best rated books by james patterson

James Patterson has written more 'New York Times' bestselling books than anyone else — these are his best ones

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• James Patterson is one of the bestselling American authors of all time.
• We turned to Goodreads members to rank his most popular novels.
• Readers' top favorites include " Along Came a Spider " and " Kiss the Girls ."

James Patterson is a bestselling American author known for his mystery novels, thrillers, and crime fiction. He's one of the highest paid authors of all time , has the most New York Times bestsellers , and became the first author to sell one million ebooks in 2010. He is also a proud philanthropist and has donated millions of dollars to fund classroom libraries across the country. 

To rank the most popular James Patterson novels, we turned to Goodreads members . On Goodreads, over 125 million readers rate, review, and share their favorite books . So whether you're looking for a new thrilling James Patterson read or hoping to find your next favorite mystery or thriller , here are the 21 most popular James Patterson novels, according to Goodreads members.

The 21 most popular James Patterson novels, according to Goodreads members: 

'along came a spider'.

"Along Came a Spider," available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $9.19

With over 400,000 ratings, " Along Came a Spider " is the most popular James Patterson novel amongst Goodreads members. This is the first mystery novel in the " Alex Cross " series, which now has 28 novels (and another due to be published next month). This first book introduces readers to Alex Cross, a brilliant homicide detective determined to stop a psychopathic murderer in this electric thriller.

'Kiss the Girls'

"Kiss the Girls," available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $7.98

" Kiss the Girls " is the second mystery featuring homicide detective Alex Cross who is now hunting for two collaborative, conniving serial killers working from coast to coast. Told in short chapters, this thriller is fast-paced and gripping, demanding readers' attention until the very last page.

'1st to Die'

"1st to Die," available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $7.36

The first book in the "Women's Murder Club" series, " 1st to Die " is a mystery about four friends with different careers linked to criminal investigation: A homicide inspector, a medical examiner, an assistant district attorney, and a crime reporter. Together, they sidestep their bosses to collaborate and catch a killer who's tormenting San Francisco.

'The Angel Experiment: A Maximum Ride'

"The Angel Experiment," available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $4.59

As a teenager, I was completely obsessed with this young adult fantasy series about six homeless, parentless children that all have special abilities including the ability to fly. Bred in a lab with avian DNA, the six kids have escaped and must evade the evil scientists that are constantly trying to recapture them.

'Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas'

"Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas," available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $16.99

" Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas " is a James Patterson romance novel about Katie Wilkinson, who has found everything she's ever wanted in her perfect life partner. When he suddenly and mysteriously disappears from her life, she's left with a strange diary that reveals heartbreaking secrets in this overwhelming and emotional read.

'School's Out—Forever'

"School's Out—Forever,"   available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $8.73

In this second installment of the " Maximum Ride " series, Max and her flock are discovered by the FBI after an accident leaves one of them hurt and in the hospital. Making a deal with the FBI in exchange for their brother's treatment, the flock attends a special school as Max uncovers how she's meant to save the world.

'2nd Chance'

"2nd Chance," available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $8.27

In this shocking thriller, the four women of the Women's Murder Club reconvene when two terrible and tragic events seem to be linked. When the women discover the connection, the answer and the killer's motive stun the entire nation in this action-packed murder mystery.

'Sam's Letter to Jennifer'

"Sam's Letters to Jennifer," available at Amazon,  $15.99

This contemporary romance follows Jennifer, who returns to her hometown to be with her ill grandmother while still mourning the loss of her husband. When Jennifer discovers a packet of letters addressed to her from her grandmother, the writing inside unveils the stories of her grandmother's life.

'Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports'

"Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports," available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $9.95

" Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports " is the third book in the " Maximum Ride " series, where Max and her flock discover a sinister plot to genetically engineer a select population into a superior race and eliminate the rest of humanity. Though the group has been separated, they must work together to stop the experiment and save the world.

'3rd Degree'

"3rd Degree," available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $7.36

In this third installment of the "Women's Murder Club" series, Detective Lindsay Boxer discovers three dead bodies, accompanied by a mysterious message. When more bodies are discovered, she brings in her three friends to help find a killer who has vowed to kill every three days — and it seems the next target is one of their own.

'4th of July'

"4th of July," available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $9.20

This "Women's Murder Club" mystery focuses on Lieutenant Lindsey Boxer who finds herself on trial after a dramatic chain of events that all began when she fired her weapon. In this suspenseful story, Lindsay's friends must help her clear her name and stop a killer before they strike again.

'The Beach House'

"The Beach House," available at Amazon, $10

"The Beach House" is a compelling mystery novel about law student Jack Mullen and his brother, Peter, who works as a valet in the Hamptons. When Peter's body is found on the beach, Jack knows his brother did not drown by accident. As it seems the police have been paid off to turn the other way, Jack must take the investigation into his own hands.

'Jack & Jill'

"Jack & Jill," available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $7.36

In this third suspenseful mystery in the " Alex Cross " series, a US senator is murdered in his bed while Alex is called to the devastating murder scene of a little girl. As Alex Cross rushes to solve the murders, the killer strikes again, sending the homicide detective on a desperate race against the clock.

'Max'

"Max," available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $8.99

In this fifth book of the " Maximum Ride " series, something is destroying ships and animals off the coast of Hawaii and the Navy elicits the help of Max and her flock in their top-secret investigation. At the same time, they discover Max's mom is being held prisoner underwater and they must deep-dive through evil waters to rescue her.

'Cat & Mouse'

"Cat & Mouse," available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $7.99

In this " Alex Cross " mystery, an infamous killer returns for revenge, determined to kill Alex before his terminal diagnosis takes his life. At the same time, Thomas Pierce is hunting his own murderous rival and when their path crosses with Alex's, the outcome could prove deadly.

'The 5th Horseman'

"The 5th Horseman," available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $8.50

In this 2006 installment of the "Women's Murder Club" series, a new woman joins the club- attorney Yuki Castellano. With the help of Yuki, the Murder Club women uncover a merciless killer that may be linked to a string of mysterious patient deaths in a hospital that's determined to protect its reputation more than anything — or anyone — else.

'Hide and Seek'

"Hide and Seek," available at Bookshop , $9.20

In " Hide and Seek ," Maggie Bradford is a famous singer on trial for murdering two of her husbands, a celebrity trial that has drawn the attention of the nation. As this standalone crime thriller untangles the mystery, it seems one of Maggie's famous husbands had dark and dangerous secrets of his own.

'Roses Are Red'

Roses Are Red, available at Amazon, $8.99

In this nail-biting thriller with elements of touching romance, detective Alex Cross is hunting down a brilliant killer who calls himself "Mastermind," robbing banks and killing bank employees that don't comply with his explicit instructions. While juggling a personal crisis at home, Alex must stop the bank robber before he can pull off one final crime.

'The Final Warning'

"The Final Warning," available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $7.59

In this suspenseful and action-packed fourth novel in the young adult series "Maximum Ride," Max and her flock escape to Antarctica to help study the causes of global warming. Though Max thought she'd finally escaped the dangers that have been following her for years, it becomes obvious that she and her genetically engineered siblings have a constant target on their backs.

'Cross'

"Cross," available at Amazon, $8.79

"Cross" is the 12th novel in the " Alex Cross " series, where Alex Cross is trying to move on years after his wife was killed by an unknown shooter. Now a free agent from the police and FBI looking for a calmer life, Alex Cross is called to help his former partner in tracking down a serial rapist when a connection is revealed that might lead Alex to his wife's killer.

'Pop Goes the Weasel'

"Pop Goes the Weasel," available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $7.36

" Pop Goes the Weasel " is the fifth " Alex Cross " mystery, where detective Alex Cross pursues complex, dangerous, and thrilling murderers. In this novel, a series of twisted murders have left Washington, D.C. investigators reeling but when Alex Cross identifies a suspect, proving he's the murderer could become a deadly task.

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Bestselling author James Patterson photographed at his home in Westchester County, New York.

James Patterson’s Top 10 Books

James patterson books in order, new james patterson books.

James Patterson is regarded as one of the most successful authors in history, with over 425 million books sold over the past four decades. Patterson is one of the world’s highest-paid authors , not just for his prolific writing, which spawned numerous bestsellers, many of which will be on this list. This prosperity is partly due to his uncanny ability to captivate readers, thanks to his signature style of short, punchy chapters and engrossing character-driven plots. To say that Patterson is a diverse writer would be putting it lightly; the New York-born native has a multi-dimensional repertoire ranging from stand-alone thrillers to non-fiction, fiction, children’s books and romance novels .

Patterson’s literary career kicked off in 1976 after he published his first novel, The Thomas Berryman Number , a thriller that won the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best First Novel by an American Author. Although the book did not gain much traction initially, his 1993 release of Along Came a Spider piqued public interest and became an instant bestseller. The book was adapted into a thriller- mystery movie featuring Morgan Freeman that was released in 2001 and earned $105.2 million at the box office. Patterson would go on to publish over 200 books, with 100 of those becoming New York Times bestsellers, and his contribution to classic series like Alex Cross, Women’s Murder Club and Private would make him a household name.

Although Patterson has published over 200 books, this list ranks his top 10 books based on a combination of critical acclaim, commercial success, reader popularity and impact on popular culture.

• Along Came a Spider
• Kiss the Girls
• Roses Are Red
• The Murder House
• The President Is Missing
• Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment
• Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas

10. Zoo (2012)

In Zoo , Patterson presents a plot that follows brutal animal attacks across the world that quickly escalate into grisly horror. As animals globally continue to revolt against humans in a violent uprising, it becomes apparent that the human race is slowly facing an extinction. This leads young biologist Jackson Oz and ecologist Chloe Tousignant to attempt to find a solution before it is too late. This thrilling sci-fi book has all of the elements of a page turner and is perfect for readers who enjoy apocalyptic scenarios and edge-of-your-seat tension. Zoo is available at Hachette Book Group .

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Best 5% interest savings accounts of 2024, 9. invisible (2014).

In Invisible , FBI Research Analyst Emmy Dockery has a hunch that a series of unrelated fires are actually part of a more sinister plot. One of the fires, in which Emmy’s sister was killed, pushes Emmy to become relentlessly obsessed with getting to the truth behind what seems like a series of unrelated house fires. Convinced that these incidents are actually murders and the the work of a serial killer, Emmy sets out on a mission to prove it and eventually enlists the help of her colleagues at the FBI. Although people are initially skeptical about Emmy ’s sanity and motivations, she is eventually able to provide enough evidence for the bureau to take her claims seriously. This chilling thriller is ideal for readers who appreciate psychological suspense and the book is available at Hachette Book Group .

8. Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas (2001)

Patterson’s Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas marked Patterson’s first attempt in the romance genre. In the book, he lucidly follows the story of New York City-based editor Katie Wilkinson and poet and painter Matthew Harrison, who abruptly breaks up with Katie and leaves behind a diary for her to read. As Katie begins to read the diary, it soon becomes apparent that the diary’s author, Suzanne, is writing to her infant child, Nicholas, whom she welcomed with Matthew. In the diary, Suzanne vividly recounts her experiences and the love she shared with Matthew. Patterson weaves several elements together to create this book, including family, loss, new love, and hope. Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas is available at Hachette Book Group .

7. Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment (2007)

Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment is the first book in the Maximum Ride series by Patterson. The story follows protagonist Max (Maximum) Ride, a human-avian hybrid and her Flock: six children who are also human-avian hybrids due to genetic experiments that gave them the ability to fly and made them 98% human and 2% bird. The book follows the Flock’s escape from the scientists who created them at the facility known as the School and their search for freedom, but their lives take a dangerous turn when the youngest member, Angel, is kidnapped by the Erasers— human-wolf hybrids created by the same scientists. Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment is perfect for young readers who enjoy dystopian storylines and it is available at Hachette Book Group .

6. The President Is Missing (2019)

Not many authors can say that they have co-written a book with a former president, but James Patterson can. In The President Is Missing, Patterson puts a spin on the political genre that seems even more credible because of its co-author, Bill Clinton, 42nd president of the United States. The thriller opens up with the story of U.S. President Jonathan Lincoln Duncan who has been accused of negotiating with Suliman Cindoruk, a known terrorist who is also leads the cyberterrorist organization called Sons of Jihad (SOJ). As the plot progresses, Patterson and Clinton lead readers down a high-stakes storyline that is replete with action, political drama and what can happen when a country’s defenses are in jeopardy. Fans of fast-paced action who are fascinated by the inner workings of government and security will enjoy this book. It is available for purchase at Hachette Book Group .

James Patterson and former President Bill Clinton on Late Night with Seth Meyers, June 23, 2021

5. Murder House (2015)

Nothing quite creates prime storytelling like the combination of thriller, mystery and crime and Patterson’s Murder House achieves all of that by employing the use of wealth, speculation and intrigue. In the immaculate plot, Patterson and co-author follow protagonist Jenna Murphy, who is assigned to solve a murder that takes place at a mansion in the Hamptons. At first, the New York City-based cop believes that the case is straightforward, but she soon learns that there is more to the murder than meets the eye, and Jenna soon discovers that the mansion’s dark history adds a layer of complexity to the the grisly murder. Fans of mystery and crime-themes story will enjoy this book. It is available at Hachette Book Group .

4. Roses Are Red

Patterson’s Roses Are Red features Alex Cross, his foremost protagonist, who is on a mission to solve a series of lethal bank robbery heists that have been terrorizing Washington, D.C. The bank robbers are supervised by The Mastermind, an anonymous criminal who hires local thieves to do his bidding. As the crimes continue to escalate across the metropolitan area, Cross soon realizes that they all follow a similar pattern: Each heist is carried out by a different team, all of whom are poisoned by The Mastermind to keep the crime more hidden. Cross teams up with FBI investigators, including his new romantic interest, Betsey Cavalierre, to solve the case. Fans who enjoy a combination of pulse-pounding crime, romance and thrillers will find this novel fascinating. It is the sixth novel in Patterson’s award-winning Alex Cross series and is available at Hachette Book Group .

3. Kiss the Girls (2000)

In this #1 New York Times bestseller, Patterson once again uses psychological thrills to introduce readers to two mysterious serial killers: Casanova, who began murdering his victims from his teen years, and The Gentleman Caller, a brutal serial murderer. Throughout the book, both murderers remain mysterious, and it is this mystery that serves as the driving force behind the book, which generally has a formulaic cat-and-mouse theme as its baseline. Once again, Patterson enlists the help of his recurring character Alex Cross to unravel the mysteries, and the story kicks off when Cross learns his niece Naomi “Scootchie” Cross is missing. In the process of trying to investigate this, he learns that eight other girls have gone missing from different states, and this sets the plot of the story on a tangent that will uncover the true identities of the Casanova and The Gentleman Caller. Kiss the Girls is available at Hachette Book Group .

2. 1st to Die (2001)

If there is anything that Patterson does well, it is creating difficult-to-decipher storylines and 1st to Die fits well into that category. The story revolves around four women (Lindsay Boxer, Cindy Thomas, Claire Washburn and Jill Bernhardt) who work in law enforcement, journalism, healthcare and law respectively, but form an alliance to get to the bottom of a string of brutal murders targeting newlywed couples in San Francisco. Lindsay, Cindy and Claire initially bond over the case and Jill joins them later​. At first, the women’s collective efforts lead them to suspect Nicholas Jenks, a famous novelist, as a prime suspect, but in spite of their attempts to link him to the murders, the case takes several twists and turns, which all culminate in a shocking final revelation. This novel can be found at Barnes & Noble .

1. Along Came a Spider (1993)

Patterson’s Along Came a Spider is frequently regarded as one of Patterson's standout works, specifically because it kicked off his highly successful Alex Cros s series. The novel is often regarded as Patterson’s entry into the big leagues of thriller writing. It set the stage for the numerous sequels that followed and created a path for him as a master storyteller. Literary critiques often highlight this story’s pithy yet intricate plot, with well-developed characters and thought-provoking story progression as a reason for its public perception. This book is perfect for readers who enjoy mystery and remain invested in a storyline until the writer exposes everything. The book is available at Hachette Book Group .

"Along Came A Spider" was also a hit film, with Morgan Freeman performing as Alex Cross and Monica ... [+] Potter as Jezzie Flannigan.

James Patterson’s Alex Cross Series

• Along Came a Spider (1992)
• Kiss the Girls (1995)
• Jack & Jill (1996)
• Cat & Mouse (1997)
• Pop Goes the Weasel (1999)
• Roses Are Red (2000)
• Violets Are Blue (2001)
• Four Blind Mice (2002)
• The Big Bad Wolf (2003)
• London Bridges (2004)
• Mary, Mary (2005)
• Cross / Alex Cross (2006)
• Double Cross (2007)
• Cross Country (2008)
• I, Alex Cross (2009)
• Cross Fire (2010)
• Kill Alex Cross (2011 )
• Alex Cross, Run (2013)
• Cross My Heart (2013)
• Hope to Die (2014)
• Cross Justice (2015)
• Cross the Line (2016)
• The People vs. Alex Cross (2017)
• Target: Alex Cross (2018)
• Criss Cross ( 2019)
• Deadly Cross (2020)
• Fear No Evil (2021)
• Triple Cross (2022)
• Cross Down (with Brendan DuBois) (2023)
• Alex Cross Must Die / Cross Out (2023)
• The House of Cross (2024)

James Patterson’s Women’s Murder Club Series

• 1st to Die (2000)
• 2nd Chance (2002)
• 3rd Degree (2004)
• 4th of July (2005)
• The 5th Horseman (2006)
• The 6th Target (2007)
• 7th Heaven (2008)
• The 8th Confession (2009)
• The 9th Judgment (2010)
• 10th Anniversary (2011)
• 11th Hour (2012)
• 12th of Never (2013)
• Unlucky 13 (2014)
• 14th Deadly Sin (2015)
• 15th Affair (2016)
• 16th Seduction (2017)
• The 17th Suspect (2018)
• The 18th Abduction (2019)
• The 19th Christmas (2019)
• The 20th Victim (2020)
• 21st Birthday (2021)
• 22 Seconds (2022)
• The 23rd Midnight (2023)
• The 24th Hour (2 024)

James Patterson’s Michael Bennett Series

• Step on a Crack (2007)
• Run for Your Life (2009)
• Worst Case (2010)
• Tick Tock (2011)
• I, Michael Bennett (2012)
• Gone (2013)
• Burn (2014)
• Alert (2015)
• Bullseye (2016)
• Haunted (2017)
• Ambush (2018)
• Blindside (2020)
• The Russian (2021)
• Shattered (2022)
• Obsessed (2023)
• Crosshairs (2024)

James Patterson’s Private Series

• Private (2010)
• Private #1 Suspect (2012)
• Private Games (2012)
• Private London (2011)
• Private Berlin (2013)
• Private L.A. (2014)
• Private Down Under (2014)
• Private India (2014)
• Private Vegas (2015)
• Private Sydney (2015)
• Private Paris (2016)
• Private Rio (2016)
• Private Delhi (2017)
• Princess (2018)
• Private Moscow (2020)
• Private Rogue (2021)
• Private Beijing (2022)
• Private Rome (2023)
• Private Monaco (2024)

James Patterson’s Maximum Ride Series

• The Angel Experiment (2005)
• School’s Out - Forever (2006)
• Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports (2007)
• The Final Warning (2008)
• Fang (2010)
• Angel (2011)
• Nevermore (2012)
• Maximum Ride Forever (2015)

James Patterson’s Daniel X Series

• The Dangerous Days of Daniel X (2008)
• Watch the Skies (2009)
• Demons and Druids (2010)
• Game Over (2011)
• Armageddon (2012)
• Lights Out (2015)

James Patterson’s NYPD Red Series

• NYPD Red (2012)
• NYPD Red 2 (2014)
• NYPD Red 3 (2015)
• NYPD Red 4 (2016)
• Red Alert (2018)
• NYPD Red 6 (2020)
• NYPD Red 7 (2022)

James Patterson’s Standalone Novels

• The Thomas Berryman Number (1976)
• Season of the Machete (1977)
• See How They Run / The Jericho Commandment (1979)
• Black Market / Black Friday (1986)
• The Midnight Club (1989)
• Hide & Seek (1995)
• Cradle and All (2000)
• Sam’s Letters to Jennifer (2001)
• Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas (2001)
• The Beach House (2002)
• The Jester (2003)
• Lifeguard (2005)
• Beach Road (2006)
• Judge & Jury (2006)
• The Quickie (2007)
• You’ve Been Warned (2007)
• Sundays at Tiffany’s (2008)
• Sail (2008)
• Swimsuit (2009)
• The Postcard Killers (2010)
• Don’t Blink (2010)
• Toys (2011)
• Now You See Her (2011)
• Kill Me If You Can (2011)
• The Christmas Wedding (2011)
• Guilty Wives (2012)
• Mistress (2013)
• First Love (2013)
• Homeroom Diaries (2014)
• Truth or Die (2015)
• The Murder House (2015)
• Woman of God (2016)
• The Store (2017)
• The President Is Missing (with Bill Clinton) (2018)
• The First Lady (2018)
• The Inn (2019)
• The Warning (2019)
• Three Women Disappear (2020)
• The President’s Daughter (with Bill Clinton) (2021)
• Run, Rose, Run (with Dolly Parton) (2022)
• Death of the Black Widow (2022)
• The House of Wolves (2023)

For decades, Patterson has been recognized as an important literary part of multiple genres, and thanks to his consistency, this hasn’t changed. Patterson is still actively writing, with several new books released each year. In fact, rumor has it that Patterson writes 31 books at the same time. Some of Patterson’s upcoming works include The House of Cross and others, which are scheduled to be released well into this year and next year.

Bottom Line

Throughout his career, Patterson has been known as a mass producer who has consistently released several books annually, often collaborating with other authors. It is no wonder that Patterson has been able to maintain his longevity, stamina and commercial value on the literary market. This is not entirely surprising because Patterson has been known to continuously reinvent himself.

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The Best James Patterson Books

List of the best James Patterson books, ranked by voracious readers in the Ranker community. Patterson is known for writing his books as part of a series, including the Maximum Ride, Alex Cross, and Women's Murder Club series. With commercial success and critical acclaim, there's no doubt that James Patterson is one of the most popular authors of the last 100 years. If you're a huge fan of his work, then vote on your favorite novels below and make your opinion count. This poll is also a great resource for new fans of James Patterson who want to know which novels they should start reading first. With memorable characters and excellent storytelling, there's no reason why you shouldn't check out his work if you're a big reader.

Along Came a Spider

• First Published : 1993
• Subjects : Espionage, Police procedural, Police
• Genres (Book) : Speculative fiction, Crime Fiction, Suspense, Mystery, Thriller
• Original Language : English Language

Kiss the Girls

• First Published : 1995-01-11
• Subjects : Police procedural, Police
• Genres (Book) : Crime Fiction, Suspense, Mystery, Thriller, Fiction

• First Published : 2001-12
• Subjects : California, Suspense, Adventure, San Francisco
• Genres (Book) : Crime Fiction, Suspense, Mystery, Fiction

The Beach House

Roses Are Red

• First Published : 2005
• Subjects : Police procedural, Police, Adventure

Pop Goes the Weasel

• First Published : 1999
• Subjects : Police procedural
• Genres (Book) : Suspense, Mystery, Thriller, Fiction
• Original Language : American English

18 Best James Patterson Books of All Time

Our goal : Find the best James Patterson books according to the internet (not just one random person's opinion).

• Type "best james patterson books" into our search engine and study the top 5+ pages.
• Add only the books mentioned 2+ times.
• Rank the results neatly for you here! 😊 (It was a lot of work. But hey! That's why we're here, right?)

(Updated 2024)

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Last Updated: Monday 1 Jan, 2024

• Best James Patterson Books

Along Came a Spider

Alex cross, book 1.

James Patterson

Women's Murder Club, Book 1

Kiss the Girls

Alex cross, book 2.

The Murder House

The President Is Missing

Roses Are Red

Alex cross, book 6.

The Angel Experiment

Maximum ride, book 1.

The Beach House

Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas

Sam's Letters to Jennifer

The Thomas Berryman Number

NYPD Red, Book 1

Michael Bennett, Book 6

Step on a Crack

Michael bennett, book 1.

Pop Goes the Weasel

Alex cross, book 5.

