If you enjoy reading books by Wilkie Collins then you might also like the following authors:
Mary Elizabeth Braddon was a Victorian author known for her sensational novels that brought mystery and drama to everyday life. Her book, “Lady Audley’s Secret,” is about a young woman who marries into wealth, but her charm hides a dangerous past.
When a family friend begins to uncover the truth, dark secrets come to light. The story pulls you into its twists, with missing husbands, unexpected connections, and a heroine who isn’t what she seems.
Fans of Wilkie Collins will find similar themes of deception and suspense here.
Elizabeth Gaskell wrote stories filled with drama, social tensions, and memorable characters. If you enjoy Wilkie Collins, you might like her book “Mary Barton.” It’s set in the industrial town of Manchester and focuses on the struggles of working-class families.
The story follows Mary, a young woman whose world is shaken by hardship, love, and a murder that sends her life in an unexpected direction. Gaskell doesn’t shy away from showing the harsh realities of factory life and the gap between the wealthy and the poor.
The suspense and emotional intensity in this novel make it a standout.
Charles Dickens is a writer who creates vivid characters and dramatic stories that explore human nature and society. If you like Wilkie Collins, you might enjoy Dickens’ “Bleak House.” The book weaves together the lives of people connected to a never-ending court case.
There’s mystery in the story, with a plot involving a secret past and a woman who must uncover the truth about her life. Dickens’ ability to build suspense and portray emotions makes this one of his standout works.
Arthur Conan Doyle is best known for creating Sherlock Holmes, a detective who solves mysteries with sharp observation and logic.
In “The Hound of the Baskervilles,” Holmes investigates the death of Sir Charles Baskerville, which seems connected to a ghostly, supernatural hound that haunts the Baskerville family. The story blends eerie settings and tension as Holmes untangles the truth behind the legend.
Similar to Wilkie Collins’ works, it weaves mystery with a sense of foreboding, pulling you into a world of danger and secrets.
Anthony Trollope was an English novelist who wrote stories filled with rich characters and social dynamics. If you enjoy Wilkie Collins, you might like Trollope’s ability to weave drama into everyday life.
One of his novels, “The Warden,” centers on Mr. Harding, an aging clergyman who becomes entangled in a conflict over the finances of a charitable hospital.
The story explores questions of morality, loyalty, and public opinion, all while offering a glimpse into the workings of a small English town. It’s not action-packed, but the layers of relationships and dilemmas keep it interesting.
Thomas Hardy was an English author known for exploring the lives of ordinary people in small rural communities. One of his notable books, “The Mayor of Casterbridge,” tells the story of Michael Henchard, a man burdened by a terrible mistake he makes while drunk.
Years later, he rises to become a wealthy mayor but struggles as his past comes back to haunt him. The book paints a vivid picture of a man fighting with guilt, pride, and his own decisions.
Hardy’s ability to create flawed, deeply human characters might appeal to fans of Wilkie Collins, especially those who enjoy stories about personal secrets and the consequences of choices.
Ann Radcliffe was an author known for her Gothic novels that mix mystery and drama with eerie settings. Her book “The Mysteries of Udolpho” follows Emily St. Aubert, a young woman who faces loss and then gets caught in a web of strange events at a remote castle.
There are secret passages, strange noises, and a sense of danger as Emily uncovers family secrets and tries to understand the people around her. The book focuses on suspense and atmosphere, which can remind readers of Wilkie Collins’ knack for creating tension.
Charlotte Brontë was a British author known for crafting stories with deep emotions and strong characters. Her book “Jane Eyre” follows the life of an orphaned girl who grows up facing cruelty and hardship.
As she becomes a governess at Thornfield Hall, she encounters the mysterious and secretive Mr. Rochester. The novel blends mystery and romance, weaving in Gothic elements with secrets hidden within the walls of the estate.
Fans of Wilkie Collins may find the suspense and layered storytelling here a great match.
Emily Brontë wrote with a dramatic flair, creating intense stories that explore raw human emotions. Her novel “Wuthering Heights” tells the story of Heathcliff, a mysterious and brooding man, and his tumultuous relationship with Catherine Earnshaw.
Set on the stormy Yorkshire moors, the book captures betrayal, obsession, and revenge within a family over generations. It has twists that keep you curious about the characters’ fates.
Fans of Wilkie Collins might enjoy how Brontë blends dark secrets and complex relationships in her writing.
Ellen Wood, often publishing as Mrs. Henry Wood, wrote gripping Victorian novels full of drama and twists. One of her well-known works, “East Lynne,” tells the story of Lady Isabel Vane, a woman who leaves her family after a scandal and faces heartbreaking consequences.
Disguised, she returns to work as a governess in her former home, watching her old life unfold without her. The themes of love, betrayal, and redemption keep the story engaging, with plenty of secrets and emotional turns to keep readers invested.
Fans of Wilkie Collins would likely enjoy her layered characters and the moral dilemmas they face.
George Eliot, the pen name of Mary Ann Evans, crafted stories rich with human complexity and moral struggles. If you’ve enjoyed Wilkie Collins, you might like how Eliot weaves intricate lives together.
Her novel “Middlemarch” explores the ambitions, dreams, and disappointments of a small English town. The story includes Dorothea, a young woman whose idealism leads her into an unhappy marriage, and Dr. Lydgate, who faces both professional challenges and personal troubles.
The characters feel so real, their lives and choices pulling you in as you watch how they shape their futures.
Sheridan Le Fanu was an Irish writer known for his Gothic tales and mysterious, atmospheric stories. Fans of Wilkie Collins might enjoy his novel “Uncle Silas”.
The book tells the story of Maud, a young heiress who finds herself under the guardianship of her reclusive and unsettling uncle after her father dies. The tension builds as she begins to suspect that her inheritance has put her in danger.
There are eerie old mansions, shadowy characters, and a constant sense of unease that will keep readers wondering who they can trust.
Bram Stoker is best known for his novel “Dracula,” a story that blends mystery and gothic horror. The book follows Jonathan Harker, a solicitor who visits Count Dracula’s castle in Transylvania on business. Soon, he begins to uncover unsettling truths about the Count.
The story moves to England, where Dracula spreads chaos and a small group bands together to stop him. The eerie settings and sense of danger make it hard to put down. Fans of Wilkie Collins might enjoy how Stoker weaves in suspense and secrets throughout the narrative.
Victor Hugo was a French writer known for his dramatic and emotional storytelling. One of his famous works, “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame,” takes place in 15th-century Paris and centers around Quasimodo, a bell-ringer at the Notre-Dame Cathedral.
Quasimodo, seen as a monster by others because of his appearance, shows deep loyalty to Esmeralda, a kind and courageous young dancer. The story is filled with moments that explore love, cruelty, and injustice.
The backdrop of medieval Paris, with its towering cathedral and shadowy streets, creates a vivid setting for characters whose lives intertwine in surprising ways.
Nathaniel Hawthorne is an American author known for weaving stories that explore human nature and moral complexities.
One of his most well-known books, “The Scarlet Letter,” tells the story of Hester Prynne, a woman in Puritan New England who bears a child out of wedlock and is forced to wear a scarlet “A” on her chest as punishment.
The narrative dives into themes of shame, guilt, and hypocrisy, all while unraveling the hidden connections between the characters. Fans of Wilkie Collins might enjoy Hawthorne’s ability to blend secrets and drama into richly atmospheric settings.