If you haven’t yet ventured into the high-stakes world of James Patterson’s fiction, here are the novels to get you started
James Patterson is an author who needs no introduction. His crime novels are so prolific that he recently passed the milestone of 100 million copies sold. While he is best known for the popular Alex Cross, Women’s Murder Club and Private series, Patterson has written a host of standalone thrillers, too – each containing his signature suspense, drama, and never-saw-that-coming plot twists.
Patterson’s literary draw stretches far beyond crime, spanning non-fiction, romance, and bestselling children’s literature. With such a vast oeuvre – Patterson has written over 200 books – it can be hard to know where to start. That’s why we’ve chosen a handful of Patterson’s best books to help guide you.
Along Came a Spider James Patterson
The first book in James Patterson’s most prolific detective series, Along Came A Spider introduces us to smart, tough homicide detective Alex Cross. Simultaneously investigating a triple homicide and a kidnapping at a prestigious private school, Cross becomes romantically entangled with a Secret Service agent. While chasing the people responsible for the crimes, Cross begins to suspect that the mastermind may be closer to home than he thought.
A psychological thriller with a successful film adaptation starring Morgan Freeman, Along Came A Spider is an action-packed introduction to Patterson’s 32-book series.
10th Anniversary James Patterson
The Women’s Murder Club series follows Detective Lindsay Boxer and friends Cindy, Yuki and Claire, who all work in the business of murder. Patterson expertly weaves in details from previous books, meaning readers can jump straight in at any point in the series. The tenth book, 10th Anniversary, sees Boxer on the cusp of marriage to her sweetheart, Joe Molinari, when the nuptials are cut short by the kidnapping of a baby from a mother who can’t get her story straight.
Weaving three plots together, and a little less grisly than other Women’s Murder Club books, 10th Anniversary offers a fast-paced plot and plenty of twists, while celebrating female friendship along the way.
Private James Patterson
Rich clients with shocking secrets, far-flung destinations and a race against time: James Patterson’s Private series has all of these in spades. The kick-off to the series, Private, introduces protagonist Jack Morgan’s elite detective agency for those who seek expertise and discretion.
Balancing investigations into a gambling scandal and a grisly serial killer, Morgan’s world is turned upside down when a former flame is murdered. In classic Patterson fashion, nothing is as it seems and there’s more than one skeleton to be found in this brilliant page-turner.
NYPD Red James Patterson
NYPD Red is one of James Patterson’s most action-packed series. It focuses on Zach Jordan, a detective in New York’s elite police department which investigates crimes against the city’s rich and famous.
In a dramatic start to the series, high-profile celebrities are attacked en masse by a deranged killer, whom Jordan must track down with his partner and ex-girlfriend. An epic cat-and-mouse chase ensues that sets the tone for the rest of the addictive series.
The Thomas Berryman Number James Patterson
There’s no better introduction to James Patterson than his first-ever thriller, The Thomas Berryman Number, for which he won two Edgar Awards. Opening with three gruesome murders in America’s South, the novel is named after Thomas Berryman, a hitman who is known only by his code name ‘Number’.
Hot on his trail is reporter Ochs Jones, who is investigating a high-profile murder that he quickly realises Berryman was hired to commit. In contrast to his crime series, Patterson’s debut novel has a slower pace and plenty of detail, which makes it a captivating read.
Don't Blink James Patterson
In one of New York’s most glamorous restaurants, writer Nick Daniels is recording an interview with a legendary baseball star turned recluse. In the next booth, the shocking murder of a mob lawyer takes place. Daniels has it all on tape, but he doesn’t realise the deadly secret he’s uncovered until he starts being hunted himself.
A fun, action-packed story that doesn’t stop and has you second-guessing what will happen next, Don’t Blink is short, sweet and one you’ll read again and again.
The President is Missing President Bill Clinton, James Patterson
A political thriller so good you’ll think it's real, The President Is Missing was James Patterson’s first novel with former president Bill Clinton. The book topped the New York Times bestseller list multiple times, thanks to the juicy, true-to-life details provided by Clinton, combined with Patterson’s stellar storytelling.
In the novel, President Jonathan Lincoln Duncan faces assassinations, betrayals and a threat to national security on his mission to stop a powerful computer virus from bringing America to its knees.
Don't miss James Patterson's latest novel, Alex Cross Must Die, which is out 31 October, 2023.
Alex Cross Must Die James Patterson
The thirty-first instalment in James Patterson's globally bestselling Alex Cross series.
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Brush up on the three Percy Jackson series. Learn about the mythologies of each, the main characters and the correct order to read the books.
Get ready for more antics and adventures from the third book in the Thursday Murder Club series. Refresh your memory on the characters from The Thursday Murder Club before The Bullet That Missed comes out this September.
Meet the characters from The Summer I Turned Pretty books. Learn about the main characters and important family members who play a role in the trilogy.
The Cunninghams don't really get along, and every one of them has killed someone. Meet the family to help you find the culprit.
Learn about Alex Michaelides’s new book, the real-life people who inspired his characters and how growing up in Cyprus contributed to the setting.
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This heart-stopping thriller set on the rugged coast of Tasmania is an excellent choice for book club.