Woman of God

Confessions of a Murder Suspect

Confessions, book 1.

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25 Best James Patterson Books: Must Reads By The Bestselling Author

• February 21, 2022

James Patterson’s books are well known to readers of many genres. A best-selling author who frequents the New York Times Bestsellers List, the 74-year-old writer is responsible for Alex Cross, one of the modern times’ most beloved book characters. He also wrote the Alex Cross series, Michael Bennett series, Women’s Murder Club series, and many others. Arguably the world’s bestselling author, Patterson’s books deliver, regardless of your preferred genre. Patterson has dabbled in nearly all of them.

The 25 Best James Patterson Books

The work of james patterson.

James Patterson has written books that span several genres , including romance, psychological thriller, mystery, young adult fiction , thriller, and crime fiction. He also frequently collaborates with other authors such as David Ellis, Michael Ledwidge, writer and journalist Peter de Jonge, and even President Bill Clinton. He has had 114 New York Times Bestseller books, setting a record. The following is a list of some of the best James Patterson books and a brief description of each.

1. Along Came a Spider (Alex Cross Series)

This is the first book of the Alex Cross series and would entice nearly any reader to continue with the sequel to learn more about the genius that is Detective Alex Cross. Cross is a cunning homicide detective with an interesting and full personal life and perhaps James Patterson’s best-written protagonist.

Put up against killer Gary Soneji, who seems just as intelligent and cunning as Alex Cross, the stakes continue to be raised. With the help of Jezzie, the female supervisor of the Secret Service, they try to stop a diabolical serial killer. Not afraid to risk his own life, the intensity of any Alex Cross book is palpable, but Along Came a Spider is a definite fan favorite.

2. 1st to Die (Women’s Murder Club Series)

This book introduces and sees the formation of the Women’s Murder Club, a group of four women who work outside their typical jobs to identify, stop, and find a killer targeting newlywed couples in San Francisco. Beginning with a murder at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Detective Lindsay Boxer tries to solve the crime before the body count rises further. Realizing that other people are the key to solving this case, she enlists the help of a female medical examiner, a defense attorney, and a reporter. Inspector Lindsay Boxer must then piece together the clues each woman can provide and stop a madman. The Women’s Murder Club series spans thirteen novels.

3. Step on a Crack (Michael Bennett Series)

Written with Michael Ledwidge, a frequent collaborator of James Patterson’s, this begins the book in a series that spans 15 books about a detective who not only has his hands full on complicated and dangerous cases but in his personal life as well. This book introduces Detective Michael Bennett, making it one of the best James Patterson books, aside from being incredibly written.

Detective Michael Bennett and his wife have adopted ten children, and when we meet him, we learn that Michael’s wife is dying of cancer. Trying to steer his family through the emotional stress the holidays bring, Michael’s efforts are interrupted when criminals storm the church and hold hundreds of people hostage at the funeral of a former First Lady.

Called to the scene, Bennett has to make the unthinkable decision—negotiate with madmen, get everyone out as safely as possible, and deal with his grief over losing his wife. This is a favorite James Patterson book for many fans, and it is not difficult to see why after reading it.

Another literary work by Michael Ledwidge is a simple but thrilling story . Not the usual crime fiction that some of his fans are used to, this two-book series is about Jackson Oz, a biologist, who notices an emerging trend of animals turning on and attacking people. After collecting the data and warning people as quickly as possible, Jackson must try to figure out what is causing this odd animal behavior and get the word out so that people can be kept safe. This story is simple but fascinating in its premise and was adapted into a TV series.

5. The Murder House

The Murder House is a standalone book James Patterson wrote with frequent collaborator David Ellis. It involves a house in the posh area of the Hamptons that the locals call the Murder House due to murders that occurred there years ago. Native Jenna Murphy moves back to the area from New York, where she was a police officer, and assumes that she is getting away from the excitement of the city when she agrees to be a cop for her uncle, who is the police chief in her native town.

The murders start back up at the Murder House, and Jenna has to hurry to solve the mystery so that more people do not fall victim to whoever or whatever is lurking there. This is a book that many fans suggest beginners should start with. If you have never read James Patterson, this one may be the one for you to begin with.

6. NYPD Red

Written by James Patterson and Marshall Karp, this book is about Detective Zach Jordan and is crime fiction that takes many twists and turns in this six-book series featuring Zach Jordan. The New York mayor has created a new division of the NYPD, and Zach is a part of it.

Detective Zach Jordan and his ex, Kylie, are assigned to a special unit of the NYPD tasked with keeping the rich and famous of New York safe and promptly investigating any crimes committed against them. Sidney Roth is a famous producer who dies due to poisoning, and Zach and Kylie have to figure out who the culprit is. This is not your ordinary crime fiction, as you have two people who were together and are at the top of their game playing off each other in this story.

7. The Beach House

This story differs from James Patterson’s other works and is some of the best James Patterson content because it is dark, does not center around a detective, and leaves the reader guessing for much of the story. Written by author and journalist Peter de Jonge, this standalone novel is one thriller story that makes you think about it long after reading.

Law student Jack Mullen goes to the Hamptons where his brother died due to accidental drowning on the property of some wealthy playboy. Jack knows this was no accident after a glance at Peter’s body. The police, judges, and other people of authority have been paid off, and the deck is stacked against Jack. However, this crime fiction takes a darker turn than most of James Patterson’s books when Jack decides that the only way forward is to take the law into his own hands and seek vigilante justice.

8. Angel Experiment

This is the first book in the Maximum Ride series, written for middle school to adulthood adults. This is more science fiction than a crime thriller or crime fiction. In this book, genetically engineered and advanced teens are held captive at the school they live in and attend.

Born with wings, the teens in Maximum Ride are extraordinary yet still encounter the same issues every young teenager has to deal with, which helps the young fans and readers bond with them. Maximum Ride is an excellent series for anyone, but it caters to younger people.

9. Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas

James Patterson leaves crime behind in this book and switches to romance . We meet Katie Wilkinson, a successful editor, happy and in love with her boyfriend, Matthew, in this genre change. Everything seems to be going well until Matthew disappears. To understand what happened, Katie starts reading a diary that she finds written by someone named Suzanne, telling the story of a man named Nicholas. It offers unsettling clues as to what might have happened to Matthew.

10. Kiss the Girls

In the second Alex Cross book, we follow the homicide detective as he tries to track down two serial killers working together in locations that are thousands of miles away. The stakes are raised even higher when the killers kidnap the niece of Alex Cross as the next potential murder victim.

11. Confessions of a Murder Suspect

Written with Maxine Paetro, this young adults thriller book reveals shocking family secrets, a mystery that seems impossible to solve, and interesting characters . Affluent Tandy and her siblings are left shell-shocked after their parents are murdered. As the only suspect of the crime, sixteen-year-old Tandy has to do her best to solve the mysterious death of her parents while not entirely sure that it was not her.

12. Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports

In the third book in the Maximum Ride series, this plotline follows Max and her “flock” as they try to stop an evil plot to genetically modify specimens and create a “perfect race,” then kill the rest of society.

13. Never Never (Harriet Blue Series)

Written with Candice Fox, this novel begins a five-book series featuring Detective Harriet Blue of the SVU unit. When her brother is arrested for murder, Harriet is sent to Australia to escape the swarm of media and bad PR that arises because of his relationship with the killer. While there, she gets entangled in a mystery about missing miners. This book has short chapters, a trademark of Patterson books, and appeals to readers.

14. Woman of God

This is another book written by Patterson in collaboration with Maxine Paetro. This book steps away from the Alex Cross-type crime thriller novels that James Patterson is known for. This book follows Brigid, a priest who is quickly climbing the ladder of Catholicism and could end up the next Pope. She finds her passion in trying to help those who seem to lack faith. This book is full of justice, religion, and underlying messages from Boston churches to people in power and even a Sudanese civil war.

15. Gone (Michael Bennet)

The sixth novel in the Michael Bennett series is less a mystery and more a quintessential thriller. Patterson again collaborated with Michael Ledwidge on this book. The character development and emotion that this story brings to the table make for some touching scenes involving this fan-favorite character.

Bennett is retired and living his life when a cartel member he put behind bars escapes and targets Bennett and his family. A deadly contest ensues surrounding who can get to who first—this story kicks the mystery to the curb and is a hard and fast thrill ride.

16. The Thomas Berryman Number

The very first published novel by James Patterson, this story moves much more slowly than his subsequent books. A journalist researching a murder uncovers some similar cases that he believes are related. Thomas Berryman, the killer, uses a numbering system to kill his targets and has to stay a step ahead if he does not want to get caught.

17. Murder Games

Patterson wrote this book with Howard Roughan, and it is the first book in a five-part series. A cop investigating a murder case teams up with a professor to solve the mystery of killings happening in which the killer leaves a single playing card as a calling card. With the help of Howard Roughan, Patterson delivers nonstop twists and thrills in this crime novel.

18. Jacky Ha Ha

Written by Patterson and Chris Grabenstein, this book is geared towards children and features a troubled child who deals with her issues by telling ill-timed jokes. With a military mom and a busy dad, Jacky has a lot going on at home, and after getting into some trouble, she realizes that her comic relief is only making things worse. She ends up being faced with deciding whether she should find a new coping mechanism.

19. Pop Goes the Weasel

Another Alex Cross book (number 5) centers more around mind games than action. With Cross finally in love and happy, James Patterson had to come along and disturb that with this book. After a string of murders, Alex Cross has reason to believe that he knows who the killer is. The problem is that proving it and catching the murderer is much more dangerous than Cross anticipated initially.

20. Out of Sight (Amy Cornwall Series)

Written with Brendan DuBois, James Patterson kicks off a series featuring Army Intelligence Officer Amy Cornwall. In this book, Amy is contacted by an unnamed criminal who demands the release of someone in just two days, or her husband and child will be murdered. Having to investigate, sneak around within the military, and save her family—Amy is in a tight spot that will hurt her no matter what she does.

21. Roses Are Red

The sixth Alex Cross book by James Patterson is about bank robbers who make particular demands and murder the bank employees and their families if those demands are not met exactly. Assigned to the case, Alex Cross quickly decides that this is no ordinary criminal, and he must figure out how to stop him before he kills more people.

22. The People Vs. Alex Cross

This is the 25th Alex Cross novel by James Patterson, and this one has a huge plot . Branded as a loose cannon, Alex Cross waits to stand trial for murder. Stuck at home and desperate to clear his name, he starts counseling cops in his basement. When his old partner shows up and asks for help solving a murder, Cross sees it as a chance to redeem himself.

23. The First Lady

Written with Brendan DuBois, the premise of this book is fairly simple. The President of the United States is caught with a mistress when the First Lady goes missing. Agent Sally Grissom is tasked with finding the First Lady and keeping her safe once she is located.

24. The Inn

Written in collaboration with Candice Fox, this book is about Bill, a retired detective running a quiet bed and breakfast. Bill goes head to head against a killer who is wreaking havoc in the area together with his long-term tenants.

25. Fear No Evil

Alex Cross and his partner team up and go to Montana in one of the best James Patterson books of the series. Being hunted by two groups of assassins, the pair of police officers must not only survive the wilderness but several attempts to take their lives. A thrilling novel and a must read.

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12 Best James Patterson Books to Suit Every Mood

• by Sam Howard

James Patterson once said: “I want to prove to everyone, from children to adults, that there is no such thing as a person who doesn’t like to read, only people who haven’t found the right book.” He then went on to write the ‘right book’ for many, his genres ranging from thrillers, suspense, and horror, to romance and YA. 

Since his first published book, No products found. (1976), won The Edgar Award for best novel of the year, Patterson has had a string of success stories (literally!). Today, he is among those who have written the most number of New York Times bestsellers in history. 

He’s most famous in the thriller and suspense realm, because he has a way of keeping you hooked from the first line, making sure you turn the pages to the very end with his fast-paced writing style. And I, like many other Patterson fans, got to know and love him through his crime and mystery novels. Then I read a bunch of other genres he’s written in and, just as I expected, he did right by those books too. 

So I’ve compiled a list of some of his best page-turners here for you, and since my heart always sings for the romance genre, I included two of his best romance novels as well. 

How I rated these books

I’m a mood reader, so whatever I felt at the end of the book makes it into my rating. But there are a few more things I think of when deciding on it:

• Whether the plot makes sense
• Whether there are interesting characters and character arcs
• If the style of writing is appealing
• Whether the book is worth a second read
• What other readers say about them

Best James Patterson Books List

Best James Patterson Book Reviews

1. along came a spider – my favorite.

No products found.

Gary Soneji, the psychotic killer, is about to commit the ‘crime of the century’. The latest of his unspeakable crimes happen at the precinct of the brilliant homicide detective, Alex Cross. Soneji is soon becoming his worst nightmare, especially since he needs to be at the top of his game and not be distracted by the smart and seductive Jezzie Flanagan, the first female supervisor of the Secret Service.

Nobody ever truly forgets their first Patterson and for me, it was Along Came a Spider from the Alex Cross series. My favorite genre after romance is mystery thriller (probably because I binge read the Nancy Drew series as a kid) so when I came across the first book featuring Alex Cross, I didn’t think twice about reading it. I was delighted to find that it was a chilling read featuring a psychopath wreaking havoc in Washington D.C. 

Our psychopathic antagonist, Gary, is the kind that deserves a spot on Criminal Minds because he’s ruthless, manipulative, and treats all humans as his next victim. Patterson writes about him very skillfully, especially about Gary’s human side. I was left thinking about the motives behind the killer, what made him who he is, and his mental health. The story is about him committing his latest crime in the precinct of Alex Cross, the skilled homicide detective. 

Cross is brilliantly portrayed as a detective who started from the ghettos and rose up the ranks, working up to a massive career. In short, it’s so easy to root for this protagonist – I was completely invested in him winning both cases and at life. 

I loved the tension between Alex and Jezzie. Their forbidden romance gave us some great angst and longing scenes, but my one complaint is that Jezzie’s portrayal wasn’t as fleshed out as I would’ve liked it to be. I hate when FMCs are just there as a plot device with little to no character development of their own, and that’s what happened with Jezzie too.

That aside, the thriller/mystery element of this book was top-notch. I couldn’t rest without finding out the truth behind the mysterious killings and the plot twists just kept throwing me off my guard. 

Along Came a Spider has the best parts that make a great mystery thriller: a relatable detective, a frightening psychopath, and a fast-paced plot. This is your quick weeknight read for when you need something to pick up your mundane work days.

• Best for – Fans of psychopath villains, homicide detectives, forbidden romance
• Not for – Readers who are uncomfortable with murders, depiction of child murders/kidnapping

2. 1st to Die

Four crime-solving women team up to pursue a killer whose crimes have shocked San Francisco. But just as they near the end of their chase, a shocking revelation leaves them reeling with more questions than answers about everything they thought they knew.

What is the best thing that could make a James Patterson mystery thriller better than it already is? A women’s murder club, tasked with solving brutal crimes. I literally squealed when I read the synopsis of book 1 of the Women’s Murder Club, 1st to Die, because it’s about four women teaming up to catch a killer in San Francisco. 

My favorite thing about this book is the individualities of these four women. Each one has a specific career in the field of forensics and criminal science, and each one has their own battles to win. We love strong FMCs over here, so I was engrossed in their stories from the beginning. It certainly helped that Patterson expertly painted the female dynamics, their sisterhood, and teamwork throughout the story. 

Now let’s get to the thriller aspect of it. I have one thing to say: what on earth was that plot? The plot had me holding my breath until the end of the story to let out a sigh of relief, only to scream at that last twist. I won’t say more here because I don’t want to spoil it for you, but Patterson really hit a home run with this mystery. 

This is one of my favorite Patterson mystery thrillers for two reasons: the nail-biting plot and the fabulous group of women who are intent on solving the mystery. Since reading this book, I’ve been a staunch fan of the Women’s Murder Club, and I’m sure you will be too. Pick it up for strong FMCs and a killer plot (yes, literally).

• Best for – Fans of strong FMCs, female investigators
• Not for – Readers who are looking for a slow burn

3. Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas

Katie thinks she has found the perfect man until he suddenly leaves her with no explanation. When a diary turns up at her door with a note from her lover urging her to read it, she doesn’t hesitate. But will the answers she’s looking for be more painful than the breakup she’s just been through?

I first came across the movie version of Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas, but when I saw the reviews online, I decided to give the book a chance. I was left with tears in my eyes at the end of this book – a reaction I never thought I’d have to the work of a writer best known for mystery thrillers.

We start the story with Katie sitting in a bathtub in tears, after having read the diary that Suzanne had written for Nicholas, her son. She realizes that Suzanne’s husband is Matt, her lover who had suddenly left her, the night before she had received the diary. Patterson’s opening lines were enough to catch me off guard because it was clear that both Suzanne and Katie were so in love with Matt. 

After Katie’s initial shock of reading the diary, there was an almost eerie calmness in her that I got a bit confused. You wouldn’t have expected a woman who had just found out that her lover was married to be this calm about everything, right? Did her love run so deep that she wasn’t angry? What was in the diary that made her feel empathy for Matt, even after he had wronged her? 

In answering these questions, Patterson treats us to two beautiful love stories in this novel. The plot twists and the ending were slightly predictable but Patterson’s portrayal of characters was the true winner in this book because we get to see the surprising tenderness and understanding between all of them. Their vulnerabilities were so heart-wrenching that I was ugly crying my way through the entire book 😭. 

Ultimately, this is a story which shows us that love isn’t black or white and that it instead exists, in a multitude of colors, in the ordinary moments of everyday life. I loved reading this mature romance and I would 100% recommend it for those of you looking for a slow, emotional, romance.

• Best for – Fans of slow burn romances, mature romances
• Not for –  Readers who are looking for a one love trope

4. Sam’s Letters to Jennifer

Six months after losing the love of her life, Jennifer moves back to Wisconsin to care for her ill grandmother. Here, she finds a painful secret that her grandmother has been harboring for years and discovers another chance at love.

I swear, I didn’t pick this book up because of the namesake. It’s just that Patterson did such a great job with Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas, I decided to dive right into his other romance novel, Sam’s Letters to Jennifer. This was another haunting love story with themes of grief and loss, which left me at a loss for words once I was done with it. 

I love the second-chance love trope in this book where Jennifer, our FMC, returns to her hometown to care for her ill grandmother and ultimately ends up falling for Brendan. The way she falls in love with him is so heartwarming to see because Jennifer is giving herself a second chance at love, after going through the grief of losing her former partner. I found the depiction of her loss very painful to read about, but it was so beautifully written, capturing the mourning that follows the loss of a partner, and the conflicting feelings that come with finding love again. 

Patterson once again explores two love stories in this book. The second one is Jennifer’s grandmother, Sam’s, told through the letters that she has left for her granddaughter. I really enjoyed picking out the similarities between the stories of Jennifer and Sam, and I think this plot device really shows Patterson’s skills as a writer. Sam’s story is also a great (and pretty heartbreaking) insight into marriages from a different era. 

Sam’s Letters to Jennifer is a haunting, occasionally painful story of love and loss and I can confirm that James Patterson did wonders in the romance genre this time around as well. I’m recommending this with high praise, but be warned, you might need a weekend blocked out to sob your heart out as you read this book.

• Best for – Fans of themes of love and loss, second chance love 
• Not for – Readers who are looking for a quick burn, happy romance

5. The Murder House

Former NYC cop Detective Jenna Murphy has just moved back to the Hamptons in an attempt to escape her troubled past and to rehabilitate her struggling career. The last thing she expects is the town’s cursed gothic mansion to be the scene of depraved killings. With everything on the line, Jenna must risk her life to expose the truth behind the murders.

Haunted houses both terrify me and intrigue me, so when I found that James Patterson has a mystery thriller set around a creepy house, I knew I had to read it. This turned out to be one of the best stand-alones of Patterson’s I’ve read, mostly because I loved reading the chapters written from the point of view of the unknown killer. 

The book is told in a series of POVs, mainly between Detective Murphy and the unknown killer, who calls himself Holden. Reading his perspective gave me the shivers, but I loved that deep dive into the deranged thoughts of the criminal. 

Now, when they caught Noah Walker — the bad boy carpenter of the Hamptons for the murders — I immediately knew something smelled fishy. He didn’t really come across as a ‘deranged criminal.’ But (I’m ashamed to say) that was the only thing about this book that I was able to predict. I kind of pride myself on being able to figure out who the killer is before the end of the book, but Patterson almost always wins this game in his books. This was the same for The Murder House, and the twists had me jumpy right to the very end. 

The only issue I had with this story was the depiction of Detective Jenna Murphy’s character. She came off a bit annoying and careless as a detective, ready to point fingers at everybody instead of thinking things through first. 

However, if you’re in the mood for a fast-paced murder mystery, this is the perfect book for you. Check it out for its FMC who’s also a former NYC cop, the town bad boy who’s arrested for murder, and the POVs from the killer himself. And the cherry on top is the eerie, abandoned house where the story takes place.

• Best for – Fans of murder mysteries, fans of abandoned houses
• Not for – Readers who are looking for a likable FMC

6. The Postcard Killers

NYPD Detective Jacob Kanon is on an adventure through Europe’s cities for a heartbreaking reason: his daughter was a victim of a series of murders while holidaying in Paris. The killings are always preceded with a riddle written on a postcard to local newspapers, and the killers always claim couples on vacation. Enlisting the reluctant help of reporter Dessie Larrson, Kanon is ready to bring justice for his daughter.

Since murder mysteries are a surefire way of turning a boring weekend around, I picked up this novel during one slow weekend, and was completely blown away by the chilling murder spree depicted here. I had to call a fellow Patterson fan in the middle of reading this book just to calm myself down. 

I really loved that this book was set in Europe with the murders being in multiple locations, giving a sense of adventure to the whole mystery-solving aspect of the book. I also enjoyed that the detective pursuing the crimes, Kanon, was doing so for a very personal reason, bringing his determination front and center throughout the book. There’s nothing quite like a personal vendetta in a thriller novel to keep you captivated in the story. 

The book carried elements of erotica and historical art within the themes of murder and mystery. Adding that to the backdrop of adventure, the combo of themes made it a captivating read, especially as the crimes were linked to two killers who have a very interesting relationship to one another. 

I do wish though that the characters of the two killers were more fleshed out in this story. I was excited to find out what made them killers and how they connected, but my questions went unanswered and now I’m trying to manifest a sequel or spin-off featuring the killers.

So while I draft a letter to James Patterson asking for more of the Postcard Killers, go read this book! It’s an amazing stand-alone novel featuring a spree of gruesome killings, an adventure, and a detective with a personal vendetta.

• Best for – Fans of adventure novels, murder mysteries
• Not for – Readers who are looking for well-developed villains

7. Red Alert

Detective Zach, from NYPD Red, is in his element with his partner Detective Kylie, doing what they do best: solving high-profile crimes. What’s keeping them up at night is their next case: investigating the connection between two bomb explosions and the suspected murder of a high-profile NY-er known for her kinky sexual interests. Adding fuel to the suspense of solving a high-stakes, complicated mystery is the romantic tension between the duo.

The NYPD Red series is no stranger to the hardened Patterson fan. I pretty much binge-read the books as they were released because they feature one of my favorite tropes in murder mysteries, NYPD detectives. Patterson writes about an NYPD special unit named NYPD Red, featuring Detectives Zach and Kylie, and my favorite happens to be Red Alert.

I completely believe that the secret to a great detective story is one thing: the messiness. Hear me out, nobody wants a ‘clean’, easily predictable mystery where we can see the twists coming a mile away. But when there are multiple mysteries with little to no connection between them, that’s when things get a little messy and a whole lot interesting. 

Red Alert is the perfect example of such a book with the mysteries ranging from a bomb explosion at a fundraiser and a suspected murder of a high-profile New Yorker known for her kinky sexual explorations to a second bomb explosion. And I assure you, all these interconnected puzzles and the NYPD Red squad’s attempts to untangle everything will keep you hooked from the beginning. 

As usual, my favorite NYPD detective, Zach, was well characterized in this book. His witty banter with Kylie is hilarious while his longing for her is delightfully angsty. I loved seeing their personal relationship develop as a backstory, though I sometimes wanted to throw the book at the pair because they couldn’t see that they were good for each other. 

