6 Mystery & Thriller Authors To Know If You've Read Every Harlan Coben Book

A Time to Kill by John Grisham

Arkansas native John Grisham is actually a triple threat. The lawyer and former politician is also well-known for his best-selling legal thrillers. In fact, he's managed to pen more than 50 consecutive bestsellers and even received the Library of Congress Creative Achievement Award for Fiction.

Today, he lives on a Virginia farm and gives back to the community when he's not working on another story by serving on the board of directors of two organizations committed to exonerating wrongfully convicted people–the Innocence Project and Centurion Mysteries.

One of his most popular titles, A Time to Kill, was first published back in 1989 and "probes the savage depths of racial violence" in the small town of Clanton, Mississippi. It centers on a 10-year-old girl whose life is taken from her by two drunk young men, and the community, made up of mostly white individuals, is horrified.

But then, the girl's father obtains an assault rifle and tries to deliver justice himself. A Time to Kill is a courtroom drama that delves into the aftermath.

"For 10 days, as burning crosses and the crack of sniper fire spread through the streets of Clanton, the nation sits spellbound as young defense attorney Jake Brigance struggles to save his client's life, and then his own," per the synopsis.

Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz

Dubbed "America's most popular suspense novelist," Dean Koontz graduated from Shippensburg State College (now Shippensburg University) in 1966 and went on to write various New York Times bestsellers.

He grew up in Bedford, Pennsylvania, where books provided a reprieve from his alcoholic father.

"When I was a kid, writers were my heroes because they took me out of that awful house. Books were an escape from the violence of the household and the poverty," Dean told the Pennsylvania Center for the Book.

Today, he resides in Southern California with his wife and remains a highly regarded mystery author. As for his best book? It's arguably Odd Thomas.

Published in 2003, the novel centers on an odd yet "genius" fry cook named Thomas, who works at Pico Mundo Grill. He's dating a beautiful woman, Stormy Llewellyn, but his life is turned upside down when a sinister force arrives in their desert town.

"It comes in the form of a mysterious man with a macabre appetite, a filing cabinet full of information on the world's worst killers, and strange, hyena-like shadows following him wherever he goes," the book's synopsis reads.

Thomas is privy to information that the rest of us lack, too, like knowledge about the dead, the living, and those who are going to die soon. And he knows that, on an upcoming Wednesday, their town is going to be devastated.

NOS4A2 by Joe Hill

Stephen King obviously has a solid reputation — but were you aware that his son, Joe Hill, is also an author? Starting with his debut work, Heart-Shaped Box, he managed to take home the Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel.

Since then, the Maine native has penned the New York Times bestseller The Fireman, in addition to Horns, which was actually turned into a "film freakfest" that starred Daniel Radcliffe. And aside from novels, Joe even writes short stories and comic book series.

Fans of mysteries with a supernatural twist must check out NOS4A2, released in 2013. It chronicles the lives of two people: Victoria McQueen and Charles Talent Manx. Victoria has a covert knack for locating things, whether that be a missing bracelet or an answer to a tough question. And by visiting a rickety bridge, she's able to travel anywhere within minutes.

Meanwhile, Charles is drawn to kids and enjoys taking them for spins in his old 1938 Rolls-Royce Wraith, which is adorned with a vanity license plate that reads "NOS4A2." With the help of his vintage car, he's able to transport himself and the kids to a horrifying place he refers to as "Christmasland."

"Then, one day, Vic goes looking for trouble—and finds Manx. That was a lifetime ago," per the synopsis.

"Now, Vic, the only kid to ever escape Manx’s unmitigated evil, is all grown up and desperate to forget. But Charlie Manx never stopped thinking about Victoria McQueen. He’s on the road again, and he’s picked up a new passenger: Vic’s own son."

Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

Hailing from England, Lisa Jewell is the acclaimed author of 23 novels that continue to capture the attention of her dedicated audience. She came to be known as a romance novelist before her style evolved toward psychological thrillers and suspense, and we couldn't be more thankful.

Lisa's largest hit is definitely Then She Was Gone, released in 2017. It tells the tale of Ellie Mack, a 15-year-old who was the apple of her mother's eye with the whole world at her fingertips. Then, she vanished.

A decade later, Ellie's mother, Laurel, has refused to give up the search. After she gets swept off her feet by a stranger at a cafe named Floyd, she winds up meeting his 9-year-old daughter, who looks exactly like her missing child.

"And now, all those unanswered questions that have haunted Laurel come flooding back. What happened to Ellie? Where did she go? Who still has secrets to hide?" the book's synopsis reads.

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

Lucy Foley is a literary lover through and through. Earlier in her career, she worked as a bookseller, literary scout, literary agent's assistant, and fiction editor. Then, she started creating novels herself.

The British author has tackled historical novels, such as The Book of Lost and Found, as well as multiple murder mystery thrillers, like The Paris Apartment, and The Midnight Feast. But if we could recommend just one book by Lucy, it would be The Guest List.

This novel centers on what's supposed to be a joyful wedding celebration that turns out to be deadly. The nuptials are taking place on an island off the coast of Ireland, where the TV star groom and magazine publisher bride are tying the knot in luxurious (and seemingly perfect) fashion.

"But perfection is for plans, and people are all too human. As the champagne is popped and the festivities begin, resentments and petty jealousies begin to mingle with the reminiscences and well wishes," per the synopsis.

And in the end? Someone winds up dead, and as a reader, you'll be begging to find out why.

Before She Disappeared by Lisa Gardner

Last but certainly not least is Lisa Gardner, who lives in New Hampshire and has published over 20 suspense novels. She's best known for creating the Frankie Elkin series, in addition to the FBI Profilers and Detective D.D. Warren series.

With that being said, we recommend starting with Before She Disappeared, the first installment in the Frankie Elkin series. At the crux of this story lies Frankie Elkin, a middle-aged woman and recovering alcoholic who has dedicated her life to searching for under-reported missing people.

One day, she's forced to go to a rough Boston neighborhood as she searches for a teenager, Angelique Badeau, who disappeared from her high school. However, she's met with pushback from both Boston authorities and Angelique's own family.

"And she soon learns she's asking questions someone doesn't want answered. But Frankie will stop at nothing to discover the truth, even if it means the next person to go missing could be her," per the synopsis.