30 Essential Mystery Authors

Think all mystery books are the same? Think again. Thrillers, suspense, crime novels, detective fiction - whatever you call them, mystery books make for some of the most exciting literature out there. The mystery genre has been around for over two centuries, with pioneers like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Wilkie Collins, Edgar Allan Poe and G.K. Chesterton leading the way. From real-life spies (John le Carré, Ian Fleming, and Graham Greene) to politicians and journalists, mystery authors come from all walks of life and so do their protagonists. From elderly spinster Miss Marple and hard-drinking P.I. Phillip Marlowe, to dashing spy James Bond and medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta, the mystery genre spans far and wide. Whether it's Victorian era crime you're after, or contemporary psychological thrillers are your thing, enjoy our list of essential mystery authors. 

Agatha Christie

The English crime novelist wrote dozens of mysteries, and is best known for her beloved fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple.

Arthur Conan Doyle

A doctor-turned-writer, Sir Arthur is the man behind the famous detective duo Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.

Dorothy L. Sayers

Sayers is best known for her Lord Peter Wimsey novels and stories. The 'gentleman detective' debuted in Whose Body? in 1923.

Dashiell Hammett

The New York Times called American author and screenwriter Dashiell Hammett 'the dean of the hard-boiled school of detective fiction'.

Raymond Chandler

Chandler made his detective fiction debut in the popular pulp magazine Black Mask and went on to write several novels and film adaptations.

P.D. James

Prolific crime writer and creator of fictional police commander Adam Dalgliesh, Phyllis Dorothy James was also a Baroness.

Ruth Rendell

Another Baroness, Rendell was best known for exploring the pyschological backgrounds of her fictional criminals. She also wrote under the pseudonym Barbara Vine.

Patricia Highsmith

Best known for her psychological thrillers, Highsmith's first novel, Strangers on a Train, was adapted for film by Alfred Hitchcock. Several more Highsmith thrillers went on to see the silver screen.

John le Carré

A real-life spy, le Carré is the king of espionage literature and best known for his 163 novel The Spy Who Came in from the Cold.

Edgar Allan Poe

The legendary American writer and poet garnered a cult following with his macabre mystery tales.

Stieg Larsson

A Swedish journalist, Larsson is best known for writing the Millennium trilogy starring Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist.

Elmore Leonard

The American novelist and screenwriter got his start in Western novels, and later went on to specialize in crime fiction.

Mickey Spillane

Spillane started as a writer for comic books, and even dabbled in acting. He once played his own fictional detetive, Mike Hammer, in a film adaptation.

Sue Grafton

Best known as the author of the 'alphabet series' featuring P.I. Kinsey Millhone in the fictional city of Santa Teresa, California.

Patricia Cornwell

Cornwell is known for her series of crime novels about medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta.

Robert B. Parker

Parker wrote dozens of novels featuring private detective Spenser.

John D. MacDonald

In 1972, the prolific thriller writer was named the Grand Master of the Mystery Writers of America. He won a National Book Award in 1980.

Donald E. Westlake

Three-time Edgar Award-winner Donald Westlake wrote over 100 books. He earned the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master title in 1993.

Wilkie Collins

A friend and collaborator of Charles Dickens, Collins' 1868 novel The Moonstone is considered one of the earliest modern English detective novels.

James M. Cain

The American author and journalist was known for his hardboiled crime. He was an early creator of the roman noir genre.

Ian Fleming

The English author, journalist and real-life WWII spy is best known for his James Bond series.

John Buchan

Buchan, otherwise known as Lord Tweedsmuir, was a writer and a politician. He is best known for his adventure novel The Thirty-Nine Steps.

Graham Greene

Perhaps best known for his Catholic literature, Graham Greene drew on his experience as a member of the M16 to write entertaining thrillers.

Rex Stout

The creator of Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin, Stout received the Mystery Writers of America's Grand Master title in 1959.

Ngaio Marsh

A New Zealand crime writer and theatre director, Marsh was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1966. She created gentleman detective Inspector Roderick Alleyn.

G.K. Chesterton

Dubbed the "prince of paradox", Chesterton is well known for his fictional priest-detective Father Brown.

Erle Stanley Gardner

The American lawyer and author is best known for his Perry Mason detective stories.

Cornell Woolrich

Many of Woolrich's crime stories were adapted for film noir and dramatic radio programs. He also wrote under the pseudonyms William Irish and George Hopley.

Tana French

Contempory writer Tana French has been awarded the Edgar, Anthony, Macavity, and Barry awards. The Independent calls her "The First Lady of Irish Crime."

Louise Penny

Originally a broadcaster for Canada's public radio, CBC, Penny is known for her mystery novels centred on the work of Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec.