10 Must-Read Authors Like Stephen King

If you’ve devoured Stephen King’s books and are craving more horror, suspense, dark fantasy, and psychological thrillers, you’re in luck. King is a master of small-town terror, psychological horror, and deeply unsettling supernatural elements, but he’s not the only author delivering that spine-tingling experience.

Here’s a list of 10 authors to check out if you love Stephen King, whether you’re into his classic horror, psychological thrillers, or epic fantasy crossovers.

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Best Authors to Read After Stephen King

Joe Hill – For That King Family Horror DNA

Best Place to Start: NOS4A2

Joe Hill isn’t just another horror writer—he’s Stephen King’s son. But he’s also carved out his own legacy in the genre. Hill’s books bring that same creepy, character-driven storytelling but with a fresh, modern twist. If you loved It, NOS4A2 offers a terrifying villain who steals children’s souls and a uniquely twisted take on Christmas.

Grab this book on Amazon: NOS4A2

Tananarive Due – For Supernatural Horror with Depth

Best Place to Start: The Good House

If you love King’s blend of psychological horror and supernatural chills, Due’s books are a must-read. The Good House is a terrifying haunted house story that also explores grief, family curses, and African spiritual traditions. Think Pet Sematary, but with even richer cultural layers.

Grab this book on Amazon: The Good House

Stephen Graham Jones – For Slasher Horror with Heart

Best Place to Start: The Only Good Indians

If you loved It or Carrie, Jones brings that coming-of-age horror but from an Indigenous perspective. His books mix psychological dread with slasher horror, and The Only Good Indians is a brutal, thought-provoking horror storyabout guilt, revenge, and supernatural forces.

Grab this book on Amazon: The Only Good Indians

Alexis Henderson – For Gothic Horror & Witchy Vibes

Best Place to Start: The Year of the Witching

If you love King’s slow-burn horror with cult-like communities and supernatural tension, Henderson’s books will hook you. The Year of the Witching combines dark fantasy, feminist horror, and eerie religious oppression in a way that’s just as unsettling as King’s best small-town horrors.

Grab this book on Amazon: The Year of the Witching

Del Sandeen – For Gothic Horror & Haunted Houses

Best Place to Start: This Cursed House

If you love King’s creepy small-town settings and supernatural horror, Del Sandeen’s This Cursed House delivers a chilling Southern Gothic horror experience. Set in 1960s New Orleans, this book follows a young woman who can see ghosts as she uncovers a cursed family’s terrifying secrets.

Grab this book on Amazon: This Cursed House

Robert McCammon – For King-Level Epic Horror

Best Place to Start: Swan Song

If you loved The Stand, Swan Song is one of the best post-apocalyptic horror novels ever written. McCammon’s books have that same character-driven, slow-burn horror that turns into nightmarish chaos.

Grab this book on Amazon: Swan Song

M.L. Rio – For Dark Academia with Psychological Thrills

Best Place to Start: If We Were Villains

While Rio leans more toward literary thrillers, her debut novel brings Shakespearean drama, murder, and slow-burning psychological tension. If you enjoy King’s more psychological horror (Misery, The Shining), this dark academia mystery is a haunting, atmospheric ride.

Grab this book on Amazon: If We Were Villains

Lish McBride – For Dark Fantasy with a Horror Edge

Best Place to Start: Hold Me Closer, Necromancer

If you like King’s blending of supernatural horror with humor and heart, McBride’s books bring a similar mix of dark fantasy, quirky characters, and eerie storytelling. Her Necromancer series is a perfect mix of dark magic, supernatural creatures, and witty dialogue.

Grab this book on Amazon: Hold Me Closer, Necromancer

Hildur Knútsdóttir – For Chilling, Atmospheric Horror

Best Place to Start: The Night Guest

If you love King’s isolated settings and eerie psychological horror, Knútsdóttir’s work is perfect. The Night Guest is a haunting Nordic horror novel that plays with folklore, paranoia, and the uncanny, much like King’s best supernatural thrillers.

Grab this book on Amazon: The Night Guest

Paul Tremblay – For Psychological Horror That Messes with Your Head

Best Place to Start: The Cabin at the End of the World

Tremblay specializes in unsettling, ambiguous horror that makes you question what’s real and what’s imagined. If you liked The Shining or The Outsider, his books have that same creeping dread and psychological intensity.

Grab this book on Amazon: The Cabin at the End of the World

Final Thoughts: Who’s Your Favorite Authors Like Stephen King?

Stephen King is a legend, but he’s not the only one delivering terrifying, thought-provoking horror. Whether you want epic horror, psychological chills, or supernatural nightmares, these authors bring their own unique twists to the genre.

Which of these authors have you read? Drop your recommendations in the comments!

You may also like:

• A guide to horror subgenres
• Want to start reading Stephen King? Check out our complete guide to his work
• More horror recommendations

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