Bestselling Hachette Authors: 15 Writers You Need on Your Reading List

Most people have no idea who actually publishes their favourite books. And honestly? Until I started properly researching this, neither did I.

Here's the thing: that thriller you grabbed from the supermarket shelf last week, the audiobook keeping you company on your commute, the children's book your kids demand every single bedtime—there's a decent chance they all came from the same publishing house. Hachette UK.

They're Britain's second-largest publisher, and their author roster reads like a who's who of contemporary literature. But beyond the big names everyone knows, there are brilliant writers flying under the radar who deserve far more attention.

I've spent the past month working through Hachette's catalogue—reading, listening, and frankly getting a bit obsessed with their range. The verdict? Some genuinely brilliant finds alongside the expected bestsellers. Let me walk you through the authors worth your time.

What Is Hachette UK? The Publishing Giant Behind Your Bookshelf

Before we get to the authors, a quick bit of context. Hachette UK isn't just one publisher—it's actually eleven different publishing divisions operating over sixty imprints. If that sounds confusing, think of it like this: Hachette is the parent company, and underneath sit publishers you've definitely heard of.

The major imprints include:

• Hodder & Stoughton – Home to John Grisham, Stephen King, and Jodi Picoult
• Little, Brown Book Group – Publishers of JK Rowling (under her Robert Galbraith pseudonym), Val McDermid, and Jenny Colgan
• Orion Publishing Group – Ian Rankin, Michael Connelly, and winner of Publisher of the Year 2021
• Headline – Martina Cole, Neil Gaiman, and Jill Mansell
• Quercus – Stieg Larsson's Millennium series and Elly Griffiths
• Hachette Children's Group – The Horrid Henry series and Asterix books

Why does this matter for your book recommendations? Because once you find an author you love from one Hachette imprint, you can often discover similar writers within the same stable. Publishers tend to have a "type."

Crime and Thriller Authors: The Page-Turners

Let's start with what Hachette does brilliantly—crime fiction. If you burn through thrillers, these are your people.

Ian Rankin

The Scottish crime writer behind the Inspector Rebus series has been publishing with Orion since the late 1980s. There are over twenty Rebus novels now, set in Edinburgh, and they've sold millions worldwide. What surprised me rereading some recently: they've aged remarkably well. The early ones capture 1980s and 90s Edinburgh in a way that feels almost documentary.

Start with: Knots and Crosses or Black and Blue if you want the one that won him the Gold Dagger.

Val McDermid

Another Scottish crime heavyweight, McDermid writes across multiple series—the Tony Hill and Carol Jordan books, the Karen Pirie series (now adapted for ITV), and standalones. She's published by Little, Brown, and honestly, her plotting is masterful.

Start with: The Mermaids Singing for Tony Hill, or A Place of Execution for a standalone.

Martina Cole

Headline publishes Cole, and she's been Britain's bestselling female crime writer for years. Her books are grittier than most—organised crime, London's underworld, families on the wrong side of the law. Not for the faint-hearted, but absolutely gripping.

Start with: Dangerous Lady or The Ladykiller.

Elly Griffiths

Published by Quercus, Griffiths writes the Ruth Galloway series—forensic archaeologist solving crimes in Norfolk. They're a bit cosier than the others on this list, with a lovely sense of place and recurring characters you genuinely care about. Brilliant comfort reading.

Start with: The Crossing Places.

Literary Fiction: The Award Winners

If you prefer something with a bit more weight, Hachette's literary fiction roster is impressive.

David Nicholls

Hodder & Stoughton publishes Nicholls, whose novel One Day became a cultural phenomenon. The film adaptation, the stage play, the Netflix series—it's been adapted more times than I can count. But his other novels deserve attention too. Starter for Ten is genuinely funny, and Us is quietly devastating.

JK Rowling (as Robert Galbraith)

Yes, that JK Rowling. Her crime novels written under the Galbraith pseudonym are published by Little, Brown's Sphere imprint. The Cormoran Strike series features a private detective with a brilliant partner, Robin Ellacott. They're long—properly chunky books—but they move faster than you'd expect.

