William Krasner was an American novelist known for compelling crime fiction. His standout novels include Walk the Dark Streets and The Gambler's Daughter, both praised for atmospheric storytelling and engaging characters.
If you enjoy reading books by William Krasner then you might also like the following authors:
If you like William Krasner's gritty, atmospheric mysteries, David Goodis should appeal to you. His stories are often set in bleak city streets and filled with desperate characters caught in hopeless situations.
He explores dark human motives and the struggle to overcome personal failure and despair. A good introduction to his work is Dark Passage, a suspenseful tale where a wrongly accused man searches for answers under a looming threat.
Fans of Krasner's psychological insight and tense narratives might enjoy Jim Thompson. He writes lean, harsh crime stories that delve into the twisted minds of damaged and unusual characters. Obsession, greed, and betrayal frequently drive his plots.
Check out The Killer Inside Me, a disturbing look at a seemingly normal deputy sheriff deeply harboring violent impulses.
Charles Willeford's books share Krasner's knack for blending psychological depth with straightforward storytelling. Willeford's characters find themselves confronted by bizarre and morally ambiguous situations, characterized by sharp humor and subtle irony.
One of his memorable books, Miami Blues, introduces readers to quirky detective Hoke Moseley and his clever but unpredictable adversaries.
If the dark atmosphere and psychological tension of Krasner's thrillers grab your interest, Cornell Woolrich will certainly hold your attention. Woolrich creates gripping mysteries filled with paranoia, isolation, and anxiety.
His characters frequently find that their ordinary lives slip dangerously out of control. His book Rear Window became a classic film by Hitchcock and illustrates Woolrich's gift for suspenseful storytelling and troubled characters.
Like Krasner, Dorothy B. Hughes builds tension through strong psychological characterization and suspenseful storytelling. She often flips crime fiction conventions by focusing closely on character motivations and moral complexity.
A great example of her work is In a Lonely Place, which explores isolation and unstable guilt from inside the mind of a troubled protagonist trying to hide his violent impulses.
James M. Cain is known for sharp, noir-influenced crime fiction that explores characters trapped by desire and circumstance. Like Krasner, Cain uses crisp dialogue and direct storytelling to build suspense.
His novel Double Indemnity tells the story of an insurance salesman drawn into a deadly plot, capturing the tension and moral ambiguity at the core of Cain's fiction.
W. R. Burnett writes gritty crime stories filled with vivid detail and realistic characters. His style emphasizes authenticity, showing criminals and law enforcement as complicated people rather than clear heroes or villains.
In Little Caesar, Burnett depicts the rise and fall of a gangster, giving readers insight into the allure and brutality of the criminal world.
Horace McCoy's stories often focus on desperate characters making tough decisions in difficult circumstances. His straightforward, edgy style reveals the darker side of the American Dream.
His short novel They Shoot Horses, Don't They? portrays struggling competitors in a marathon dance contest, showing how desperation can drive ordinary people toward extreme actions.
Chester Himes brings energetic, hard-boiled storytelling that confronts racial injustice head-on. His style blends gritty crime drama with social commentary, offering narratives that engage and challenge readers.
His novel Cotton Comes to Harlem features detective duo Coffin Ed Johnson and Grave Digger Jones, showcasing his talent for sharp dialogue and lively action while addressing complex racial dynamics in Harlem.
Elliott Chaze is admired for intense, noir-style fiction that explores human greed, obsession, and moral compromise. His clear prose and psychological insight offer readers suspenseful, character-driven stories.
In Black Wings Has My Angel, Chaze delves into the dark relationship between two criminals planning a daring robbery, expertly capturing their doomed romance and escalating desperation.
Gil Brewer wrote tight, suspenseful crime novels focused on average people caught in desperate situations. His style is direct and fast-paced, full of tension and psychological insight.
Fans of William Krasner will appreciate Brewer's novel The Red Scarf, a classic noir about temptation and betrayal.
Day Keene's gritty stories explore ordinary characters dragged into crime, revenge, and moral dilemmas. Keene's clear, lean prose and sharp plotting will remind readers of Krasner's realistic style.
Check out Home Is the Sailor, which tells the story of a sailor whose hopes for a peaceful retirement unravel after meeting a mysterious woman.
Fredric Brown blends crime fiction with elements of dark humor and psychological suspense. He crafts clever twists and memorable characters in concise, punchy prose.
Krasner fans will enjoy The Fabulous Clipjoint, Brown's gripping murder mystery that follows a nephew and uncle investigating a family death.
Paul Cain's writing is tough, fast, and unapologetic noir. His vivid descriptions and pared-back style emphasize a harsh, dangerous world.
Krasner enthusiasts will likely appreciate Cain's hard-edged novella collection Seven Slayers, where each story plunges readers into crime-ridden situations with ruthless efficiency.
Lionel White specialized in suspenseful heist stories that examine carefully planned crimes spiraling into chaos. His straightforward style keeps narrative momentum going under increasing tension, much like Krasner's own compelling storytelling.
Fans might enjoy White's Clean Break, a gripping tale of a racetrack robbery where nothing goes according to plan.