CITY · UNITED STATESBooks set in Chicago
41.878, -87.630
36 books · 29 authors · 1900–2026
36 books here
Most-set authors
Jim Butcher (2) · Sandra Cisneros (2) · Aleksandar Hemon (2) · Joe Meno (2) · Stuart Dybek (2) · Nelson Algren (2)
Genres
literary fiction (11) · thriller & suspense (2) · mystery & crime (2) · fantasy (1) · science fiction (1)
Books set here
Set in Chicago (35)
Dark Matter
Blake Crouch
protagonist physicist home city
Death of the Author
Nnedi Okorafor
Zelu's home and family
Rewind It Back
Liz Tomforde
Windy City series setting
The Perfect Divorce
Jeneva Rose
story setting
Twelve Months
Jim Butcher
Chicago (Dresden Files)
The House on Mango Street
Sandra Cisneros
Real-life inspiration for Mango Street
Studs Lonigan
James T. Farrell
Hub of Studs Lonergan world
A Raisin in the Sun
Lorraine Hansberry
Real-life inspiration for the Younger familys move
The Great Believers
Rebecca Makkai
Heart of the LGBTQ+ community in 1980s Chicago
Crossing California
Adam Langer
The street that divides the class neighborhoods in West Rogers Park
I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter
Erika Sánchez
Working-class suburb center of family life
The Lazarus Project
Aleksandar Hemon
Site of the 1908 shooting of Lazarus Averbuch
The Nix
Nathan Hill
Site of the 1968 Democratic National Convention riots
There Are No Children Here
Alex Kotlowitz
Primary setting of the non-fiction account
Building Stories
Chris Ware
Neighborhood setting for the three-story brownstone
The Great Perhaps
Joe Meno
Primary neighborhood setting for the Casper family
The Devil in the White City
Erik Larson
Primary site of the 1893 Worlds Fair
Caramelo
Sandra Cisneros
Iconic archway of La Villita, central to the familys Chicago home
Hairstyles of the Damned
Joe Meno
Central setting for the characters hangouts and social tensions
Sister Carrie
Theodore Dreiser
Carries first home in Chicago
I Sailed with Magellan
Stuart Dybek
Primary neighborhood setting on the Southwest Side
Chicago: City on the Make
Nelson Algren
Heart of the hustler spirit and Wicker Park area
The Man with the Golden Arm
Nelson Algren
Heart of the Polish-American community and novels action
Humboldt's Gift
Saul Bellow
Frequent location for reflection for Charlie Citrine
The Adventures of Augie March
Saul Bellow
Augie Marchs childhood neighborhood
The Kindest Lie
Nancy Johnson
Upscale neighborhood where the protagonist Ruth Tuttle lives
Storm Front
Jim Butcher
Historic Catholic church and frequent refuge for Harry Dresden
The Coast of Chicago
Stuart Dybek
Central focus of the story Nighthawks
Native Son
Richard Wright
Wealthy mansion where Bigger Thomas works
The Death of the Detective
Mark Smith
High-rise apartments representing Chicago high society
The Time Traveler's Wife
Audrey Niffenegger
Where Henry works as a librarian
The Jungle
Upton Sinclair
Packingtown entrance and main setting
Chicago
Alaa Al Aswany
Egyptian grad students campus
Divergent
Veronica Roth
The Hub, headquarters for the city factions
Nowhere Man
Aleksandar Hemon
Where Pronek works as a parking lot attendant
Also featuring Chicago (1)
Nearby books
Skipping Christmas
John Grisham
0 km · Chicago suburbs
Divergent
Veronica Roth
1 km · Willis Tower
The Coast of Chicago
Stuart Dybek
1 km · The Art Institute of Chicago
The Nix
Nathan Hill
1 km · Grant Park
The Kindest Lie
Nancy Johnson
1 km · South Loop
Chicago
Alaa Al Aswany
2 km · University of Illinois at Chicago
Sister Carrie
Theodore Dreiser
2 km · Minnie and Hansons Flat
The Time Traveler's Wife
Audrey Niffenegger
2 km · The Newberry Library