If you enjoy reading books by Shirley Jackson then you might also like the following authors:
Octavia E. Butler is a brilliant writer known for blending science fiction with human emotion and complexity.
In her book “Kindred,” a modern Black woman named Dana is pulled back in time to the Antebellum South, where she encounters her ancestors and faces the harsh reality of slavery.
The story weaves together history and personal struggle, creating a narrative that feels immediate and powerful. Fans of Shirley Jackson might appreciate Butler’s way of making ordinary lives crash into extraordinary and often unsettling circumstances.
Daphne du Maurier wrote stories with a strong sense of atmosphere and tension. One of her most famous books, “Rebecca,” follows a young woman who marries a wealthy widower and moves to his sprawling estate, Manderley.
The place is haunted by the memory of Rebecca, his first wife, whose presence seems to linger in every corner. The new wife feels overshadowed, especially by the housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers, who is fiercely loyal to Rebecca.
Secrets about Rebecca’s life—and death—slowly come to light, changing everything. Fans of Shirley Jackson’s haunting and psychological storytelling may find du Maurier’s work similarly absorbing.
Flannery O’Connor is known for her stories that mix Southern settings with sharp, unsettling twists. Her book, “Wise Blood,” follows Hazel Motes, a young man who returns from war and becomes fixated on rejecting religion.
He starts his own strange, anti-religious church in a small town, but his attempts to run from faith lead him down a dark, chaotic path. Her writing often explores human flaws and the strangeness of belief, with characters who are both flawed and fascinating.
If you enjoy Shirley Jackson’s focus on human nature and eerie undertones, O’Connor might surprise you.
Tana French is an author known for writing richly atmospheric mystery novels. One of her books, “In the Woods,” follows detective Rob Ryan as he investigates the murder of a twelve-year-old girl found in the same woods where, years earlier, two other children went missing.
Rob, who was the only child to return from that incident and has no memory of what happened, starts piecing together connections between the present case and his own hidden past.
The story weaves together the haunting atmosphere of the woods and the slow unraveling of buried truths, creating a world that’s both eerie and unforgettable.
Angela Carter wrote stories that mix the strange with the everyday, creating worlds that feel both magical and unsettling. Her book “The Bloody Chamber” is a collection of fairy tales reimagined for adults.
In the title story, a young bride uncovers the dark secrets of her new husband’s castle. It’s eerie, full of tension, and has an atmosphere that reminds me of Shirley Jackson’s work.
Joyce Carol Oates is an author known for creating unsettling and haunting stories that explore the darker side of human nature.
One of her novels, “We Were the Mulvaneys,” tells the story of a seemingly perfect family in small-town America whose lives unravel after a tragic event.
The book follows each family member’s personal struggles and how the event reshapes their relationships and sense of identity. Fans of Shirley Jackson may appreciate how Oates builds tension and reveals secrets within an ordinary setting.
Patricia Highsmith is known for creating stories with a sense of unease and characters who often reveal their darker sides. Her book, “The Talented Mr. Ripley,” introduces readers to Tom Ripley, a young man with an ordinary appearance but extraordinary ambition.
Sent to Europe to retrieve a wealthy acquaintance, Tom becomes entangled in deception and crime. The story pulls you into Tom’s calculating mind and his dangerous drive to raise his social status.
Fans of Shirley Jackson might appreciate the quiet tension in Highsmith’s writing and how she explores human behavior.
Sarah Waters is a brilliant storyteller known for her historical fiction with deep atmospheres and attention to character detail. Her book “The Little Stranger” might catch your interest if you enjoy eerie tales.
It’s set in post-war England and follows a country doctor who becomes involved with an old family living in a crumbling mansion. Strange events begin to occur in the house, and the line between the supernatural and psychological slowly blurs.
The novel creates a sense of unease as long-buried secrets start to surface.
M.R. James was a master of ghost stories, known for creating eerie and unsettling tales. His stories often revolve around mysterious objects or ancient manuscripts that unleash something dreadful.
In “Oh, Whistle, and I’ll Come to You, My Lad,” a professor finds an old whistle on a beach and decides to take it with him. When he blows it, strange things start happening at night, including an encounter with something no one would wish to meet.
Fans of Shirley Jackson might appreciate the slow build of tension and the sense of the ordinary twisting into something frightening.
Rebecca Solnit writes with a fascinating mix of storytelling and analysis that explores human experiences and the world around us.
In her book, “A Field Guide to Getting Lost,” she reflects on the idea of losing oneself—both physically and metaphorically—as a way to discover new perspectives and insights.
The book weaves together personal memories, historical accounts, and moments of reflection to explore how uncertainty and the unknown can shape our lives.
One moment that stands out is her story of a moth landing on her hand as she walks through the wilderness, which she uses to explore themes of connection and impermanence. It feels intimate and mysterious, evoking a tone readers of Shirley Jackson might appreciate.
Shirley Ann Grau was a Southern writer who often explored family, history, and the ways people connect to their surroundings. Her novel “The Keepers of the House” is set in Alabama and follows the Howland family across generations.
At its heart, it deals with secrets, betrayal, and the consequences of choices. The story starts with Abigail Howland taking stock of her life and her family’s legacy, and it builds toward a confrontation that pulls everything into the open.
The book has layers of tension and sharp moments of tragedy, with the Southern landscape ever-present in the background.
Donna Tartt is an author known for creating dark, atmospheric stories that explore flawed characters and eerie undercurrents in everyday life.
Her novel “The Little Friend” follows a young girl named Harriet, who becomes fixated on solving the mysterious death of her brother, Robin, years after it happened.
Set in a small Mississippi town, the book mixes childhood curiosity with a sinister edge as Harriet’s investigation drags her into dangerous territory. Tartt’s writing often creates a sense of unease that fans of Shirley Jackson might find familiar.
Elizabeth Bowen was an Irish writer known for exploring the eerie and unsettling moments in everyday life. Her novel “The Heat of the Day” is set during World War II in London, where the backdrop of bombed-out streets mirrors the tension between the characters.
The story follows Stella, a woman who learns her lover, Robert, might be a spy. As she confronts this betrayal, the atmosphere is heavy with suspicion and uncertainty, creating a world where trust feels fragile and danger feels close.
Fans of Shirley Jackson’s knack for uncovering hidden fears might find Bowen’s work equally intriguing.
Carmen Maria Machado is a writer whose work blends unsettling realism with an otherworldly touch. Her book, “Her Body and Other Parties,” is a collection of stories that explore the strange and surreal sides of life, relationships, and identity.
One standout story reimagines 1990s-era “Law & Order: SVU” episodes, layered in haunting and mysterious ways. Another focuses on a woman who undergoes an unusual surgery to please her husband, leading to eerie consequences.
Machado’s writing captures an uneasy tension that fans of Shirley Jackson’s off-kilter atmospheres will appreciate.
Ray Bradbury was a master of imaginative storytelling, known for blending the ordinary with the extraordinary. His book, “Something Wicked This Way Comes,” is about two boys in a small town who encounter a mysterious carnival that arrives out of nowhere.
The carnival seems magical at first, but its secrets turn dark as the boys realize it preys on human fears and desires. With eerie moments and unforgettable characters, it pulls readers into a world where joy and danger are intertwined.
Fans of Shirley Jackson might appreciate Bradbury’s ability to create unsettling atmospheres in familiar settings.