This remains my favorite NYPD Red book because of the insight it offers into the investigation of three gruesome crimes and the personal relationship between Zach and Kylie. I love the book for its pace, and I’m sure you’ll love it too – it’ll keep you occupied, twisting and turning the mystery in your head until you reach the very end.

• Best for – Fans of NYPD-detective trope
• Not for – Readers who are looking for a low-stakes mystery

8. Woman of God

Brigid Fitzgerald has faced a life of trials and tribulations, from a difficult childhood with drug-addled parents to a career as a doctor on the frontlines of war-torn Sudan. Her faith in God has only grown stronger through the years, but it must be put to the test again as those who fear that the Church has lost its way have made her a target.

Ever since I read the likes of Dan Brown’s No products found. , I’ve been fascinated with books inspired by religious history and mythology. That’s how I stumbled across Patterson’s Woman of God, which left me reeling from the story about politics in the highest institution of religious power in the world, and about one’s personal relationship with religion. 

I love when FMCs disrupt things (especially patriarchal institutions) and I had a good laugh reading this book as Brigid, our FMC, pretty much wreaks havoc in Rome. She is called for an audience with His Holiness Pope Gregory XVII for starting a movement to modernize Roman Catholic views, and she does NOT hold back. 

What I enjoyed the most about this book was the soft portrayal of a woman’s evolving relationship with God and faith because it was fascinating how Brigid’s character arc took shape with her faith. Her character development itself was very fast paced (true to the classic Patterson style) and it kept me gripped throughout the novel. 

I’m used to Patterson’s harsh-edged crime thrillers, so it came as a surprise when this story broke my heart with the personal trials that Brigid went through. The portrayal of loss and grief was so acute that for a second I forgot I was reading a thriller writer. 

I do have to say though that this book has some critical undertones of religion, especially about Roman Catholicism. If that’s not your cup of tea, I totally get it; but if you do decide to give it a chance, I recommend going into it with an open mind because it’s a fascinating fresh perspective on topics that have been hashed out for centuries. If you’re looking for a read that veers from conventional thriller and suspense novels, Woman of God might fit the bill.

• Best for – Fans of religious history, fans of strong FMCs
• Not for – Readers who are uncomfortable with religious politics

9. The Murder of King Tut

The life and death of the ‘Boy King’ has fascinated the minds of many across the decades. Howard Carter went a step further and made it his life’s mission to find answers to the 3,000-year-old mystery, and finally uncovered the long lost crypt. In The Murder of King Tut, Patterson unpacks these findings to disclose the truth behind the mystery.

I was digging around for some reading on ancient Egypt when I came across Patterson’s The Murder of King Tut. I was immediately obsessed because I’ve been invested in Tutankhamun like everyone was, for the same reason: the mystery surrounding King Tut’s death. This book was a thorough, intriguing collection of information and narratives that really opened my eyes to the scale of the mystery surrounding the Boy King.

I loved the cross-mixing of forms explored in this book. It starts with personal introductions by Patterson while the story is written in almost a report-style, making it an interesting take on true crime and historical writing. These liberties that Patterson has taken play a pivotal role in bringing to life the case of a murder mystery that has gone cold centuries ago. 

I also loved that writing this story meant that Patterson himself got to play detective, a role dedicated to his MCs in most of his other novels. He takes us on his journey of combing through history and Howard Carter’s findings to give us this compelling read. It’s not one of his fast-paced mystery thrillers, but it made me admire his skill as a writer all the more. 

In short, this book is such a fun and fascinating deep dive into a niche of history. If you’re a history buff, you would definitely love this book. If you’re not a history buff, you would still love this book because the mystery/suspense element is as appealing and fulfilling as any other James Patterson. Happy exploring, folks!

• Best for –   Fans of Egyptian history
• Not for – Readers who are looking for a fast-paced mystery thriller set in contemporary times

10. Filthy Rich

Starting from humble origins, Jeffrey Epstein amassed wealth with his penchant for numbers. But even after rising to the highest rungs of society, he wanted more and this meant indulging in his pedophilic tendencies. Filthy Rich examines all sides of his case as he fell from grace, rocking the foundations of high society.

When Jeffrey Epstein died in his jail cell in 2019, I, like literally everybody else on the internet, searched high and low for all details of his vile actions. That’s how I came across this book that Patterson had written three years prior to Epstein’s death, detailing the shocking nature of Epstein’s conduct.

Nothing has ever really prepared me for the horrors of true crime. I know that these stories are part and parcel of the society we live in, but I can never seem to wrap my head around how these atrocities are real and all possible. However, Patterson’s writing on the Epstein case was so direct and to the point that I had to come to terms with the existence of evil and those who commit it. 

It was difficult to stop reading about the horror show (akin to how we cannot look away from a car accident) because Patterson’s recreation of interviews and conversations with victims were extremely informative and captivating. 

I also really admired that Patterson critically examined the justice system in this book, showing us just how lightly they handled Epstein’s crimes when they were first brought to light. This, coupled with Patterson’s criticisms of the rich and powerful, made for a compelling and bone-chilling read. 

I finished the book thinking, “What a damning portrayal of today’s society” so I want to warn you – this book is difficult to stomach because the story is about some gruesome crimes towards children. With that warning in place, I really do urge you to read this story for a very dark but much needed insight into the world’s capacity for unspeakable acts against humanity.

• Best for – Fans of true crime
• Not for – Readers who are uncomfortable with the depiction of child abuse

11. The Injustice

Theo Foster is expelled when his anonymous Twitter account is used by someone to post a compromising photo of the school’s star quarterback player. Resigned to a life of working at the local mini-mart, he runs into Sasha Ellis, his long-time crush, who has also been expelled for a crime she didn’t commit. Teaming up together, they decide to uncover the truth behind who set them up.

I haven’t read a lot of Young Adult mysteries because I haven’t come across well-recommended ones, but since The Injustice is a James Patterson product, I decided to give it a go. I was so thrilled to find that this was a Pretty Little Liars meet The Breakfast Club kind of a book because I loved both of them as a teen. 

Right from the start, I enjoyed the friendships between the group of students expelled from their high school for various reasons. They are so different from each other that they wouldn’t have been friends in another lifetime, but in the book, their common experience brings them together. Then they have to learn to put up with each other to find out who used Theo’s social media account to upload a compromising video of Parker, in order to clear their names. 

Our MMC, Theo, had excellent character development. He’s no perfect teenager by any means, and Patterson expertly captures the conflicting nature of young adulthood. Theo grew to be resilient and learned to fight back, and I was so moved by the way he handled the challenges that life threw at him. 

Similar to Theo’s, the storylines of two of the other three MCs were also great. I loved reading about Jude’s struggles with his sexuality and Parker’s personal story, but I was not a fan of Sasha’s storyline because the twist at the end about her home life came off a bit unnecessary. There was absolutely no need to give her that character arc, and then just leave us hanging there with no explanation or resolution. 

However, if you’re looking for an easy-read YA mystery, this is the book for you. It has some beautiful explorations of friendship and an interesting plot, so it’ll quickly fill up your slow weekends!

• Best for – Fans of YA mysteries
• Not for – Readers who are looking for a mature mystery/crime thriller

12. Humans, Bow Down

Hu-bots, originally created by humans as perfect versions of themselves, have waged war against humankind and won. Under the hu-bot rule, the remaining humans are either imprisoned or forced to work as servants. One teenage girl, Six, unknowingly holds the device that can change everything, but will the hu-bots get to her before she realizes its potential?

From Divergent to The Hunger Games, I love reading post-apocalyptic dystopian novels which show the alternative worlds that humans can create, and the fight to ensure that they are just and fair. That’s why I decided to give Humans, Bow Down a go, and I was completely taken by it. 

One thing I really enjoyed about this book was Six’s character development. In a post-apocalyptic world where humans are enslaved to robots, she unknowingly holds the secret to a device that could change everything because she’s the granddaughter of the inventor of the first original robot. We get to see how she tries to do right by humankind while dealing with the trauma of being kicked out of her family and the hu-bot war that nearly wiped down humanity; I was impressed by the high stakes and the challenges they presented, especially in a YA book. 

I also really loved the symbolism in this book because Patterson used symbols to draw parallels between the dystopian world of the novel and the world we live in today – like the modern-day class structure, for example. It’s a bit of a jarring outlook on reality but I like it when authors force me to see the world in a different light. That’s what reading’s all about, right?

The novel was really rushed though. I think a great dystopian novel is one that properly fleshes out the world, the plot, and the characters so we can connect with the story. In Humans, Bow Down, there’s no space for this to happen because Patterson’s classic short chapters aren’t structured for comprehensive worldbuilding. 

However, it’s still a fresh take on a common dystopian trope of robots ruling the world with its symbolism, the FMC, and the reflections it left me with. So if you’re looking for a fast-paced YA dystopian novel with a strong FMC, this is the book for you.

• Best for – Fans of YA dystopian genre
• Not for – Readers who are looking for slow-paced dystopian books

And that’s my list of the best James Pattersons! Whether you’re new to reading or a seasoned bookaholic, Patterson has something for everyone from true crime to mystery thrillers to romances. Pick up your next Patterson read to dive into worlds of crime, shrouded by mystery and thrill.

What Are the Must Read James Patterson Books?

Patterson’s Alex Cross series is his most popular one, and its first book, No products found. , is definitely a must read. Many Patterson fans were indoctrinated into the fanbase through this book and it remains a winner, even today. 

The NYPD Red series is another one of his most famous works, and the biggest James Patterson fans will tell you that the fifth installment in this series – No products found. – should not be missed. 

From his recent works, No products found. follows the shocking true crime tale of Jeffrey Epstein. The depiction of America’s richest communities and the scandal that rocked their foundation is a must read.

What to Read Next

If you enjoyed my list of James Patterson books, especially ones from the true crime/mystery thriller genres, then my list of Harlan Coben books might feature your next mystery read!

No products found. is considered his best book because it’s wildly popular – it’s the most reviewed Jamed Patterson book on Goodreads and it has over 200 published editions.

James Patterson is mostly known for his thriller and suspense novels.

James Patterson has written many series of novels that can be read as stand-alones, so you can read any book without too many confusions. That said, it’s good to start a series with its first book. For example, you can start the Alex Cross series with No products found. , Women’s Muder Club series with No products found. , the Private series with No products found. , the NYPD Red series with No products found. , and the Maximum Ride series with No products found. .

No products found. is the first book of the Alex Cross series, so it’s good to start from there.

James Patterson books are easy to read as the author draws us in quickly with accessible language and fast-paced action. However, keep in mind that though his books are easy to read, they contain serious and dark themes like crime, substance abuse, and psychopathy.

No products found. , No products found. , No products found. , No products found. , and No products found. , No products found. are a few stand-alone novels by James Patterson.

Lee Child, David Baldacci, Robert Ludlum, and John Grisham have a similar writing style and write in similar genres.

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23 Best James Patterson Books to Read

This post is all about the Best James Patterson Books to Read!

I’ve been a James Patterson fan for years. James Patterson books got me into loving thrillers, and he was the very first author to reshare one of my bookish photos on Instagram! But there are a LOT of James Patterson books, and I always get messaged about where to start in his line-up.

The answer? I always say, just pick one up that grabs your attention. The great thing about James Patterson books is you can read them as you see fit. Now, there are series like the Women’s Murder Club and Alex Cross where I think it helps reading them in order, so you get the full backstory, but I started reading them out of order (because I was a newbie), and I didn’t find myself lost while reading them.

The best James Patterson books I recommend I feel you can read as standalone books, but if they are a part of a series, you may enjoy reading them in order. Don’t worry. I’ll point out which books those are!

Whether you’re just starting out reading James Patterson or have been reading his books for a while, this list covers a wide range of his reads!

This post is all about the Best James Patterson Books.

Carly-Rae’s Top Favorite James Patterson Books

Best overall: lost by james patterson and james o. born.

“Lost remains one of my favorites because the setting is in Florida, where I’m from. I thought it was very well described, and the mystery was great. Detective Tom Moon has great characterization too!’

Most Heart pounding: Criss Cross by James Patterson and James O. Born

“Criss Cross was one of the most heart-pounding Cross mysteries for me. I really enjoyed all the twists and always recommend this one to readers.”

The longest one I’ve Read: The Summer House by James Patterson and Brendan DuBois

“This was one of the longer Patterson books I’ve read, but it was super-fast pace. I didn’t see the twists coming! Did not feel 400+ pages long.”

Great Twists: Blindside by James Patterson and James O. Born

“It’s so hard to pick just one, but Blindside caught me off guard in a good way. It hooked me on the Michael Bennett series.”

1. The Summer House by James Patterson and Brendan DuBois

The Summer House caught me completely off guard (in a good twisty way)! The lake house was once very pristine, but now it’s dilapidated and barely standing. Major Jeremiah Cook goes to investigate and finds a harrowing scene with a local police force who are hardly welcoming. Read my full review here.

2. Run, Rose, Run by James Patterson and Dolly Parton

The country music setting in this book is 5-star. While I don’t think the mystery is the greatest compared to other Patterson reads, I included it because Dolly Parton’s character makes this book shine. I highly recommend the audiobook (which Parton and Patterson voice)! Read my full review here.

3. 22 Seconds by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

This book is one of 22 books in the Women’s Murder Club series. Now, this series you can read in order, but you don’t have to. The characters and couples are great…to this day, they are some of my favorites! I am a huge Lindsay Boxer fan!

4. 1st cast by James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts

Angela Hoot is a programmer and on her first case…but her first case is definitely not for a newbie. I thought this was a great addition to the Patterson books. Angela was a great character and had great chemistry with William Keats! Read my full review here.

5. Shattered by James Patterson and James O. Born

Michael Bennett thrillers are some of my favorites because they are very twisty. It is a fast-paced read, but a lot you need to pay attention to everything happening. This is part of a series. I started reading the first in the series, but again you don’t have to!

6. Deadly Cross by James Patterson

One word: Alex Cross! For me, I love any and all Patterson books that have Alex Cross. He is a great character and always carries the stories. This is part of a series. I started the Cross series, not in order. You can too, but you do miss backstory and if you don’t like knowing what happens to Alex through the years, start this series in order!

7. Roses Are Red by James Patterson

This is another Alex Cross mystery that I had to include. There are serious crimes in Washington, D.C., that Cross tackles, but we also see him dealing with personal matters.

8. Murder Interrupted by James Patterson

This book is based on true crime and follows a husband who pays a hitman $750,000 to kill his wife, but that plan goes awry. Then there is a celebrity mother who pretended her daughter was sick for attention. A twisty Patterson read!

9. Hush by James Patterson and Candice Fox

Harriet was a top cop but is now behind bars. The last person she wants to see is the guy that put her there. But Joe Woods, the police commissioner, shows up and needs Harriet’s help when his daughter and his granddaughter go missing…

10. The Jailhouse Lawyer by James Patterson and Nancy Allen

This is a small-town mystery where usually there’s hardly any crime, but the jailhouse is full of inmates. If you like drama and courtrooms, I think this is a Patterson book for you!

11. The Moores Are Missing by James Patterson

3 Thrillers in one with The Moores Are Missing (a family who suddenly vanishes), The Housewife (a former detective learns her neighbor has been murdered), and Absolute Zero (Ed is framed for the murder of his friends)—it’s a twisty book filled with page-turner shockers!

12. The Perfect Assassin by James Patterson and Brian Sitts

A story I never saw coming! Dr. Brandt Savage is a character who really carried this story. He gets taken to be trained as an assassin and learns a history he never knew existed. Have you read it yet?

13. Lost by James Patterson and James O. Born

This book caught me off guard in a good way. It’s set in Miami, where I go all the time, and the setting is very authentic. Detective Tom Moon is a former football star and I just think everything about the plot and his characterization was great. My full review is here!

14. Texas Outlaw by James Patterson and Andrew Bourelle

I did not expect to like this one as much as I did. It’s the second book in the series, and I enjoyed it more than the first. Texas Ranger Rory and his famous country singer girlfriend Willow bring an all-new vibe to Patterson’s traditional twisty reads.

15. Blindside by James Patterson and James O. Born

This book introduced me to Michael Bennett, so it holds a special place in my heart. I took a selfie with this book, and James Patterson reshared it (which was amazing)! The twists and turns in this book are some of the best! Really enjoyed this one. Read my full review here!

16. The House of Kennedy by James Patterson and Cynthia Fagen

This book was different than other Patterson reads. I really enjoyed learning about the Kennedys. Definitely worth a read!

17. 19th Christmas by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

The 19th Christmas introduced me to the Women’s Murder Club, and I’ve been a fan ever since. It has great twists and strong characters. The book will hook you on this series! Read my full review here.

18. Private Down Under by James Patterson and Michael White

This is one I went back and read. It was published in 2014 and definitely has Patterson’s signature twists with a bloody man stumbling into a local agency.

19. James Patterson by James Patterson

James Patterson has always been an interesting author to me. I really enjoy his books, and as soon as I heard he was writing a book about his life, I went out and got a copy! It did not disappoint!

20. Now You See Her by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge

This twisty Patterson read I highly recommend. A woman, Nina, has been living a lie for 18 years after fleeing her ‘perfect’ life. But now she confronts her past, and oh wow…be prepared!

21. The Black Book by James Patterson and David Ellis

Set in Chicago, this is a fast-paced thriller centering around a missing ‘black book.’ Billy Harney scrambles to find it alongside many others. A book that had me turning the pages as fast as I could!

22. Count to Ten by James Patterson and Ashwin Sanghi

Santosh is a great character, which is why he has his own Patterson series. I really enjoyed the twists in this story. One of my favorites!

23. Criss Cross by James Patterson and James O. Born

Criss Cross is a very twisty Cross mystery. I did not see the ending coming at all! I always recommend this one in the series! Again, if you want to read Alex Cross in the order you can, but you don’t have to!

Why is James Patterson so popular?

James Patterson has achieved tremendous success as a writer by understanding what his readers want and delivering it to them in an easily digestible format. His foray into television is just the latest example of how he’s able to adapt his work to new platforms and reach even more fans. If you’re looking for some summer reading that’s sure to be a page-turner, give one of James Patterson’s books a try. You won’t be disappointed.

Will there be a new Alex Cross book in 2022?

Published September 13th, 2022. The final battle is about to begin. Will Dr. Alex Cross and Detective John Sampson be able to outsmart the all-knowing genius who has been stalking them for years? Find out in the next installment of the series. stay tuned!

What is James Patterson’s best-selling book?

“Along Came a Spider” is the most popular James Patterson novel on Goodreads, with over 400,000 ratings. The first mystery novel in the “Alex Cross” series, it has 28 novels (and counting). If you’re looking for a good mystery series to get into, this is a great one.

Does James Patterson use ghostwriters?

Patterson has been able to achieve such success by honing in on his strengths and focusing on the parts of writing that he excels at. He surrounds himself with people who can help him with the rest. That’s not to say that Patterson doesn’t put in the work – he does, but he also knows when to delegate and when to ask for help. As a result, he’s become one of the most successful authors of our time. And it all started with a simple love for stories.

What is the best James Patterson book to start with?

Patterson’s work is some of the most captivating in the thriller genre. If you’re looking for a new series to start, Along Came a Spider is a great book—and a great place to begin your journey into Patterson’s unputdownable world.

I am currently attending Harvard and pursuing a degree in Humanities. My passion is books and writing. Books taught me things about myself, the world, and society in ways I never thought possible. It is thanks to books I know who I am and allowed me to discover my passion for writing. There is nothing like crafting characters and capturing the voice of a story, bringing it to life on the pages. Thanks to every bookish bestie in the book world, it has allowed me to spread my joy of reading to people worldwide!

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100 Best James Patterson Books of All Time

We've researched and ranked the best james patterson books in the world, based on recommendations from world experts, sales data, and millions of reader ratings. Learn more

1st to Die (Women's Murder Club, #1)

James Patterson | 5.00

See more recommendations for this book...

Along Came a Spider (Alex Cross, #1)

James Patterson | 4.92

Cristian-Dragos Baciu And let's not forget Along Came a Spider by James Patterson. Actually, Patterson is really something else. He doesn't even write the books himself. He just puts together a very detailed brief, that he hands over to a talented writer and bang!, you have a best-seller. (Source)

Kiss the Girls (Alex Cross, #2)

James Patterson | 4.83

2nd Chance (Women's Murder Club, #2)

James Patterson | 4.77

4th of July (Women's Murder Club, #4)

James Patterson and Maxine Paetro | 4.74

Roses are Red (Alex Cross, #6)

James Patterson | 4.72

In this heart-pounding but touchingly romantic thriller, Detective Alex Cross pursues the most complex and brilliant killer he's ever confronted - mysterious criminal who calls himself the Mastermind.

Detective Alex Cross takes on the case, certain that this is no ordinary bank robber at work - the pathological...

Detective Alex Cross takes on the case, certain that this is no ordinary bank robber at work - the pathological need for control and perfection is too great. Cross is in the midst of a personal crisis at home, but the case becomes all-consuming as he learns that the Mastermind is plotting one huge, last, perfect crime.

3rd Degree (Women's Murder Club, #3)

James Patterson and Andrew Gros | 4.71

The 5th Horseman (Women's Murder Club, #5)

James Patterson, Maxine Paetro, Carolyn McCormick | 4.68

7th Heaven (Women's Murder Club, #7)

James Patterson, Maxine Paetro | 4.67

The 6th Target (Women's Murder Club, #6)

James Patterson, Maxine Paetro | 4.66

And Lindsay Boxer and her new partner in the San Francisco police department run flat-out to stop a series of kidnappings that has electrified the city: children are being plucked off the streets together with their nannies--but the kidnappers aren't demanding ransom. Amid uncertainty and rising panic, Lindsay juggles the possibility of a new love with an unsolvable investigation, and the knowledge that one...

And Lindsay Boxer and her new partner in the San Francisco police department run flat-out to stop a series of kidnappings that has electrified the city: children are being plucked off the streets together with their nannies--but the kidnappers aren't demanding ransom. Amid uncertainty and rising panic, Lindsay juggles the possibility of a new love with an unsolvable investigation, and the knowledge that one member of the club could be on the brink of death.

And just when everything appears momentarily under control, the case takes a terrifying turn, putting an entire city in lethal danger. Lindsay must make a choice she never dreamed she'd face--with no certainty that either outcome has more than a prayer of success.

Don't have time to read the top James Patterson books of all time? Read Shortform summaries.

Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:

• Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
• Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
• Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.

Jack & Jill (Alex Cross, #3)

James Patterson | 4.66

Pop Goes the Weasel (Alex Cross, #5)

James Patterson | 4.63

Cat and Mouse (Alex Cross, #4)

James Patterso | 4.63

The 8th Confession (Women's Murder Club #8)

James Patterson and Maxine Paetro | 4.63

The 9th Judgment (Women's Murder Club, #9)

James Patterson, Maxine Paetro | 4.59

A young mother and her infant child are ruthlessly gunned down while returning to their car in the garage of a shopping mall. There are no witnesses, and Detective Lindsay Boxer is left with only one shred of evidence: a cryptic message scrawled across the windshield in bloodred lipstick.

The most dangerous

The same night, the wife of A-list actor Marcus Dowling is woken by a cat burglar who is about to steal millions of dollars' worth of precious jewels. In just seconds there is a nearly empty safe, a lifeless body, and another mystery that...

The same night, the wife of A-list actor Marcus Dowling is woken by a cat burglar who is about to steal millions of dollars' worth of precious jewels. In just seconds there is a nearly empty safe, a lifeless body, and another mystery that throws San Francisco into hysteria.

The most exciting Women's Murder Club novel ever

Lindsay spends every waking hour working with her partner, Rich--and her desire for him threatens to tear apart both her engagement and the Women's Murder Club. Before Lindsay and her friends can piece together either case, one of the killers forces Lindsay to put her own life on the line--but is it enough to save the city? With unparalleled danger and explosive action, The 9th Judgment is James Patterson at his compelling, unstoppable best!

Cross (Alex Cross, #12)

James Patterson | 4.59

Mary, Mary (Alex Cross, #11)

Right from the beginning, this case is like nothing Alex has ever been confronted with before. Is this the plan of an obsessed fan or a spurned actor, or is it part of...

