Crime fiction writers are authors of any subgenre of crime fiction, including detective, mystery or hard-boiled.

A–B

  • Megan Abbott (born 1971, United States)
  • Jirō Akagawa (born 1948, Japan)
  • Boris Akunin (born 1956, Russia)
  • Susan Wittig Albert (United States)
  • Steve Allen (1921–2000, United States)
  • Margery Allingham (1904–1966, England)
  • Eric Ambler (1909–1998, England)
  • Steve Anderson (born 1966, United States)
  • Sarah Andrews (died 2019, United States)
  • Gosho Aoyama (born 1963, Japan)
  • Charlotte Armstrong (1905–1969, United States)
  • Jake Arnott (born 1961, England)
  • Gianluca Arrighi (born 1972, Italy)
  • Taku Ashibe (born 1958, Japan)
  • Isaac Asimov (1920–1992, United States)
  • Pieter Aspe (1953–2021, Belgium)
  • H. C. Asterley (1902–1973, England)
  • Edward Atiyah (1903–1964, Lebanon)
  • Edward Attard (born 1947, Malta)
  • Yukito Ayatsuji (born 1960, Japan)
  • Desmond Bagley (1923–1983, England)
  • H. C. Bailey (1878–1961, England)
  • Deb Baker (born 1953, United States)
  • Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay (1899–1970, India)
  • Ashok Banker (born 1964, India)
  • Michael Bar-Zohar (born 1938, Israel)
  • John Franklin Bardin (1916–1981, United States)
  • Burl Barer (born 1947, United States)
  • Robert Barnard (1936–2013, England)
  • Nevada Barr (born 1952, United States)
  • J. J. Barrie (born 1933, Canada)
  • Earle Basinsky (1923–1963, United States)
  • G. D. Baum (United States)
  • William Bayer (born 1939, United States)
  • Simon Beckett (born 1960, England)
  • George Bellairs (1902–1982, England)
  • Robert Leslie Bellem (1902–1968, United States)
  • Edmund Clerihew Bentley (1875–1956, England)
  • Earl Derr Biggers (1884–1933, United States)
  • Mark Billingham (born 1961, England)
  • Robert Bloch (1917–1994, United States)
  • Lawrence Block (born 1938, United States)
  • Deborah Blum (born 1954, United States)
  • Ernest Borneman (1915–1995, Germany)
  • Ernest Bramah (1868–1942, England)
  • Paolo Brera (1949–2019, Italy)
  • Simon Brett (born 1945, England)
  • P. J. Brooke (Scotland)
  • Fredric Brown (1906–1972, United States)
  • Pat Brown (born 1955, United States)
  • Ken Bruen (1951–2025, Ireland)
  • John Buchan (1875–1940, Scotland)
  • John Bude (1901–1957, England)
  • James Lee Burke (born 1936, United States)
  • Jan Burke (born 1953, United States)

C

  • James M. Cain (1892–1977, United States)
  • Paul Cain (1902–1966, United States)
  • Andrea Camilleri (1925–2019, Italy)
  • Bernard Capes (1854–1918, England)
  • John Dickson Carr (1906–1977, United States)
  • Jane Casey (born 1977, Ireland)
  • Kathryn Casey (United States)
  • Rajorshi Chakraborti (born 1977, India)
  • Chan Ho-Kei (born 1975, Hong Kong)
  • Jessie Chandler (born 1968, United States)
  • Raymond Chandler (1888–1959, United States)
  • Vikram Chandra (born 1961, India)
  • Kate Charles (born 1950, United States)
  • Leslie Charteris (1907–1993, England)
  • James Hadley Chase (1906–1985, England)
  • G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936, England)
  • Lee Child (born 1954, England)
  • Chin Shunshin (1924–2015, Taiwan)
  • Agatha Christie (1890–1976, England)
  • Carol Higgins Clark (1956–2023, United States)
  • Mary Higgins Clark (1927–2020, United States)
  • Paul Cleave (born 1974, New Zealand)
  • Brian Cleeve (1921–2003, England)
  • Ann Cleeves (born 1954, England)
  • Harlan Coben (born 1962, United States)
  • Liza Cody (born 1944, England)
  • Max Allan Collins (born 1948, United States)
  • Michael Collins (1924–2005, United States)
  • Michael Connelly (born 1956, United States)
  • John Connolly (born 1968, Ireland)
  • Sheila Connolly (1950–2020, United States)
  • Robin Cook (born 1940, United States)
  • Patricia Cornwell (born 1956, United States)
  • Anthony Berkeley Cox (1893–1971, England)
  • Philip R. Craig (1933–2007, United States)
  • Robert Crais (born 1953, United States)
  • John Creasey (1908–1973, England)
  • Michael Crichton (1942–2008, United States)
  • Catherine Crier (born 1954, United States)
  • Edmund Crispin (1921–1978, England)
  • Freeman Wills Crofts (1879–1957, Ireland)
  • Amanda Cross (1926–2003, United States)
  • James Crumley (1939–2008, United States)
  • Chris Culver (United States)

