10 Authors Like Wendy Webb for Must-Read Gothic Suspense Fiction Novels

*If you want to read gothic stories about family secrets, black magic, and paranormals, check our guide with authors like Wendy Webb for eerie suspense reads. *

In her early career, Wendy Webb worked as a journalist, offering entries in local and national newspapers and magazines. While Webb looked for a balance between work and family, she also dedicated time to writing novels. Finally, she released her first book, The Tale of Halcyon Crane, in 2010. It’s a modern ghost story of a woman who went to a remote island hoping to reveal her past, which won the Minnesota Book Award Fiction category in 2011.

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Must-Read Authors Like Wendy Webb

1. Jonathan Moore, 1964 -

Before being a full-time writer, Jonathan Moore worked as an English teacher and investigator while attending law school in New Orleans. In 2013, he debuted with Redheads and was immediately nominated for the Bram Stoker Award. The following year, he was nominated for the same award for hisClose Reachnovel, a tale of horror set on a ship with pirates voyaging on the high seas.

Moore is a recipient of the Edgar Award by the Mystery Writers of America and nominated for the Hammett Prize, a literary excellence award in crime writing. His work on The Poison Artist was praised and selected by BBC Radio 2 Book Club, and hisThe Night Marketwas a film choice by Mandeville Films and Amazon Studios. With these achievements, it’s clear that Moore is a notable name in the gothic suspense fiction genre, delivering intense and terrifying stories about horrors and supernaturals.

“There was nothing wrong with her. It was the world that was the problem. Frankly, it was hard to argue against that.”

Jonathan Moore, The Night Market

2. Sarah Addison Allen, 1971 -

Sarah Addison Allen earned her literary degree at the University of North Carolina. Shortly after graduating in 2007, she published her first modern fairy tale novel, Garden Spells, which immediately entered the mainstream paranormal fiction. The book uncovers a family’s secret garden full of extraordinary powers that should remain protected by their generations despite the wounds of the past. It was aNew York Timesbestseller and also included in Barnes & Noble Recommends.

Her novels have been translated into over 30 languages, and millions have been sold worldwide. In 2011, she released The Girl Who Chased the Moon, where the protagonist was set to solve her mother’s mysteries and ended up haunted by ghosts in their old house. Although most of Allen’s works delve into magic realism, she still incorporates suspenseful gothic stories, which make her writings unique and chilling.

“Sometimes it’s necessary to embrace the magic, to find out what’s real in life, and in one’s own heart.”

Sarah Addison Allen, First Frost

3. Betty Ren Wright, 1927 - 2013

Betty Ren Wright’s early career as an editor of kid’s books in Western Publishing honed her to write compelling ghost stories about kids. She also contributed short fictional stories in many magazines before fully committing to writing novels. Wright authored over 50 books, and among her famous gothic works are *The Dollhouse Murders, Christina’s Ghost,*and The Ghosts of Mercy Manor.

In *The Dollhouse Murders,*she invested in characters with disabilities who were called by the spirit of a dollhouse to unravel the murder that happened in the house 30 years ago. Similarly, [A Ghost in the House](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0590436031? tag=work089-20) plots supernatural events occurring in an old home until the main character decides to track them and finds they’re a family. In these two novels, Wright’s writing style centers around bringing a scary yet satisfying involvement of her readers in solving the twists and plots in the stories.

“But, even little kids can learn to help themselves, and they’re happier because of it.”

Betty Ren Wright, The Dollhouse Murders

4. Katherine Howe, 1977 -

Most of Katherine Howe’s works in the gothic suspense genre are based on historical information about universal reality and beliefs. For instance, her debut novel, The Physick Book of Deliverance, published in 2009, reflects the controversial Salem Witch Trials. The hearings prosecuted over 200 people for witchcraft during colonial Massachusetts in 1692. In this novel, Howe hooks her readers through black magic, alchemy, and witchcraft.

Howe’s debut novel also landed the second spot on New York Times bestselling list in 2009 and was one of the top ten books for USA Today in the same year. With her significant work on this, she became an editor of the Penguin Classics for The Penguin Book of Witchesin 2014, sourcing the witchcraft history of England and North America. Howe also collaborated with Nathaniel Hawthorne for The House of the Seven Gables, a classic gothic story of curses and ghosts spreading terrors in an evil house.

“God shields the souls of the innocent the best He can from the Devil’s torments.”

Katherine Howe, The Physick Book of Deliverance

5. Daphne du Maurier, 1907 - 1989

Many critics overlooked the works of Daphne du Maurier in the gothic suspense genre as she has the style of borrowing traditional gothic motifs from other writers and reviving them using dark romance plotlines. Soon enough, her persistence and love for this genre earned her a reputation. For instance, her three novels *Jamaica Inn, Rebecca,*and [My Cousin Rachel](https://www.amazon.com/dp/1402217099? tag=work089-20)used gothic themes and twists in desperate stories with dark and mature themes.

In 1940, Rebeccawas adapted into a film, and in 2020, Netflix released a remake after 80 years to revive Du Maurier’s timeless contribution to the gothic literary genre. The story’s about a man who married soon after his wife died. However, his previous wife’s death haunted his new marriage, and the danger echoes from the grave.

“Happiness is not a possession to be prized, it is a quality of thought, a state of mind.”

Daphne du Maurier, Rebecca

6. Tamara Thorne, 1957 -

Tamara Thorne is an American horror writer with the pen name Chris Curry. Her interest in collecting and reading ghost stories prompted her to write numerous novels about the paranormal, folklore, conspiracies, and vampires. Tamara has also been an investigator for real-life paranormal activities for 20 years, from which she’s spoken to different groups and appeared in television shows like Ghost Adventures.

Since her first published book in 1991, she became an International Bestseller for her works in *Haunted, Bad Things,*and *The Sorority.*For instance, Haunted*was set in a Victorian mansion with a bloody history of mass murders, torture, and deprivation of everyday life. On the other hand,Bad Thingsis a childhood story of a boy who sees green jacks, which haunt him even when he has kids of his own. Thorne likes to venture into the depths of gothic suspense novels.

“In their rooms, some guests read or made love, but most of them slept, blissfully unaware of the fact that their innkeepers were losing their minds.”

Tamara Thorne, Candle Bay

7. Henry Farrell, 1920 - 2006

Henry Farrell authored the well-received gothic horror *What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? * a classic story of revenge through threats of revealing past secrets. The novel was adapted into a movie in 1962, instilling Ferrell’s name in the literary world. After a big hit, he wrote a short story,Sweet Charlotte, to follow the story of Baby Jane, which was later made into a novel,What Ever Happened to Cousin Charlotte?

His short stories collection and novel were also converted into a second film, which received seven Academy Award nominations. These two works of Farrell established his writing style of including psychological horrors with profound and fascinating events about murder, ghosts, and family secrets in his works. Check out our round-up of authors like Sandra Brown).

“Sometimes you thought you had a thing - but then part of it - or all of it - always got away. Life itself could not be possessed, really, not even a minute of it.”

Henry Farrell, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

8. David Morrell, 1943 -

David Morrell received his Ph.D. in American Literature at Penn State. He taught as a professor at the University of Iowa for over 15 years before finally leaving to commit to full-time writing. His first book, First Blood, became an International Bestseller and has been adapted into the 1982 Sylver Stallone’s iconic character, Rambo, which started a series of films with the same protagonist. The novel and film reflect the psychological effects of the Vietnam War on American veteran soldiers.

Morrell is also one of the founders of the International Thriller Writers organization, with over 5,000 members in 49 countries guiding and supporting about 3.2 billion book sales worldwide. Some of his notable books are Inspector of the DeadandThomas and Emily De Quincey*series, which also portrays a historical war set in Victorian England, blatantly revealing the dark and intense killings threatening the whole nation.

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“Sometimes life kicks you in the teeth with an irony that a self-respecting fiction writer would be ashamed to invent.”

David Morrell, Fireflies

9. Beatriz Williams

Beatriz Williams worked as a communication strategy specialist in London and New York before becoming a full-time writer. Her decision to leave her high-paying job was worth it as she became a New York Times, USA Today, and International Bestselling author. Most of Williams’ novels capture the Jazz Age, demonstrating historical fiction with brutal and mysterious storylines.

Williams wrote different novel genres, including romance, fiction, mystery thrillers, and gothic suspense. Her works in [The Forgotten Room](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0451474635? tag=bsio-20) combine relationships, family secrets, and mysteries set in an old mansion. Her other popular novels areA Certain Age, The Secret Life of Violet Grantand A Hundred Summers.

“Listen and love and support and whatever you can. But you can’t expect to save them. You can’t hold yourself responsible for their choices.”

Beatriz Williams, The Glass Ocean

10. Jennifer McMahon, 1968 -

Jennifer McMahon is famous for writing thriller, suspense, and fiction novels with supernatural and paranormal content. Eleven of her books were on the bestselling list of the New York Times, including her debut novel, Promise Not To Tell. The book is a ghost story anchored on McMahon’s dark fears and the unexplained elements that haunts her every night.

The second book by McMahon, Island of Lost Girls,was also on the bestseller list and was released in England and Germany. Meanwhile, herDismantlednominated her for the Lambda Literary Prize and was released in England, Germany, and Netherlands. McMahon’s latest book, The Children on the Hill, tells a childhood story of evils spreading dangers. Check out these authors like Shari Lapena).

“The tragedies we endure shape our lives: we carry them like shadows.”

Jennifer McMahon, The Children on the Hill

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes great historical fiction?

Great historical fiction combines accurate historical detail with compelling storytelling. It should transport readers to another time while telling engaging stories about characters who feel authentic to their period while remaining relatable to modern readers.

How accurate does historical fiction need to be?

Historical fiction should be reasonably accurate in its major historical details, but authors can take creative liberties with minor elements and character interactions. The key is maintaining the feel and authenticity of the period while telling a good story.

Why read historical fiction?

Historical fiction offers entertainment while educating readers about different time periods and cultures. It can provide insights into how people lived, thought, and experienced major historical events, making history more accessible and engaging.

What are the best historical fiction books?

The best historical fiction books include ‘The Pillars of the Earth’ by Ken Follett, ‘Wolf Hall’ by Hilary Mantel, ‘The Book Thief’ by Markus Zusak, and ‘All the Light We Cannot See’ by Anthony Doerr. These books excel at both historical accuracy and storytelling.

Explore Thriller & Horror Genre Characteristics

Ready to discover what makes gothic suspense and thriller novels so compelling? Our interactive Book Genre Explorer reveals the key elements that define these atmospheric genres, plus recommendations for more authors and subgenres to explore.