If you enjoy reading novels by William Shaw then you might also like the following authors:
Philip Kerr was a talented author known for his crime fiction, often set against historical backdrops. One of his standout novels is “March Violets,” the first in the Bernie Gunther series. The story takes place in 1936 Berlin, during the rise of Nazi Germany.
Bernie, a private investigator, is hired to look into the murder of an industrialist’s daughter and the theft of valuable diamonds. As he digs deeper, he uncovers a sinister conspiracy that ties into the growing influence of the regime.
The book combines a gritty noir feel with a vivid portrait of a turbulent era.
Ann Cleeves is a crime writer known for crafting atmospheric mysteries with rich character development. One of her books, “The Crow Trap,” introduces readers to Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope.
The story revolves around three women conducting an environmental survey in a remote countryside. Tensions rise when one of them is found dead, leaving Vera to untangle their strained relationships and personal secrets.
With its sharp dialogue and layered characters, the book keeps you hooked as Vera pieces everything together in her own straightforward and unconventional way.
Peter May is a Scottish author known for crime novels that often highlight strong characters and vivid landscapes. In “The Blackhouse,” the first book of his Lewis Trilogy, Detective Fin Macleod returns to the Isle of Lewis, the place he grew up, to investigate a murder.
The story weaves together Fin’s troubled past and the secrets of a close-knit, harsh island community. The setting—rugged, windswept, and raw—becomes as important as the mystery itself. Fans of layered storytelling and atmospheric crime fiction might enjoy exploring May’s work.
Denise Mina writes crime fiction with a sharp eye for the darker sides of human nature. In her novel “The Long Drop,” she tells the story of Peter Manuel, a real-life serial killer in 1950s Glasgow.
The book follows a night where Manuel meets a local businessman, William Watt, whose family has been murdered. Over drinks and conversations, the two circle around the truth. The atmosphere feels tense, and the city comes alive in gritty detail.
It’s as much about the crime as it is about the secrets people keep and the lies they tell to survive.
Ian Rankin is known for crafting crime novels with a strong sense of place, often set in Edinburgh. One of his popular books, “Knots and Crosses,” introduces Detective John Rebus, a tough but deeply human character.
In this story, a series of murders shakes the city, and Rebus is drawn into the case. Along the way, he deals with cryptic messages sent by the killer, forcing him to confront secrets from his own past.
The backdrop of Edinburgh feels alive, with its shadows and streets playing a key role in the mystery. Fans of layered, atmospheric police stories might enjoy Rankin’s way of bringing both character and setting fully into the fold of the story.
Val McDermid is a Scottish crime writer known for creating dark, character-driven mysteries. In her book “A Place of Execution,” she tells a story set in a small, isolated village in the 1960s. When a young girl named Alison disappears without a trace, the community is shaken.
Detective George Bennett takes the case and uncovers buried secrets that bind the villagers in ways they’d rather forget. Years later, a journalist researching the case stumbles upon new information that casts everything into a different light.
McDermid combines a chilling atmosphere with deeply layered characters, keeping readers hooked until the very end.
Tana French is an Irish crime writer who focuses on complex characters and layered mysteries. Her book “The Trespasser” follows Detective Antoinette Conway as she deals with a murder that seems straightforward but quickly becomes something else.
Conway faces hostility from her coworkers and doubts about who she can trust. The mix of a tense workplace and a twisting case keeps the story unpredictable. Through it all, you get a real sense of Conway’s sharp mind and her struggles to prove herself in a toxic environment.
Mick Herron writes smart and sharp spy novels with a dark sense of humor. One of his books, “Slow Horses,” follows a group of intelligence agents who’ve been banished to Slough House, a dumping ground for spies who have messed up their careers.
Led by Jackson Lamb, a messy, sharp-tongued, and oddly brilliant leader, this mismatched team stumbles into a dangerous mission when a potential terror attack crosses their path.
The story has twists, witty dialogue, and flawed characters you can’t help but root for, even when they make mistakes.
Louise Penny is known for her mysteries that are filled with rich characters and settings. In her book, “Still Life,” Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is introduced as he investigates a murder in the small village of Three Pines.
The story starts with the death of a beloved artist, Jane Neal, and the quiet village is thrown into shock. As Gamache works to uncover the truth, the lives and secrets of the townspeople come into focus.
The book is atmospheric and focused on human behavior, with twists that keep the story engaging without relying on endless action scenes. If you enjoy mysteries with a strong sense of place and character, Penny’s work might be a good match.
Elly Griffiths writes crime novels with memorable characters and a strong sense of place. One of her books, “The Crossing Places,” introduces readers to forensic archaeologist Dr. Ruth Galloway.
Ruth is called in to examine bones found near her isolated home on the Norfolk coast. Detective Harry Nelson hopes the remains belong to a girl who went missing years ago, but Ruth quickly realizes they are far older.
The story weaves police work, ancient history, and the secrets of the marshlands. Fans of William Shaw’s storytelling might enjoy the mix of mystery and atmosphere Griffiths delivers.
Adrian McKinty is an author known for crafting crime stories with vivid settings and sharp plots. One of his standout novels is “The Chain.”
The story begins with a mother named Rachel receiving a terrifying call: her daughter has been kidnapped, and to get her back, Rachel must kidnap another child.
The concept pulls you into a world where every parent caught in the chain faces impossible choices, all while trying to keep their own family safe. The tension builds as Rachel pushes against the sinister rules of this cruel system.
Fans of William Shaw’s gritty and detailed crime novels might find McKinty’s work equally hard to put down.
Ruth Rendell is known for writing crime novels that explore human behavior in clever and unexpected ways. One of her well-known books, “A Judgement in Stone,” begins with a shocking murder of an upper-class family.
The story pulls you into the life of Eunice Parchman, a reserved and solitary housekeeper with a secret that shapes her choices. As the novel progresses, the tension grows, revealing dark truths about her past and the people around her.
Rendell’s ability to create deeply flawed yet fascinating characters makes her work hard to put down.
Peter Robinson was an author known for his crime novels that often paint vivid pictures of life in rural England.
One of his most popular books, “In a Dry Season,” follows Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks as he investigates a decades-old murder after a drought uncovers a long-submerged village.
The story weaves in a glimpse of wartime England and uncovers secrets that had been buried alongside the crime. Robinson’s writing often focuses on character depth and the atmosphere of his settings, making his work a great choice for fans of William Shaw.
Donna Leon is an author known for her crime novels set in Venice, featuring Commissario Guido Brunetti.
Her book, “Death at La Fenice,” introduces readers to Brunetti as he investigates the sudden death of a famous opera conductor during a performance at the iconic La Fenice opera house. The story explores the tensions and secrets within the world of music and opera.
Leon builds the atmosphere of Venice into the narrative, showing how its canals and alleys are as much a part of the story as the characters themselves.
Sarah Ward is a crime writer known for her atmospheric mystery novels set in the Peak District. One of her books, “In Bitter Chill,” starts with the discovery of a woman’s body.
Decades earlier, the woman had been at the center of a chilling kidnapping mystery involving two schoolgirls. One of the girls managed to escape and move on, but the other was never found. Now, a detective begins to unravel how the past and present connect.
It’s a story that pulls you into a tightly-knit community where secrets are buried deep and still hurt decades later.