D–F

  • Jordan Dane (born 1953, United States)
  • Diane Mott Davidson (born 1949, United States)
  • Carol Anne Davis (born 1961, Scotland)
  • Dorothy Salisbury Davis (1916–2014, United States)
  • Janet Dawson (born 1949, United States)
  • Jeffery Deaver (born 1950, United States)
  • Vicki Delany (born 1951, Canada)
  • Lester Dent (1904–1959, United States)
  • P. T. Deutermann (born 1941, United States)
  • William Deverell (born 1937, Canada)
  • Colin Dexter (1930–2017, England)
  • Ranj Dhaliwal (born 1976/1977, Canada)
  • Michael Dibdin (1947–2007, England)
  • Eric Jerome Dickey (1961–2021, United States)
  • Peter Dickinson (1927–2015, England)
  • S. S. Van Dine (1888–1939, United States)
  • Doris Miles Disney (1907–1976, United States)
  • Stacy Dittrich (born 1973, United States)
  • Stephen Dobyns (born 1941, United States)
  • R. B. Dominic (United States)
  • Tim Dorsey (born 1961, United States)
  • John E. Douglas (born 1945, United States)
  • Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930, Scotland)
  • John Dunning (1918–1990, United States)
  • Umberto Eco (1932–2016, Italy)
  • Edogawa Rampo (1894–1965, Japan)
  • Martin Edwards (born 1955, England)
  • Åke Edwardson (born 1953, Sweden)
  • Mark Ellis (born 1953, Wales)
  • James Ellroy (born 1948, United States)
  • Sven Elvestad (1884–1934, Norway)
  • Loren D. Estleman (born 1952, United States)
  • Janet Evanovich (born 1943, United States)
  • Stanley Evans (born 1931, Canada)
  • Diane Fanning (born 1950, United States)
  • Charles Finch (born 1980, United States)
  • Paul Finch (England)
  • Shamini Flint (born 1969, Malaysia)
  • R. Barri Flowers (born 1956, United States)
  • Pascale Fonteneau (born 1963, Belgium)
  • Dick Francis (1920–2010, Wales)
  • Ron Franscell (born 1957, United States)
  • Antonia Fraser (born 1932, England)
  • Tana French (born 1973, Ireland)
  • Kinky Friedman (1944–2024, United States)
  • Gayleen Froese (born 1972, Canada)
  • Jacques Futrelle (1875–1912, United States)

