12 Authors Similar to Stephen King for Thrill Seekers

If you love spine-chilling horror, gripping suspense and deeply immersive storytelling, you’ll enjoy these authors similar to Stephen King.

From supernatural nightmares to psychological thrillers, these writers like Stephen King capture the same eerie atmosphere and relentless tension that make King’s books so addictive.

If you’re looking for new favorites to keep you up at night, you won’t want to miss these thrilling reads.

12 Authors Similar to Stephen King

1. Joe Hill

Writing Style & Themes:
Joe Hill blends supernatural horror with deep character-driven narratives, much like his father, Stephen King. 

His stories often feature eerie, psychological tension and emotionally complex protagonists facing otherworldly threats.

Notable Books/Series:

• Heart-Shaped Box – A chilling ghost story about a rock star who buys a haunted suit.
• NOS4A2 – A supernatural thriller featuring a terrifying immortal villain.
• The Fireman – A post-apocalyptic tale about a mysterious plague that causes spontaneous combustion.

Why Readers Will Love Him:
Hill’s writing delivers a gripping mix of horror, dark fantasy and compelling characters that feel real.

Joe Hill’s Website: www.joehillfiction.com

2. Dean Koontz

Writing Style & Themes:
Dean Koontz’s novels combine horror, suspense and science fiction, often featuring strong protagonists facing relentless supernatural threats. 

His work like King’s is fast-paced and full of psychological tension.

Notable Books/Series:

• Watchers – A thrilling tale of a super-intelligent golden retriever and a terrifying creature.
• Intensity – A nerve-wracking psychological horror about a woman stalked by a ruthless killer.
• Odd Thomas (series) – A paranormal mystery series following a young man who can see the dead.

Why Readers Will Love Him:
Dean Koontz’s blend of heart-pounding suspense and emotional depth keeps readers hooked.

Dean Koontz’s Website: www.deankoontz.com

3. Peter Straub

Writing Style & Themes:
Straub’s horror is more literary and psychological, often delving into dark complex narratives. 

He collaborated with Stephen King on The Talisman and Black House, making him a natural recommendation for King fans.

Notable Books/Series:

• Ghost Story – A classic supernatural horror novel about past sins haunting a group of old friends.
• The Talisman (co-written with Stephen King) – A dark fantasy adventure.
• Shadowland – A terrifying tale involving magic, nightmares, and an eerie boarding school.

Why Readers Will Love Him:
Straub’s ability to build atmospheric dread and deeply layered characters makes his stories unforgettable.

Peter Straub’s Website: www.peterstraub.net

4. Paul Tremblay

Writing Style & Themes:
Tremblay’s horror leans heavily into psychological and existential terror often leaving readers questioning reality. 

His work has been praised by Stephen King himself.

Notable Books/Series:

• A Head Full of Ghosts – A mind-bending horror novel about a possibly possessed teenager.
• The Cabin at the End of the World – A psychological thriller about a family facing an unthinkable choice.
• Survivor Song – A fast-paced horror story set during a deadly pandemic.

Why Readers Will Love Him:
Tremblay’s books unsettle readers with their creeping dread and psychological complexity.

Paul Tremblay’s Website: www.paultremblay.net

5. Bentley Little

Writing Style & Themes:
Little’s horror often focuses on the dark underbelly of small-town life much like King’s work. 

His stories are unsettling, bizarre and full of eerie social commentary.

Notable Books/Series:

• The Store – A terrifying take on corporate power invading small-town America.
• The Mailman – A horror novel about a sinister postman bringing more than just letters.
• The Ignored – A surreal, chilling tale of a man slowly becoming invisible to society.

Why Readers Will Love Him:
Little’s ability to turn everyday situations into nightmares is both terrifying and fascinating.

Bentley Little’s Goodreads Profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2998.Bentley_Little 

6. John Farris

Writing Style & Themes:
Farris specializes in supernatural horror and thrillers often featuring young protagonists thrust into terrifying otherworldly situations, similar to King’s style.

Notable Books/Series:

• The Fury – A supernatural thriller about psychic powers, family secrets, and government conspiracies.
• Son of the Endless Night – A gripping horror novel involving demonic possession and courtroom drama.
• Shatter – A psychological horror story with a chilling twist on reality.

Why Readers Will Love Him:
Farris blends supernatural horror with gripping storytelling that keeps readers on edge.