Actually, I'd argue they're underrated precisely because of the Harry Potter connection. People dismiss them as a vanity project, but the plotting is tight and the characters develop genuinely across the series.

John Grisham

The legal thriller king has been with Hodder & Stoughton for decades. A Time to Kill, The Firm, The Pelican Brief—if you've seen a legal drama from the 1990s, it was probably based on a Grisham novel. He still publishes regularly, though I'll be honest, his recent stuff doesn't quite match the early classics.

Stephen Fry: A Category of His Own

I'm giving Stephen Fry his own section because frankly, he deserves it. And because the search volume for "Stephen Fry books" rivals some entire genres.

Fry is published by Penguin for his Greek mythology retellings (Mythos, Heroes, Troy), but his audiobook work—narrating the entire Harry Potter series for Audible—is how most people encounter him as a literary presence. Those audiobooks have become definitive for a generation. If you've only experienced Harry Potter through Fry's narration, you know what I mean. His voices for each character are embedded in millions of brains.

His autobiography, Moab Is My Washpot, covers his early life including his troubled teenage years with characteristic honesty. The Fry Chronicles continues the story. Both are published by Hutchinson Heinemann (Random House), not Hachette—but his audiobook work with Hachette properties makes him worth including here.

What books are narrated by Stephen Fry? Beyond Harry Potter, he's narrated Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, his own Mythos trilogy, and various other works. His voice has become synonymous with a certain kind of intelligent, warm British audiobook.

Children's and Young Adult Authors

Hachette Children's Group publishes some genuine classics.

Francesca Simon

The creator of Horrid Henry has sold millions of books through Orion Children's Books. Love it or hate it (and plenty of parents fall into both camps simultaneously), Horrid Henry has been getting reluctant readers engaged with books since 1994.

Enid Blyton

Hachette owns Enid Blyton Entertainment, which means the Famous Five, Secret Seven, and Malory Towers are all under their umbrella. These books have their critics—the dated attitudes, the occasional uncomfortable moments—but they remain enormously popular with new generations of readers.

The Asterix Series

Orion is the worldwide English-language publisher of Asterix. Those illustrated adventures of the indomitable Gauls have been translated into over a hundred languages. If you haven't revisited them as an adult, there's surprising depth to the humour.

Non-Fiction Worth Your Time

Hachette's non-fiction catalogue is where I found some unexpected gems.

Adam Kay

His memoir This Is Going to Hurt, about his years as a junior doctor in the NHS, was published by Picador (not Hachette), but Hachette has published several medical memoirs in a similar vein. The success of Kay's book opened a floodgate of healthcare worker stories.

Sir Ranulph Fiennes

Hodder & Stoughton publishes the legendary explorer's memoirs. The man has led expeditions to both poles, run seven marathons on seven continents in seven days (at age 59), and lost several fingers to frostbite. His books are properly gripping adventure stories.

James Bowen

The author of A Street Cat Named Bob—the story of the busker whose life was transformed by a ginger cat—is published by Hodder. What started as a heartwarming memoir spawned sequels and two films. Comfort reading of the highest order.

Where to Buy Hachette Books at UK Supermarkets

Right, let's talk practicality. You've got your reading list—now where do you actually buy these books without paying full whack?

Sainsbury's

Honestly, Sainsbury's has the best supermarket book section I've found. They stock headline hardbacks, bestselling paperbacks, and a decent children's section. Their prices are competitive with Amazon on new releases, and there's something satisfying about grabbing a book with your weekly shop.

ASDA

ASDA's book section has shrunk over the years—that's just the reality. But they still stock the major bestsellers, particularly around Christmas and summer. The prices can be brilliant when they're doing promotions.

Tesco

Tesco has massively reduced their book offering in most stores. You'll find a small selection of top ten bestsellers, but don't expect depth. Their online marketplace is better if you're specifically looking for books.

For comparison shopping across UK supermarket prices, Grocefully tracks deals across retailers—including the occasional book bargain.

