📖 Overview
Brendan DuBois is an American author known for mystery novels, thrillers, and alternate history works. He has published over 25 novels and more than 150 short stories across multiple genres.
DuBois's Lewis Cole mystery series, beginning with "Dead Sand" (1994), follows a former Department of Defense research analyst turned magazine columnist who solves crimes in coastal New Hampshire. His standalone thrillers include "Six Days" and "Resurrection Day," the latter an alternate history novel set in a post-nuclear war America.
A multiple Shamus Award nominee, DuBois has won the Shamus Award for Best Short Story and has received the Al Blanchard Crime Fiction Award. His work has appeared in numerous publications including Playboy, Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, and The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction.
Writing under the pen name Alan Glenn, DuBois has also collaborated with James Patterson on several novels including "The First Lady" and "Black & Blue." He continues to write both series and standalone works from his home in New Hampshire.
👀 Reviews
Readers consistently highlight DuBois's detailed research and authentic portrayal of New Hampshire settings in the Lewis Cole series. Many note his ability to build tension and create complex plots without relying on common thriller tropes.
What readers liked:
- Accurate technical and military details
- Strong sense of place in coastal New Hampshire locations
- Character development of Lewis Cole across the series
- Clean, straightforward writing style
- Historical research in alternate history works like "Resurrection Day"
What readers disliked:
- Some found pacing slow in early Lewis Cole books
- Political viewpoints occasionally too overt
- Supporting characters could use more depth
- Uneven quality across collaborative works with Patterson
Ratings:
- Goodreads: Lewis Cole series averages 3.9/5 across 2,500+ ratings
- Amazon: Author averages 4.2/5 across all titles
- Individual books like "Resurrection Day" rate higher (4.4/5)
"His attention to detail makes the settings come alive" - Amazon reviewer
"Solid plotting without the usual thriller clichés" - Goodreads review
📚 Books by Brendan DuBois
Resurrection Day - In an alternate 1972 where the Cuban Missile Crisis led to nuclear war, a Boston newspaper reporter investigates a decade-old conspiracy surrounding the conflict's true cause.
Dead Sand - Former Department of Defense analyst Lewis Cole investigates suspicious deaths in his new hometown on the New Hampshire coast.
The First Lady - A Secret Service agent races against time to locate the missing First Lady of the United States.
Black & Blue - Three NYPD detectives face increasing danger as they investigate a series of cop killings.
Six Days - A journalist uncovers a deadly conspiracy while investigating the mysterious death of a retired spy in rural New Hampshire.
Dead Sand - Former Department of Defense analyst Lewis Cole investigates suspicious deaths in his new hometown on the New Hampshire coast.
The First Lady - A Secret Service agent races against time to locate the missing First Lady of the United States.
Black & Blue - Three NYPD detectives face increasing danger as they investigate a series of cop killings.
Six Days - A journalist uncovers a deadly conspiracy while investigating the mysterious death of a retired spy in rural New Hampshire.
👥 Similar authors
Nelson DeMille writes thriller novels featuring investigator John Corey, with similar attention to detailed location settings and law enforcement procedures as DuBois's Lewis Cole series. His plots center on counter-terrorism and military themes, drawing from his own military background like DuBois does with defense expertise.
William Kent Krueger crafts mystery series set in specific geographic regions with strong emphasis on local culture and history, similar to DuBois's New Hampshire-based stories. His Cork O'Connor series demonstrates the same blend of character-driven narrative and complex plotting found in the Lewis Cole books.
Robert B. Parker writes detective fiction set in New England with a focus on regional atmosphere and investigative procedure that mirrors DuBois's approach. His Spenser series features similar first-person narration and exploration of local politics and crime.
Philip Kerr creates historical thriller fiction that explores alternate perspectives on historical events, comparable to DuBois's work in "Resurrection Day." His Bernie Gunther novels demonstrate the same attention to historical detail and political implications.
Joseph Finder produces contemporary thrillers involving government agencies and conspiracies, matching DuBois's interest in defense and intelligence themes. His novels feature protagonists with similar backgrounds in government work who become entangled in complex investigations.
William Kent Krueger crafts mystery series set in specific geographic regions with strong emphasis on local culture and history, similar to DuBois's New Hampshire-based stories. His Cork O'Connor series demonstrates the same blend of character-driven narrative and complex plotting found in the Lewis Cole books.
Robert B. Parker writes detective fiction set in New England with a focus on regional atmosphere and investigative procedure that mirrors DuBois's approach. His Spenser series features similar first-person narration and exploration of local politics and crime.
Philip Kerr creates historical thriller fiction that explores alternate perspectives on historical events, comparable to DuBois's work in "Resurrection Day." His Bernie Gunther novels demonstrate the same attention to historical detail and political implications.
Joseph Finder produces contemporary thrillers involving government agencies and conspiracies, matching DuBois's interest in defense and intelligence themes. His novels feature protagonists with similar backgrounds in government work who become entangled in complex investigations.