten years of killing, keeps Archie under her psychological grip even while locked up. The story also follows a journalist, Susan Ward, as she works with Archie on a new case involving a string of murders.
The book has chilling twists and explores the unsettling bond between hunter and hunted. Cain’s writing captures the raw, gritty side of human behavior and crime, which might appeal to fans of Mo Hayder.
Thomas Harris is known for creating dark and chilling crime stories. One of his most famous works, “The Silence of the Lambs,” introduces FBI trainee Clarice Starling, who is tasked with interviewing the brilliant yet dangerous Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a cannibalistic serial killer.
As she seeks his help to catch another murderer, Lecter’s sharp mind and unsettling charisma make every conversation a tense and unpredictable battle.
The book captures the uneasy relationship between predator and prey, shining a light on both the motives of the killer and the determination of a young investigator. Fans of unsettling psychological thrillers will find this story hard to forget.
Gillian Flynn is an author known for dark and deeply unsettling stories. One of her standout novels is “Sharp Objects.” It follows Camille Preaker, a journalist who returns to her hometown to report on the murder of two girls.
Camille’s homecoming forces her to confront a toxic family dynamic, including her controlling mother, Adora, and her oddly sinister half-sister, Amma. As she digs deeper into the case, dark secrets about the town and her own life come to light.
The story builds tension through its small-town setting and deeply flawed characters, making it a perfect pick for fans of Mo Hayder’s dark thrillers.
Stieg Larsson was a Swedish journalist and author known for his crime thrillers. His book, “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” introduces Mikael Blomkvist, a journalist, and Lisbeth Salander, a brilliant hacker with a troubled past.
The story follows their investigation into the disappearance of a young woman from a powerful family. As they dig into old secrets, they uncover violence and corruption hidden beneath the surface.
Salander, with her sharp mind and complex personality, is unforgettable, and her dynamic with Blomkvist keeps the story moving. The book blends mystery with a sharp look at darker sides of society, making it impossible to put down.
Peter Robinson is well-known for his crime novels featuring Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks. In “In a Dry Season,” a drought reveals the remains of a long-submerged village, where a skeleton is found in the ruins of an old building.
Banks is assigned to investigate, uncovering secrets buried for decades. The story weaves the present-day investigation with the tragic past of the small village.
Robinson’s writing often explores suspenseful cases and dark human motivations, and his characters feel grounded in reality. Fans of Mo Hayder’s gritty and atmospheric stories might find Robinson a great fit.
Lars Kepler is the pen name used by the Swedish husband-and-wife duo who write gripping crime thrillers that are fast-paced and dark. If you enjoy Mo Hayder’s books, you might want to check out “The Hypnotist.”
In this story, Detective Joona Linna investigates a brutal family murder, where the only witness is a severely traumatized teenage boy. To unlock what the boy knows, Joona turns to a hypnotist with a troubled past.
The characters are layered with secrets, and the twists come unexpectedly, keeping you hooked as the mystery unfolds.
Faye Kellerman writes crime fiction with dark, intense plots and a strong focus on character development. One of her books, “The Ritual Bath,” introduces Detective Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus.
The story begins with a disturbing crime at a Jewish community, drawing Decker into an investigation that uncovers hidden secrets and unexpected dangers.
The mix of police work, mystery, and personal relationships creates a vivid world that pulls you right into the lives of the characters.
S.J. Bolton writes dark and atmospheric crime novels that keep you on edge. One of her standout books, “Now You See Me,” dives into the world of Detective Constable Lacey Flint as she becomes entangled in a case involving a copycat killer mimicking Jack the Ripper.
The story pulls you into the heart of London, where secrets and danger lurk in every shadow. As Lacey faces her own buried past, the twists come fast, and the ending is anything but expected. Fans of Mo Hayder’s gritty storytelling may find Bolton’s work hits a similar nerve.
Ian Rankin is a Scottish writer known for his crime novels, particularly those featuring Detective Inspector John Rebus. In “Knots and Crosses,” we meet Rebus, a jaded cop in Edinburgh.
A series of brutal murders grips the city, and Rebus is drawn into the case as he realizes the killer is sending him cryptic messages. The story dives into Rebus’s past, revealing secrets that connect him to the crimes.
If you enjoy dark, atmospheric mysteries, this might be a good fit.
Ruth Rendell wrote crime novels that dig into the darker parts of human behavior. Her book, “A Judgement in Stone,” starts with a shocking murder and works backward to unravel why it happened. The story focuses on a lonely housekeeper, Eunice, who hides a terrible secret.
Her inability to read and write drives her into isolation. Things spiral out of control when she gets closer to another troubled character, Joan, whose influence tips Eunice over the edge.
The exploration of class tensions and personal insecurities adds layers to a chilling crime. Fans of Mo Hayder’s unsettling narratives might find Rendell’s work satisfyingly eerie.
Jo Nesbø is known for his tense crime novels that often explore dark and violent themes. One of his most popular books is “The Snowman,” which is part of the Harry Hole series.
In this story, Detective Harry Hole investigates the disappearance of a woman who vanishes during the first snowfall of the year. The only clue left behind is a sinister-looking snowman near her house.
As Harry uncovers connections to other missing women, he begins to suspect that a serial killer has been operating unnoticed. The story blends chilling suspense with sharp detective work, keeping readers on edge.