Rediscover your sense of mystery with our exciting guide with authors like Mary Higgins Clark.
Have your latest suspenseful reads left you wanting more? Few authors write suspenseful mysteries as well as the famous Mary Higgins Clark – and at this time, she has more than three dozen of them, plus several short stories and other works. Some of her most famous novels include Where Are The Children, Remember Me, and The Cinderella Murder.
Our list of suspense authors is the solution to your book woes, with authors offering the same sense of exciting discovery, exploring new locales, and ultimately solving dangerous mysteries like Clark. Find your favorites and start exploring new titles that will keep you turning pages late into the night.
For more recommendations, you might also enjoy exploring authors like Harlan Coben, authors like Gillian Flynn, best detective novel series.
Must-Read Authors like Mary Higgins Clark
1. Carol Higgins Clark
If you’re looking for an experience similar to Mary Higgins Clark, it doesn’t take a detective to consider starting with her daughter. Carol Higgins Clark was born in New York City and originally studied acting, even appearing in several films; she eventually turned to mystery writing with her unique spin.
Carol Higgins Clark is the author of the Regan Reilly mysteries, beginning with Decked and progressing through similar titles like Laced, Iced, and more. They are generally well-reviewed mysterious novels that follow a private investigator who keeps running across deadly mysteries in her own life, starting with the death of a former roommate at an English class reunion.
In 2025, Carol continues to build on her mother’s legacy while establishing her own distinctive voice in contemporary mystery fiction. Her novels blend humor with suspense, making them perfect for readers who enjoy lighter mysteries without sacrificing the thrill.
“The streets are still impassable, so the funeral has been postponed indefinitely.” – Carol Higgins Clark, Decked
2. David Baldacci
Baldacci is a long-famed American novelist who originally studied law in Virginia, after which he practiced as a lawyer for nine years in Washington, D.C., before eventually becoming a novelist full time. With that background, it’s no surprise he started with political thrillers but eventually spread into various genres for many different kinds of readers.
Baldacci is just as prolific as Mary Higgins Clark and has multiple series, which can be difficult when choosing a place to start. You may want to begin with the King and Maxwell series, which follows a team of two former Secret Service agents working to solve mysteries. However, Baldacci has penned several other mystery-oriented series, so there’s much to explore here if you want to dig deeper.
His recent works continue to dominate bestseller lists, with his 2024 releases showing his mastery of contemporary political intrigue and personal drama intertwined with classic mystery elements.
“The human spirit was the strongest medicine on earth. And sometimes all it needed was a little encouragement to pull off a miracle.” – David Baldacci, The Forgotten
3. Patricia Cornwell
Patricia Cornwell’s early life was rocky, but her start in writing was aided by Ruth Bell Graham, who helped and inspired Cornwell as she studied English in college and eventually became a reporter in Virginia. Her first book was a biography of Ruth Bell Graham herself (which eventually led to the fallout between the two), but Cornwell soon followed this with an original crime novel. She then spent several years working for a medical examiner in Richmond and shopping around volumes before her big breakthrough, eventually leading to several awards.
Cornwell’s most famous work is the Scarpetta series, which follows a medical examiner who works to unravel gruesome crimes around the Richmond area. Cornwell’s real-life experience in the area allowed her to dive into forensic details, and she’s partially credited with making forensics a popular aspect of today’s modern mysteries.
In 2025, Cornwell remains a pioneer in forensic fiction, with her recent Dr. Kay Scarpetta novels incorporating cutting-edge forensic technology and contemporary crime-solving techniques that feel remarkably current.
“The dead have never bothered me. It’s the living that I fear.” – Patricia Cornwell, Postmortem
4. Sandra Brown
After working as a weathercaster and reporter, Brown famously started writing a novel as a dare from her husband in the early 1980s. She found it both enjoyable and successful – although Clark fans may be surprised by her early work. Brown found much initial success as a prolific romance novelist, but not the suspenseful fare that Brown fans may like. But she eventually experimented with other genres, including thrillers with a twist.
Readers should consider titles like Thick as Thieves, Tailspin, Envy, and Seeing Red, especially if you like a little romance to spice up your crime dramas. Brown’s ability to weave romantic tension into suspenseful plots makes her novels particularly appealing to readers who want both emotional depth and thrilling mysteries.
“The things a man hoarded revealed a lot about the man and what he valued.” – Sandra Brown, Tailspin
5. Tom Savage
Not to be confused with the Western novelist or NFL player of the same name, this Tom Savage is a famous thriller writer. Born in New York, Savage studied drama and scriptwriting before working at a mystery bookstore. He went on to serve as the director of the Mystery Writers of America and was a founding member of the MWS Mentor Program to help new mystery authors.
Savage has around 12 different thrillers available, but one of the best to start with is Valentine, which was made into a movie (Savage says the movie bears very little relation to the book) or perhaps the island-based thriller Precipice. His background in theater brings a dramatic flair to his mysteries that sets them apart from more procedural crime fiction.
