In last week’s post featuring ninety diverse suspense writers, I made the point that there are many different kinds of thrillers out there. Here are eighty more of today’s best and most thrilling writers grouped for various tastes, and still we’ve only scratched the surface:
Sophie Hannah writes contemporary British crime stories suffused with taut psychological suspense and a haunting mood. Also try: Ruth Rendell, Minette Walters, Frances Fyfield, Elizabeth George, and Martha Grimes.- Erin Kelly writes moody, slightly gothic suspense in which the present is haunted by the sins of the past. Also try: Tana French, Ann Cleeves, Thomas H. Cook, S. J. Bolton, Rosamund Lupton, Sarah Rayne, Kate Morton, and John Harwood.
- Michael Lawson writes political thrillers seething with corruption and high level i
ntrigue. Also try: David Baldacci, Brad Meltzer, Richard North Patterson, Brian Haig, Jeffrey Archer, and Stuart Woods. - Robert Masello writes intricately-plotted thrillers involving arcane societies, hidden treasures and occult conspiracies. Also try: Dan Brown, Steve Berry, M. J. Rose, David Hewson, Ross King, Katherine Neville, and Simon Toyne.
- T. Jefferson Parker writes gritty cop thrillers where dogged procedural investigation often gives way to unpredictable action. Also try: Joseph Wambaugh, Michael Connelly, James Patrick Hunt, Edward Conlon, Dan Mahoney and Ed Dee.
- Jonathan Rabb writes stylish
historical espionage edged with danger and romance. Also try: Alan Furst, Eric Ambler, Philip Kerr, Joseph Kanon, Paul Grossman, Francine Mathews, Sam Eastland, and John Lawton. - Richard Stark writes gritty action-packed thrillers starring tough-guy anti-heroes. Also try: Lee Child, Harry Dolan, Barry Eisler, Andrew Klavan, Roger Hobbs, Derek Haas, Stephen Hunter, and Andrew H. Vachss.
- Duane Swierczynski writes intensely violent noir thrillers in which bad leads to worse. Also try: Elmore Leonard, Colin Harrison, Charlie Newton, Jason Starr, Don Winslow, Jean-Patrick Manchette, James Sallis, Marcus Sakey, and Jim Thompson.
Brad Taylor writes explosive international action in which capable heroes vie with terrorist for the highest of stakes. Also try: Vince Flynn, Brad Thor, Kyle Mills, Robert Ludlum, Jack Higgins, David Rollins, Alex Berenson, David Hagberg, and Tom Clancy.- Lisa Unger writes taut suspense in which everyday people find their normal lives turned upside down. Also try: Mary Higgins Clark, Linwood Barclay, Joy Fielding, Tami Hoag, Jesse Kellerman and Jacquelyn Mitchard.
If you love thrillers, you might also want to check out Thrillers: 100 must-reads, an entertaining guide to suspenseful classics ranging from Erskine Childers’ Riddle of the Sands to Geoffrey Household’s Rogue Male to Ken Follett’s Eye of the Needle. And be sure to check out last week’s post as well.
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