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Quick answer: If you like Sandra Brown, read Nora Roberts, Tami Hoag, Iris Johansen and Mary Higgins Clark. All write romantic suspense with a strong love story, a dangerous secret and plenty of tension.
Sandra Brown mixes romance and thrillers, with twisty plots, flawed heroes and slow-building passion. Her books are fast, emotional and often keep you guessing until the final chapters. The books below offer similar mixes of danger, desire and mystery, from classic suspense to modern page-turners.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke Screen | Sandra Brown | Adult | more Brown |
| Where Are the Children? | Mary Higgins Clark | Adult | classic suspense |
| Northern Lights | Nora Roberts | Adult | small-town suspense |
| Night Sins | Tami Hoag | Adult | rural crime |
| The Face of Deception | Iris Johansen | Adult | forensic suspense |
| Mr. Perfect | Linda Howard | Adult | witty romantic suspense |
| The Cove | Catherine Coulter | Adult | FBI romance |
| The Unsung Hero | Suzanne Brockmann | Adult | military romance |
| Stealing Shadows | Kay Hooper | Adult | psychic suspense |
| Heartbreaker | Julie Garwood | Adult | romantic mystery |
| Absolute Fear | Lisa Jackson | Adult | dark small-town suspense |
| Don't Tell | Karen Rose | Adult | gritty romantic suspense |
| Rebecca | Daphne du Maurier | Adult | gothic classic |
| The Perfect Husband | Lisa Gardner | Adult | dark thriller |
| Running Hot | Jayne Ann Krentz | Adult | witty paranormal suspense |
1. Smoke Screen by Sandra Brown
A television reporter and a detective are drawn together while investigating a deadly fire. A good pick if you want another Brown thriller with a strong romance.
Best for: more Brown.
2. Where Are the Children? by Mary Higgins Clark
A woman whose children vanished years ago faces the same nightmare again. Clark's first novel, and a model for the genre.
Best for: classic suspense.
3. Northern Lights by Nora Roberts
A former Baltimore cop becomes police chief in an Alaskan town and finds an old murder. Atmospheric, with a slow-building romance.
Best for: small-town suspense.
4. Night Sins by Tami Hoag
A child disappears in a small Minnesota town, and a detective and an FBI agent work together. Tense, emotional and well plotted.
Best for: rural crime.
5. The Face of Deception by Iris Johansen
A forensic sculptor helps a detective find a missing girl. Fast and gripping, with a strong heroine.
Best for: forensic suspense.
6. Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard
A group of women compile a list of an ideal man, and then someone starts killing the men on it. Funny, sexy and clever.
Best for: witty romantic suspense.
7. The Cove by Catherine Coulter
An FBI agent investigates a murder in a quiet coastal town. A good match for readers who like mystery with romance.
Best for: FBI romance.
8. The Unsung Hero by Suzanne Brockmann
A Navy SEAL returns home and falls for a woman with a complicated past. Emotional and action-packed.
Best for: military romance.
9. Stealing Shadows by Kay Hooper
A woman with psychic abilities joins a special team to catch a killer. Moody and addictive.
Best for: psychic suspense.
10. Heartbreaker by Julie Garwood
An FBI agent and a psychologist pursue a charming killer. Light, suspenseful and romantic.
Best for: romantic mystery.
11. Absolute Fear by Lisa Jackson
A woman returns to her hometown and meets danger. Dark, atmospheric and full of twists.
Best for: dark small-town suspense.
12. Don't Tell by Karen Rose
A woman on the run from a terrible past meets a man who wants to protect her. Intense and emotional.
Best for: gritty romantic suspense.
13. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
A young bride is haunted by her husband's first wife. A gothic romance that shaped the suspense genre.
Best for: gothic classic.
14. The Perfect Husband by Lisa Gardner
A woman tries to escape a dangerous marriage. Fast and chilling.
Best for: dark thriller.
15. Running Hot by Jayne Ann Krentz
A psychic woman and a tough investigator track a killer. Fast, funny and romantic.
Best for: witty paranormal suspense.
How to Choose
For romance-heavy suspense pick Nora Roberts, Linda Howard or Suzanne Brockmann. For harder thrillers choose Tami Hoag, Karen Rose or Lisa Jackson. For classic page-turners try Mary Higgins Clark and Daphne du Maurier. For a touch of the paranormal read Kay Hooper or Jayne Ann Krentz. Most of these authors have long backlists, so one good book can keep you busy for months. If you read Brown for the love story, start with Nora Roberts or Linda Howard. If the mystery is the draw, pick Tami Hoag, Karen Rose or Mary Higgins Clark. Readers who want a classic atmosphere will enjoy Rebecca, which many romantic suspense writers cite as an influence. Library holds make it easy to try several authors before committing to a long series.
Related: Sandra Brown Books in Order Printable List · Printable List of Carolyn Brown Books
Frequently Asked Questions
What is romantic suspense?
A blend of thriller plotting and a central love story.
Where should I start with Sandra Brown?
Try Smoke Screen, French Silk or Slow Heat in Heaven.
Are her books standalones?
Mostly, yes.
Are they explicit?
Brown's books include sex scenes, though they are not the main focus.
Which author is closest?
Nora Roberts and Tami Hoag are the usual first picks.
Is Mary Higgins Clark milder?
Yes, with less romance and more suspense.
Are these good for book clubs?
Yes, the twists make for good discussion.
Are there audiobooks?
Yes, for many titles.
Is Sandra Brown a romance writer or a thriller writer?
Both. Her early books were romances, and later ones lean towards thrillers with a strong love story.
Which book is a good first read?
Many readers recommend Smoke Screen or Slow Heat in Heaven.