9 Authors Like Dean Koontz: Get Your Suspense Fix

Discover the top authors like Dean Koontz in our suspense-ridden guide that will get your heart racing!

If you love author Dean Koontz, known for his suspense thrillers that often draw on satire and mystery, you’ll also love these authors like Dean Koontz. Thirty of the author’s books have hit number one on The New York Times bestseller list, including Strangers, the novel that catapulted Koontz to stardom. Whether you’re working through the Odd Thomas Series or just wrapped up The House at the End of the World, you’ll want to add the names on our list of authors like Dean Koontz to your reading list. 

Table of Contents

Here Are The Best Authors Like Dean Koontz

1. Stephen King, 1947 -

Stephen King is one of the most prolific American writers of all time. The author’s books have sold over 350 copies, and many have been made into feature films. In addition to writing nearly 70 novels, the acclaimed “King of Horror” has written about 200 short stories. Awards received by King include Bram Stoker Awards, the British Fantasy Society Awards, and the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement. Check out Stephen King’s best-selling books in our guide!

“Frightened people live in their own special hell. You could say they make it themselves, but they can’t help it. It’s the way they’re built. They deserve sympathy and compassion.”

Stephen King, Revival

2. James Patterson, 1947 -

James Patterson is known for his thrillers, non-fiction, and romance novels. The author has sold more than 425 million copies worldwide and was the best-paid author (according to Forbes Magazine) in the world for three years in a row. Patterson works to give back to his community with the James Patterson Teacher Education Scholarship and the College Book Bucks program. Patterson’s most notable works includeThe Noise, Don’t Blink, Jack and Jill, and Now You See Her.

“Because what’s worse than knowing you want something, besides knowing you can never have it?”

James Patterson, The Angel Experiment

3. Joe Hill, 1972 -

Joe Hill is the pen name of Joe King, who is the son of Stephen King. The writer wanted to ensure he could make it in the literary world independently, without relying on his father’s name to get noticed. He waited to reveal his identity until a year after his first novel was released. Hill’s first book, 20th Century Ghosts(2005), features fourteen of the author’s short stories and won the Bram Stoker Award. Some of his most popular novels includeHeart-Shaped Box, Strange Weather, Horns**, andThe Fireman**.

“She breathed deeply of the scent of decaying fiction, disintegrating history, and forgotten verse, and she observed for the first time that a room full of books smelled like dessert: a sweet snack made of figs, vanilla, glue, and cleverness.”

Joe Hill, NOS4A2

4. John Grisham, 1955 -

John Grisham is an author, novelist, and politician known for his legal thrillers. As well as being a popular author, Grisham is also a former member of the 7th district of the Mississippi House of Representatives. A Time to Kill, the author’s first novel, was published in 1989. Since then, Grisham has published over 50 novels and is often praised for his gristly, no-holds-barred writing style. Several of Grisham’s books have been made into feature films, includingThe Pelican Brief**,The Runaway Jury, and*The Rainmaker**.

“Shame was an emotion he had abandoned years earlier. Addicts know no shame. You disgrace yourself so many times you become immune to it.”

John Grisham, The Testament

5. Anne Rice, 1941 - 2021

Anne Rice sold more than 100 million copies worldwide. Rice’s work is mostly gothic fiction and erotic literature, and Christian literature. Her work wasn’t well-received when she started as a writer, but she became one of the most influential authors in modern-day literature. The writer stated that she was influenced by Stephen King, Virginia Woolf, and Ernest Hemingway. Her first book, Interview with the Vampire, was published in 1976 and was made into a 1994 blockbuster movie. Her famousVampire Chronicleshad ten novels in total in the series and was much loved by all her fans.

“Give me a man or woman who has read a thousand books and you give me an interesting companion. Give me a man or woman who has read perhaps three and you give me a very dangerous enemy indeed.”

Anne Rice, The Witching Hour

6. Clive Barker, 1952 -

Clive Barker speaking to an audience; he is wearing a black shirt with red suspenders

Clive Barker is a British playwright, film director, author, painter, and illustrator. He started with the short story series Books of Bloodin the mid-1980s, which was heralded by author Stephen King as the future of horror. Barker lists several literary influences, including William Blake, Edgar Allan Poe, and Herman Melville. In addition to his accomplishments as an author, Barker has also won an Academy Award for his work as an executive producer on the movieGods and Monsters**. Some of his most popular novels includeThe Scarlet Gospels, Books of Blood, Cabal, *and The Living Dead.

“Did I say that she was beautiful? I was wrong. Beauty is too tame a notion; it evokes only faces in magazines. A lovely eloquence, a calming symmetry; none of that describes this woman’s face. So perhaps I should assume I cannot do it justice with words. Suffice it to say that it would break your heart to see her; and it would mend what was broken in the same moment; and you would be twice what you’d been before.”

Clive Barker, Galilee

7. Dan Brown, 1964 -

Dan Brown smiling at the camera; he is wearing a black polo-neck shirt and a green tweed blazer

Dan Brown is an American author who is well-known for his novels, including Angels & Demons,The DaVinci Code*,The Lost Symbol*,Inferno*, and Origin. The author’s novels typically take place over 24 hours and follow the protagonist as they take on an international treasure hunt. Brown employs themes including cryptography and conspiracy theories, allowing readers to solve mysteries along with the protagonist.

“History is always written by the winners. When two cultures clash, the loser is obliterated, and the winner writes the history books-books which glorify their own cause and disparage the conquered foe. As Napoleon once said, ‘What is history, but a fable agreed upon?”

Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code

8. John Saul, 1942-

John Saul is an American author who creates vastly intricate suspense and horror novels. He has sold over 60 million copies around the world and is known for Suffer the Children,Creature*,Darkness*, and*House of Reckoning**. While Saul is known as a hugely successful author today, he didn’t have an easy start—he spent 15 years honing his craft before he sold his first book, for which he was paid $200. In addition to his thriller novels, the author is known for one-act plays. “If you open your house to strangers, who knows who might come in. And what they might be after. Or whom.”

John Saul, Perfect Nightmare\

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Great books in this genre typically feature compelling characters, engaging plots, and themes that resonate with readers. They should offer both entertainment and insight, creating memorable reading experiences that stay with you long after finishing.

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Reading books in this genre can expand your knowledge, improve your empathy, and provide entertainment and escape. Books offer unique perspectives on life and can help you understand different experiences and viewpoints.

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Popular books in this category often include both contemporary bestsellers and timeless classics. Look for books that have received critical acclaim, won awards, or have been recommended by multiple sources.

9. Michael Crichton, 1942 - 2008

Michael Crichton smiling into the distance; he is wearing a red tie, a white shirt, and a navy blue blazer

Author and filmmaker Michael Crichton sold more than 200 million copies of his books around the world, including The Andromeda Strain,Jurrasic Park*, and*The Lost World**. The author completed medical school at Harvard in 1969 but decided to use his medical knowledge to improve his writing rather than practice as a doctor.

Crichton used his medical knowledge to write books in the science fiction, medical fiction, and techno-thriller genres.

“Human beings are so destructive. I sometimes think we’re a kind of plague, that will scrub the earth clean. We destroy things so well that I sometimes think, maybe that’s our function. Maybe every few eons, some animal comes along that kills off the rest of the world, clears the decks, and lets evolution proceed to its next phase.”

Michael Crichton, The Lost World