Right from the beginning, this case is like nothing Alex has ever been confronted with before. Is this the plan of an obsessed fan or a spurned actor, or is it part of something much more frightening? Now members of Hollywood's A-list fear they're next on Mary's list, and the case grows by blockbuster proportions as the LAPD and FBI scramble to find a pattern before Mary can send one more chilling update.

Double Cross (Alex Cross, #13)

James Patterson | 4.58

10th Anniversary (Women's Murder Club, #10)

James Patterson, Maxine Paetro | 4.57

Violets Are Blue (Alex Cross, #7)

James Patterson | 4.57

Detective Alex Cross must confront his most terrifying nemesis ever-and his own deepest fears-in this electrifying new thriller from the master of suspense, James Patterson.

Cross takes on the case and plunges into a netherworld of secret...

Cross takes on the case and plunges into a netherworld of secret clubs and role-players, a world full of poseurs and playactors-and someone demented enough to have crossed the line from dark ritual to real blood. At the same time, a lethal super-criminal from Cross's past known as the Mastermind is stalking him, taunting him, and threatening everything he holds dear. Cross has never been closer to defeat, or in greater danger. In a shocking conclusion, Alex Cross must survive a deadly confrontation-only to discover at last the awful secret of the Mastermind.

The Big Bad Wolf (Alex Cross, #9)

James Patterson | 4.56

11th Hour (Women's Murder Club, #11)

James Patterson | 4.54

Step on a Crack (Michael Bennett, #1)

James Patterson, Michael Ledwidge | 4.53

London Bridges (Alex Cross, #10)

James Patterson | 4.53

Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas

Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette | 4.51

Miléna Santoro It’s really fascinating that born out of this very autobiographical story of abandonment and the suffering that that caused and then the desire to reconnect with one’s roots, we have this exceptional novel that fills in the gaps of a story that can never be fully told or fully understood—and that really does encompass the history of Quebec, and its place in North America more broadly. (Source)

The Beach House

James Patterson, Peter de Jonge | 4.50

Cross Fire (Alex Cross, #17)

James Patterson | 4.49

The Angel Experiment (Maximum Ride, #1)

James Patterso | 4.48

James Patterson and Howard Roughan | 4.48

12th of Never (Women's Murder Club, #12)

James Patterson and Maxine Paetr | 4.47

School's Out—Forever (Maximum Ride, #2)

James Patterson | 4.46

Cross Country (Alex Cross, #14)

Unlucky 13 (Women's Murder Club, #13)

James Patterson, Maxine Paetro | 4.44

Run for Your Life (Michael Bennett, #2)

James Patterson, Michael Ledwidge | 4.43

Only one man can tackle such a high-profile case: Detective Mike Bennett. The pressure is enough for anyone, but Mike also has to care for his 10 children-all of whom have come down with virulent flu at once!

Discovering a secret pattern in The Teacher's lessons, Detective Bennett...

Discovering a secret pattern in The Teacher's lessons, Detective Bennett realizes he has just hours to save New York from the greatest disaster in its history. From the #1 bestselling author comes Run For Your Life , the continuation of his newest, electrifying series.

Kill Alex Cross (Alex Cross, #18)

James Patterson | 4.42

Alex Cross's Trial (Alex Cross, #15)

James Patterson, Richard DiLallo | 4.42

From his grandmother, Alex Cross has heard the story of his great uncle Abraham and his struggles for survival in the era of the Ku Klux Klan. Now, Alex passes the family tale along to his own children in a novel he's written--a novel called Trial.

Connected by blood

As a lawyer in turn-of-the-century Washington D.C., Ben Corbett represents the toughest cases. Fighting against oppression and racism, he risks his family and his life in the process. When President Roosevelt asks Ben to return to his home town to investigate rumors of the...

As a lawyer in turn-of-the-century Washington D.C., Ben Corbett represents the toughest cases. Fighting against oppression and racism, he risks his family and his life in the process. When President Roosevelt asks Ben to return to his home town to investigate rumors of the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan there, he cannot refuse.

United by bravery

When he arrives in Eudora, Mississippi, Ben meets the wise Abraham Cross and his beautiful granddaughter, Moody. Ben enlists their help, and the two Crosses introduce him to the hidden side of the idyllic Southern town. Lynchings have become commonplace and residents of the town's black quarter live in constant fear. Ben aims to break the reign of terror--but the truth of who is really behind it could break his heart.

Written in the fearless voice of Detective Alex Cross, Alex Cross's Trial is a gripping story of murder, love, and, above all, bravery.

Worst Case (Michael Bennett, #3)

James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge | 4.41

To Detective Michael Bennett, it becomes clear that these murders are linked and must be part of a greater, more public demonstration. With the city thrown into chaos, he is forced to team up with FBI agent Emily Parker, and the two set out to capture the killer before he begins his most public lesson yet--a deadly...

To Detective Michael Bennett, it becomes clear that these murders are linked and must be part of a greater, more public demonstration. With the city thrown into chaos, he is forced to team up with FBI agent Emily Parker, and the two set out to capture the killer before he begins his most public lesson yet--a deadly message for the entire city to witness.

From the bestselling author who brought you the Alex Cross novels comes James Patterson's most action-packed series yet. With the heart-pounding suspense that only Patterson delivers, Worst Case l leave you gasping for breath until the very end.

From the shocking first page to the last exhilarating scene, Worst Case is a non-stop thriller from "America's #1 storyteller" –Forbes).

When the Wind Blows (When the Wind Blows, #1)

James Patterson | 4.41

Kit secretly pursues the investigation, yet witnesses keep turning up dead. Then Frannie stumbles upon an astonishing discovery in the nearby woods, and their lives are altered in ways they could never...

Kit secretly pursues the investigation, yet witnesses keep turning up dead. Then Frannie stumbles upon an astonishing discovery in the nearby woods, and their lives are altered in ways they could never have imagined. Simply knowing the secret of Max -- the terrified 11-year-old girl with an amazing gift -- could mean death.

As more and more diabolical details are unearthed, the murderer's bloody trail ultimately leads the trio to an underground lab network, known as "the School." Here scientists conduct shockingly incomprehensible experiments involving children and genetic alteration.

The Quickie

James Patterson, Michael Ledwidge | 4.39

A gripping story of secrets and infidelities that begins where Adrian Lyne's movie Unfaithful leaves off, The Quickie will have readers' hearts pounding to the very last page.

Sam's Letters to Jennifer

James Patterson | 4.39

15th Affair (Women's Murder Club #15)

James Patterson and Maxine Paetro | 4.39

Alex Cross, Run (Alex Cross, #20)

James Patterson and David Ellis | 4.38

Private (Private, #1)

James Patterson, Maxine Paetro | 4.37

Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports (Maximum Ride, #3)

James Patterson | 4.37

Tick Tock (Michael Bennett, #4)

James Patterson, Michael Ledwidge | 4.37

Judge & Jury

James Patterson, Andrew Gross | 4.36

The judge is terrified of the defendant.

The case quickly becomes the new Trial of the Century. Mafia don Dominic Cavello, known as the Electrician, is linked to hundreds of gruesome, unspeakable crimes. Senior FBI agent Nick Pellisante...

The case quickly becomes the new Trial of the Century. Mafia don Dominic Cavello, known as the Electrician, is linked to hundreds of gruesome, unspeakable crimes. Senior FBI agent Nick Pellisante has been tracking him for years. He knows Cavello's power reaches far beyond the courtroom but the FBI's evidence against the ruthless killer is ironclad. Conviction is sure thing.

So is the jury.

As the jury is about to reach a verdict, the Electrician makes one devastating move that no one could have predicted. The entire nation is reeling, and Andie's world is shattered. For her, the hunt for the Electrician becomes personal, and she and Pellisante come together in an unbreakable bond: they exact justice - at any cost.

The verdict: Run for your life.

Now You See Her

James Patterson, Michael Ledwidge | 4.35

Hope to Die (Alex Cross, #22)

James Patterson | 4.34

The President Is Missing

James Patterson, Bill Clinton | 4.32

Doris Kearns Goodwin [Doris Kearns Goodwin recommended this book on the podcast "The Tim Ferriss Show".] (Source)

The Midnight Club

James Patterson | 4.32

Max (Maximum Ride, #5)

14th deadly sin (women's murder club #14).

James Patterson and Maxine Paetro | 4.31

The Lake House (When the Wind Blows, #2)

James Patterson | 4.31

James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge | 4.30

The Murder House

James Patterson and David Ellis | 4.30

Merry Christmas, Alex Cross (Alex Cross, #19)

James Patterson | 4.30

Hide and Seek

James Patterson | 4.29

Sundays at Tiffany's

James Patterson, Gabrielle Charbonnet | 4.29

Cradle and All

James Patterson | 4.28

James Patterson, Peter de Jonge | 4.28

Cross Justice (Alex Cross, #23)

16th Seduction (Women's Murder Club, #16)

Private #1 Suspect (Private, #2)

James Patterson, Maxine Paetro | 4.27

Fang (Maximum Ride, #6)

James Patterson | 4.26

NYPD Red (NYPD Red, #1)

James Patterson, Marshall Karp | 4.25

James Patterson, Howard Roughan | 4.25

Anne manages to pull things together bit by bit, but just as they begin feeling like a family again, something catastrophic happens. Survival may...

Anne manages to pull things together bit by bit, but just as they begin feeling like a family again, something catastrophic happens. Survival may be the least of their concerns. Written with the blistering pace and shocking twists that only James Patterson can master, Sail takes "Lost" and "Survivor" to a new level of terror.

Guilty Wives

James Patterson, David Ellis, et al | 4.23

Only minutes after Abbie Elliot and her three best friends step off of a private helicopter, they enter the most luxurious, sumptuous, sensually pampering hotel they have ever been to. Their lavish presidential suite overlooks Monte Carlo, and they surrender: to the sun and pool, to the sashimi and sake, to the Bruno Paillard champagne. For four days they're free to live someone else's life. As the weekend moves into pulsating discos, high-stakes casinos, and beyond, Abbie is transported to the greatest pleasure and release she has ever known.

What happened last...

What happened last night?

In the morning's harsh light, Abbie awakens on a yacht, surrounded by police. Something awful has happened—something impossible, unthinkable. Abbie, Winnie, Serena, and Bryah are arrested and accused of the foulest crime imaginable. And now the vacation of a lifetime becomes the fight of a lifetime & for survival. GUILTY WIVES is the ultimate indulgence, the kind of nonstop joy-ride of excess, friendship, betrayal, and danger that only James Patterson can create.

Kill Me If You Can

James Patterson, Marshall Karp | 4.23

James Patterson, Andrew Gross | 4.23

Cross the Line

James Patterson | 4.21

I, Michael Bennett (Michael Bennett, #5)

James Patterson, Michael Ledwidge | 4.21

Detective Michael Bennett arrests an infamous Mexican crime lord in a deadly chase that leaves Bennett's lifelong friend Hughie McDonough dead. From jail, the prisoner vows to rain epic violence down upon New York City-and to get revenge on Michael Bennett.

Judges murdered

To escape the chaos, Bennett takes his ten kids and their beautiful nanny, Mary Catherine, on a much-needed vacation to his family's cabin near Newburgh, New York. But instead of the calm and happy town he remembers from growing up, they step into a...

To escape the chaos, Bennett takes his ten kids and their beautiful nanny, Mary Catherine, on a much-needed vacation to his family's cabin near Newburgh, New York. But instead of the calm and happy town he remembers from growing up, they step into a nightmare worse than they could have ever imagined. Newburgh is an inferno of warring gangs, and there's little the police-or Bennett-can do to keep the children safe.

Target: Michael Bennett

As violence overwhelms the state, Bennett is torn between protecting his hometown and saving New York City. A partner in his investigations, federal prosecutor Tara McLellan, brings him new weapons for the battle-and an attraction that endangers his relationship with Mary Catherine.

A no-holds-barred, pedal-to-the-floor, action-packed novel, I, Michael Bennett is James Patterson at his most personal and most thrilling best.

The Postcard Killers

James Patterson, Liza Marklund | 4.20

The 17th Suspect (Women's Murder Club, #17)

James Patterson and Maxine Paetro | 4.20

Angel (Maximum Ride, #7)

James Patterson | 4.19

Private Games (Private, #3)

The Black Book

James Patterson | 4.18

Cross My Heart (Cross My Heart, #1)

James Patterson | 4.17

The 18th Abduction

James Patterson and Maxine Paetro | 4.17

The People vs. Alex Cross

James Patterson | 4.16

NYPD Red 2 (NYPD Red, #2)

James Patterson, Marshall Karp | 4.16

James Patterson, Maxine Paetro | 4.14

...WILL NEVER BE... Ex-cop Ben Hawkins, now a reporter for the L.A. Times, gets the McDaniels assignment. The ineptitude of the local police force defies belief--Ben has to start his own investigation for Kim McDaniels to have a...

...WILL NEVER BE... Ex-cop Ben Hawkins, now a reporter for the L.A. Times, gets the McDaniels assignment. The ineptitude of the local police force defies belief--Ben has to start his own investigation for Kim McDaniels to have a prayer. And for Ben to have the story of his life.

...THE SAME FOR YOU AGAIN. All the while, the killer sets the stage for his next production. His audience expects the best--and they won't be disappointed. Swimsuit is a heart-pounding story of fear and desire, transporting you to a place where beauty and murder collide and unspeakable horrors are hidden within paradise.

Private Berlin (Private, #5)

James Patterson, Mark Sullivan | 4.14

Private London (Other Private Offices)

James Patterson and Mark Pearson | 4.14

Second Honeymoon (Honeymoon, #2)

James Patterson, Howard Roughan | 4.13

A newlywed couple steps into the sauna in their deluxe honeymoon suite--and never steps out again. When another couple is killed while boarding their honeymoon flight to Rome, it becomes clear that someone is targeting honeymooners, and it's anyone's guess which happy couple is next on the list.

FBI Agent John O'Hara is deep into solving the case, while Special Agent Sarah Brubaker is hunting another ingenious serial killer, whose victims all have one chilling thing in...

FBI Agent John O'Hara is deep into solving the case, while Special Agent Sarah Brubaker is hunting another ingenious serial killer, whose victims all have one chilling thing in common.

As wedding hysteria rises to a frightening new level, John and Sarah work ever more closely together in a frantic attempt to decipher the logic behind two rampages. Second Honeymoon is James Patterson's most mesmerizing, most exciting, and most surprising thriller ever.

Don't Blink

James and Howard Roughan Patterson | 4.12

The Final Warning (Maximum Ride, #4)

Paul Pen | 4.12

Witch & Wizard (Witch & Wizard, #1)

James Patterson | 4.11

Four Blind Mice (Alex Cross, #8)

James Patterson | 4.10

Alert (Michael Bennett, #8)

James Patterson, Michael Ledwidge | 4.07

New Yorkers aren't easily intimidated, but someone is doing their best to scare them, badly: why? After two inexplicable high-tech attacks, the city that never sleeps is on edge. Detective Michael Bennett, along with his old pal, the FBI's Emily Parker, have to catch the shadowy criminals who claim responsibility—but they're as good at concealing their identities as they are at wreaking havoc.

In the wake of a shocking assassination, Bennett begins to suspect that these mysterious events are...

In the wake of a shocking assassination, Bennett begins to suspect that these mysterious events are just the prelude to the biggest threat of all. Soon he's racing against the clock, and against the most destructive enemy he's faced yet, to save his beloved city—before everyone's worst nightmare becomes a reality.

James Patterson and Candice Fo | 4.07

NYPD Red 3 (NYPD Red, #3)

James Patterson and Marshall Karp | 4.07

James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge | 4.07

Burn (Michael Bennett, #7)

James Patterson | 4.06

At last, Detective Michael Bennett and his family are coming home to New York City. Thanks to Bennett, the ruthless crime lord whose vengeful mission forced the Bennett family into hiding has been brought down for good.

Back in the city that never sleeps, Bennett takes over a chaotic Outreach Squad in Harlem, where he receives an unusual call: a man claims to have seen a group of well-dressed men holding a bizarre party in a condemend building. With no clear crime or...

Back in the city that never sleeps, Bennett takes over a chaotic Outreach Squad in Harlem, where he receives an unusual call: a man claims to have seen a group of well-dressed men holding a bizarre party in a condemend building. With no clear crime or evidence, Bennett dismisses the report. But when a charred body is found in that very same building, he is forced to take the demented caller seriously—and is drawn into an underground criminal world of terrifying depravity.

Private L.A. (Private, #6)

James Patterson, Mark Sullivan | 4.05

The Gift (Witch & Wizard, #2)

James Patterson and Ned Rust | 4.03

See How They Run

James Patterson | 4.01

Confessions of a Murder Suspect (Confessions, #1)

James Patterson, Maxine Paetro | 4.00

You've Been Warned

James Patterson, Howard Roughan | 4.00

But Kristin has a major distraction: forbidden love. The man of her dreams is almost hers for keeps. Breathless with an inexhaustible...

But Kristin has a major distraction: forbidden love. The man of her dreams is almost hers for keeps. Breathless with an inexhaustible passion and the excitement of being within reach of her goals, Kristen ignores all signs of catastrophe brewing.

Fear exists for a reason. And Kristin can only dismiss the warnings for so long. Searching desperately for the truth through the lens of her camera, she can only hope that it's not too late. This novel of psychological suspense is a stunning achievement for thriller master James Patterson, "one of the bestselling writers in history" New York Sun .

15 Best James Patterson Books You Should Read Right Now

James Patterson has written so many great books that it can be hard to choose which ones you’ll read first. To help with your decision, here is a list with some of the best James Patterson books that you should read. 

Patterson is one of the most popular authors due in large part to his thriller novels. His books are bestsellers and have been adapted into movies, TV series, and even video games. In addition to thrillers, he has written young adult fiction, children’s literature, short stories, memoirs, and more.

Who is James Patterson?

James Patterson is a bestselling author. He has penned many successful series, including Alex Cross , the Women’s Murder Club , Michael Bennett , Maximum Ride , and more. Collectively his books have sold more than 300 million copies worldwide.

In 2010, Patterson was the first author to sell more than one million e-books . This milestone was achieved nearly 35 years after Patterson published his first novel The Thomas Berryman Number in 1976, which is a true testament to his legacy.

Also, Patterson frequently collaborates with others on writing projects. This includes two collaborations with former US President Bill Clinton. The first is The President Is Missing, published in 2018. The pair collaborated again on another novel, The President’s Daughter, published on June 7, 2021.

Patterson has also donated millions of dollars to schools, teachers, and independent bookstores.

Summary of the Best James Patterson Books

Patterson’s novels are renowned for their unique style and gripping storylines. Continue reading to find summaries for the 15 best James Patterson books. 

1. Along Came A Spider

Alex Cross and Jezzie Flanagan are about to have a forbidden love affair at the worst possible time for both of them. Because Gary Soneji is playing at the top of his game.

The latest of the unspeakable crimes happens in Alex Cross’s precinct and it happens under the noses of Jezzie Flanagan’s men.

Now Alex Cross must face the ultimate test: How do you outmaneuver a brilliant psychopath?

This is the first novel in the Alex Cross series.

2. 1st to Die

Inspector Lindsay Boxer, medical examiner Claire Washburn, assistant defence attorney Jill Bernhardt, and reporter Cindy Thomas all hold a key to the puzzle. When their usual procedures aren’t bringing them any closer to stopping the murder, they join forces outside of work. In creating the Women’s Murder Club they develop intense bonds with one another as they track down the most terrifying and unexpected killer they have ever encountered.

This is the first novel in the Women’s Murder Club series.

3. Kiss the Girls

Kiss the Girls is the second Alex Cross novel.

In Los Angeles, a reporter investigating a series of murders is killed. Then, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, a beautiful medical intern suddenly disappears.

Meanwhile in Washington D.C., Alex Cross is back to solve the most baffling and terrifying murder case ever. Two clever serial killers are collaborating, cooperating, and competing – and they are working coast to coast.

4. Pop Goes the Weasel

Detective Alex Cross is back in this fifth Alex Cross novel – and he’s in love. But his happiness is threatened by a series of chilling murders in Washington, D.C. Murders with a pattern so twisted they leave investigators reeling.

Cross’s pursuit of the killer produces a suspect: British diplomat Geoffrey Shafer. But proving he’s the murderer becomes a potentially deadly task. As Shafer engages in a brilliant series of surprising counter moves, Alex and his fiancée become hopelessly entangled with the most memorable nemesis Cross has ever faced.

5. The Thomas Berryman Number

James Patterson’s debut novel begins with three terrifying murders in the South. It ends with a relentless and unforgettable manhunt in the North.

In between is the riveting story of a chilling assassin, the woman he loves, and the beloved leader he is hired to kill with extreme prejudice.

Gone is the sixth novel in the Michael Bennett series, a collaboration between James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge.

Manuel Perrine doesn’t fear anyone or anything. A charismatic and ruthless leader, Perrine slaughters rivals as effortlessly as he wears his trademark white linen suit.

Detective Michael Bennett once managed to put Perrine behind bars, the only official in the US ever to accomplish that. But now Perrine is out, and he has sworn to find and kill Bennett and everyone dear to him.

Detective Bennett, along with his ten adopted children, their nanny, and his grandfather, are hidden safely on a rural California farm, with guards courtesy of the FBI’s witness protection program. But then Perrine begins to embark on an escalating series of assassinations across the country, killings whose brazenness and audacity bring into question the possibility of safety and law in the US.

The FBI has no choice but to ask Detective Bennett to risk it all in Perrine’s war on America.

7. The Cornwalls are Gone

The Cornwalls are Gone was written in collaboration with Brendan DuBois. It is the first in the Amy Cornwall series. While it was initially published as The Cornwalls are Gone, the title was changed to The Cornwalls Vanish for subsequent printings.

In her career as an Army intelligence officer, Amy Cornwall has seen haunting sights half a world away. None compare to the chilling scene at her Virginia home.

A phone rings with a terrifying ultimatum: Locate and liberate an unnamed captive in forty-eight hours, or her kidnapped husband and ten-year-old daughter are dead.

Now, and in open defiance of Army Command, Amy must employ every lethal tactic she has to save them. To succeed, she must discover not only who dispatched her on this mission, but why. Without her family, she’s dead either way.

8. Roses Are Red

Roses Are Red is James Patterson’s sixth Alex Cross novel.

In a series of crimes that has stunned Washington, D.C., bank robbers have been laying out precise demands when they enter the building. Then they are killing the bank employees and their families if those instructions are not followed to the letter.

Detective Alex Cross takes on the case, certain that this is no ordinary bank robber at work. The pathological need for control and perfection is too great. Cross is in the midst of a personal crisis at home, but the case becomes all-consuming as he learns that the Mastermind is plotting one huge, last, perfect crime.

9. The Murder House

The Murder House is a standalone novel written in collaboration with David Ellis.

No. 7 Ocean Drive is a gorgeous, multi-million-dollar beachfront estate in the Hamptons, where money and privilege know no bounds.

But its beautiful gothic exterior hides a horrific past: It was the scene of a series of depraved killings that have never been solved. Neglected, empty, and rumored to be cursed, it’s known as the Murder House, and locals keep their distance.

Detective Jenna Murphy used to consider herself a local, but she hasn’t been back since she was a girl. Trying to escape her troubled past and rehabilitate a career on the rocks, the former New York City cop hardly expects her lush and wealthy surroundings to be a hotbed of grisly depravity.

But when a Hollywood power broker and his mistress are found dead in the abandoned Murder House, the gruesome crime scene rivals anything Jenna experienced in Manhattan. And what at first seems like an open and shut case turns out to have as many shocking secrets as the Murder House itself.

Jenna quickly realizes that the mansion’s history is much darker than even the town’s most salacious gossips could have imagined. As more bodies surface, and the secret that Jenna has tried desperately to escape closes in on her, she must risk her own life to expose the truth – before the Murder House claims another victim.

10. The Beach House

The Beach House is a standalone novel written in collaboration with Peter de Jonge.

Jack Mullen is a driven student of the law. His brother Peter is a servant of the rich, parking the cars of the Hamptons’ elite and perhaps satisfying their more intimate needs as well. Then Peter’s body is found on the beach.

Jack knows the drowning was no accident, but someone’s unlimited power and money have bought the cops, the judges, and the system. Now Jack is learning a lesson in justice that he never got in law school. His astonishing plan to beat the billionaires will have you reeling, and cheering, to the very last page.

11. NYPD Red

NYPD Red is the first in James Patterson’s NYPD Red series which is written in collaboration with Marshall Karp.

It’s the start of Hollywood on Hudson, and New York City is swept up in the glamour. With this many celebrities in town, special task force NYPD Red is on high alert. And they can’t afford to make a single mistake.

Then a world-renowned producer fatally collapses at his power breakfast, and top NYPD Red Detective Zach Jordan is the first one on the scene. Zach works with his beautiful new partner, Detective Kylie MacDonald – who also happens to be his ex-girlfriend – to discover who the murderer might be.

But this is only the beginning. The most brutal, public, and horrifyingly spectacular crimes they’ve ever encountered are about to send all of New York into chaos.

Zach and Kylie know there’s no way of telling what a killer this deranged will do next. With the whole world watching, they have to find a way to stop a psychopath who has scripted his finale down to the last explosive detail.

12. Never Never

This novel is the first in James Patterson’s Detective Harriet Blue series, written in collaboration with Candice Fox.

When Sydney police department sex crimes detective Harriet Blue is called into her boss’s office, she never imagined it would be to tell her that her brother is the prime suspect in the brutal murders of three women.

Shocked and in denial, Harry is transferred to Perth to avoid the media exposure this case will attract. Harry is sent into the outback – the never never – to investigate the disappearance of mine worker Danny Carter. The mining town is a seedy place, full of money and immoral ways to spend it.

As Harry delves deeper into the murky lives of these miners, she finds that Danny isn’t the first to go missing.

13. Step on a Crack

This is the first in the Michael Bennett series, a collaboration between James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge.

NYPD detective Michael Bennett is concentrating on getting his family through a particularly difficult Christmas. He and his 10 adopted children are facing the loss to cancer of his brave wife, Maeve.

But a major crisis calls him away. The funeral of a former First Lady at St. Patrick’s Cathedral goes horribly awry when men storm the church and take hundreds of attendees hostage. Michael is asked to try to reason with a sinister man named Jack.

Jack releases all but the most famous people, and makes his demands. He wants several million dollars from each celebrity hostage. Once Jack starts killing, Michael realizes he’s up against a truly diabolical foe. 

14. The People vs. Alex Cross

This is the 25th installment in James Patterson’s Alex Cross series.

Alex Cross is on the wrong side of the law. Serving a suspension from the force while he awaits trial for murder, Cross has been branded as a trigger-happy cop, another bad apple walking the streets with a gun, an accusation that Cross will do anything to refute.

To make himself feel useful again, Cross opens a counseling office in the basement of his home. When his former partner Sampson shows up needing his help, Cross jumps at the chance, even if it may end up costing him what’s left of his career.

When a string of young blonde women go missing, the investigation leads Cross and Sampson to the most depraved, darkest corners of the internet. Struggling to prove his own innocence and uncover the truth lurking online, Cross must risk everything to save his most at-risk patient of all…himself.

15. The President is Missing

As mentioned, The President is Missing was written in collaboration with Bill Clinton. It is a standalone novel.

As the novel opens, a threat looms. Enemies are planning an attack of unprecedented scale on America. Uncertainty and fear grip Washington.

There are whispers of cyberterror, espionage, and a traitor in the cabinet. The President himself becomes a suspect, and then he goes missing.

15 Best James Patterson Books Wrap-Up

• Along Came a Spider (1993)
• 1st to Die (2001)
• Kiss the Girls (1995)
• Pop Goes the Weasel (1999)
• The Thomas Berryman Number (1976)
• Gone (2013)
• The Cornwalls are Gone – Also published as The Cornwalls Vanish (2019)
• Roses Are Red (2000)
• The Murder House (2015)
• The Beach House (2002)
• NYPD Red (2012)
• Never Never (2016)
• Step on a Crack (2007)
• The People vs. Alex Cross (2017)
• The President is Missing (2018)

If you are a lover of thriller novels, then you should consider reading the James Patterson books. You will love the action and suspense with which Patterson fills his novels and this list of the 15 best James Patterson books is a great place to start.

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17 Best James Patterson Books

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James Patterson is a famous American thriller writer. He is a best-selling author who has written over a hundred books, including those with co-authors. He writes series and stand-alone novels and has authored books of varying genres.

If you’ve read James Patterson before, you’re already familiar with his fast-paced writing and short chapters. If not, it’s something you should take note as it might not appeal to you if you aren’t into that speed of development.

Here is a list of some of his famous novels to help you decide where to start or what to read next:

Best James Patterson Thriller Series

James Patterson is best known for his investigative/crime-thriller novel series. In fact, the majority of his works are in this category. Some works were single-authored by him, while others were co-authored by some of the most popular writers of the genre.

Here are some of Patterson’s thriller series  you should check out!

1. Along Came A Spider (Alex Cross, #1)

If you’re wondering whether you should read James Patterson, I’d suggest this book as a good start, although be warned because this series is quite long.

No hardcore James Patterson fan would not know Alex Cross, the protagonist of this book. Alex Cross is a brilliant detective who’s in a cat-and-mouse chase with Gary Soneji, a brilliant serial murderer, too brilliant that the authorities struggle in subduing him. Together with Jezzie Flannagan, the supervisor of the Secret Service, Alex tries to capture and outwit the villain while solving murder cases.

The book is a complete set of mystery, crime, suspense, and thriller genre.

The unpredictable page-turning plot twists will leave you wondering how everything will unfold.

Unlike the Maximum Ride series, the chase in this book is more dynamic and interest-sustaining. When you have a brilliant detective chasing an equally brilliant villain, you are off to a one-of-a-kind chase filled with outwitting scenarios.

Needless to say, the book isn’t just about the chase between Alex and Gary; it also introduces into Alex’s relationships with his family and with someone special to him. 

There’s too much to say about this book, so it’s better to experience it yourself. It is fast-paced, so no need to worry about the long installment you will need to catch up with (each book will definitely leave you wanting for the next one, anyway). Although it’s unlikely that all books in this series would satisfy you, the first installments are definitely worth the read in my opinion.

2. NYPD Red (NYPD Red, #1)

Introducing, the elite Special Task Force,  NYPD Red !

Formed by the New York Mayor, this unit is tasked to protect the highly influential and wealthiest personalities of Manhattan.

Detective Zach Jordan and his ex-girlfriend Detective Kylie Macdonald of the special unit are both assigned to investigate the case of Sidney Roth, a world’s famous producer, who was killed of poisoning. Although Zach and Kylie’s have orders  to stop at nothing to catch the killer, this is proving to be more difficult than they had imagined.

One thing to appreciate about Zach and Kylie’s relationship is their undeniable dynamics.

If you are into investigative cases where crimes are done bizarrely out in the open, you might want to try this novel. It’s easy to read, and the cases, as well as the point-to-point location changes, are easy to follow.

Series info:  co-authored by Marshall Karp; currently at its 5th installment, with the 6th book scheduled to be released in 2020

Adaptation/related works:  no adaptations yet

3. Never Never (Detective Harriet Blue, #1) with Candice Fox

Following the arrest of her brother as the prime suspect of a murder case, sex crime detective Harriet Blue is transferred to Perth, a small town in Western Australia, away from the media’s attention. Together with Detective Whittacker, she investigates the case of the missing mine workers.

For Candice Fox readers, this is a must-read! The short chapters, a Patterson trademark, go well with Fox’s characterization of Harry. If you like Women’s Murder Club, you will get the same Lindsay Boxer vibe from Harry.   

Series info:  Detective Harriet Blue series has 5 books including Book 0.5,  Black & Blue .

4. Step on a Crack (Michael Bennet, #1) with Michael Ledwidge

Here comes the most challenging case in Detective Michael Bennet’s career: a hostage-taking crisis occurs during the funeral of a former First Lady, and the lives of some of the most prominent and most influential people in the country are in danger. To add to that, he also finds out that his wife, who has cancer, is already counting her days.

Michael Bennet is probably one of my favorite James Patterson creations. The touching and emotional struggle the main character has while performing his duty adds more character development in the story. This novel brings readers into emotional shifts—from the mystery/crime-thriller events to the touching scenes.

Series info:  There are currently 15 books in the installment. Book 12,  Blindside , is the latest installment.

Adaptation/related works:  Last 2017, it was reported that a TV adaptation by ABC is on its way.

5. 1st to Die (Women’s Murder Club, #1)

An inspector, an assistant DA, a chief medical examiner, and a newspaper reporter—four women form the Women’s Murder Club to investigate the mystery and find the killer behind the murders of newlyweds.

What’s to look forward to this series is how each woman plays her role with her specialization. They’re a dynamic team of four women who gather information to solve the crime.

Each book in the series has its own case, though familiarity with the previous installments will make you appreciate it more.

Series info:  There are 13 books in the Women’s Murder Club series.

Adaptation/related works:  1st to Die TV Series (2003); Women’s Murder Club TV Series (2007-2008)

6. Zoo (Zoo, #1) with Michael Ledwidge

Animals have been attacking humans, and the world knows nothing about it.

Jackson Oz, a young biologist, is determined to prove that something unusual is certainly going on. He quits graduate school and collects data on the attacks. What’s causing all these behaviors? Can he convince the world before more dreadful attacks occur? Or is it too late for them to secure a safe space for humans?

Of all Patterson’s works, this novel has the simplest premise, and James Patterson, together with Michael Ledwidge, put a relevant take on it. Compared to his other works, this has less thriller effect. Some readers may not be into scenes of animal attacking humans, and if you’re one, better not read this book.

There are only two books under this series, so if you want a James Patterson series with few installations, you have this to keep you occupied.

Series info:   There are 2 books in the series.

Adaptation/related works:  CBS-TV Series,  Zoo  (2015); Zoo: The Graphic Novel

Best James Patterson Stand-Alone Novels

If you are not into series, you may want to try some of James Patterson’s stand-alone books.

1. The Thomas Berryman Number

Journalist Ochs Jones researches on the murder of a high-profile politician, Jimmie Lee. After finding out about two other murder cases, he believes these murders are related, so  he is determined to track down the killer.

Meanwhile, Thomas Berryman is a ruthless assassin who labels his assassination through a number. Can Jones track this cunning assassin?

You might want to read the first ever book James Patterson has written. It will show you Patterson’s early writing style before he changed into a fast-paced and short chapter narration.

A lot has changed in Patterson’s writing style, so if you are new to his works, I suggest you put this book on hold and try his other novels first.

If, however, you are into a slightly slow development (relative to Patterson’s other works), then reading this novel first shouldn’t be a problem.

This James Patterson’s debut novel won the 1977 Edgar Allan Poe Award for First Novel category.

2. The First Lady by James Patterson & Brendan DuBois

The current president, Harrison Tucker, is weeks away from being re-elected, and he is all but assured of a second victory. But when the media caught him leaving the Atlanta hotel with Tammy Doyle, his mistress. This exposed his love affair, and his reputation plummeted. Suddenly, his victory in the election is not secured.

Meanwhile, the First Lady, Grace Tucker, has suddenly gone missing. Agent Sally Grisson is tasked to investigate and find the First Lady, whose disappearance appeared to be more than just her running away to recuperate from the news of her cheating husband. Agent Sally is determined to find out the First Lady’s whereabouts– and keep her safe.

What I like about this book is it didn’t steer away from the usual fast-paced writing James Patterson is well-known for. I’d say some parts are definitely predictable, but the thriller ride still lived up to my expectations.

If you are new to James Patterson and would like to try him by reading a stand-alone novel, this is one of the two books I recommend starting with.

3. Woman of God by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

Bridgit Fitzgerald has been through a lot in her life. A former physician now a priest, she can even possibly be the next pope. How will she change the lives of those who challenge her church?

I did not expect a novel like this from James Patterson, but it was my mistake not to expect something different from him. The plot was definitely intriguing, although I think it would have sufficiently justified the developments through a second book because I find it lacking in that aspect.

The novel is filled with religious overtones, although the book is more about the action than religion. If you are not comfortable with this kind of story, you can skip this book.

Related:  Best Christian Fiction Books

4. The Inn by James Patterson and Candice Fox

Released in August 2018, this book is the most recent addition to the long list of James Patterson’s thriller books.

It all goes down with our main character, Bill Robinson, a former detective, who’s reovering from the death of his wife and is now running a bed-and-breakfast inn after his dismissal from the service. His plan for a fresh start fails when strings of death start to occur in his area.

Incidentally, what (or who) he needs to fight off the crimes that have been going on are right under the same roof. Bill, together with his long-term tenants, battle out Mitchell Cline, the drug lord responsible for the killings in their town.

As someone who has read Patterson’s early works, I can say that the writing style has changed a bit. What I like about this novel is the fresh set of characters. James Patterson and Candice Fox took their time to develop the relationship between the characters to justify the foundation of the team.

They will soon form to fight the villain of the story. How the characters with different past complemented each other and worked towards the same goal is for you to find out.

If you are not particularly looking for a full crime-thriller novel, I recommend that you read this before reading the other series by James Patterson. If you’ve read his other books (for instance, any of the Alex Cross or Women’s Murder Club series), this book might disappoint you.

If you are new to James Patterson and want to experience his crime-thriller writing style, reading this stand-alone novel might not be a good start, so you might want to choose from his other books as your first read.

5. The Murder House by James Patterson and David Ellis

A stand-alone novel I would recommend to new readers of James Patterson, the story is about the mystery surrounding the multimillion-dollar beachfront house in Hamptons and the series of killings that have been going on in this Murder House as to how locals refer to it.

As for the former NYPD cop Jenna Murphy, after many years of being away, she is back in Hampton and is offered a post in Southampton Town PD by Langdon James, the Chief of Police, and her uncle. Here she gets involved with the mystery concerning the Murder House and Noah Walker, the prime suspect. Now, Jenna is determined to solve the mystery behind the killings.

I highly recommend reading this novel. Among all thriller stand-alone books Patterson has written, this one doesn’t disappoint. The level of unpredictability, plot twists, and fast-paced events will keep you turning the pages until the conclusion.

This is recommended for those who want to experience James Patterson’s signature fast-paced and short chapters, as well as the tension-inducing thriller genre he is well-known for.

For newcomers, you would absolutely be enticed to read more of his works.

6. The President is Missing by James Patterson and Bill Clinton

Yes, you read that right. The president is missing, but not quite.

Cyberterrorism threatens the United States, and President Jonathan Duncan faces the allegations of being the suspect! Faced with an impending impeachment, the president goes missing.

Written by James Patterson and former US President Bill Clinton, this political thriller novel will surely blow your mind with its twists and turns and realistic narration on the matters of politics.

What makes this novel unique is the almost testimonial writing you can get from the novel. The point of view of the president is even more realistic when a former president himself is involved in the writing.

I cannot tell how much of this novel is the president’s writing. However, the novel stayed true to the Patterson style of short chapters and fast-paced development.

There are quite a lot of novels (and even films) that have president themes in them, so if you enjoy those kinds, I would highly recommend this book to you.

Adaptation/related works:   A TV adaptation for  The President Is Missing  is scheduled to be released.

Best James Patterson Young Adult and Romance Novels

If you think thriller series or the previously mentioned stand-alone novels aren’t to your liking, check out this list of YA and romance novels by James Patterson.

Don’t let the previous lists fool you; although most of his work are thrillers, he is as good when it comes to writing romance and young adult themes!

1. The Angel Experiment (Maximum Ride, #1)

The story follows six genetically engineered (half-human half avian) kids as they try to escape from the School that has been imprisoning them.

Max is the leader of the group; she is strong-willed and edgy, and she leads the group through her thoughtful analysis of their situation. As they run for their lives, they try to discover the secret of the School and their own identity. The plot is something that appeals to a specific audience group (I’d say teens who are currently into YA genres). Each chapter is packed with to-ing and fro-ing scenarios as they’re being chased by the Erasers (the School’s men, basically). I would recommend this series for those who are not a huge fan of the crime-thriller-mystery genre but want to have a bit of those in their reading experience. If you find teen angst likable, you will definitely love Max. 

If you are more into crime/thriller genre and want more investigative plots, there’s definitely a James Patterson book for you, but unfortunately, this book isn’t it.

Continue reading through the list; the next book might be the one for you!

Series info:  The series has nine books concluded with the release of the 9th book, Maximum Ride Forever.

Adaptation/related works:  Maximum Ride (2016 film); Marvel Comics adaption Max Ride: First Flight, Max Ride: Ultimate Flight, and Max Ride: Final Flight; Manga adaptation released by Yen Press This book was nominated for 2010 Golden Archer Award, Middle/Junior High Category.

2. The Dangerous Days of Daniel X (Daniel X, #1) with Michael Ledwidge

Daniel X has the power and ability to create. At a very young age, Daniel X learned to survive on his own after his parents were brutally murdered in his presence. He uses his secret abilities to hunt down his parents’ killers. Now, he goes through  The List  in the hope of finally taking down the killer.

If you loved Maximum Ride, then you should give this one a try! If you didn’t like Maximum Ride (or have not read it) but are into science fiction (and aliens maybe), read this book and see if you’d like James Patterson’s science fiction writing. It certainly is shorter than the Maximum Ride series but is nothing short of an adventure!

Related:  Best Science Fiction Books Ever Written

Series info:  There are six books in this series, including one in graphic novel format (Book 1.5 Alien Hunter). 

Adaptation/related works:  Daniel X: The Ultimate Power (video game)

3. Confessions of a Murder Suspect (Confessions, #1) with Maxine Paetro

Sixteen-year-old Tandy Angel and her three brothers are from a wealthy and successful family. They are overachievers and prodigies in their fields. But after the mysterious death of their parents, things start to change.

The police cannot identify other suspects besides Tandy and her brothers. The thing is, she may even really be guilty of the crime herself, although she can’t say for sure. Now she must find out the truth behind their parent’s death, and discover some of the deepest and most shocking family secrets.

This novel has more of a thriller and less of a chasing plot, compared to the previously mentioned series in the YA list. The character, Tandy, narrates the story directly to the audience, which adds a more stimulating effect.

This is recommended for readers who enjoy reading about family secrets and mysteries.

Heads-up  for those who have read Maximum Ride and are looking for a similar one; this is different and may not be your cup of tea.

4. Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas

Katie Wilkinson, an editor who works for a publishing house, is in a relationship with Matthew Harrison, an author, and a poet. Just as she thought everything is going well, Matthew suddenly disappears.

Katie discovers a diary written by a woman named Suzanne. She goes through the diary in pain as she learns about the past of the man she loves, but with hopes of finding out if they still have a chance.

This novel is James Patterson’s first work in the romance genre and proves his versatility in writing different genres. I recommend this to readers who are looking for a romance novel and are not much into thriller stories. If you’re worried that this novel might be a thriller romance, it is— in a romantic way.

Adaptation/related works:  Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas (TV Movie 2005)

5. Sam’s Letter to Jennifer

Not long after two consecutive losses, Jennifer is again welcomed by the sad news of her grandmother is sick. She receives a call and immediately goes back to her grandmother’s place—the very same town where she grew up. While spending time there, she discovers a pack of letters recapping the love story of her grandmother, Sam.

If you’re not a fan of thriller stories but want to read James Patterson, I would suggest you read this novel. Of course, given that you don’t mind reading a romance novel, too.

Reading this book can also be a good break of you’ve been consecutively reading Patterson’s thriller works. If you are looking for a good romance novel, this may also be for you

This book was listed in the Top 100 National Bestsellers of 2004.

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Last Updated on April 19, 2024 by BiblioLifestyle

James Patterson is one of the world’s most successful authors, having sold more than 350 million books worldwide.  He has written in a wide range of genres, from suspense to horror to romance and even children’s books, but his greatest success comes from his crime and mystery novels.  So whether you’re a long-time fan or new to his work, if you’re looking for some great reads by James Patterson, look no further!  Here are seven must-read books by James Patterson that will surely entertain and intrigue readers everywhere and keep readers hooked until the very end.  So grab your copies now and get ready for a fantastic journey!

About James Patterson

But first, who is james patterson.

James Patterson was born in 1947 in Newburgh, New York, and attended Manhattan College before graduating from Vanderbilt University.  After college, he worked as an advertising executive but quit his job to focus on writing full-time.  His first book, The Thomas Berryman Number, was published in 1976 and won the Edgar Award for best novel of the year.  It began a string of best-selling novels that have kept readers coming back for decades.

Why is James Patterson so popular?

James Patterson is one of the most popular authors in the world because of his gripping stories and page-turning suspense.  His books are filled with unexpected twists and turns, engaging characters, and plenty of mystery.  His writing style is easy to read and draws readers in quickly as they become immersed in the world he creates.   He also knows how to captivate his audience, so many of his novels have been adapted into films and TV series.

Did James Patterson use ghostwriters?

James Patterson works with a team of co-writers and ghostwriters, which helps him to produce his numerous works.  While this does not diminish the quality of his books, it does mean that James Patterson himself is not always the one literally writing them.  However, I’ve read that Patterson conceives, outlines, and provides exhaustive notes, is involved in every aspect of the creative process, and is heavily involved in the writing process.

7-Must Read James Patterson Books

For James Patterson newbies, these seven must-reads James Patterson books are great starting points plus that will keep you entertained for hours:

• The Murder House
• Along Came a Spider
• The Postcard Killers
• Confessions of a Murder Suspect
• Filthy Rich

The Murder House by James Patterson, David Ellis

If you are new to James Patterson, we recommend starting with The Murder House.  This is a standalone James Patterson book about the multi-million dollar beachfront mansion in the Hamptons that holds a dark secret.  The neighborhood may seem perfect, but then a series of mysterious deaths start to pile up.  Now it’s up to Detective Jenna Murphy must get to the bottom of this dark secret before it’s too late.  The Murder House is a chilling, page-turning story of murder, money, and revenge.

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Along Came a Spider by James Patterson

Along Came a Spider is James Patterson’s classic thriller.  The book follows Detective Alex Cross in his pursuit to track down a criminal mastermind who has kidnapped two children from an exclusive private school in Washington, D.C., and taken them to Baltimore.  It’s a thrilling, suspenseful journey with plenty of twists and turns.  This book was also made into a movie in 2001 starring Morgan Freeman as Cross.

The Postcard Killers by James Patterson, Liza Marklund

The Postcard Killers is James Patterson’s exciting collaboration with Swedish author Liza Marklund.  It’s a heart-pounding mystery novel about two detectives who must work together to catch a killer who sends postcards to the newspapers after each murder.  This book is an intense psychological thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.  This book was also made into a movie in 2020.

1st to Die by James Patterson

1st to Die is James Patterson’s first novel in the Women’s Murder Club series, which has gone on to become one of his most successful book franchises.  It follows four women – a cop, an assistant district attorney, a medical examiner, and a reporter.  They form a powerful alliance to catch San Francisco’s deadliest killer and end the slaughter of newlywed couples.  This is a thrilling page-turning mystery novel full of unexpected twists and turns.

Confessions of a Murder Suspect by James Patterson, Maxine Paetro

Confessions of a Murder Suspect is James Patterson’s edge-of-your-seat young adult mystery novel about a mysterious murder that rocks an affluent family.  The children of the Angel family wake up to their parents dead in their bed.  The kids are all suspects, but one of the daughters, Tandy, is determined to figure out who did it.  She must battle her demons to solve the crime and prove her innocence.  This book is full of suspense, intrigue, and twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the end.  Confessions of a Murder Suspect is the first book in a four-book series, and throughout the series, Tandy Angel solves a variety of different mysteries.

Filthy Rich by James Patterson, John Connolly, Tim Malloy

Filthy Rich is James Patterson’s explosive true crime novel about Jeffrey Epstein, the powerful financier and convicted sex offender who died in prison in 2019. This book is co-written by Tim Malloy and John Connolly and features interviews with some of Epstein’s victims, as well as legal experts, law enforcement officials, and those close to him. It’s an eye-opening and riveting exploration of power, money, corruption, and the hidden secrets that lurk in the shadows.

Zoo by James Patterson, Michael Ledwidge

Zoo is James Patterson’s chilling science fiction and adventure novel.  The book follows a small group of scientists and animal behaviorists who must figure out how to stop the mysterious wave of violent attacks on humans by animals all over the world.  This fast-paced, action-packed science fiction thriller is full of twists and turns as they battle against nature and time to save humanity from destruction.

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What do you think about these James Patterson books?

Have you read any James Patterson books?  Are any of these books or his other works on your TBR?  What James Patterson books are your favorite?  What James Patterson books would you add to this list?  Let us know in the comments below.

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15 Best James Patterson Books You Should Read Right Now

When it comes to books, you might crave the thriller genre, and you would not be alone! I and millions of others love to be riveted by stories of gruesome murders, detectives, and serial killers.

James Patterson is considered one of the masters of the thriller genre. James Patterson is the first author to sell over a million digital copies of his books.

His career currently spans decades and he has branched out into many different genres. However, the thriller novel is what he is best known for. But what are the best James Patterson books?

Which James Patterson books will have you coming back for more again and again? Well, I’ve compiled a list of 15 great James Patterson books that you can start delving into straight away!

15 Best James Patterson Books

I’ve ordered these books on how popular they are, which ones have the most gripping narratives and characters, and the general tone of the book itself. So what are you waiting for? Let’s get into it!

Along Came A Spider

This is probably one of James Patterson’s most famous novels and was adapted into a 2001 film starring Morgan Freeman. This is the first novel in what will come to be known as the Alex Cross series.

The narrative of this book revolves around Alex Cross, an African American forensic psychologist, who begins a love affair with Jezzie Flannigan, a member of the Secret Service.

These two have to outfit a master serial killer, Gary Murphy, who has a split personality and begins a murdering spree. However, there are many twists and unexpected turns in this plot, which is one of the reasons why the story is so compelling.

There are plenty of themes in this novel, including race, sexuality, and abuse. This is a great book for anyone who is a fan of authors like John Grisham .

• Gripping narrative with identifiable characters.
• A great entry point for James Patterson newbies.
• Wonderful film adaptation.
• An affordable start to James Patterson’s canon.
•  There are lots of elements in the film that deviate from the book.

1 st To Die

This next book is the first in the Women’s Murder Club series, where a group of women from different fields of detective work band together to solve a series of grisly murders.

This narrative is unique and will certainly appeal to readers who prefer female protagonists. The central characters are very well rendered, with each one having its own distinct personality. You’ll soon have your favorite after reading this book!

• Female-centered narrative.
• Fast-paced plotting and lots of action.
• Distinct and believable characters.
• Great for fans of the thriller genre.
• A few reviews have described this novel as clichéd in places.

Kiss The Girls

Next up, we have another novel in the Alex Cross series, this time the forensic psychologist has to deal with two serial killers who are working together across the country.

This really develops the character of Alex Cross, which is great for anyone who is a fan of the series already. This novel quickly becomes a number 1 bestseller, as well as appearing on the list of 100 great American reads.

• Gripping story and character arc.
• A unique approach to the thriller genre.
• Very affordable for new readers buying the paperback.
• Perfect for fans of the Alex Cross series.
• Some readers have described this book as being too slow.

Pop Goes The Weasel

Next up, we have another bestselling novel in the Alex Cross series. This time, our intrepid investigator has a fiancé. However, it is not long before both he and his wife-to-be are embroiled in a series of murders involving a diplomat.

This is another riveting novel, with the narrative slowly gathering speed and tension as Alex closes in on the murderers. Many fans of James Patterson have commented that they find this book the most intriguing.

•  Adds further depth to the Alex Cross character.
•  A taut narrative that builds as it reaches its climax.
•  A great entry into the Alex Cross series .
• Has won multiple awards for fiction.
• There are a few plot holes in this novel as well as inconsistencies between this one and previous Alex Cross novels.

The Thomas Berryman Number

This is James Patterson’s first novel, and you can already see the style that will inevitably make him famous. This is a novel that starts out with 3 grisly murders in the deep South of America, which soon becomes a countrywide manhunt.

This is a story of assassination, betrayal, and revenge. It also features romance and some degree of political intrigue. However, it does have some of the hallmarks of a first novel and some people don’t find this as interesting as some of the later novels.

• Simple storytelling and gripping prose.
• Good characters with solid story arcs.
• A decent standalone novel.
• Great as a starting point for James Patterson.
• Fans of James Patterson might prefer the later novels.

This is a bestselling novel and marks the latest in a collaboration between Patterson and writer Michael Ledwidge. This focuses on Michael Bennett , a detective who has been featured in 14 other James Patterson books.

In this novel, Detective Bennett is put under the witness protection program after incurring the wrath of drug lord Manuel Perrine. However, when Perrine starts a killing spree across the country, Bennett has no choice but to come out of hiding to face him once again.

• Different style from James Patterson’s usual novels.
• Compared to the James Bond movies for high-intensity action and thrills.
• A good novel for anyone who is not a fan of the Alex Cross series.
• A decent introduction to the thriller genre.
• Might be too dissimilar to James Patterson’s other works for die-hard fans.

The Cornwalls Vanish

This next novel is a gripping tale of kidnap and intrigue that will get you turning the pages from the very start. This is the story of an army ranger whose family is kidnapped and held for ransom for the freedom of a captive whose location is unknown.

This is another female-centered thriller that has been described as thrilling and cinematic. If you are a fan of the suspense thriller and murder thriller subgenres, this is a great option for you, as it ranks very highly in both of these genres.

• Female-centered plot.
• Character-driven narrative with plenty of action.
• Great for any intermediate experts on Patterson.
• A good starting book for people who might not consider themselves ‘avid readers’.
• Deviates radically from Patterson’s usual narrative formula.

Roses Are Red

This is another book in the Alex Cross series, this time our hero faces a bank robber that kills anyone who does not meet his exacting demands. This is another novel where Cross’ personal and professional intermingle in a very deadly way.

This is a novel about perfectionism and control. This novel is far more police procedural than some of the Alex Cross series, although it still features a lot of the tropes that make the series very popular.

• A thrilling novel that features a lot more detective work.
• This a great introduction for anyone new to the Alex Cross series.
• Riveting narrative and characters.
•  A little less gruesome than other James Patterson novels.
•  Not a traditional Alex Cross novel.

The Murder House

This is another standalone murder novel that was written in collaboration with David Ellis. It tells the story of Detective Jenna Murphy who comes to a large Gothic mansion in the plush Hamptons to solve a gruesome murder.

This is a revenge story that features a cast of colorful characters. This is great if you like plenty of twists and turns in your narrative (although what James Patterson novel doesn’t have its twists and turns?)

• An exciting novel with plenty of unexpected turns.
• Great news for anyone who wasn’t a fan of the Alex Cross novels.
• Different in style from other James Patterson novels.
• Exciting and adrenaline-fueled novel.
• At 400 pages, many readers have described this novel as too long, which might not appeal to the casual reader.

The Bleach House

This next novel was an international bestseller, appearing at the top of many must-reads of the year. This is another collaborative and standalone novel.

It is set in an elite home in the Hamptons, with a tale that starts with a body washing up on the beach that soon develops into a conspiracy of money and power.

This one has drawn comparisons to John Grisham with the legal elements that are peppered throughout the narrative. This combines elements of the murder thriller genre with a little action and adventure .

• Another different take on the usual James Patterson thriller.
• This is a very exciting novel that hooks readers on the first page.
• A decent introduction to Patterson’s work.
• The perfect novel to get someone for a vacation read.
• Not for those who are expecting an Alex Cross-style thriller.

This is another collaboration, the first in the NYPD Red series. NYPD Red Detective Zach Jordan has to team up with his detective ex-girlfriend to find the killer of a well-known film producer.

However, this is just one in a string of brutal crimes that will sweep the city of New York. This has been described as a ‘masterwork’ by a lot of reviewers, with more of a suspense plot that still comes with plenty of thriller elements.

This one is also very character and plot focused than some of Patterson’s other novels.

• This is a very suspenseful narrative.
• Great characters and believable character moments and interactions.
• Will certainly appeal to fans of the Alex Cross series.
• Contains elements of police procedural and murder thriller.
• Might not be a great place to start for a Patterson beginner.

Never Never

This is another collaborative novel written with Candice Fox, part of the Harriett Blue series of books.

This starts with a sexual crimes investigator Harriet Blue as she is banished to the Australian outback after the revelation that her own brother has murdered 3 women.

It is in Australia where she must investigate the disappearance of a mine worker in a decadent mining town. This is another novel that topped the bestseller list, with millions of people rushing out to buy it on its release.

• Female-led narrative.
• This novel takes place in a different location from other James Patterson novels.
• More of a thriller, with a pacey plot.
• Perfect for anyone who likes murder thrillers.
• This might be a little too different from other James Patterson novels.

Step On A Crack

We mentioned the Michael Bennett series earlier, well, this is the first installment in that series. Here we are introduced to the eponymous detective Michael Bennett, who has to deal with both a nationwide kidnapping spree and a personal loss.

As New York City descends into chaos, Michael Bennett has to rescue 34 hostages just as he is informed of the death of his wife.

How will he manage to solve this dilemma when dealing with such a huge personal crisis? Well, find out by delving into this rollercoaster narrative.

• A gripping narrative that gets going immediately.
• Great for any fans of the Michael Bennett series.
• Three-dimensional characters.
• Some readers have claimed that they found the plot far-fetched.

The People Vs. Alex Cross

Now we end up further down the Alex Cross history, with the 25 th novel in this series of books. Now Alex Cross is on trial for murder, so he opens a counseling office in his basement as he awaits trial.

However, when his own partner turns up needing help, Cross ends up risking his career.

• A later and engrossing installment in the Alex Cross trilogy.
• A page-turning read.
• An explosive and riveting narrative.
• If you haven’t read the other Alex Cross books, you might not get much from this novel.

The President Is Missing

Finally, we have a collaborative novel written with a real ex-president, Bill Clinton. This is a multi-award-winning novel about the disappearance of a president.

This is a thrilling and haunting political novel that will certainly appeal to readers of Patterson, new and old.

• Full of political intrigue.
• Written with a real ex-president.
• A standalone novel that might not satisfy Alex Cross fans.

Best James Patterson Books Buyer’s Guide

Here are some of the things that you can expect from James Patterson’s books:

Most of these novels, and many novels in the thriller genre, are instigated by a gruesome murder or a series of grisly murders.

This features a lot of investigative work done by something within the police or some form of crime agency.

Female Leads

Patterson has written a lot of novels where the main character is female. His novels also deal with distinctly female themes.

If you are hungry for a thriller novel, then I would certainly point you in the direction of James Patterson. The 15 novels above are some of his best and are a great place to get started.

Frequently Asked Questions

What other well-known books has james patterson written.

Here are a few other popular James Patterson thrillers: ‘The Angel Experiment’, ‘Suzanne’s Diary For Nicholas’, ‘2nd Chance’, ‘Sam’s Letter To Jennifer’, ‘Saving The World And Other Extreme Sports’ and ‘3rd Degree’.

How Many Novels Has James Patterson Sold Worldwide?

James Patterson has sold over 25 million books around the world. He was also the first author to sell 1 million e-books.

Which Of James Patterson’s Have Been Adapted Into Films?

The films that have been adapted from James Patterson’s books include: ‘Along Came A Spider’, ‘Kiss The Girls’, ‘Maximum Ride’ and ‘Alex Cross’.

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James Patterson Best Books

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James Patterson's extensive books, spans a wide range of genres and has captivated readers around the world.

Article written by Ugo Juliet

Former Lecturer. Author of multiple books. Degree from University Of Nigeria, Nsukka.

James Patterson has written numerous books across various genres, including thrillers, mysteries, young adult fiction, and children’s literature. Here are some of the best-known and most highly regarded books by James Patterson , ranked according to the reader’s preference. The list goes from least liked to most liked.

When the Wind Blows

This novel follows the story of Frannie O’Neill, a veterinarian who discovers a group of genetically engineered children with extraordinary abilities. As Frannie and the children become targets of a shadowy government organization, they must fight for survival against powerful forces determined to control their fate. This novel published in 1998, is a riveting science fiction thriller that follows the story of Frannie O’Neill, a veterinarian in Colorado, who stumbles upon a shocking discovery: genetically engineered children with extraordinary abilities. As Frannie becomes entangled in a web of government conspiracy and experimentation, she forms a bond with the children and embarks on a dangerous journey to protect them. With elements of suspense, action, and heartwarming moments, Patterson crafts a gripping narrative that explores themes of identity, belonging, and the power of love in the face of adversity. ‘ When the Wind Blows ‘ is a captivating tale of courage and resilience.

The first book in the Women’s Murder Club series, ‘ 1st to Die’ follows a group of women in San Francisco who form an alliance to solve a series of grisly murders. Led by Detective Lindsay Boxer, the women use their unique skills and expertise to track down a ruthless killer before he strikes again. Published in 2001, this book is a captivating thriller that kicks off the Women’s Murder Club series. Detective Lindsay Boxer teams up with three other women—a reporter, a medical examiner, and an attorney—to solve a series of gruesome murders targeting newlywed couples. As the bodies pile up, the women must navigate personal and professional challenges while racing against time to catch the killer. Patterson weaves a tale of suspense, intrigue, and friendship, delving into the complexities of the human psyche and the bonds that unite unlikely allies. ‘1st to Die ‘ is a gripping page-turner that keeps readers guessing until the shocking conclusion.

The Beach House 

This standalone novel follows the lives of four people whose lives intersect at a beach house in North Carolina. As secrets are revealed and old wounds are reopened, the characters must confront their pasts and make difficult choices about their futures. Published in 2002, this is a riveting novel that unfolds in the picturesque setting of Nantucket. When attorney Jack Mullen’s brother, Peter, is found dead in mysterious circumstances, Jack is propelled into a web of secrets, lies, and betrayal. As he delves deeper into the investigation, Jack uncovers shocking truths about his family’s past and the dark underbelly of the affluent community. With its atmospheric setting, complex characters, and pulse-pounding suspense, Patterson crafts a gripping narrative that explores themes of justice, redemption, and the consequences of greed. ‘ The Beach House ‘ is a compelling and unforgettable tale of intrigue and revenge.

Along Came a Spider

The first novel in the Alex Cross series, this gripping thriller follows Detective Alex Cross as he hunts down a cunning kidnapper known as “Gary Soneji.” The novel published in 1993, introduces readers to the brilliant and complex character of Alex Cross and sets the stage for a thrilling series of adventures. When two children are kidnapped from an elite school, Cross is called in to lead the investigation. As he delves into the case, Cross confronts a cunning and sadistic adversary known as Gary Soneji, whose motivations are as chilling as his methods. With twists and turns at every corner, Patterson masterfully weaves a tale of suspense and intrigue, exploring themes of obsession, power, and the lengths one will go to for justice. ‘ Along Came a Spider ‘ is a riveting page-turner that keeps readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.

Kiss the Girls  

Another installment in the Alex Cross series, ‘ Kiss the Girls ‘ follows Cross as he investigates a series of kidnappings perpetrated by a sadistic serial kidnapper known as “Casanova.” Filled with suspense, mystery, and heart-pounding action, this novel is a must-read for fans of the thriller genre. This novel published in 1995 follows Detective Alex Cross as he investigates a series of chilling kidnappings. When his niece goes missing, Cross’s personal and professional worlds collide, driving him to pursue the sadistic kidnapper known as Casanova. Alongside survivor Kate McTiernan, Cross delves into the dark underbelly of the criminal underworld, unraveling a twisted web of deceit and danger. As the stakes escalate, Cross confronts his own demons while racing against time to rescue the victims and bring the perpetrator to justice. With its gripping suspense and relentless pace, ‘Kiss the Girls ‘ is a haunting thriller that leaves a lasting impact.

Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment 

The first book in the Maximum Ride series, this young adult novel follows a group of genetically enhanced children who possess wings and other extraordinary abilities. As they flee from their creators and navigate a dangerous world, they must uncover the truth about their origins and fight to protect their freedom. With this book published in 2005, James Patterson introduces readers to a group of genetically engineered children with avian DNA, each possessing unique abilities like wings and enhanced strength. Led by the titular character, Max, the “Flock” escapes from a sinister laboratory known as the School, embarking on a quest to uncover their origins and evade capture by their creators. As they navigate a world filled with danger and betrayal, the Flock forms deep bonds of friendship and resilience. Patterson weaves a thrilling tale of adventure, courage, and identity, exploring themes of family, freedom, and the power of individuality in the face of adversity.

Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life  

The first book in the Middle School series, this children’s novel follows the misadventures of Rafe Khatchadorian as he navigates the challenges of middle school. Filled with humor, heart, and relatable characters, this book is a favorite among young readers. This book was published in 2011 and it follows the misadventures of Rafe Khatchadorian, a middle schooler determined to shake up the monotony of his school’s rigid rules. With his best friend Leo by his side, Rafe embarks on a mission to break every rule in the school’s code of conduct, leading to hilarious and chaotic situations. Amidst the pranks and hijinks, Rafe navigates personal challenges, including family troubles and bullying, while discovering the importance of friendship and staying true to oneself. Patterson delivers a heartwarming and humorous tale that resonates with readers of all ages.

The President is Missing 

Co-written with former U.S. President Bill Clinton, this political thriller follows President Jonathan Duncan as he grapples with a looming cyberattack that threatens to cripple the United States. With its insider knowledge and pulse-pounding suspense, this novel offers a unique and compelling look at the inner workings of the presidency. Set amid a high-stakes crisis, President Jonathan Lincoln Duncan faces an imminent cyberattack that threatens to cripple the nation. With time running out, Duncan goes off the grid to uncover the conspiracy behind the attack while navigating political intrigue and personal dilemmas. Patterson and Clinton deliver a tense and fast-paced narrative that offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the workings of the White House while exploring themes of leadership, patriotism, and the complexities of modern warfare and diplomacy in this great novel published in 2018.

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We review mystery reads

• James Patterson’s Best Books and Which to Read Next

September 28, 2020 by Katie Hackett

James Patterson is an American author from Newburgh, New York. He has sold over 380 million books worldwide in genres of Literature & Fiction, Mystery & Thriller, and Young Adult. Best known for his thriller and suspense novels, he currently holds the Guinness World Record for the most #1 New York Times bestsellers — so you know you can count on his stories to be worth a read. If you’re looking for which James Patterson book to read next, take a look at our list below of some of his best work!

1. Along Came a Spider (Alex Cross, #1)

A young girl named Maggie Rose goes missing, an elementary school teacher is found dead, and a family of three is murdered in the projects of Washington D.C. The brilliant Homicide detective Alex Cross is put on the case, but Gary Soneji is a psychopathic serial kidnapper/murderer who puts even Cross’ skills to the test.

Along Came a Spider is the first novel in the popular Alex Cross series. It has a 4.11 rating on Goodreads and is a #1 bestseller. If you love a good murder mystery paired with a forbidden love affair, then this is your next Patterson read. 

2. 1st to Die (Women’s Murder Club, #1)

Inspector Lindsay Boxer heads up the double homicide case of a couple murdered on their wedding night — just when she found out she is battling an often-fatal blood disease. Lindsay teams up with three other women, an assistant D.A., a journalist, and a medical examiner, to investigate what becomes a series of murders in an attempt to stop the killer before the next attack.  

One of 13 novels in the Women’s Murder Club series, 1st to Die features a series of unique murders and a team of women joining forces to solve the case. If you love murder mysteries, multiple character storylines, subplots, and short chapters with plenty of suspense, this book is for you.

3. NYPD Red (NYPD Red, #1)

Special task force NYPD Red is on active watch as celebrities flood NYC for the beginning of Hollywood on the Hudson. When a world-renowned producer dies of poisoning, Detective Zach Jordan of NYPD Red is assigned to the case, along with his ex-girlfriend Detective Kylie Macdonald. The two work to find this psychopathic murderer before his next brutal attack. 

This is the first novel in the NYPD Red series, and it follows Detective Zach Jordan as he navigates investigating a high-profile case alongside an old flame. If you enjoy an action-packed murder mystery with a touch of romance, this book is for you. 

4. The Murder House

The Hamptons may be full of endless money and power, but it is also home to what locals refer to as the Murder House, where countless deaths have taken place over the years. This abandoned home is said to be cursed, and is now the spot of the latest mystery, when a wealthy broker and his mistress are found dead inside. Detective Jenna Murphy was once a local to the area but has avoided her past and distanced herself from the Hamptons until taking on this case. The Murder House proves to hold even more dark stories than Murphy originally thought, as she dives into this mysterious case and begins to uncover more deaths along the way. 

Goodreads calls this stand-alone book, “a chilling, page-turning story of murder, money, and revenge.” If this sounds like your kind of story, be sure to put it on your list of next Patterson books to read.

5. Step on a Crack (Michael Bennett, #1) with Michael Ledwidge

The funeral of a former First Lady turns into a hostage situation, and NYPD Detective Michael Bennett is sent to negotiate for the hostages’ lives. Hundreds have been taken, including many celebrities and politicians, and the captor wants millions of dollars for their safe return. This crisis comes while Bennett’s life is turned upside due to his wife’s battle with cancer, but as the captor starts killing hostages, Bennett must focus on saving the remaining lives before it’s too late. 

Step on a Crack is the first in Patterson’s popular Michael Bennett Series. If you’re looking for a suspenseful page-turner with a likable, heroic character, then it’s time to dive into the beginning of this series.

6. The President is Missing by James Patterson and Bill Clinton

A huge attack is threatened against the US and the president is a potential suspect… then he goes missing. President Jonathan Duncan’s motives for disappearing are questioned as the search for him begins. He was still mourning the loss of his wife, and his disappearance could be seen a reckless goodbye. Then again, it could be much more than that.

The President is Missing is co-written by former president Bill Clinton, and it takes on a realistic approach to this fictional crisis in Washington. This novel is set in real time over the course of three days, providing the reader with minute-by-minute suspense in each page. If you’re looking for a political thriller from an authentic vantage point, this is your next read.

7. The Angel Experiment (Maximum Ride, #1) 

The Angel Experiment tells the story of six unique kids who are uncovering secrets about themselves and the school they are imprisoned in. They have special powers, but they don’t know what to do with them. All they know is they need to work together to escape their situation before it’s too late. 

Though most-known for his adult thrillers, Patterson has a number of highly-rated YA books for younger audiences including The Angel Experiment . If you’re looking for a YA fantasy fiction, this is the perfect Patterson book to pick up next.  

8. The First Lady 

President Tucker finds himself in the middle of a scandalous affair that could cost him his reelection. He needs the support of his wife if he wants to stand a chance in the next election. After many lies and deception from her husband, it appears the First Lady has put her foot down and escaped the city. But was this truly done out of spite for her husband, or is there another reason for her disappearance? Agent Sally Grisson is put on the case of the disappearance of the First Lady in an attempt to locate her and keep her safe. 

This stand-alone thriller is fast-paced and full of scandal and mystery that is sure to keep you from putting the book down. 

Want More James Patterson Books?

This list includes some of the top books written by James Patterson; but keep in mind, he has written more than 47 books total! This means we only scratched the surface of the exciting Patterson thrillers left to read. After you make your way through this list, be sure to explore more of his work to find which books/series you enjoy the most!

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Best James Patterson Books

Writing bestselling thriller novels on a global scale, James Patterson is an author whose name is synonymous with a certain brand of high-octane suspense and action. Well known for creating the Alex Cross novels featuring the eponymous FBI agent, he’s established himself at the forefront of the commercial thriller genre. Not just publishing suspense though, he’s also produced a number of romance novels over the years as well, along with comedy and Young Adult fiction. A versatile author, he’s a master of both tension and suspense, allowing his readers and fans to get lost within his work.

In 1976 James Patterson would come to publish his first novel titled The Thomas Berryman Number , and since them he’s written over 147 novels. The first Alex Cross novel, the series for which he is perhaps most famous, would arrive in 1993, and was called Along Came A Spider . These would be highly engaging thrillers, and he holds a Guinness World Record for holding the most #1 New York Times bestsellers, totalling in at 67. Knowing what audiences want is part of his gift, and he’s also adept at collaborating, which he has successfully done with fellow authors over the years. Notably he would write a book with former president Bill Clinton, called The President Is Missing , released in 2018, which would also be a thriller.

Previously Patterson has had twelve of his works adapted for film and television, many of his films featuring Alex Cross. Morgan Freeman would star twice as the FBI agent, whilst Tyler Perry would star once. There’d also be a television show called ‘Instinct’ based on his book Murder Games . Winning Edgar and Audie awards for his work, he’s received a lot of critical acclaim, with plenty of highlights in his literary career.

In my own opinion, these are the top five books that I feel James Patterson has to offer:

Called in to investigate a horrendous crime, Detective Lindsay Boxer has a long planned wedding celebration disrupted after a teenage girl is left for dead, along with her now missing newborn. That’s when Assistant District Attorney Yuki Castellano is called in to prosecute a young woman charged with murdering her husband in front of their two young children. Looking to find the baby, Lindsay must do whatever it takes, all whilst keeping off the radar of her new boss, as well as holding her own marriage together.

Marking the tenth title in the ongoing ‘Women’s Murder Club’ series of novels, this is a great addition to the thriller franchise. It’s also a brilliant stand-alone title, with it being extremely easy to pick up, yet difficult to put down, setting it apart as a noteworthy title. Exemplifying some of the best of Patterson’s writing, this is a good solid thriller, with a self contained narrative for fans and newcomers alike.

With his children and wife being savagely ripped away from him, Alex Cross must contend with a psychotic genius’s demands if he ever hopes to see them alive again. Pushed to the edge, he must do whatever it takes to make sure they’re safe, with his family being his whole world now and the only thing that’s important. Pitting himself against the dangerous killer, Detective Alex Cross must remain one step ahead in a deadly game of cat and mouse.

With a straight-forward premise, this crime thriller really takes the action up a level, in what is the 22nd title in the Alex Cross series. Thrilling the whole way through, Patterson is extremely gifted at building the suspense with his deceptively simple plot. The characters are very well drawn, getting straight into the action, delivering exactly what the readers want on every page.

All with no homes and no families, six children are ostensibly left to take care of each other, defending themselves at every turn. Now they must run for their lives, as Max Ride has the power of flight, along with her friends, and there are those that wish to control them. With no clear information on their enemies or their background, they have no idea where they powers came from, but they’re going to find out.

Setting up an exciting Young Adult series of novels titled ‘Maximum Ride’, this really does deliver when it comes to establishing the premise. Fun and entertaining, Patterson knows exactly what he’s doing at every moment, taking what might fall into cliché in lesser hands and elevating it. There was a film adapted from it, but it’s best to start with the books first, as these offer another side to Patterson’s output as a writer.

Called in to deal with New York’s most high-profile crimes, the NYPD Red is an elite unit, and it’s up to Detective Zach Jordan to solve the case once again. He must also put aside his feelings for Kylie MacDonald, his partner who once broke his heart whilst they served together at police academy. After everything that they’ve previously faced together though, they must now deal with their most deadly challenge yet as a dangerous killer is on the loose.

The fifth title in the NYPD Red series of books, this definitely is the best with it managing to sustain the tension of the previous books, and raising it. Writing alongside the author Marshall Karp who helps by collaborating with Patterson, it’s definitely a team-up that works here. Keeping the action tense all the way, it knows precisely what territory it’s in, making the most of its premise in a fun and engaging manner.

A brutal serial killer is evading and outsmarting the authorities at every turn, despite the fact that he’s already been captured. Stepping up where others have failed, Alex Cross is pitted against Gary Soneji, with Jezzie Flanagan as the female supervisor for the Secret Service. With Cross and Flanagan embarking on an ill-fated affair, they must do whatever it takes to keep one step ahead of Soneji and finally put a stop to his games once and for all.

This was the one that started it all, and it’s a great first story for Alex Cross, arriving on the scene and making a mark that’s still felt today. Perfecting the art of writing addictive stories early on, Patterson keeps the reader glued to the action, regardless of what else they’re doing. With Cross jumping into action almost instantly too, this wastes no time in delivering high-class suspense from a world class author.

Best Authors To Read If You Like James Patterson:

Patricia Cornwell : The American crime writer Patricia Cornwell is known for her sense of realism when it comes to producing her novels. Writing series such as the Scarpetta franchise featuring medical examiner Kay Scarpetta, Cornwell pays close attention to detail through her own fascination with forensic science. Basing a lot of her work on real-life cases, she’s authentic and down-to-earth, creating both drama and suspense.

Michael Connelly : Perhaps best known for creating his series of Harry Bosch novels, Connelly is well regarded for his crime novels. Using the police procedural and the thriller as the template for much of his work, he writes grounded and fully rounded characters. Dealing with a whole range of different themes, there’s a conscience active in his work, making his stories compelling to read.

Harlan Coben: Creating top quality mysteries, Harlan Coben is known for his many twists and turns that always keep the reader guessing. Some of his best known books are from the Mryon Bolitar series, which follows a retired basketball player turned sports agent, who now solves various cases. Recently Coben has made a deal with Netflix, meaning that a lot more of his work is going to be adapted for television in the future.

Karin Slaughter : With her finely crafted thriller novels, Karin Slaughter is an excellent American crime novelist who excels in her genre. Selling internationally, she will also be seeing a Netflix series, with her novel ‘Pieces of Her’ being adapted for television. Creating franchises such as her ‘Grant County’ and ‘ Will Trent ‘ series, she has legions of fans all across the world.

Lee Child : This will be perfect for fans of action, with his gripping series of thrillers focused on the character of Jack Reacher . With films and a television series featuring his main protagonist, this is definitely one for those looking for more Alex Cross style stories. Whilst the novels are more focused on action than that of Patterson’s, they still have plenty of twists and turns along the way.

Best Podcasts If You Like Alex Cross:

Fully Booked by Kirkus Reviews – James Patterson and Gerda Saunders: Speaking directly to the author himself, this is great background information for any and all Patterson fans. Easy-going and laid-back, it’s a fun and informative show.

The B&N Podcast – James Patterson: This pretty much covers everything on James Patterson as an author, as he goes over his life and what’s led him to this point creatively. Examining each of his novels, he looks behind the creative decisions in all of them.

HBR IdeaCast – Bill Clinton and James Patterson on Collaboration and Cybersecurity: Speaking with the former president Bill Clinton, the two of them discuss their collaboration and what goes in to cybersecurity overall. This provides a background to Patterson’s ideas as an author, and who he is as a person.

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Hey there! My name is Janise and I am a bookaholic! I read at least one book per day no matter the size as my job has a lot of downtime and I am a speed reader. This article and all articles on the site are written by me and these are just my opinions :)

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25 Best James Patterson Books (2024)

James Brendan Patterson was born on the 22 nd of March, in the year of 1947, in Newburgh, New York, United States of America. Patterson is an extremely famous author of thriller novels , of romance works, and, from time to time, of non-fiction, as well. Patterson’s works have sold more than three hundred million copies and his net worth is approximated to be well above five hundred million.

James was born to father Charles Patterson, who worked as an insurance broker, and mother Isabelle, who was employed as a teacher. Pattersons were a working-class family of Irish heritage.

Best James Patterson Books

Before writing.

Patterson attended Manhattan College, where he acquired his Bachelor of Arts in English, summa cum laude. His Master of Arts came from Vanderbilt University.

While James was, in fact, a candidate for a Ph.D. at Vanderbilt University, he instead opted for an advertising job. James worked for J. Walter Thompson, where he was the advertising executive. In 1996, however, Patterson devoted himself completely to writing. With all of that noted, let’s now see what the best James Patterson books are.

Alex Cross Series

Famous series.

Patterson’s Alex Cross series is home to some of the most popular James Patterson books out there. The Alex Cross novels by Patterson are genuinely some of the best works that the author has published. Patterson’s Alex Cross series order goes as follows:

• Along Came a Spider
• Kiss the Girls
• Jack & Jill
• Cat and Mouse
• Pop Goes the Weasel
• Roses Are Red
• Violets Are Blue
• Four Blind Mice
• The Big Bad Wolf
• London Bridges
• Double Cross
• Cross Country
• Alex Cross’s Trial

Just to name a few.

Now, with Patterson’s Alex Cross series in order written up, we can take a look at what Patterson’s Alex Cross books are all about. Worth mentioning that the order we specified is Patterson’s Alex Cross series in chronological order, though it does coincide with the order of publishing, just as well. The first of Alex Cross books by Patterson – sometimes called Patterson’s Cross series, for short – is, of course, Along Came a Spider.

Can’t Stop Him

The first book begins with a girl named Maggie Rose who is currently missing. There has also been a brutal killing of a three-member family and an elementary school teacher.

The fiend that perpetrated these crimes is so inventive and intelligent, yet all the more revolting that the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Police Force, and the Secret Service aren’t able to one-up him, even though he’s in their custody.

Stalking Fiend

Gary Soneji is a man that, out of all the desires he could have, desires to go through with the century’s greatest crime. Alex Cross, the eponymous character, is the homicide detective that is given the case.

A person of interest for Alex is Jezzie Flanagan, a woman that will be involved in a disconcerting love triangle; she works as the supervisor of the Secret Service. Even with this premise alone, one can see why it is one of the best James Patterson books.

Hidden Love

Jezzie and Alex are set to enter into a forbidden affair, though there could never have been a less appropriate time for such a thing. Gary Soneji, for one, is a man that notices and observes many things, so him knowing about their affair would hold a rather inauspicious time for both of them.

Then, the madman strikes again, this time in the police precinct. It is hopefully obvious that Patterson’s Alex Cross novels are some of James Patterson’s best books.

Too Close to the Case

One of the best Patterson Alex Cross books in Patterson’s Alex Cross series order is certainly Kiss the Girls. The story starts with the so-called Casanova killer, a man that had slain more than one hapless lady.

While some have gotten killed, others have just vanished. One of the latter is Alex Cross’s niece. While usually he wouldn’t be allowed to work on a case like this, Alex pulls some strings and gets the chance to find his niece.

One That Got Away

Casanova goes on preying with the utmost meticulousness and care, with his latest victim being Doctor Kate McTiernan, with whom he’d become infatuated by means of the lady’s books.

Luckily for her, Kate manages to escape from the house of pain that Casanova had set up, and she tells of the experience she had, noting that the house supposedly vanished when she came out of it. Alex and Kate have no choice but to become close friends seeing as plight and suffering have a way of doing that.

Not Too Different

As the investigation continues, a connection is established between Casanova and a different fiend named The Gentleman Caller. Becoming pulled into a different case altogether, Alex Cross, along with Doctor Kate, start piecing together things about the Gentleman Caller, and they find out what his true identity is.

Having no time to waste, the two of them are trying to find a way to get to the bottom of their mystery, but it seems that all may be lost. The Alex Cross series by Patterson is with due reason one of the best James Patterson series.

Couple of Killers

Book number three of Patterson’s Alex Cross novels in order is Jack & Jill. Overnight, the life of a United States senator, albeit a rather controversial, was taken in the apartment where the man was staying.

Upon investigating the scene of the murder, the police find only a single clue, that being an ominous rhyme, surely a portent of things to come, noting that this is merely the beginning; it was signed by Jack and Jill.

Too Close to Home

While this is happening, Alex Cross is called to the site of a slaying mere blocks away from his home. The victim is a pretty, little girl that had been brutalized and left in front of the elementary school, where Alex’s son, Damon, goes to.

Having now a double incentive to find out who the prowlers are and to put a stop to their demonic doings, Alex starts trying to find a connection between the Jack and Jill murder and the one he was called to.

No One Is Safe

Soon enough, it becomes manifest that there is no one in all of D. C. that is safe; be it a child, be it a politician, be it even the United States’ president: everyone is a target. With such a case, there is surely little time left to act before another body drops, so can Alex Cross manage to thwart the plans of Jack and Jill or will he fail this time around?

We could never rank the whole Alex Cross series as we recommend every single book out of the series.

Women’s Murder Club Series

Brilliant series.

Women’s Murder Club is another of the best James Patterson series. Patterson’s Women’s Murder Club consists of twenty books in total, so we can make our selection for this particular series in order.:

• 1 st to Die
• 2 nd Chance
• 3 rd Degree
• 4 th of July
• The 5 th Horseman
• The 6 th Target
• 7 th Heaven
• The 8 th Confession
• The 9 th Judgement
• 10 th Anniversary
• 12 th of Never
• 14 th Deadly Sin
• 15 th Affair

Among others.

Afflicted and Anguished

The first book of Patterson’s Murder Club series is the novel titled 1 st to Die. It should be noted that because of the first book’s title, the series is sometimes referred to as Patterson’s 1 st to Die series.

Lindsay Boxer – in whose honor the series is sometimes called Patterson’s Lindsay Boxer series – is a Detective working for the San Francisco Police Department when she, out of the blue, is thrust into a veritable conundrum.

First, she learns that she is suffering from a disease, a blood disease that is often fatal, while secondly, she learns that she now has a double murder case in which two newlyweds have been killed on the eve of their wedding. What a day.

Deadly Friends

Lindsay’s partner is Chris Raleigh, who had just been transferred from the mayor’s office. It does not take long before Lindsay realizes that she has far too much on her mind, so she decides to clear her head with her best friend Claire.

Claire is also the co-worker of the Medical Examiner on the current case. Although Claire often works with lifeless bodies, she seems to have the most heartfelt and lively advice one could ever hope for.

Close-Knit Group

Cindy, a newspaper reporter trying to get her name on the map, contacts Lindsay to get her career on the right track. Although Lindsay can by no means just talk about the case, they come to some kind of agreement, let’s say quid pro quo.

Soon enough, a second newlywed couple is found killed and the investigation points to a prominent mystery writer , Nicholas Jenks, a pervert with allegations of sexual abuse. Jill, the assistant D. A. on the case, joins the so-called Murder Club soon, as Lindsay and the others try to make headway with the gruesome slayings. These are some of the absolute best Patterson Women’s Mystery books.

Miracle or a Hit?

Book two of Patterson’s Women’s Murder Club novels is, of course, 2 nd Chance. In 2 nd Chance, the ante is upped even more, as the four members of Murder Club have a brand new case to work on.

A completely repugnant and certainly crazy person fired a hail of bullets at a crowd of children who got out of a church in San Francisco, though somewhat luckily, only one person was killed in the chaos.

Link to Be Found

It seems like a candid miracle that there was only a single victim, but, hey, take what you’re given. Before any time is given to the investigating officers, a black lady, in her senior years, is found having been hung.

Lindsay Boxer, along with Claire, Jill, and Cindy, believes that there is a clear connection between the two events and crimes, so they are busy figuring out what the missing chain is before another person is killed. Worth noting is that Patterson’s Murder Club books are some of the best-selling James Patterson books, as well.

On a slight side note, the series at hand is home to some of the recent books by James Patterson, too. One of the top Patterson books is 3 rd Degree.

3 rd Degree is the novel that sees San Francisco Detective Lindsay Boxer as she jumps into a townhouse set on fire and burning furiously, only to find three bodies, with an ominous, disturbing message at the scene of the murder. It seems that Lindsay has an arsonist as well as a seasoned killer on her hands.

Next One to Go

Before any proper progress can be made on the case, however, more and more dead bodies begin piling up at the morgue and Claire’s office. Lindsay asks her loyal Murder Club members to help her out on this one, seeing as the killer has made a promise to take a life every three days. Even more uneasy is the fact that one of the Murder Club members is a target and a prospective victim for the savage murderer. But, which one exactly?

We really cannot recommend the books in this James Patterson’s series enough. Likewise, out of the whole Patterson’s series list, this one has perhaps the best-rated Patterson books, period.

Maximum Ride Series

Young adult audience.

Patterson’s Maximum Ride series is another fantastic work of the famous author. Patterson’s Maximum Ride books are some of the best James Patterson teenage novels.

In our opinion, the books present in this series can be seen as some terrific James Patterson’s children’s books as well as some of the best James Patterson young adult books. Now, let’s take a look at Patterson’s Maximum Ride series in order:

• The Angel Experiment
• School’s Out – Forever
• Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports
• The Final Warning
• Maximum Ride Forever

With Patterson’s Maximum Ride books in order settled, we should note that the series also contains some of the latest James Patterson books, too. We start with The Angel Experiment, where we meet Max for the first time. Max is a teenager who is also a hybrid with human-avian characteristics. Max lives alongside Fang, Nudge, The Gasman, Angel, and Iggy, who are also human-avian hybrids.

All six of them resided in a school where malevolent scientist engendered them, but they managed to get out of there and have been hiding ever since. These two names for the series – Patterson’s Max series or Patterson’s Angel series – are also not unusual.

Missing a Member

When the so-called Erasers, human-wolf hybrids, come out of seemingly nowhere and begin attacking the Flock – the group we mentioned above – it becomes clear that they are no longer hiding. As they try to fight back, the young member of the Flock, Angel, is captured.

Angel is also the one who has mind-reading abilities. Knowing well where Angel is going to be taken, the group comes together to save their friend. It’s decided: Iggy and Gasman will keep their HQ safe, while the other three go and get Angel back. These Patterson’s Young Adult novels are truly some of the best he’s ever penned.

For the Hatred of Science

In the so-called school, Angel wakes up in a kind of dog crate where she is forced to take several tests so that her abilities can be measured safely by the damn scientists who work there. Max, Fang, and Nudge know that time is running out, but they cannot just storm in with guns, mainly because they do not have any weapons.

But if they do not come up with a plan soon, they could lose everything they have fought for. A worthy contender for being James Patterson’s best book, especially of James Patterson’s books for teens.

Following what happened in the previous installment, the second book of Patterson’s Maximum Ride books in order is School’s Out – Forever, where the Flock is going to Washington, D. C.. They will try to get some answers to the countless questions they have about what they are, why they are, who they are, and the like.

However, a flying Eraser injures Fang so that they are forced to take their friend to a nearby hospital. An agent of the FBI, Anne, agrees to let them stay with her for the nonce if they let her analyze them.

Shady Corporation

The Flock seems to have a break from all the running away and keeping hidden they were used to. Here they even attend a private school, although it later turns out that this was all a deception of the diabolical corporation that has the plan to ruin the world.

Since the group has no other way out, they agree to go to Florida, but even that is not a safe choice for the Flock. When Angel arrived there, she remembered hearing about a corporation called Itex.

Inferior One

Since the fake FBI agent is now their enemy, the group has little choice of what to do. The Itex Corporation even sends a clone of Max, one that is fated to either succeed in killing Max or be killed in turn by Max. After a terrible battle, the clone loses, but Max refuses to put it out of its misery.

From then on, the inferior iteration is continually called just Fake Max or the Other Max. For now, the Flock can enjoy the limited shelter and protection they have, if nothing else. We feel we should add that all of Patterson’s Maximum Ride novels – a truly remarkable James Patterson’s teen series – receive our recommendations.

Second Generation

Another terrific choice out of the books by James Patterson for kids is the series’ third novel, namely Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports.

In this novel, The Flock has the mission of keeping the world safe from the terrible corporation called Itex, along with its shadowy, malevolent leader, referred to as the Director. The plans are to half the population of the world. For this reason, they begin replacing the Erasers with the Flyboys, which are robotic, and more efficient.

Caught Unawares

Max, in her heart of hearts, wants to put an end to Itex, but Fang believes that they have a chance to just get up and leave the fight to someone else, someone who is better prepared. However, Max does not know if she can let it go.

The two of them take a trip to a small cave where they have a wonderful time, but when dawn breaks they discover that the rest of the Flock has been captured. A terrible discovery is also made when Angel announces that she is now working for Itex, but Max and Fang do not know if this is a trick or if the betrayal is real.

Split Apart

As the Flock, helped by Max and Fang, and a very unlikely acquaintance, they somehow manage to free themselves from the grip of Itex, but soon they separate after a big fight between the members.

As this happens, Max and Fang are no longer together, though they keep in touch. Before it all ends, though, a truly mind-bending revelation is made, one that throws the world of Max upside down completely. Out of all Patterson’s kids’ books, even those present in the James Patterson’s kids’ series, the ones here are our favorites.

Michael Bennett Series

Recommended.

Patterson’s Michael Bennett series is the next one we will be taking a look at and it is a very fantastic work. The Michael Bennett series by Patterson ranks among our favorite works of the author; they are some of the best James Patterson novels. Now, let’s take a look at Patterson’s Michael Bennett series in order:

• Step on a Crack
• Run for Your Life
• I, Michael Bennett
• The Russian, which is yet to be published

Prepared for Anything

With Patterson’s Michael Bennett series order well behind us, we would just like to note that the series contains some of James Patterson’s newest books, along with one of Patterson’s upcoming books.

Now, the first of Patterson’s Michael Bennett books is Step on a Crack. Another key point is that the series is co-written by Patterson and Ledwidge. New York Police Department Detective Michael Bennett is a man that has endured many things in his lifetime and he is prepared to endure even more things, all for his family.

Man in Mourning

Currently, Michael Bennett is focusing on helping his family of ten adopted children who are going through the mourning and bereavement process after the death of Bennett’s wife Maeve. However, duty calls, and Bennett is called to help out as the funeral of an ex-First Lady suddenly goes wrong. A group of armed men get inside and hold the funeral attendants as hostages.

Making a Deal

Michael’s job is to reason with an insidious man called Jack, who sort of complies by letting everyone go except the most well-known people. However, he does have his own demands and desires and it is not so hard to guess, what they are. Yeah, you are right, only a million dollars for each of the hostages.

Biding their time is not something they have the leisure to do as Jack begins a murderous rampage inside. With time running out, can Bennett save the hostages and stop the fiend before it is all too late? This is one of Patterson’s crime books that we just love rereading.

In the second of the Michael Bennett books by Patterson, namely Run for Your Life, we follow the detective once more. There is an inventive, elaborate killer stalking and prowling the street who refers to himself only as the Teacher. The Teacher is haunting the streets of New York City, where he kills the mighty and the obnoxious people. For a murderer as savage as the Teacher, he sure does have a keen eye for manners.

Loud and Clear

The message that the Teacher is trying to instill and inculcate into the masses of New York City is quite loud and very succinct – keep your manners in check or you will be punished in a manner both terrifying and just.

Some people might think that it’s only fitting for the rich to be held in check like this, but others are terrified by the fiend that takes lives like that. There is just one man for this kind of a job and that is Michael Bennett. With proper reason, these are some of the best-selling books by Patterson.

War on Two Fronts

Michael Bennett, a detective for the New York Police Department, has a lot on his mind these days. He misses his wife Maeve, he has to keep his ten children safe, secure, happy, fed, and cared for, and also work a job that puts his life at risk pretty much anytime he exits the front door.

What’s worse, the kids have all contracted the flu at the same time as the Teacher begins making noise in the media. Fighting a war on two fronts, Bennett needs to get to the bottom of one mystery and keep his children safe, at the same time.

Making a Statement

Continuing on with the third book of Patterson’s series Bennett is in, we have Worst Case. Worst Case is where the kids of the most prominent, most affluent, and most famous of New York’s elite are being abducted. The perpetrator of this ghastly crime is not someone that wants a load of money or some kind of power, but he just wants to know whether the highest of society are aware of the tole that their inferiors have to pay so that they can enjoy their glamorous lives?

When one confesses to being unaware of such a thing, then, they are dispatched in the swiftest of ways. Detective Michael Bennett knows that these slayings are all connected in some way and that they are surely going to serve as a sensational demonstration of something.

But, as he has to work with the FBI agent Emily Parker, the city is slowly pulled in by the most chaotic of forces. If you are not careful, you may end up on the fiend’s list and the whole society will be present just to see what he chooses as punishment. Out of all the James Patterson book reviews, the ones here perhaps the best James Patterson books to start with.

Private Series

Firm of detectives.

Patterson’s Private series is a brilliant source of the best James Patterson books. Patterson’s Private series belongs among our favorite works of the author, simply because it is such a pleasant and fulfilling series to read and enjoy. Patterson’s Private series in order goes as follows:

• Private #1 Suspect
• Private Games
• Private London
• Private Berlin
• Private L. A.
• Private: Oz
• Private India
• Private Vegas
• Private Paris
• Private Rio
• Private Sydney
• Private Delhi
• Private Princess
• Private Moscow

Jack Morgan

With Patterson’s Private novels put in order, we think it is important to note that here one can find some of James Patterson’s recent books. Now, the first novel of Patterson’s Private books is called Private. Jack Morgan used to work for the Central Intelligence Agency, but now he owns Private, a famous, well-respected company for investigations.

