Thriller/Mystery/Suspense → Favorite current thriller writers
I like reading thrillers, so I naturally gravitated to the genre for my own stories. Question: Who are your favorite thriller writers? There may be some I've overlooked, so would appreciate getting these names.
It's strange, I am writing a thriller but I actually don't read the genre very much. Other than the usual suspects - Tom Clancy, Daniel Silva, etc, - is there someone you would recommend?
My favorites are Nelson DeMille, Michael Connelly, Greg Iles, Robert Crais, Vince Flynn (RIP). I've read Clancy, of course - stories are good, though a little too techno-geek for me - and also Silva. Paul Erdman was known for writing financial thrillers - right up your alley, Cobber. Clive Cussler tells some wild, but quite entertaining stories. Michael Crichton (another RIP) spun some hair-raising yarns based on potential technology. I channeled him, actually, when I wrote "The Side Effect." I've heard Lee Child, with his Jack Reacher series, is good, but he's still on my to-read list. John Sandford is more mystery/crime than thriller, but he's had some good books with his "Prey" series. Enough for now. Any more authors I should check out, folks?
My favorites are Nelson DeMille, Michael Connelly, Greg Iles, Robert Crais, Vince Flynn (RIP). I've read Clancy, of course - stories are good, though a little too techno-geek for me - and also Silva. Paul Erdman was known for writing financial thrillers - right up your alley, Cobber. Clive Cussler tells some wild, but quite entertaining stories. Michael Crichton (another RIP) spun some hair-raising yarns based on potential technology. I channeled him, actually, when I wrote "The Side Effect." I've heard Lee Child, with his Jack Reacher series, is good, but he's still on my to-read list. John Sandford is more mystery/crime than thriller, but he's had some good books with his "Prey" series. Enough for now. Any more authors I should check out, folks?
How about Sue Grafton?
She's more in the mystery category. Same applies to Cornwell, both Kellermans, and Lescroart. Not that there's anything wrong with that. 
Since my genre is romantic/suspense I tend to go to Sandra Brown and Nora Roberts with a little Jackie Collin's thrown in....
I like Koontz although I always considered him more of a horror writer.
I agree, but his horror was "thrilling."
His Frankenstein series is terrific. Especially the first three books. Pretty easy reads but very well conceptualized. Very creepy concepts.
Just added it to my bookshelf.
Okay, this has nothing to do thrillers unless you think getting three grand mothers high is akin to one of Stephan King's novels...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/1 … 88430.html
It might not be thrilling but it is the funniest thing you'll see all day....
Since I posted that link to Grandmothers getting high I feel I have compensate by leaving a relevant post. I like Dean Kootz better than Stephan King. One thing I really admire about him personally is that he endured years of abuse at hands of an alcoholic father and instead of shaving his head and killing a bunch of people when he grew up...he turned his nightmares into fiction. His style is easy to read and another thing I appreciate about his work is that he always has a solid beginning, middle and end, something lacking in some of Kings work.
Michael Connelly is my favorite author, but I wouldn't consider him a "thriller" author. I consider a thriller to be a story with a lot of running and chasing, menacing bad guys in high places, and intelligent, misunderstood main characters whom nobody believes. With that definition in mind, I nominate Grisham for stories like the Pelican Brief and Runaway Jury. Of course, there's stuff like Jurassic Park, where the menace is Mother Nature in the hands of a crazy scientist, which takes us back to The Island of Doctor Moreau.
And don't forget Grisham's "The Firm." Yes, he's a master of the legal thriller. Connelly has written more than just his Harry Bosch detective stories, which are mainly in the mystery genre, but even some of those I'd classify as thrillers. IMO, one doesn't need multiple chase scenes or fights on Mt. Rushmore to claim thriller rights. A requirement of an action-driven plot would eliminate most psychological thrillers. Good guys, though perhaps flawed themselves, overcoming sinister forces out to do them in is what I'd consider the hallmark of thrillers. "Notorious" had hardly any action. And speaking of Hitchcock, what about "Vertigo"? Two action scenes - one at the beginning and one at the end. Both are definitely thrillers. Harlan Coben - I forgot about him! - doesn't depend on nail-biting action in his stories. But it sure doesn't hurt to have a climactic physical confrontation scene at the end!