G–H

  • Leighton Gage (1942–2013, United States)
  • Stephen Gallagher (born 1954, England)
  • Erle Stanley Gardner (1889–1970, United States)
  • (born 1965, Italy)
  • Anthony Gilbert (1889–1973, England)
  • Michael Gilbert (1912–2006, England)
  • Kenneth Giles (died 1974, England)
  • Steven Gore (United States)
  • Ed Gorman (1941–2016, United States)
  • Sue Grafton (1940–2017, United States)
  • Caroline Graham (born 1931, England)
  • Ann Granger (born 1939, England)
  • Anna Katharine Green (1846–1935, United States)
  • John M. Green (born 1953, Australia)
  • Graham Greene (1904–1991, England)
  • Bryan Gruley (born 1957, United States)
  • Robert van Gulik (1910–1967, Netherlands)
  • Elizabeth Gunn (United States)
  • Batya Gur (1947–2005, Israel)
  • Dashiell Hammett (1894–1961, United States)
  • Cyril Hare (1900–1958, England)
  • Kent Harrington (United States)
  • Margie Harris ( 1930s, United States)
  • Havank (1904–1964, Netherlands)
  • Monika Hausammann (1974, China)
  • Mo Hayder (1962–2021, England)
  • J. M. Hayes (United States)
  • Elizabeth Haynes (England)
  • He Jiahong (born 1953, China)
  • Tim Heald (1944–2016, England)
  • Peter Heck (born 1941, United States)
  • Georgette Heyer (1902–1974, England)
  • Carl Hiaasen (born 1953, United States)
  • Keigo Higashino (born 1958, Japan)
  • George V. Higgins (1939–1999, United States)
  • Patricia Highsmith (1921–1995, United States)
  • Reginald Hill (1936–2012, England)
  • Tony Hillerman (1925–2008, United States)
  • John Buxton Hilton (1921–1986, England)
  • Chester Himes (1909–1984, United States)
  • Elisabeth Sanxay Holding (1889–1955, United States)
  • Victoria Houston (United States)
  • Dorothy B. Hughes (1904–1993, United States)

I–L

  • Ibn-e-Safi (1928–1980, Pakistan)
  • Francis Iles (1893–1971, England)
  • Arnaldur Indriðason (born 1961, Iceland)
  • Michael Innes (1906–1994, Scotland)
  • Kōtarō Isaka (born 1971, Japan)
  • Ira Ishida (born 1960, Japan)
  • Shirley Jackson (1916–1965, United States)
  • P. D. James (1920–2014, England)
  • Peter James (born 1948, England)
  • J. A. Jance (born 1944, United States)
  • Quintin Jardine (born 1945, Scotland)
  • Marshall Jevons ( 1970s, United States)
  • Bimal Kar (1921–2003, India)
  • H. R. F. Keating (1926–2011, England)
  • Carolyn Keene ( 1970s–1980s, United States)
  • Jürgen Kehrer (born 1956, Germany)
  • Faye Kellerman (born 1952, United States)
  • Jonathan Kellerman (born 1949, United States)
  • Harry Kemelman (1908–1996, United States)
  • Michael Kenyon (1931–2005, England)
  • Simon Kernick (born 1967, England)
  • Kim Young-ha (born 1968, South Korea)
  • Laurie R. King (born 1952, United States)
  • Natsuo Kirino (born 1951, Japan)
  • Kenzo Kitakata (born 1947, Japan)
  • Kazuhiro Kiuchi (born 1960, Japan)
  • Andrew Klavan (born 1954, United States)
  • Ronald Knox (1888–1957, England)
  • William Kent Krueger (born 1950, United States)
  • Natsuhiko Kyogoku (born 1963, Japan)
  • Lori L. Lake (born 1960, United States)
  • Joe R. Lansdale (born 1951, United States)
  • Shulamit Lapid (born 1934, Israel)
  • Gaylord Larsen (born 1932, United States)
  • Stieg Larsson (1954–2004, Sweden)
  • David Lassman (England)
  • Emma Lathen ( 1960s, United States)
  • John le Carré (1931–2020, England)
  • Stephen Leather (born 1956, England)
  • Vanessa Leggett (born 1968, United States)
  • Dennis Lehane (born 1965, United States)
  • Anthony Lejeune (1928–2018, England)
  • Donna Leon (born 1942, United States)
  • Elmore Leonard (1925–2013, United States)
  • Gaston Leroux (1868–1927, France)
  • Ira Levin (1929–2007, United States)
  • Paul Levine (born 1948, United States)
  • Ted Lewis (1940–1982, England)
  • Laura Lippman (born 1959, United States)
  • Steven Long (1944–2022, United States)
  • E. C. R. Lorac (1894–1958, England)
  • Gabrielle Lord (born 1946, Australia)
  • Gayle Lynds (United States)

M

  • John D. MacDonald (1916–1986, United States)
  • Ross Macdonald (1915–1983, United States)
  • Shane Maloney (born 1953, Australia)
  • Henning Mankell (1948–2015, Sweden)
  • Petros Markaris (born 1937, Greece)
  • John Marquand (1893–1960, United States)
  • Ngaio Marsh (1895–1982, New Zealand)
  • William Marshall (1944–2003, Australia)
  • Edward Marston (born 1940, Wales)
  • Jan Mårtenson (1933–2026, Sweden)
  • Faith Martin (England)
  • Seichō Matsumoto (1909–1992, Japan)
  • Peter May (born 1951, Scotland)
  • Ed McBain (1926–2005, US)
  • James H. McClure (1939–2006, England)
  • Val McDermid (born 1955, Scotland)
  • Dennis McDougal (1947–2025, United States)
  • Iain McDowall (Scotland)
  • Adrian McKinty (born 1968, Northern Ireland)
  • Clive Leo McNeir (England)
  • Michele McPhee (born 1970, United States)
  • Lee Mellor (born 1982, England)
  • Nicholas Meyer (born 1945, United States)
  • Milton Scott Michel (1916–1992, United States)
  • Margaret Millar (1915–1994, Canada)
  • Zygmunt Miłoszewski (born 1976, Poland)
  • Denise Mina (born 1966, Scotland)
  • Kanae Minato (born 1973, Japan)
  • Dreda Say Mitchell (born 1965, England)
  • Gladys Mitchell (1901–1983, England)
  • Miyuki Miyabe (born 1960, Japan)
  • Gwen Moffat (born 1924, England)
  • Rick Mofina (Canada)
  • Christopher G. Moore (born 1952, Canada)
  • David Morrell (born 1943, Canada)
  • Mark Morris (born 1963, England)
  • John Mortimer (1923–2009, England)
  • Patricia Moyes (1923–2000, England)
  • Marcia Muller (born 1944, United States)
  • Clare Munnings (United States)
  • Margaret Murphy (born 1959, England)
  • Susan Murphy-Milano (died 2012, United States)

N–Q

  • Magdalen Nabb (1947–2007, England)
  • Fuminori Nakamura (born 1977, Japan)
  • Jo Nesbø (born 1960, Norway)
  • Beverley Nichols (1898–1983, England)
  • Kyōtarō Nishimura (1930–2022, Japan)
  • Asa Nonami (born 1960, Japan)
  • Jamyang Norbu (born 1949, Tibet)
  • Rintaro Norizuki (born 1964, Japan)
  • Malla Nunn (born 1963, Australia)
  • Joyce Carol Oates (born 1938, United States)
  • Marie O'Connor (born 1974, Ireland)
  • Rodica Ojog-Brașoveanu (1939–2002, Romania)
  • Kido Okamoto (1872–1939, Japan)
  • Celil Oker (1952–2019, Turkey)
  • Go Osaka (born 1943, Japan)
  • Arimasa Osawa (born 1956, Japan)
  • Otsuichi (born 1978, Japan)
  • Rodrigues Ottolengui (1861–1937, United States)
  • Sara Paretsky (born 1947, United States)
  • Edith Pargeter (1913–1995, England)
  • Robert B. Parker (1932–2010, United States)
  • Surender Mohan Pathak (born 1940, India)
  • James Patterson (born 1947, United States)
  • Hayford Peirce (1942–2020, United States)
  • Don Pendleton (1927–1995, United States)
  • Louise Penny (born 1958, Canada)
  • Anne Perry (1938–2023, England)
  • Ellis Peters (1913–1995, England)
  • Mike Phillips (born 1941, British Guiana)
  • Scott Phillips (born 1961, United States)
  • Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849, United States)
  • Nicholas A. Price (United States)
  • Bill Pronzini (born 1943, United States)
  • Lisa Pulitzer (born 1962, United States)
  • Ellery Queen (United States)
  • Qiu Xiaolong (born 1953, China)

