Books Like In the Woods

In the Woods by Tana French has a particular pull. A detective investigating a child's murder is forced to confront his own unsolved disappearance from the same woods, decades earlier.

What tends to stick with readers is its mysterious, thought-provoking and atmospheric feel. A mystery that cares more about psychology than tidy answers. Below are 7 books that carry that feeling in different ways, matched on shared mood, themes and reading experience. In the Woods is a long, fast-paced read (reading level: easy to follow), so we've noted where each pick is quicker, slower or heavier.

The book you loved

In the Woods

Tana French

7 books you might enjoy

1.
Gone Girl
Gillian Flynn
If it was the mysterious side of In the Woods you loved, Gone Girl delivers it too. It runs a bit longer than In the Woods.
Medium · Can't put it down pace · Easy to follow
Explore this book →Books like Gone Girl
2.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Stieg Larsson
If it was the mysterious side of In the Woods you loved, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo delivers it too. The pace is faster than In the Woods'.
Long · Can't put it down pace · Easy to follow
Explore this book →Books like The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
3.
The Secret History
Donna Tartt
Like In the Woods, The Secret History is mysterious and thought-provoking. Both carry the #atmospheric tag. It's a more demanding read than In the Woods.
Long · Can't put it down pace · Moderate
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4.
The Shadow of the Wind
Carlos Ruiz Zafon
The Shadow of the Wind shares In the Woods' mysterious appeal. Both carry the #atmospheric tag.
Long · Fast pace · Easy to follow
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5.
Piranesi
Susanna Clarke
If it was the mysterious and thought-provoking side of In the Woods you loved, Piranesi delivers it too. Both carry the #atmospheric tag. It runs a bit longer than In the Woods.
Medium · Slow pace · Easy to follow
Explore this book →Books like Piranesi
6.
Mexican Gothic
Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Mexican Gothic shares In the Woods' mysterious appeal. Both carry the #atmospheric tag. It runs a bit longer than In the Woods.
Medium · Fast pace · Beginner-friendly
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7.
Where the Crawdads Sing
Delia Owens
If it was the mysterious side of In the Woods you loved, Where the Crawdads Sing delivers it too. Both carry the #atmospheric tag. It runs a bit longer than In the Woods.
Medium · Fast pace · Beginner-friendly
Explore this book →Books like Where the Crawdads Sing