John Farris’s Goodreads Profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/85410.John_Farris 

7. Graham Masterton

Writing Style & Themes:
Masterton’s horror is deeply atmospheric often drawing from folklore, curses and the supernatural. 

His books mix fast-paced storytelling with eerie unsettling imagery.

Notable Books/Series:

• The Manitou – A terrifying novel about an ancient Native American spirit seeking revenge.
• The House That Jack Built – A haunted house story with an intense, psychological edge.
• Ritual – A disturbing horror-thriller centered around dark rituals and cannibalism.

Why Readers Will Love Him:
Masterton’s ability to weave folklore into modern horror makes his books both chilling and unique.

Graham Masterton’s Website: https://www.grahammasterton.co.uk 

8. Richard Matheson

Writing Style & Themes:
Matheson was a master of psychological horror often blending science fiction with supernatural elements. 

His influence on Stephen King is undeniable.

Notable Books/Series:

• I Am Legend – A groundbreaking vampire apocalypse novel.
• Hell House – A terrifying haunted house story with a scientific twist.
• What Dreams May Come – A deeply emotional horror-fantasy novel exploring the afterlife.

Why Readers Will Love Him:
Matheson’s storytelling is suspenseful, thought-provoking and often deeply personal.

Richard Matheson’s Goodreads Profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8726.Richard_Matheson 

9. Shirley Jackson

Writing Style & Themes:
Jackson’s horror is psychological, unsettling and deeply human. 

She explores themes of isolation, paranoia and the eerie undercurrents of everyday life.

Notable Books/Series:

• The Haunting of Hill House – A classic haunted house novel that inspired countless horror stories.
• We Have Always Lived in the Castle – A chilling, gothic tale of family secrets and madness.
• The Lottery – A short story about a small town’s dark, ritualistic tradition.

Why Readers Will Love Her:
Jackson’s horror is quiet but deeply disturbing, lingering in the mind long after reading.

Shirley Jackson’s Goodreads Profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13388.Shirley_Jackson 

10. Ira Levin

Writing Style & Themes:
Levin’s novels mix horror with psychological thrillers often exploring the dark side of seemingly perfect suburban life. 

His work is gripping, unsettling and full of twists.

Notable Books/Series:

• Rosemary’s Baby – A psychological horror novel about a young woman’s terrifying pregnancy.
• The Stepford Wives – A chilling look at conformity and gender roles in a small town.
• A Kiss Before Dying – A twisted psychological thriller about ambition and murder.

Why Readers Will Love Him:
Levin’s stories are smart, suspenseful and full of creeping dread.

Ira Levin’s Goodreads Profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8050.Ira_Levin 

11. Victor LaValle

Writing Style & Themes:
LaValle’s horror blends social commentary with supernatural and psychological terror. 

His stories often feature complex diverse characters navigating eerie and unsettling situations.

Notable Books/Series:

• The Devil in Silver – A psychological horror novel set in a mental institution.
• The Ballad of Black Tom – A Lovecraftian horror tale with a fresh, socially conscious perspective.
• Big Machine – A surreal mix of horror, mystery, and supernatural elements.

Why Readers Will Love Him:
LaValle’s horror is smart, unique and deeply resonant, offering fresh perspectives on classic themes.

Victor LaValle’s Goodreads Profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1762294.Victor_LaValle 

12. Scott Smith

Writing Style & Themes:
Smith writes horror-thrillers with an intense focus on suspense, survival and the terrifying unpredictability of human nature.

Notable Books/Series:

• The Ruins – A terrifying survival horror novel about ancient, malevolent forces in the jungle.
• A Simple Plan – A dark psychological thriller about greed and moral corruption.

Why Readers Will Love Him:
Smith’s writing is gripping, realistic and utterly unrelenting in its tension.

Scott Smith’s Goodreads Profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/12505.Scott_Smith 

Final Word on Writers Like Stephen King

Great horror and suspense don’t begin and end with Stephen King.

Writers like Joe Hill, Dean Koontz, Shirley Jackson and Richard Matheson have crafted terrifying tales that linger in your mind long after you turn the last page.

Whether you’re drawn to supernatural horror, psychological thrillers or eerie small-town mysteries, these authors similar to Stephen King offer plenty of chilling reads to keep you hooked.

So, if you’re ready to discover your next favorite storyteller, these authors similar to Stephen King are the perfect place to start.