R–S

  • Melanie Raabe (born 1981, Germany)
  • Indra Soundar Rajan (1958–2024, India)
  • Ian Rankin (born 1960, Scotland)
  • Clayton Rawson (1906–1971, United States)
  • Satyajit Ray (1921–1992, India)
  • Kathy Reichs (born 1948, United States)
  • Ruth Rendell (1930–2015, England)
  • Osvaldo Reyes (born 1971, Panama)
  • Craig Rice (1908–1957, United States)
  • Lynda Suzanne Robinson (born 1951, United States)
  • Peter Robinson (1950–2022, Canada)
  • Elliott Roosevelt (1910–1990, United States)
  • Karen Rose (United States)
  • Caitlin Rother (born 1962, United States)
  • Hemendra Kumar Roy (1888–1963, India)
  • S. J. Rozan (born 1950, United States)
  • Jane Rubino (United States)
  • Ann Rule (1931–2015, United States)
  • Craig Russell (Scotland)
  • James Sallis (1944–2026, United States)
  • C. J. Sansom (1952–2024, Scotland)
  • Joh Sasaki (born 1950, Japan)
  • Robin Sax (born 1972, United States)
  • Dorothy L. Sayers (1893–1957, England)
  • Sandra Scoppettone (born 1936, United States)
  • Cathy Scott (born 1950s, United States)
  • Will Scott (1893–1964, England)
  • Lisa Scottoline (born 1955, United States)
  • Sōji Shimada (born 1948, Japan)
  • John Silvester (Australia)
  • Georges Simenon (1903–1989, Belgium)
  • Roger L. Simon (born 1943, United States)
  • Dorothy Simpson (1933–2020, England)
  • Elizabeth Sims (born 1957, United States)
  • John Sladek (1937–2000, United States)
  • Karin Slaughter (born 1971, United States)
  • Aaron Smith (born 1976, United States)
  • Alexander McCall Smith (born 1948, Scotland)
  • Anthony Neil Smith (United States)
  • Joan Smith (born 1953, England)
  • Martin Cruz Smith (1942–2025, United States)
  • Teresa Solana (born 1962, Spain)
  • Mehmet Murat Somer (born 1959, Turkey)
  • Suzy Spencer (United States)
  • Julia Spencer-Fleming (born 1961, United States)
  • Mickey Spillane (1918–2006, United States)
  • Nancy Springer (born 1948, United States)
  • Rex Stout (1886–1975, United States)
  • Linda Stratmann (born 1948, England)
  • Cecil Street (1884–1964, Gibraltar)
  • Kalpana Swaminathan (born 1956, India)
  • Leonie Swann (born 1975, Germany)
  • Vikas Swarup (born 1960, India)
  • Mitzi Szereto (England)

T–Z

  • Akimitsu Takagi (1920–1995, Japan)
  • Katsuhiko Takahashi (born 1947, Japan)
  • Kazuaki Takano (born 1964, Japan)
  • Tetsuo Takashima (born 1949, Japan)
  • Andrew Taylor (born 1951, England)
  • Josephine Tey (1896–1952, Scotland)
  • Johan Theorin (born 1963, Sweden)
  • Masako Togawa (1931–2016, Japan)
  • M. J. Trow (born 1949, Wales)
  • Margaret Truman (1924–2008, United States)
  • James Twining (born 1972, England)
  • Ahmet Ümit (born 1960, Turkey)
  • Lisa Unger (born 1970, United States)
  • Arthur Upfield (1890–1964, Australia)
  • Andrew Vachss (1942–2021, United States)
  • Nury Vittachi (born 1958, Sri Lanka)
  • Edgar Wallace (1875–1932, England)
  • Lew Wallace (1827–1905, United States)
  • Minette Walters (born 1949, England)
  • Wang Shuo (born 1958, China)
  • Sarah Ward (England)
  • Hillary Waugh (1920–2008, United States)
  • Betty Webb (United States)
  • Charlie Wells (1923–2004, United States)
  • Patricia Wentworth (1877–1961, England)
  • Jeri Westerson (born 1960, United States)
  • Donald E. Westlake (1933–2008, United States)
  • Janwillem van de Wetering (1931–2008, Netherlands)
  • Ethel Lina White (1876–1944, England)
  • Collin Wilcox (1924–1996, United States)
  • Charles Willeford (1919–1998, United States)
  • Daniel Woodrell (1953–2025, United States)
  • Cornell Woolrich (1903–1968, United States)
  • Dornford Yates (1885–1960, England)
  • Yi Kŭmch'ŏl (North Korea)
  • Seishi Yokomizo (1902–1981, Japan)
  • Hideo Yokoyama (born 1957, Japan)
  • Shuichi Yoshida (born 1968, Japan)
  • Yumeno Kyūsaku (1889–1936, Japan)
  • Helen Zahavi (born 1966, England)

See also

  • Lists of authors
  • List of mystery writers
  • List of thriller authors