Crime vs Literary Fiction: What Should You Read First?

Here's my honest take. If you're looking for pure entertainment—something to lose yourself in on holiday or decompress after work—start with the crime writers. Rankin, McDermid, Griffiths, Cole. They know how to construct a page-turner that keeps you reading past your bedtime.

But if you want something that lingers, that you'll think about weeks later, the literary fiction authors are worth the slower pace. Nicholls in particular writes characters that feel genuinely human. Flawed, sometimes frustrating, but real.

And the children's books? Don't dismiss them as "just for kids." The Asterix books are sharper than most adult comedy. Horrid Henry has kept more children reading than a thousand worthy literary novels.

How to Find Your Next Hachette Read

The brilliant thing about knowing who publishes what: you can work backwards from authors you already love.

If you like Ian Rankin, try Peter May (Quercus) or Ann Cleeves (Pan Macmillan, but similar style).

If you like JK Rowling's Strike novels, try Elly Griffiths for a similar blend of crime and character development.

If you like David Nicholls, try Matt Haig (Canongate, not Hachette, but Nicholls fans tend to love him too).

Goodreads and Waterstones both have "if you liked this, try this" recommendations. But honestly? The best recommendations come from actual readers. Ask on Reddit, check BookTok (yes, really—the booktok recommendations are often excellent), or join a local book club.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who publishes JK Rowling's books?

JK Rowling's Harry Potter series is published by Bloomsbury in the UK. Her adult crime novels, written under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith, are published by Sphere, an imprint of Little, Brown Book Group—which is part of Hachette UK. Her non-Potter children's book The Ickabog was self-published initially, then released through Hachette Children's.

Who are Britain's best selling authors?

Britain's bestselling authors include many Hachette writers: JK Rowling (via Little, Brown for Galbraith novels), John Grisham, Stephen King, and Martina Cole are all published by Hachette imprints. Agatha Christie remains the bestselling fiction writer of all time, published by HarperCollins.

What order should I read Stephen Fry books?

For Stephen Fry's Greek mythology series, read in order: Mythos (the gods), Heroes (the heroes), and Troy (the Trojan War). For his autobiographies: Moab Is My Washpot covers childhood and teens, The Fry Chronicles covers Cambridge onwards, and More Fool Me covers later years. Each stands alone, but the mythology series builds on itself.

What books are narrated by Stephen Fry?

Stephen Fry narrates the complete Harry Potter audiobook series (published by Audible/Pottermore), Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, his own Mythos trilogy, Winnie-the-Pooh, and Sherlock Holmes stories. His distinctive voice has made these versions definitive for many listeners.

Where can I buy books at UK supermarkets?

Sainsbury's has the best supermarket book selection, with new releases and children's books. ASDA stocks major bestsellers but has reduced shelf space. Tesco has minimal in-store selection but a better online marketplace. For the best prices, compare across retailers before buying—book prices vary significantly.

How do I find book recommendations based on books I like?

Use Goodreads' recommendation engine, which suggests similar titles based on your reading history. BookTok on TikTok has become surprisingly reliable for fiction recommendations. Local libraries often have reading lists, and Waterstones staff picks are generally excellent. For genre fiction, Reddit communities like r/books and r/suggestmeabook are invaluable.

Your Hachette Reading List: Where to Start

After all this, if I had to recommend just five Hachette authors to start with:

1. Ian Rankin – For perfectly plotted crime with sense of place
2. Elly Griffiths – For cosier crime with heart
3. David Nicholls – For literary fiction that stays with you
4. The Robert Galbraith novels – For chunky, satisfying crime series
5. Asterix – For surprisingly clever illustrated comedy

The beauty of Hachette's catalogue is its breadth. Whatever you're in the mood for—whether that's a beach read, a proper literary novel, something for the kids, or an audiobook for commuting—they've got you covered.

And next time you pick up a book, check the spine. You might be surprised how often you see Hodder, Orion, Little Brown, or Headline. The publishing world is smaller than you'd think.

Happy reading.