If you enjoy reading books by William Kent Krueger then you might also like the following authors:
Louise Penny is a writer known for her mystery novels featuring Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. Her stories focus on the small Canadian village of Three Pines, where ordinary life is often disrupted by murder.
In “Still Life,” the first in her series, Gamache investigates the death of a beloved local artist. The clues are quiet and hidden in everyday moments, and the heart of the story lies in the relationships and secrets within the village.
Penny’s focus on character and setting creates a cozy yet intriguing atmosphere, which readers of William Kent Krueger might enjoy.
Tana French is known for her atmospheric and character-driven mysteries. Her book, “In the Woods,” introduces Detective Rob Ryan, who is assigned to investigate the murder of a young girl.
The case takes him back to a forest where two of his childhood friends disappeared years earlier. Rob, unable to remember what happened on that day, begins to uncover connections between the past and present.
The story focuses on the toll the investigation takes on his mind and relationships. French creates a world where the past never stays buried.
Craig Johnson is the author of the Longmire series, known for blending mystery with a strong sense of place. In “The Cold Dish,” we meet Sheriff Walt Longmire, a man overseeing a quiet Wyoming town. That quiet breaks when a man connected to an old crime is found dead.
The story takes you through small-town dynamics, family secrets, and Walt’s own struggles, all set against the wide-open landscapes of the West. It’s a story where the setting feels as alive as the characters.
Readers who enjoy William Kent Krueger’s intricate plots and deep emotional connections would probably enjoy Johnson’s work too.
C.J. Box is known for writing mystery and crime novels set against the rugged landscapes of the American West. His book “Open Season” introduces Joe Pickett, a game warden in Wyoming who stumbles upon a murdered hunting guide.
The story kicks off when Joe discovers the body on his property, and before long, he’s drawn into a dangerous situation involving poachers, corrupt officials, and threats to his family.
The natural setting feels alive, and the tension builds as Joe fights to protect the land and uncover the truth. Fans of William Kent Krueger will find Box’s blend of nature, secrets, and small-town dynamics familiar and gripping.
Nevada Barr is known for her mystery novels set in national parks, featuring Anna Pigeon as the main character. Anna is a park ranger who finds herself solving murders amidst breathtaking landscapes.
In “Track of the Cat,” Anna discovers a dead body while patrolling in West Texas. The clues suggest a mountain lion attack, but Anna starts suspecting something far more sinister at play. The book pulls you into the rugged beauty of the desert and the dangers lurking within it.
Fans of William Kent Krueger’s atmospheric settings and layered mysteries may enjoy Barr’s work.
Julia Spencer-Fleming is a writer known for blending mysteries with rich, character-driven stories. Her book “In the Bleak Midwinter” introduces Clare Fergusson, an Episcopal priest, and Russ Van Alstyne, a married small-town police chief.
When a newborn baby is left at the church and a woman connected to the infant is found dead, Clare and Russ team up to uncover the truth. Their investigation creates tension as they face personal struggles and growing feelings for each other.
The book mixes crime-solving with themes of morality and duty, offering a story full of emotional depth and twists.
Kent Haruf wrote heartfelt stories set in the fictional small town of Holt, Colorado. His writing focuses on ordinary people and the quiet beauty in their everyday lives.
In his novel “Plainsong,” he weaves together the lives of several characters, including two elderly brothers who take in a pregnant teenager and a high school teacher trying to raise his sons after being abandoned by his wife.
The connections between these characters grow in unexpected ways, creating a sense of community and shared struggle.
Chris Bohjalian writes absorbing stories that combine vivid settings with deeply human characters. One of his books, “The Night Strangers,” weaves the story of a pilot, Chip, who survives a plane crash but struggles with guilt after passengers die.
Moving to a remote New England town, he and his family uncover strange happenings tied to their old Victorian home and the town’s unsettling residents. The suspense grows as the layers of the town’s history unfold.
It’s rich with small-town secrets and eerie tension, appealing to those who enjoy how William Kent Krueger balances character and mystery.
Elizabeth George is known for her layered mystery novels set in England. Her book “A Great Deliverance” introduces Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley and his partner, Sergeant Barbara Havers.
The story focuses on a gruesome murder in a small Yorkshire village, where a young woman is found sitting next to her father’s decapitated body, claiming she killed him.
The investigation uncovers family secrets and emotional scars, pulling readers into the characters’ lives and struggles. Fans of William Kent Krueger might enjoy the depth of her characters and the atmospheric settings.
Steve Hamilton writes crime and mystery novels with a focus on intriguing characters and atmospheric settings. One of his books, “The Lock Artist,” tells the story of Michael, a teenage boy who hasn’t spoken in years but has an extraordinary talent for picking locks.
The book takes you through Michael’s life as he gets pulled into a dangerous world of crime, all while trying to understand the trauma that left him silent. Fans of William Kent Krueger’s ability to mix strong characters with emotion-filled stories might enjoy Hamilton’s work.
Peter Heller writes stories that are packed with vivid settings and emotional depth. One of his standout works is “The Dog Stars.”
It follows Hig, a man who survives a devastating pandemic and takes refuge in an old airplane hangar with his dog and an armed loner as his only company. Hig ventures out beyond the safety of their small world in his antique Cessna, searching for something more.
The story flows between survival, unlikely friendships, and moments of quiet beauty in a broken world. Fans of William Kent Krueger’s heartfelt character-driven books might enjoy Heller’s ability to balance humanity and nature in his writing.
James Lee Burke is a masterful storyteller who creates atmospheric crime fiction with a deep sense of place. One of his standout novels is “The Neon Rain,” the first book in the Dave Robicheaux series.
It follows Dave, a New Orleans detective, as he investigates the murder of a young woman tied to a larger web of corruption and danger. The book is rich with vivid descriptions of Louisiana’s bayous and streets, blending mystery with a gritty, emotional depth.
Dave is a flawed but fascinating character, fiercely driven to uncover truth while battling his own demons.
Ann Cleeves is an author known for creating atmospheric mysteries with a strong sense of place and engaging characters. Her book “The Crow Trap” introduces readers to Detective Vera Stanhope, a sharp and unorthodox investigator.
The story begins with a group of women conducting an environmental survey in the English countryside, but their work is interrupted when one of them is found dead. Vera’s arrival shakes things up, and her unusual tactics uncover secrets that no one expected.
The setting and twists keep the story grounded, while Vera’s distinctive personality makes her unforgettable.
Jane Harper is an Australian author known for creating atmospheric mysteries set in rural landscapes. Her novel, “The Dry,” opens with a tragic murder-suicide in a drought-stricken town.
Federal Agent Aaron Falk, who has his own painful history with the town, returns to attend the funeral of his childhood friend. As Falk starts looking into the case, old secrets about the community begin to come to light.
Harper weaves the dry, haunting environment into the story, making it feel alive and deeply tied to the characters’ lives.
Charles Todd is a mother-and-son writing duo known for their historical mysteries. One of their standout books is “A Test of Wills,” the first in the Inspector Ian Rutledge series.
Set in post-World War I England, it follows Rutledge, a Scotland Yard investigator grappling with lingering trauma from the war. In this story, he is sent to a quiet village to solve the murder of a well-respected colonel.
The book captures the tension of a community harboring secrets and the doubts that plague Rutledge as he faces both the case and his inner turmoil.