James Patterson masterclass

James Patterson is a name etched on the coalface of contemporary crime writing. His body of work places him amongst the very best of the genre – Agatha Christie, Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle, Lee Child – and it’s not only the sheer number of titles that make James Patterson such a tour de force, but his approach to, and influence on, the modern detective genre.

Patterson’s detective series are not simple rehashes of the traditional whodunits from yesteryear. They are contemporary, fast-paced page turners. The detectives aren’t merely literary devices to carry the reader to a closed case, but they themselves are the story – their flaws, their motives, their prejudices are what make the stories work.

Patterson’s greatest character, Alex Cross, turned 20 in 2013 – a year marked by the 21st release in the series, Cross My Heart. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg where Mr Patterson is concerned. There are four other major crime series to sink your teeth into: NYPD Red, Private, Michael Bennett and Women’s Murder Club. And if that isn’t enough, James has many stand-alone titles, children’s and teen series, and his sensational BookShots as well.

Read below for a quick guide to his most popular crime series...

Alex Cross

Based in Washington D.C., Cross is a large build African American psychologist who, specialises in homicide and Major Crimes. Initially a promising police psychologist, then a Senior Agent in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), now Cross is his own man, working at his private psychology practice and assisting police and the FBI when needed.

The empathy that Cross employs in his career makes him the perfect profiler, allowing him inside the minds of the killer and the victims. Yet it’s this very attribute that makes him most vulnerable to his enemies. In fact, Cross is a man of contradictions. On the one hand he’s physically imposing, on the other thoughtful and considered – violence always a last resort. Highly educated but able to slip into the mind of the most devious and lowly criminal; a loving father, but a workaholic who puts all at risk to pursue justice. Cross is most definitely at cross purposes – and it’s why we rate him a class above.

Michael Bennett

Inspired by the brave heroes of 9/11, James Patterson embarked on a new journey, creating the 6’3” Irish American New York Police Department Detective Michael Bennett.

The series marks a departure from Patterson’s other crime investigators in that Michael Bennett is not only a keen homicide detective, a skilled hostage negotiator, a lawman who is devoted to duty – but also a family man who juggles his career with his ten adopted children. When his wife dies, he’s left holding up the devastated family with Seamus, his elderly grandfather, to help.

The indefatigable Bennett is not some aggressive loner with the singular pursuit crime at the expense of all else but rather a vessel for all of the family men out there who put their lives at risk every day and the struggle with the wonderfully complex tug-of-war between home and career.

Private

Private is a renowned investigation company with offices all around the globe. Their mandate is to protect that which their clients need most – privacy. They are where you turn when you need maximum force with maximum discretion.

James Patterson takes on a character, Jack Morgan, ex-marine and CIA Agent, who has the physicality of Alex Cross but none of the introspective flaws. He’s Jack Reacher. He’s James Bond. He has a singular vision to protect his clients, his business, and his sense of honour.   

Currently led by Jack, Private was founded by his father and quickly became a renowned firm that fell into disrepute following a scandal. After barely surviving a horrific helicopter crash during a tour of duty in Afghanistan, Jack embarked on a new mission to take the reins of his father’s legacy and breathe new life into Private – not only restoring the company’s tarnished rep, but opening equally successful offices globally in such locations as London and Sydney.

Women's Murder Club

In 2001, James Patterson introduced the world to Inspector Lindsay Boxer –showing us that crime detection isn’t just a man’s game. Like Alex Cross, Lindsay is as good at crime solving as she is tormented by her inner demons, but she is not alone. Her troupe of dedicated crime solvers – all of whom happen to be women – make up the Women’s Murder Club – a group who team up to crack the most unsolvable cases. Fulfilling the roster of the Women’s Murder Club are reporter Cindy Thomas; medical examiner Claire Washburn; Assistant District Attorney Jill Bernhardt; and defence attorney Yuki Castellano.

NYPD Red

NYPD Red is a special task force charged with protecting the interests of Manhattan's wealthiest and most powerful citizens.

The task force consists of Detective First Grade Zach Jordan and his new partner – and ex-girlfriend – Detective Kylie MacDonald.

The two detectives have had a rocky past so Zach got quite a shock when Kylie was brought in to be his partner. Zach and Kylie went through training together and as Kylie was estranged from her boyfriend at the time, she and Zach soon began their own relationship. Although it was not meant to be, there is definitely still a chemistry between the two. So who knows where the future will take these two dedicated and skilled detectives.

Love James Patterson's books? Sign up to our Patterson Newsletter here.