If you loved
The Following
Kevin Williamson · Series · 2013
What hooked you in The Following was the way the hunt for a serial killer becomes a deeply personal, psychological obsession.
Books on the same thread
The Narrows
Michael Connelly · Book · 2005
Just as in The Following, this book centers on an FBI agent haunted by a past failure, forced to confront a brilliant killer who demands their complete, undivided attention.
Bleed for Me
Michael Robotham · Book · 2011
If you appreciated the dark psychological stakes in The Following, you will find this exploration of family secrets and the blurred lines between perpetrator and victim equally gripping.
The Riverman
Robert Keppel · Book · 2010
This true crime account mirrors the intense criminal profiling found in The Following, documenting the exhaustive effort to enter the mind of a predator who eludes conventional law enforcement.
Films on the same thread
Kiss the Girls
Gary Fleder · Film · 1997
The partnership between a profiler and an outsider against a calculating serial killer in this film echoes the high-stakes tactical collaboration between Ryan Hardy and his colleagues in The Following.
Red Dragon
Film · 2002
The cat-and-mouse dynamic between Will Graham and Hannibal Lecter provides the same intense, cerebral tension that fueled the central conflict between Ryan Hardy and Joe Carroll in The Following.
Longlegs
Osgood Perkins · Film · 2024
Much like the personal connection Ryan Hardy had to his nemesis in The Following, this film follows an FBI agent whose own history becomes inextricably linked to an elusive killer.
Fallen
Gregory Hoblit · Film · 1998
This story captures the unsettling feeling of a killer reaching beyond the grave, mirroring the way Joe Carroll’s influence persists and terrorizes the protagonists throughout the run of The Following.
Podcasts on the same thread
CounterClock
Audiochuck · Podcast · 2025
This investigative series delivers the same relentless pursuit of truth found in The Following, focusing on the obsessive nature of digging into cold cases to find long-overdue justice.
S-Town
Serial Productions · Podcast · 2024
If the character-driven mystery of The Following kept you watching, you will appreciate this deep dive into the eccentricities of an isolated community and the secrets hidden beneath the surface.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Following about a serial killer?
Yes, The Following centers on Joe Carroll, a notorious serial killer who murdered 14 female students. After being found guilty and sentenced to death, he escapes from death row, prompting the FBI to bring back former agent Ryan Hardy to assist with the investigation.
Who is the lead investigator in The Following?
The lead investigator in The Following is Ryan Hardy, a former FBI agent. He is specifically called in to consult on the case because he was the individual responsible for the original capture of Joe Carroll back in 2003.
Does The Following feature an FBI team?
Yes, The Following features an FBI team that works closely with Ryan Hardy. This team includes members such as Mike Weston and FBI Specialist Debra Parker, who assist in piecing together the details of Joe Carroll's escape and his subsequent actions.
What is the primary conflict in The Following?
The primary conflict in The Following begins when Joe Carroll escapes from death row after being convicted of murdering 14 female students. Ryan Hardy must work with the FBI to track down the killer he originally captured in 2003 before more harm occurs.