Notorious is a great movie. Not much action, you're right. My favorite part is when Cary Grant grabbed Ingmar Bergman and left Claude Rains to deal with the Nazis...or whatever they were...and not a shot fired.
That's what I mean, Dags! Still, quite a thriller. And that closing scene was great.
Oh, I love the look on Claude's face when Cary is half carrying Ingrid down the stairs and out of there, he knows he and probably his mother are going to end up in the river...WHAT GREAT ACTING!!
Michael Connelly is my favorite author, but I wouldn't consider him a "thriller" author. I consider a thriller to be a story with a lot of running and chasing, menacing bad guys in high places, and intelligent, misunderstood main characters whom nobody believes. With that definition in mind, I nominate Grisham for stories like the Pelican Brief and Runaway Jury. Of course, there's stuff like Jurassic Park, where the menace is Mother Nature in the hands of a crazy scientist, which takes us back to The Island of Doctor Moreau.
Michael Connelly is my guilty pleasure...I can not stand his style of writing but his plots are masterful and that's what brings me back time and time again. I think my favorite M. C. book would have to be Concrete Blonde. However, Bosch wastes a lot of time running around L. A. trying to identify the dead girl when all he had to do was get the serial numbers off of her breast implants...unless they were hot implants put in by a crooked doctor under the radar...
But what I really like about his character Bosch is how calm the narrative is before he blows someone away. You almost never see it coming....
Runaway Jury is another of my all time favorite Gresham novels...but his novel The Chamber, about the death penalty, changed the way I think about capital punishment. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it!
dags:)
I adore Connelly's writing style, but my favorite for characterization is Robert Crais. He and Connelly are the only ones I will buy the hardback as soon as it is released. I think Michael Connelley has done a great job of writing Bosch as the character ages. He isn't as rash and angry as he once was. Bosch always was a 'thinker' but the older the character gets the less physical he has become in the books. My favorite book in the Bosch series is The Last Coyote. Harry needs to confront his demons head on. A very introspective narrative. Not everyone's taste. but I really like introspective.
Love, love, love Grisham and Connelly.....Also liked James Patterson altho lately he is writing with other authors and his stories have slipped. another favorite of mine is Robin Cook who writes medical mysteries....
Dags.....So agree with you about "The Chamber" (his novel The Chamber, about the death penalty, changed the way I think about capital punishment.) Great read......Denise
I adore Connelly's writing style, but my favorite for characterization is Robert Crais.
I found another Crais fan! He doesn't usually get mentioned in such lists, but I've always liked his stuff.
I will have to try Crais and since I like introspection too, I'll have to get The Last Coyote. I agree about James Patterson, but I did read his last one Invisable which had a great plot but really weak characterization.
Annie wrote:I adore Connelly's writing style, but my favorite for characterization is Robert Crais.
I found another Crais fan! He doesn't usually get mentioned in such lists, but I've always liked his stuff.
Oh I'm a hard-core Crias fan. I have two signed books by him and two by Connelly easily my prized possessions! Crais was my inspiration for my MC in my first book ( FALLEN) And I strive to incorporate Connelly's quiet characters in my own work- not that I come close but I'll read anything these guys write!
Crais and Connelly are in my top five. But numero uno for me is Nelson DeMille. His John Corey character, especially, is my favorite. Probably because of his wise-ass nature, something I can identify with.
Crais and Connelly are in my top five. But numero uno for me is Nelson DeMille. His John Corey character, especially, is my favorite. Probably because of his wise-ass nature, something I can identify with.
I havent read him. I will have to look him up.
Thriller/Mystery/Suspense → Favorite current thriller writers
