In this post, we’ll take a look at 12 authors similar to Lisa Gardner, writers who masterfully blend psychological depth, gripping suspense and complex characters into their thrillers.
Whether you love Gardner’s chilling crime scenes, her strong female protagonists or the intricate investigations that keep you guessing, these authors offer equally compelling reads.
From the forensic precision of Patricia Cornwell to the shocking twists of Harlan Coben, each of these writers like Lisa Gardner brings their own unique style to the world of thrillers.
12 Authors Similar to Lisa Gardner
1. Karin Slaughter
Writing Style & Themes:
Slaughter’s thrillers are intense, character-driven and filled with psychological depth.
Like Gardner, she creates flawed yet compelling protagonists, intricate investigations and dark twisting plots that keep readers on edge.
Notable Books/Series:
- Will Trent series
- Grant County series
- Pretty Girls
Why Readers Will Love Her:
Her books deliver gripping crime stories with deep emotional stakes and morally complex characters.
Fans of Gardner’s psychological thrillers will love Slaughter’s raw immersive storytelling.
Karin Slaughter’s Website: https://www.karinslaughter.com
2. Tess Gerritsen
Writing Style & Themes:
Gerritsen’s background as a physician adds a layer of medical realism to her thrillers.
Like Gardner, she blends chilling suspense with well-researched police procedurals and strong female leads.
Notable Books/Series:
- Rizzoli & Isles series
- The Surgeon
- Playing with Fire
Why Readers Will Love Her:
She masterfully balances forensic detail with gripping psychological drama, making her books both thrilling and thought-provoking.
Fans of Gardner’s intense investigative thrillers will feel right at home.
Tess Gerritsen’s Website: https://www.tessgerritsen.com
3. Tami Hoag
Writing Style & Themes:
Hoag expertly weaves suspense with deep character development, often mixing romance into her psychological thrillers.
Like Gardner, she creates intense plots with emotionally charged relationships.
Notable Books/Series:
- Dark Horse
- A Thin Dark Line
- Deeper Than the Dead
Why Readers Will Love Her:
She crafts gripping mysteries with strong emotional depth, keeping readers hooked from start to finish.
Tami Hoag’s Website: https://tamihoag.com
4. Iris Johansen
Writing Style & Themes:
Johansen’s transition from romance to crime thrillers mirrors Gardner’s evolution.
Her Eve Duncan series features relentless pacing, high-stakes investigations and strong female protagonists.
Notable Books/Series:
- Eve Duncan series
- The Face of Deception
- The Killing Game
Why Readers Will Love Her:
She writes fast-paced thrillers with emotional depth, blending action, suspense and personal stakes seamlessly – perfect for fans of Gardner’s gripping storytelling.
Iris Johansen’s Goodreads Profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/32498.Iris_Johansen
5. Lisa Jackson
Writing Style & Themes:
Jackson’s thrillers are packed with psychological tension, intricate mysteries and strong-willed heroines.
Like Gardner, she expertly layers suspense and emotion in her stories.
Notable Books/Series:
- New Orleans series
- If She Only Knew
- You Don’t Want to Know
Why Readers Will Love Her:
Her books offer relentless suspense with unexpected twists making them impossible to put down.
Gardner fans will appreciate her deeply engaging and chilling thrillers.
Lisa Jackson’s Website: https://www.lisajackson.com
6. Harlan Coben
Writing Style & Themes:
Harlan Coben excels at crafting high-stakes thrillers featuring ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances.
Like Gardner, he delivers sharp twists, emotional depth and fast-paced suspense.
Notable Books/Series:
- Tell No One
- The Stranger
- Myron Bolitar series
Why Readers Will Love Him:
His thrillers are unpredictable, emotionally charged and filled with shocking revelations – ideal for readers who love Gardner’s edge-of-your-seat storytelling.
Harlan Coben’s Website: https://www.harlancoben.com
7. Mary Higgins Clark
Writing Style & Themes:
Mary Higgins Clark, known as the “Queen of Suspense,” crafts tightly woven mysteries with psychological depth.
Like Gardner, she creates relatable characters and builds tension with expertly paced storytelling.
Notable Books/Series:
- Where Are the Children?
- The Cradle Will Fall
- I’ve Got You Under My Skin
Why Readers Will Love Her:
Her books are suspenseful yet accessible, with strong female leads and gripping plots that keep readers turning pages late into the night.
Mary Higgins Clark’s Website: https://www.maryhigginsclark.com
8. Patricia Cornwell
Writing Style & Themes:
Patricia Cornwell’s forensic-heavy thrillers share Gardner’s commitment to research and detail.
Her Kay Scarpetta series dives deep into criminal investigations with a mix of science, suspense and psychological depth.
Notable Books/Series:
- Kay Scarpetta series
- Postmortem
- The Body Farm
Why Readers Will Love Her:
Patricia Cornwell blends cutting-edge forensic science with gripping storytelling, making her books an excellent choice for fans of Gardner’s well-researched thrillers.
Patricia Cornwell’s Website: https://www.patriciacornwell.com
9. Allison Brennan
Writing Style & Themes:
Brennan writes fast-paced thrillers featuring determined heroines.
Like Gardner, she creates multi-layered mysteries with high stakes and intense emotional depth.
Notable Books/Series:
- Lucy Kincaid series
- The Third to Die
- The Prey
Why Readers Will Love Her:
Her books combine psychological tension, intricate investigations and compelling female leads, perfect for readers who love Gardner’s blend of crime and character-driven storytelling.
Allison Brennan’s Website: https://www.allisonbrennan.com
10. Mo Hayder
Writing Style & Themes:
Hayder’s thrillers are dark, psychological and deeply unsettling.
Like Gardner, she isn’t afraid to explore the most disturbing aspects of crime and human nature.
Notable Books/Series:
- Jack Caffery series
- The Birdman
- Gone
Why Readers Will Love Her:
She crafts deeply immersive crime stories that linger in the mind long after the last page, perfect for those who love Gardner’s unflinching psychological suspense.
Mo Hayder’s Goodreads Profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/74876.Mo_Hayder
11. Chevy Stevens
Writing Style & Themes:
Stevens specializes in deeply personal psychological thrillers that blend crime with emotional trauma.
Like Gardner, she delivers gripping narratives with strong female protagonists.
Notable Books/Series:
- Still Missing
- Never Let You Go
- Dark Roads
Why Readers Will Love Her:
Her books are filled with psychological twists and suspenseful storytelling that will keep readers hooked.
Chevy Stevens’ Website: https://www.chevystevens.com
12. Clare Mackintosh
Writing Style & Themes:
A former police officer, Mackintosh writes crime thrillers with procedural authenticity and shocking twists.
Like Gardner, she weaves emotional depth into her suspenseful plots.
Notable Books/Series:
- I Let You Go
- I See You
- Hostage
Why Readers Will Love Her:
Her thrillers deliver unexpected twists, realistic police investigations and emotionally charged storytelling that fans of Gardner will appreciate.
Clare Mackintosh’s Website: https://www.claremackintosh.com
Last Word on the Authors Like Lisa Gardner
If you love Lisa Gardner’s intense thrillers, you’ll find plenty to enjoy with these authors like her.
Whether it’s the forensic expertise of Patricia Cornwell, the dark psychological depth of Mo Hayder or the relentless suspense of Karin Slaughter, each writer brings something unique to the table.
From twist-filled mysteries to character-driven crime stories, these authors similar to Lisa Gardner deliver gripping reads that will keep you hooked until the very last page.