Rex Stout is the author of the Nero Wolfe Mystery Series, which features a very unique private detective. If you have made your way through the entire Nero Wolfe Mystery Series and find yourself missing this particular gourmand who grows his own orchids, then you might be interested in checking out one of the following authors. These authors don’t feature Nero Wolfe, but they do feature mysteries.
Authors similar to Rex Stout:
Margery Allingham: Albert Campion Mystery Series…
Edmund Crispin: Gervase Fen Mystery Series…
Earl Stanley Gardner: Perry Mason Mystery Series…
Dorothy Gilman: Mrs. Pollifax Mystery Series…
Georgette Heyer: Superintendent Hannasyde Mystery Series AND Inspector Hemingway Mystery Series…
Ngaio Marsh: Roderick Alleyn Mystery Series…
Ellery Queen: Ellery Queen Mystery Series…
Dorothy L. Sayers: Lord Peter Wimsey Mystery Series…
Georges Simenon: Inspector Maigret Mystery Series…
Phoebe Atwood Taylor: Asey Mayo Mystery Series AND Leonidas Witherall Mystery Series…
Please post your recommendations of authors who are similar to Rex Stout, and I will add them to the list.
♦To access more Cozy Mysteries by theme click on this link.♦
Alfred says
Danna, What about Phoebe Atwood Taylor’s Asey Mayo and Leonidas Witherall? (not sure if that last name is correct.)
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Hi Alfred,
Thanks for the reminder… I am going to go add her to the list…
Carol says
You have just listed some of my most favorite authors. These are the ones I have re-read over the years when I am waiting for new books to come out. I have also discovered “new” old authors on your site for the first time–which is always fun.
Ralph says
Your list was deja vu. I enjoy most of the listed authors and looking forward to those I have not read. I would like the author Martha Grimes and her Richard Jury detective considered as a Cozy Mystery Author.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Ralph, I also think of the Martha Grimes Richard Jury Mystery Series as a Cozy series, even though it’s a police procedural.
Jolene says
Robert Goldsboro wrote several books (4 I think) in the Rex Stout – Nero Wolfe style. excellent books.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thank you, Jolene, for telling us about Robert Goldsboro.
cappie says
Deborah Crombie is one I have enjoyed
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Cappie, thank you!
Janet says
I’d like to know what is the favorite author on the list????
Thank you!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Janet, I’m sorry, but I can’t narrow it down to just one author…
cappie says
Altho I like most of these authors I do not think that they are like Rex Stout at all. He was unique & no one comes even close to his style.
Madame Zorka says
I agree with Cappie. These are all fine authors (I’ve read most), but none are in the same league as Rex Stout. I’m re-re-re-re-reading the corpus for the umpteenth time. (It’s fortunate that the local library has them in a version I can download to my pad.)
Goldsborough makes an heroic try, and I’m glad he’s keeping Wolfe and Archie alive, but there’s just something about Archie saying he’s entering the germination records in the computer that’s just not right. I give Goldsborough high marks, but at best I think he’s only Rex Sto_ _. (I hope he keeps writing these, because even a partial Rex Stout is better than no Rex Stout.)
JHC says
And yes I agree Rex Stout was one of a kind- thank God he was so prolific! We listen to him read aloud every night in the dark before sleeping- he is addictive- and tho prolific there will never be enough
JHC says
Sadly she is gone now but Elizabeth Peters is a favorite too and was prolific – actually learned some archeo from her as she was a full fledged top notch PhD egyptologist
Katie says
Georgette Heyer’s mysteries are great. She is not as well known for them as she is for her Regency romances, but I love them just as much as Rex Stout and Agatha Christie. They are set in the time period similar to Archie and Wolfe. I suggest adding them to the list.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Katie, that’s a good suggestion – I’ll add her to the list. Thanks!
Oldemill says
How about a list of books by authors who are writing under a pen name? I know the list would be legion, but there could be a way to narrow it down.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Oldemill, I’ll consider that one – it would be quite a list though!
JHC says
Elizabeth Peters Peabody and Emerson Egyptian archeologists series- I was so upset on so many levels when she died with dignity at a ripe old age- Rest In Peace Elizabeth ( pen name I know) Did you know she really did have a prestigious PhD in Egyptology?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
JHC, why yes, I did happen to know that! I’ll think about adding her to this list – I’ll admit I wouldn’t really think of her as being particularly similar to Rex Stout, but I will think on it.
JHC says
Dunno how similar but so fun so readable- escapism and uplifting in turns- like Ms Pollifax maybe
Danna - cozy mystery list says
JHC, I certainly agree that Mrs. Pollifax is a good series, but not sure how similar it is to Rex Stout —> except perhaps in terms of quality of writing!
JLM says
Rex Stout was unique; but for similar geographical setting, unsentimental (and often terrifically funny) tone, and really good writing, I’d put the Emma Lathen mysteries on the list. Both writers are my regular go-tos.
Linda B says
Thanks for this interesting thread! So love the Nero Wolfe books and the TV series and movies, esp with Timothy Hutton as Archie. Found Rex Stout after listening to Michael Pritchard narrate most all the Spenser books by Robert B Parker and went to find what else he had narrated. He does such a good job on the Wolfe books. I love all the Spenser books too, love the characters and the dialog and their philosophy. Have also liked Stuart Woods’ Barrington Stone books and the characters there. A bit more racy than Nero or Spenser, but compelling. Looking forward to checking out this list of authors and series you have put down. Again, thank you!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Linda B, you are very welcome!
Don Mead says
Perchance you forgot Arthur Conan Doyle and the Sherlock Holmes mysteries. Same genre, both super detectives, great characters and villains, and the dialogue is first rate.
Marla May says
John Sandford’s Virgil Flowers series reminds me of Nero Wolfe.
Don English says
I would like to recommend Arthur Upfield. I think he fits right in very nicely.