“She’d never dealt with the out-and-out supernatural, and she’d probably end up attaching some prosaic, earthbound solution to it. Dull, dull, dull.” – Tom Savage, Valentine
6. Joy Fielding
Canadian novelist Joy Fielding studied English at the University of Toronto. After a brief bout of acting, she quickly devoted herself to writing, specializing in thrillers with twists and turns for those who can’t get enough surprise. She placed many books in U.S. cities like Boston or Chicago, where she felt the urban landscape was an ideal backdrop for plots about people in distress.
Readers have many options, including All the Wrong Places, Bad Daughter, Someone Is Watching, and Good Intentions. Those familiar with the genre will find Fielding an expert at classical elements like amnesia, stalkers, and mysterious murders. Her psychological insights into ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances mirror Clark’s approach to character development.
“She had been driving all afternoon, her head an echo chamber in which both spoken words and unspoken thoughts steadily collide…” – Joy Fielding, The Deep End
7. Debbie Macomber
You may have heard of Macomber before thanks to works like her annual Christmas books and similar works, which have frequently helped her to the bestseller charts repeatedly. That may seem like this cheery grandmother doesn’t belong on this list, but amid the romances and angel-themed books, she also dabbles in popular romantic thrillers, such as her Deliverance Company books.
Macomber is better for those who prefer the cozier aspects of mysteries and can’t get enough romance. Her approach to suspense is gentler than some authors on this list, making her perfect for readers who want mystery without excessive violence or dark themes.
8. Tami Hoag
While Hoag found work throughout her life as a horse trainer, photography assistant, and seller of knickknacks, in 1988 she turned her attention to writing. At first, she found success penning romance novels, but after establishing a name for herself, she switched to suspense novels and found great success while exploring the genre.
Fortunately for readers, Hoag has several series, including the Kovac & Liska series, where a duo of detectives pursues serial killers in books like Ashes to Ashes, or the Oak Knoll series that follows an FBI profiler on the track of similar killers. Her recent works continue to explore the psychological aspects of crime while maintaining the procedural elements that mystery fans love.
“I have no desire to spend my life dancing backward.” – Tami Hoag, Night Sins
9. Lisa Gardner
Gardner partially credits her bestselling work with suspense novels to her early job as a research analyst in Boston, where she learned the skills necessary to dig into the details and work out cohesive narratives. Many of her novels are on bestseller lists, and she has sold over 22 million copies of her books worldwide.
Her novels walk a line between more flashy, exciting writing (which has been turned into TV works multiple times) and serious thrills. The Quincy & Rainie series follows FBI agents with works like The Perfect Husband, while the Detective D.D. Warren series features tense books like Alone.
In 2025, Gardner continues to be one of the most reliable names in psychological suspense, with her recent novels exploring contemporary issues like cybercrime and social media’s role in modern investigations.
“It wasn’t that strangers couldn’t hurt you. It was simply that the people you loved could do it so much better.” – Lisa Gardner, Touch & Go
10. Kate Anslinger
Do you like a little supernatural sprinkled on your suspenseful mysteries? Anslinger carved out a name for herself by mixing the formula up a little. Her experience in the United States Air Force inspired her to write about topics like PTSD, eventually leading to thriller fiction like the Grace McKenna series.
McKenna is a detective with a secret: When she interviews a criminal, she can glimpse visions of the past that will help her unravel the whole truth – although getting there tends to take serious work. The series begins with a novel fittingly called The Gift. Her unique blend of police procedural and paranormal elements offers something different for mystery fans looking to expand their horizons.
“Grace had been hunched over for two hours, enthralled in organizing past cases.” – Kate Anslinger, Buried Secrets
11. Karen Katchur
Katchur is the queen of suspense who puts her professional expertise to good use in crafting detailed suspense novels. In this case, she earned a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice, which helps with the flavor of novels like her most recent standalone work, The Greedy Three.
But those who prefer to start a full series should begin with River Bodies, the first of the Northampton County books, where a local detective must piece together murders past and present in a tight-lipped town full of secrets. Her academic background in criminal justice brings authenticity to her police procedures and crime-solving methods.
“The water. The lake. It flows through our veins, and there’s nothing we can do about it… It’s like venom.” – Karen Katchur, The Secrets of Lake Road
Frequently Asked Questions About Authors Like Mary Higgins Clark
What author is most like Mary Higgins Clark?
Many authors are read-alikes to Mary Higgins Clark regarding writing style, genre, and plot. However, writers such as Nora Roberts, Iris Johansen, James Patterson, and Harlan Coben also write similar novels. The author most like Clark is David Baldacci, a successful suspense novel writer who shares her talent for creating compelling characters caught in dangerous situations.
What are some of the most popular books by Mary Higgins Clark?
Some of Mary Higgins Clark’s most popular books include A Stranger Is Watching, All Dressed In White, and You Don’t Own Me. These novels showcase her signature style of placing ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances and building suspense through psychological tension rather than graphic violence.
