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Quick answer: If you like Ruth Ware, read Lucy Foley's The Guest List and The Hunting Party, then Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express, Lisa Jewell and Clare Mackintosh. All are twisty, atmospheric mysteries set in isolated places with a cast of suspects.
Ruth Ware is a British thriller author known for In a Dark, Dark Wood, The Woman in Cabin 10, The Death of Mrs Westaway and One by One, where a closed location and a group of characters build to a surprising reveal. Her books are often compared to Christie. The books below offer similar modern and classic whodunits.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| In a Dark, Dark Wood | Ruth Ware | Adult | isolated settings |
| The Woman in Cabin 10 | Ruth Ware | Adult | travel thrillers |
| The Death of Mrs Westaway | Ruth Ware | Adult | readers who like inheritance plots |
| One by One | Ruth Ware | Adult | snowed-in thrillers |
| The Guest List | Lucy Foley | Adult | readers who like closed-circle mysteries |
| The Hunting Party | Lucy Foley | Adult | readers who like reunions |
| Murder on the Orient Express | Agatha Christie | Adult | Poirot classic |
| The Murder of Roger Ackroyd | Agatha Christie | Adult | twist ending |
| A Murder Is Announced | Agatha Christie | Adult | Miss Marple |
| The Silent Patient | Alex Michaelides | Adult | readers who like psychological thrillers |
| Then She Was Gone | Lisa Jewell | Adult | cold cases |
| The Family Upstairs | Lisa Jewell | Adult | readers who like family mysteries |
| I Let You Go | Clare Mackintosh | Adult | hit-and-run |
| Behind Closed Doors | B.A. Paris | Adult | psychological suspense |
| The Girl on the Train | Paula Hawkins | Adult | psychological thriller |
1. In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware
A writer goes to a hen party in a remote glass house, and something goes wrong. Claustrophobic and sharp.
Best for: isolated settings.
2. The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
A journalist on a luxury cruise sees a woman thrown overboard, but no one is missing. Tense and atmospheric.
Best for: travel thrillers.
3. The Death of Mrs Westaway by Ruth Ware
Hal inherits money from a grandmother she never knew and goes to a funeral. Gothic and twisty.
Best for: readers who like inheritance plots.
4. One by One by Ruth Ware
Colleagues on a snowy ski retreat are picked off. Fast and moody.
Best for: snowed-in thrillers.
5. The Guest List by Lucy Foley
A wedding on an island turns into a murder mystery. Told by several narrators.
Best for: readers who like closed-circle mysteries.
6. The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley
A group of old friends gather in a remote Scottish lodge on New Year's Eve, and one is murdered. Tense and atmospheric.
Best for: readers who like reunions.
7. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
Poirot investigates a murder on a snowbound train. Clever and famous.
Best for: Poirot classic.
8. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
Poirot retires to a village and investigates a murder. A famous twist.
Best for: twist ending.
9. A Murder Is Announced by Agatha Christie
A newspaper notice announces a murder, and Miss Marple investigates. A fun puzzle.
Best for: Miss Marple.
10. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
Theo investigates why a woman has stopped speaking after murdering her husband. A big twist ending.
Best for: readers who like psychological thrillers.
11. Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell
A mother whose daughter vanished ten years ago meets a man who may know the truth. Dark and moving.
Best for: cold cases.
12. The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
Libby inherits a London house and uncovers a dark story about the family who lived there. Twisty and gripping.
Best for: readers who like family mysteries.
13. I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh
A mother flees a tragedy while a detective investigates. Has a famous twist.
Best for: hit-and-run.
14. Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris
A couple seems perfect from outside, but the wife is trapped in a nightmare. Tense and disturbing.
Best for: psychological suspense.
15. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
A commuter watches a couple and becomes involved in a disappearance. Moody.
Best for: psychological thriller.
How to Choose
For more Ware begin with In a Dark, Dark Wood or The Woman in Cabin 10. For similar locked-room settings choose Lucy Foley. For classic puzzles pick Agatha Christie. For domestic twists read Lisa Jewell, Clare Mackintosh or B.A. Paris. Ware's books are fast, so these picks suit readers who like a whodunit with a spooky setting. Ruth Ware's novels are often published in the summer and fill many holiday reading lists, and they are widely available as audiobooks. Her influences include Agatha Christie and Daphne du Maurier.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ruth Ware?
A British author of psychological thrillers.
Where should I start?
With In a Dark, Dark Wood or The Woman in Cabin 10.
Are her books standalone?
Yes.
Are they scary?
They are tense and eerie rather than gory.
Is she like Agatha Christie?
Yes, in her locked-room puzzles and settings.
Are there films?
Some are being adapted. Check current listings.
How many has she written?
About a dozen. Check current listings.
What should I read next?
Try The Guest List or Murder on the Orient Express.
Which book here is best for snowed-in thrillers?
Try One by One by Ruth Ware, which suits readers looking for snowed-in thrillers.