If you enjoy reading books by Sue Grafton then you might also like the following authors:
Karin Slaughter is an author known for crime thrillers with strong characters and intricate mysteries. Readers who enjoy Sue Grafton’s style may like Slaughter’s novel “Blindsighted.”
The story begins in a small Georgia town where pediatrician Sara Linton discovers the gruesome crime scene of a woman murdered in the local diner restroom. Sara works closely with Police Chief Jeffrey Tolliver, her complicated ex-husband, to track down a sinister killer.
As the investigation progresses, secrets within the close-knit community surface, leading to suspense, emotional drama, and unexpected twists.
“Blindsighted” is a suspenseful introduction to Slaughter’s engaging approach to crime fiction: a distinctive blend of character development and gritty realism.
Patricia Cornwell is a fantastic author known for her engrossing forensic detective novels featuring medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta. Readers who enjoy Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone will likely connect with Scarpetta’s sharp instincts, gritty investigations and complex cases.
In “Postmortem,” Scarpetta investigates a string of brutal murders in Richmond, Virginia. The tension rises when she becomes personally tangled in the clues, and must rely on forensic evidence to unravel the killer’s identity before she becomes the next victim.
Cornwell’s books provide vivid details of crime scenes and procedures, along with suspenseful storytelling that makes every twist feel real and urgent.
Books by Sara Paretsky offer fast-paced and intriguing mysteries, perfect for fans of Sue Grafton’s detective fiction. Paretsky created the sharp and determined private investigator V.I. Warshawski, a character introduced in her novel “Indemnity Only.”
In this book, Warshawski takes on what seems like a straightforward missing person case. Before long, however, she encounters corruption, corporate greed, and hidden secrets in the financial industry.
Quick-witted dialogue and gritty, realistic settings make Paretsky’s hero, Warshawski, unforgettable and relatable. If you enjoy independent, strong female detectives, “Indemnity Only” is an excellent place to begin exploring Paretsky’s series.
Tess Gerritsen is an author readers of Sue Grafton will likely appreciate. She creates intense characters and suspenseful storylines that keep readers guessing.
In “The Surgeon,” Gerritsen introduces Detective Jane Rizzoli, a tough, determined Boston detective hunting a serial killer known as the Surgeon. The killer’s method is precise and unsettling, targeting women with horrifying accuracy.
Detective Rizzoli becomes personally invested in stopping him, as past and present events intertwine. The Surgeon taunts authorities, the tension rises, and readers are left eager to turn the next page.
Gerritsen provides strong female leads, intricate plots, and psychological depth, elements Sue Grafton fans are sure to enjoy.
Anne Perry is an author known for atmospheric historical mysteries, especially her Victorian-era detective stories. Readers who enjoy Sue Grafton’s intricate plotting and strong, relatable investigators often appreciate Perry’s novels.
One standout is “The Cater Street Hangman,” the first book in the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series. Set in late 19th-century London, the story revolves around Charlotte Ellison, an outspoken young woman whose quiet neighborhood is shaken by several shocking murders.
Inspector Thomas Pitt investigates the crimes that expose dark secrets beneath the respectable surface of Victorian society.
The novel blends suspense, deep character exploration, and vivid historical settings, making Anne Perry a satisfying choice for fans looking to expand their mystery-reading horizons.
Harlan Coben is an author known for his thrilling mysteries and engaging storytelling. If you enjoy Sue Grafton’s tight plotting and intriguing characters, “Tell No One” by Coben is a great pick.
In this novel, Dr. David Beck’s life shatters when his wife Elizabeth is murdered by a suspected serial killer. Eight years later, Beck receives a startling message, suggesting Elizabeth might still be alive.
As he searches for answers, Beck uncovers dark secrets and faces dangerous obstacles. Coben cleverly blends suspense, twists, and emotional depth, keeping readers guessing until the very end.
Marcia Muller is a notable author for readers who enjoy Sue Grafton’s detective novels. Muller created the private investigator Sharon McCone, a clever and strong-willed woman at the center of intriguing mysteries.
In the novel “Edwin of the Iron Shoes,” McCone investigates a strange murder linked to an antique shop, colorful San Francisco characters, and eccentric collectors.
Muller’s storytelling delivers tense moments, sharp dialogue, and an absorbing mystery that steadily unfolds, similar in style to Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone series.
Books by Michael Connelly offer suspense, realism and unforgettable characters that fans of Sue Grafton will enjoy. Connelly has a gift for creating authentic police procedurals set against the backdrop of Los Angeles.
In his novel “The Black Echo,” readers meet Harry Bosch, a dedicated LAPD detective who follows his instincts and not department politics. The story opens with Bosch called to investigate the death of a fellow Vietnam veteran found dead in an underground tunnel.
What seems at first to be a simple overdose turns into a case with deeper roots in his own past. Bosch’s determination, combined with sharp detective skills, leads readers through twists and turns that reveal corruption, betrayal and gripping human drama.
Readers who enjoy Sue Grafton’s detective novels might find P.D. James equally appealing. P.D. James was an English mystery writer known for her detective Adam Dalgliesh, a thoughtful and insightful Scotland Yard investigator.
In “Cover Her Face,” Dalgliesh investigates the death of Sally Jupp, a young maid found murdered in her bed at a quiet country estate. As Dalgliesh questions the family members and employees in the household, hidden tensions and secrets emerge, making nearly everyone a suspect.
Fans who like Grafton’s intricate plots and strong-character approach should find plenty to like in James’s storytelling style.
If you enjoy Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone novels, Robert Crais is an author worth exploring. His Elvis Cole series features a distinctly cool and humorous private investigator based in Los Angeles.
In “The Monkey’s Raincoat,” the first Elvis Cole novel, you meet Elvis, a private eye who takes on what seems to be a simple missing-person case.
But soon Elvis and his tough, mysterious partner, Joe Pike, find themselves mixed up with dangerous players in Hollywood’s drug scene.
With fast-paced plotting, humor, and a memorable partnership between Elvis Cole and Joe Pike, Crais delivers an entertaining detective story you’ll savor from start to finish.
If you enjoy Sue Grafton’s mystery novels, you might also appreciate Ann Cleeves’ engaging, atmospheric style and strong character development.
Her novel “The Crow Trap” introduces readers to Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope, an unconventional investigator with sharp instincts and a no-nonsense approach.
In this first book of the Vera Stanhope series, a woman is found dead near an environmental survey site in rural Northumberland. As Vera investigates, she discovers complicated relationships among the team’s members and hidden tensions in the remote countryside.
With careful plotting, interesting characters, and subtle suspense, “The Crow Trap” provides a satisfying mystery experience.
Elizabeth George is a great choice for readers who enjoy Sue Grafton’s detective novels. Her series follows Inspector Thomas Lynley, an upper-class Scotland Yard detective, and his perceptive working-class partner, Sergeant Barbara Havers.
In “A Great Deliverance,” the first novel in the series, Lynley and Havers investigate a shocking murder case in the quiet English countryside.
A farmer is found brutally killed, and his teenage daughter confesses to the crime, yet the detectives sense something deeper behind the disturbing scene. George skillfully weaves psychological depth, social commentary, and intriguing puzzles throughout the story.
Her careful character development, combined with detailed investigations, makes Elizabeth George’s mysteries a natural fit for fans of Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone series.
Janet Evanovich is a popular author known for blending mystery, humor, and lively characters. If you’re a fan of Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone stories, Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series could be a great discovery. A solid place to start is “One for the Money.”
It introduces Stephanie Plum, a spirited bounty hunter from Trenton, New Jersey, who is trying to turn her life around after losing her job and facing serious money problems.
Stephanie chases down an elusive cop accused of murder, all while stumbling into hilarious misadventures alongside memorable characters like her funny, eccentric grandma and the charming but troublesome Joe Morelli.
The pacing is lively, the dialogue witty, and there are plenty of twists and laughs to keep you turning the pages.
Books by Nicci French offer psychological suspense, clever mysteries, and complex characters in a style appealing to fans of Sue Grafton. This husband-and-wife writing duo creates gripping storylines that weave psychological depth into tense criminal investigations.
A great example is “Blue Monday,” the first thriller featuring psychotherapist Frieda Klein. When a young boy vanishes, Frieda notices troubling parallels to a patient’s eerie dreams and obsessions.
As the mystery unfolds dark secrets surface, and readers are led into a suspenseful puzzle where every clue matters. Frieda Klein, smart and intuitive yet emotionally reserved, will resonate with readers who appreciate Kinsey Millhone.
If you enjoy Sue Grafton’s detective novels, Val McDermid may be a great next choice. McDermid is a master of character-driven mysteries that feature suspenseful plots and detailed investigative work.
In her novel “The Mermaids Singing,” criminal profiler Tony Hill teams up with Detective Inspector Carol Jordan to track down a calculating serial killer.
The killer uses chilling psychological games to evade authorities while Tony and Carol race against time to understand his dark intentions. The tense relationship between profiler and detective adds another layer of intrigue, making this book absorbing and memorable.