Close to the Heart

Private has many branches all over the world, ones that work with the utmost discretion and loyalty, but also with the greatest degree of force and dutifulness.

While investigating an x-million-dollar scandal with the National Football League and gambling, along with the case of eighteen schoolgirls that were killed and the perpetrator not yet found, Jack learns of something that puts him ill at ease: the wife of his best friend, a woman with whom he had a fling once upon a time, has been murdered.

Just Another Day

Jack Morgan’s line of work sees him learning of the many, deep, dark secrets that powerful, famous, and even ominous people have daily, while his team of investigators, utilizing some of the most bleeding edge and top of the line tools try and make a break in the cases.

However, it now has become clear that Jack doesn’t have to work by the rules or by any limits anymore. One of the best Patterson books out there and one of those Patterson’s books that we’d recommend to any reader.

Ultra-Successful

The second novel of Patterson’s Private books is Private #1 Suspect. This particular entry on the list of James Patterson’s books for adults or, more appropriately, James Patterson’s crime novels, stands as one of our favorites in the whole series. Ever since Jack Morgan began his own company Private, it has easily become one of the most revered firms for investigation in the whole, wide world.

All of the most famous, most influential, and most venerated members of society have used the services of Jack Morgan and Private, as the Private investigators are some of the wisest, quickest, and keenest investigators that money can buy.

When Jack Morgan’s ex-lover is founded killed in his own bed, it doesn’t take long for people to begin pointing the finger in Jack’s direction. As Jack is being investigated by the police, the mobsters blackmail him into getting some thirty-million US dollars recovered for them, while a luxury hotel manager coaxes Jack Morgan to help and examine a series of killings and slayings that have been perpetrated on the hotel chain’s premises.

No Other Choice

As Jack Morgan is very much fighting for a better life, while he is blackmailed, strong-armed, persuaded, and coaxed, he finds out that his very loyal colleague might just get up and leave Private altogether.

Without wasting his breath, Jack Morgan tacitly understands that what is happening must be the work of some of the most devious, most intelligent enemies that he has faced thus far. Nonetheless, he’s not going to give up. This entry among James Patterson’s murder books is one that you must not miss.

Following these particular James Patterson novels in order, we come to the third novel of the series, namely the one titled Private Games. Out of the whole list of the Private novels by Patterson, Private Games might be the deadliest.

The famous and venerated company for investigation has just been chosen to be the security for the 2012 London Olympic Games. The agents of Private who are some of the best agents in the whole world fly to London to keep the competitors safe.

Devious Events

In one of Patterson’s best-selling books, we see as Nigel Steele, an investigator for Private and the lonesome dad of two children, is summoned to the scene of a merciless killing.

One of the highest-ranking members that stood on the organizing committee of the Olympic Games has been slain along with his mistress, but it soon becomes evident that the crime is not one of passion, but one that was perpetrated by cruel, cold, meticulous hands. This is one novel that is a genuine contender for being the best James Patterson book.

Shadow Lurker

Karen Pope, a reporter for a newspaper, is sent a letter by someone referring to himself only as Cronus, who is taking the fullest of responsibilities for the two killings that took place. Cronus says that he has been sent to bring back the olden glory that the Olympic Games had and that he will make sure all those games that have been touched by corruption and subterfuge will be annihilated completely.

Nigel and Karen thus begin working together to thwart the plans of Cronus, but can they do it before it’s too late? Taking into account the whole list of Patterson books in order, in regard to the series at hand, there’s not a single book that we wouldn’t recommend – they’re all such treats.

Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas

Gone without a trace.

Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas is one of James Patterson’s love storybooks and what a book it is! Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas ranks as one of the best books by James Patterson by a wide margin. It was published in the year of 2001, spanning a bit less than three hundred pages.

The book at hand is the story of Katie Wilkinson who has just managed to find herself the most perfect man she could ever hope for. The man is a brilliant author, doesn’t use other people’s ideas and he even knows how to paint houses; that is pretty much all that she has ever desired in a man. However, it just so happens that one seemingly random, ordinary, and uneventful day, the man disappears, traceless, with only a single diary left for Katie.

Do What You Need to Do

As Katie begins reading the diary, she sees that it is a kind of love letter that was written by a new mom, all for her newborn, Nicholas. In the diary, Suzanne has managed to mention and elaborate on several key events that led to Nicholas’ conception and eventual birth.

Suzanne’s writing also makes mention of a father, whom she dearly loved, but they could never be together. As Katie reads on, she comes to a realization that shakes her to the quick.

Sam’s Letters to Jennifer

Amazing novel.

Sam’s Letters to Jennifer is no small feat as a literary achievement. The book was among the top ten selling hardcover books of the year when it was published, namely in 2004. It is comprised of a total of 263. This is a novel that needs no recommendation because it is so brilliantly and seamlessly written.

Sam’s Letters to Jennifer is among the most touching, sweetest, most gentle, and tender novels that the author has ever penned. It, without our paying regard to the story or the words inside, powerfully speaks to us, both on an emotional level and on a psychological one. It is a wholly special book that we think our readers are going to love, if our love for it is any indication.

Main Protagonist

The eponymous character, Jennifer, is our protagonist. We see Jennifer as she is still reeling from the passing away of her spouse, still deep in the grieving process, still in the grip of mourning, still pained, still hurting. When Jennifer’s grandmother falls into a comatose state, Jennifer has no choice but to forgo her grieving and mourning and be by her grandma’s side. When there, however, she makes a great and strange discovery.

Jennifer finds a packet, wherein she sees a number of letters addressed to her grandma, named Sam. Jennifer begins reading the letters, following through the love-filled, poignant pages. The story at hand is about Sam, who had married quite young to a man from Stanford, but it was a lot less than true, human, deep love. Later on, Sam meets a man nicknamed Doc with whom she fell in love, but the letters have only just begun at this point.

As far as Jennifer is concerned, she, after meeting a childhood friend named Brendan, sees herself falling for him. Unfortunately, she learns that Brendan is deep in a battle against a tumor in his brain, slowly making him weaker and weaker. As the days pass, the season comes to an end, and Sam awakens from her coma. Brendan, on the other hand, tries to have a very risky and potentially life-taking surgery in order to get his tumor out.

Family Friend

Even though Brendan hadn’t told Jennifer that he was going to have surgery, she finds out and stands by his side with great support. Luckily, Brendan’s tumor is removed and he successfully recovers. With Sam once again able to speak, she tells Jennifer that the Doc in the book was a family friend named John. Not long after, Sam passes away, with Jennifer mentioning that she is pregnant. She promises to name her daughter Sam in honor of her lovely grandmother.

When the Wind Blows Series

Short series.

Patterson’s When the Wind Blows series is Patterson’s best-selling series. When the Wind Blows is home to some of the best James Patterson novels, even though there are just two of them here. Now, let’s take a look at these Patterson books in chronological order:

• When the Wind Blows
• The Lake House

Repeated Crime

When the Wind Blows follows Frannie O’Neill. Frannie is a pleasant, lovable young veterinarian, who resides in the Rockies of Colorado, attempting, albeit mostly fruitlessly, to forget the gruesome and bizarre slaying of her spouse.

Soon enough, another neighbor bites the bullet, so Kit Harrison, an agent with the FBI, comes to Frannie’s home to discuss the ongoings. Kit, himself, is resolute about wanting to put an end to this rampage, even going against the wishes of the FBI.

Greater Than Anticipated

As Kit surreptitiously continues to investigate and analyze the situation, more and more witnesses begin dying. Without any announcement, though, Frannie comes by an astounding find in the woods near her home, a discovery that will change the lives of everyone involved.

As the deaths pile up, the mystery foggier than ever, Kit and Frannie come by a subterranean network of labs that puzzles them further. A top book among Patterson’s mystery novels .

The Beach House

The Beach House is one of the best Patterson stand-alone books. The novel is rightfully seen as one of the most intriguing James Patterson thriller books. The Beach House was published in 2002.

The main character of The Beach House is a man named Jack Mullen. Jack Mullen is a man studying law school, while his brother Peter is a man that works as a sort of valet, parking the vehicles of the wealthiest living in the Hamptons.

The two seem to enjoy their life as they’re going about it, seeing as even their most private needs are met with satisfaction, just as well. Then, however, something terrible happens.

Big Fish to Fry

The lifeless body of Peter is discovered on a nearby beach. The police seem to think it’s a case of drowning, probably an accident, but Jack doesn’t share that opinion.

What Jack doesn’t know immediately is that one big fish already has the police and judicial system under his control. As Jack’s determination never wavers, he doesn’t stop trying to undermine and get satisfaction for Peter’s death. A novel that many fans view as the best James Patterson novel.

Hide and Seek

America’s sweetheart.

Hide and Seek is a terrific book from Patterson’s stand-alone novels, one that was published in the year of 1995, with a page count in the mid three hundreds. Hide and Seek is also one of James Patterson’s best mystery books.

Hide and Seek is a brilliant tale from Patterson and one whose story weaves seamlessly. Maggie Bradford is the one we follow, even though Maggie is rather stationary for nonce. Maggie is charged with murder, and with her position in society in mind, this is the trial of the decade as far as celebrities are concerned.

Out of Sight, Out of Heart

Everyone knows Maggie Bradford as a kind, humane singer and songwriter, who doesn’t look like she could ask for anything more. Then, how is it that she could possibly have killed not just one of her husbands, but two of them?

Will Shephard was the second spouse of Maggie, who is just as well-known as Maggie, herself is. Will stars in movies, is a fantastic athlete, but what no one knows is that Will is keeping a secret, one that would change public opinion drastically.

Sundays at Tiffany’s

Imaginary friend.

Sundays at Tiffany’s, another of James Patterson’s stand-alone books, is a tremendous tale that won’t let the reader just breeze through it or not pay attention to the key things happening. Sundays at Tiffany’s was published in the year of 2008, with a page count of about three hundred.

When she was just a young, little girl, Jane had no one by her side. Jane’s mother was the mighty leader of a theater company on Broadway, who rarely, if ever had time to spare for her child. As such, the only person that was present in Jane’s life that gave her the attention and love she desired was a beautiful, peaceable man called Michael; the catch here is that Jane is the only one that can see Michael.

Did You Call?

Years and even decades into the future and Jane is just as lonesome, just as lonely as she ever was. It is at this point in her life that Jane once more meets Michael, who has maintained his dashing good looks, charm, and general loveliness.

However, neither Michael nor Jane know why it is that he has come back just now. One thing is for certain: if one were to ask us which Patterson books are the best or what are the best James Patterson books to read, we’d pick one of James Patterson’s best novels – Sundays at Tiffany’s.

The Coast-to-Coast Murders

Best-seller.

The Coast-to-Coast Murders is one of James Patterson’s mystery books and one of the top-rated Patterson books, as well. If one were to ask us how many books James Patterson has written, even though the number is quite great, we’d say not enough – a testament to our love for the author. This entry among the best James Patterson books was published in 2020.

Michael and Megan Fitzgerald are brother and sister, both of whom share a distressing, uneasy past. Both of them were adopted, with Michael growing up to be a truck driver on the long haul, while Megan is in college, with a major in psychology.

Throughout all of their life, they have had only person to trust – each other. The parents of Michael and Megan are a renowned clinical psychologist and a psychiatrist. Knowing their background, it will not surprise anyone that a misty, experimental atmosphere pervaded the family time.

All Along the Road

In L. A., Garrett Dobbs, a detective, and Jessica Gimble, an FBI agent, have come together to work as a murder case necessitates it. Suspect number one is found and arrested, but then a second murder identical to the first takes place.

And that is not just one more, but a number of them, and they are not even limited to L.A. They seem to happen all over the country, but how can that be? Among Patterson’s best-rated novels with a reason.

Honeymoon Series

All she ever wanted.

Patterson’s Honeymoon series is one of the finest James Patterson books series ever. The series is home to some of the best James Patterson romance novels, though a definite sense of mystery can be felt. The following Patterson’s books in order go as follows:

• Second Honeymoon

Surely, throughout one’s lifetime, one has asked herself how just it would be like to be wanted, desired, or coveted by every man in the world, while all the women had an envious countenance in regard to one. Well, for Nora Sinclair, there was no need for her to imagine such a thing as that is very much how her life went – it is a life that she worked to have, a life that she would not just throw away.

Sticking His Nose in Everywhere

Nora’s effect on men isn’t just a simple attraction or allure; Nora strikes excitement into the men’s hearts. When John O’Hara, an FBI agent, comes snooping around, with an interest in Sinclair, she might think it’s the most ordinary thing in the world, but John is there on official business – things have been happening to the men around Sinclair that they can’t explain.

With a sense of pervasive dread and the need for skin to mingle with other skin, the Honeymoon novels are truly some of Patterson’s best books ranked.

Middle School Series

Marvelous series.

Middle School is one of the best James Patterson series that we’ve had the pleasure of picking up. Middle School series by Patterson is comprised of twelve novels, with Patterson’s Middle School series order going like this:

• Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life
• Middle School: Get Me Out of Here!
• Middle School: My Brother is a Big, Fat Liar
• Middle School: How I Survived Bullies, Broccoli, and Snake Hill
• Ultimate Showdown
• Just My Rotten Luck
• Dog’s Best Friend
• Middle School: Escape to Australia
• Middle School: From Hero to Zero
• Born to Rock
• Middle School: Master of Disaster

Enough Problems

With the order of the Middle School series Patterson wrote behind us, let’s see what the story is about. The first of Patterson’s Middle School books is Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life. The main character is Rafe Khatchadorian, who has an abundance of troubles back home, so much so that going to middle school only adds to the innumerable issues he was already facing.

Passing the Time

However, Rafe also has a hell of a plan for having the best possible year ever, but there are a few things to work out. With Leonardo the Silent, Rafe’s best friend, giving him points, Rafe is going to try and break every single one of the school’s Code of Conduct rules. The Middle School books by Patterson are fantastic James Patterson children’s books.

Judge & Jury

Not the best judge.

Judge & Jury is one of the best James Patterson books ranked on our list here, but also on the James Patterson best-selling books list. Judge & Jury is one of Patterson’s top books and it was published in 2006.

Andie DeGrasse is a single mother whose ambitions would see her as an actress. As such, Andie is not a common juror by any means. With the hope that she would get dismissed, she informs the judge that she hasn’t the slightest clue about judicial matters, the law, and such, but that doesn’t stop the judge from giving her the title of juror number eleven as the trial against a mob boss is set to begin.

Twist in the Case

Dominic Cavello, also familiar to people as the Electrician, is the don of the Mafia who has been connected to dozens upon dozens of terrible, brutal crimes, many of which had to do with murder or swimming with the fishes. FBI agent Nick Pellisante has been on Cavello’s trail for years and now he finally has him.

However, before the jury can come to its decision and either dub Cavello as innocent or guilty of the crimes, something happens, something that changes everything that the trial stood for. It is not without reason that this is among James Patterson’s best-selling novels.

The Quickie

Unique tone.

The Quickie is a fantastic entry among the books written by Patterson and it stands as being one of the best James Patterson books of all time. The Quickie was published in 2007 with a page count somewhere in the mid-three-hundred range. Of all James Patterson’s books, The Quickie has perhaps the most unique tone.

Back at Him

When Lauren Stillwell found out that her husband had been having an affair and when she sees him exiting a hotel room, she makes a decision to one-up him at the very same game he was playing. However, while Lauren is busy with her plan, her husband has his very own idea of what to do. Following a quick sexual encounter with one of her colleagues, Lauren hears some kind of an argument or confrontation outside of her window. When she looks out, it’s her husband loading the lifeless body of the colleague she’d have sex with.

Unexpected Turn of Events

When the body is found to be in shallow water, later on, Lauren goes to the scene of the crime as she is a police officer with the New York Police Department. Just her luck, she gets this very same case, but there is something that continually irks her.

She has a secret that would change her life forever, but she can’t be sure of what she saw. One thing is very much for certain, Lauren doesn’t have much time. Rightfully among the best-selling James Patterson novels.

Invisible Series

Patterson’s Invisible series is yet another dazzling example of the author’s prowess and literary might. The two books in the series are also among James Patterson’s new books. Now, let’s take a look at Patterson’s books in order:

The series at hand begins with the first book titled Invisible. Invisible’s main protagonist is Emmy Dockery, a woman that is believed by many to be on the crazier side. Dockery is a researcher for the FBI and bears a terrible and mighty obsession with finding the connection between hundreds upon hundreds of cases that were never solved.

She has even taken a leave of absence from work. Now, all that Emmy does is examine the innumerable newspaper clippings all over her bedroom and facing the terrible, constant nightmares that come.

Something Is Missing

Emmy’s greatest gripe is that no one, not even her former boyfriend Harrison Bookman, an agent on the field, will trust in her that all of the cases of rape, cases of murder and abduction bear a link between each other.

However, that all changes when Dockery comes upon information that can’t be denied. With the cases piling up daily, with no suspect, can she really prove that there is a single force behind it all?

The Murder House

World of hurt.

The Murder House is by no means just another novel to add to our James Patterson novels list, but a very satisfying, entertaining book that we, frankly, could barely put down the first time we read it. The Murder House was published in 2015, spanning four hundred and fifty or so pages.

Wealth, privilege, luxury, and glamour are unlimited so far as Number 7 Ocean Drive, a beachfront Hamptons estate, is concerned. However, the markedly intense and mesmerizing gothic aesthetic bespeaks of a terrible history, one where several brutal murders took place but were never solved by the police. The home is known as The Murder House, with the local people staying far away from it at all times.

Out of the Frying Pan

Jenna Murphy, a detective, once viewed herself as a local around these parts, but she’s been gone from the region for quite some time. After having to get away from her history, the ex-NYC officer finds herself in the Hamptons. Just in time, a power broker and his lovely mistress are found murdered in the lonesome Murder House, a scene of crime that reminds Jenna all too much of those in New York.

While initially the case seemed to be rather straightforward, with time, the many secrets of the house of murder become evident. This is one novel that we cannot recommend just enough to all of our readers; it belongs rightfully among the picks for the best Patterson books.

Now You See Her

Life she’s built.

Now You See Her is a fantastic entry on our list of James Patterson’s books that we consider to be the best and most recommendable to the wider audience. Now You See Her was published in the year of 2011, boasting a page count of approximately three hundred and fifty. Nina Bloom is a woman that enjoyed a perfectly fine, pleasant life.

Nine is a lawyer and a great mother, one might even call her life idyllic. Nina would do anything just so she could keep the life she’s made for herself in New York, even if it involves deceiving everyone she knows and cares about, even if it includes her daughter. However, when an innocent man is being used as a scapegoat for murder, Nina can’t just let it go.

Something No One Knows

Nina was living a life without any cares, a life with her police officer spouse, and she was as attractive as any beauty you could think of.

However, when she got pregnant, life seemed to be truly just giving to Nina all that she wants, that is until she learns of a sincerely distressing and dismal thing. This is when Nina’s life changed completely. We hope that our readers will pick this mesmerizing volume up as soon as possible.

One-Man Army

Beach Road is one of those novels by Patterson that we loved from the minute that we bought it, only from looking at the premise on the back of the cover. Beach Road was published in the year of 2006, with its page count coming close to the four hundred mark. The main character of Beach Road is none other than Tom Dunleavy.

Ton Dunleavy is a man that works for himself in a single-man law company in one of the richest places in all of the United States – the East Hamptons. However, the job of Tom Dunleavy is hardly a prosperous one, meaning that it doesn’t exactly rake in the money. The clients he has are ones that work for the rich, while the rich have their own lawyers and attorneys that they pay by the hour.

An Opportunity

When one of Tom’s pals gets taken into custody for allegedly committing a triple homicide in the proximity of a film star’s mansion, Tom springs into action. For one, Tom is sure that his friend, Dante Haleyville, is an innocent man, so he accepts to be his lawyer for the coming trial, one that will get all the media buzz one could ever imagine.

With a little help from a mega-lawyer called Kate Costello, Tom’s ex-girlfriend, Tom might be able to pull off this case but also get some traction for his law firm. We suggest picking this book up whenever one can because it is just that terrific. One of the best James Patterson summer novels we’ve read.

Savage Attacks

Zoo series is an immense entry among the list of all James Patterson books. Patterson’s Zoo series is comprised of just one novel and one tie-in novel, but fans are holding out hope that one day one of the upcoming James Patterson books could come to this series.

Zoo is the novel where we first learn of terrible, savage attacks that are bringing whole cities across the world to their knees. Jackson Oz is a fairly young man, a biologist by occupation, who is looking at the accelerating events unfolding with a sense of grimness. When Oz, himself, sees an ambush of lions, all working together in unison and perfect coordination, he knows that what is to come will be frightening, to say the least.

Little Time to Waste

Helped by the ecologist called Chloe Tousignant, Oz decides to try and warn the leaders of the world to act before all is lost. With each attack being more savage, more elaborate, and more violent than the one before, there is little time to waste.

Before long, if they don’t act soon enough, the world will be run over by the growing fearsomeness of the animals that have come together. A definite and sure pick for being one the best James Patterson books ever.

Instinct Series

Murder games.

Patterson’s Instinct series is one of the best series that Patterson has penned, to this day. The series is comprised of just two books, but they are just such treats to read. Alternatively, the series is sometimes called Patterson’s Dylan Reinhart series or Patterson’s Murder Games series. The books are ordered like this:

• Killer Instinct

Book on the Matter

Doctor Dylan Reinhart authored a book that touches and examines the behavior of criminals. However, when some such volume finds itself on the scene of a horrible murder, with a distressing message from the perpetrator to boot, it seems that Dylan’s writing might have been helpful to a killer.

Elizabeth Needham, a terrific and resolute detective for the New York Police Department gets Dylan to accompany her to another scene, where another card is left from the killer.

Who’s Next?

With each kill comes a new card and a new hint towards who the next victim is going to be. Before long, the killer is dubbed the Dealer by the media, with New York City falling into turmoil and panic.

The cops don’t have a clue who the killer could be, so it’s left for Elizabeth and Dylan, themselves, to work together and solve the case. But, what if the card points to one of them? A very tense, very suspenseful novel that we can’t recommend enough.

Rory Yates Series

Give it a shot.

The Rory Yates series by Patterson is a wonderful entry among the author’s lengthy and extensive oeuvre. It is comprised of only two novels, but they are both worthy of being called the best James Patterson books. Patterson’s books chronological order for the series at hand goes as follows:

• Texas Ranger
• Texas Outlaw

Going through the ranchlands, towns, and cities of the state he calls his home, Rory Yates’ skills, abilities, and resolute disposition has brought him from the position of an ordinary highway patrolman to the position of being a Texas Ranger.

However, a case in Waco might just have put the promotion in peril for Yates, so he decides to take some time off and enjoy life with his family in Redbud. When he arrives, he discovers a ghastly crime scene and he is accused of murdering his former spouse, Anne.

Something Missing

At the funeral, Rory, by means of a heartfelt and beautiful hymn, makes those present succumb to the yearning of tears. Anne’s widower, Calvin, is present, too, so Rory chooses to ask Calvin a few questions seeing as no one else wants to. As the case twists and turns more and more, with even another body coming, Rory is forced to make a dire choice, one that will impact his life as he knows it.

Treasure Hunters Series

Masterpiece.

Patterson’s Treasure Hunters series is one of those series that we loved from the moment that we picked it up. Patterson’s Treasure Hunters books are also some of the best kids’ books by Patterson. The order of the series is as follows:

• Treasure Hunters
• Danger Down The Nile
• Secret of the Forbidden City
• Peril at the Top of the World
• Quest for the City of Gold
• All-American Adventure
• Treasure Hunters: The Plunder Down Under

Deep Blue Sea

The Treasure Hunters Patterson series has some of James Patterson’s famous books that children from around the world love and adore. The Kidd children have been brought up learning how to dive deep down to the wrecks of ships and traversing the world, aiding their parents in retrieving things like swords and some such trinkets from the ocean’s bottom.

Adventure Like No Other

However, when the parents of the Kidd children mysteriously vanish while on the job, the children have no choice but to do what they do best: to uncover the greatest treasure of all – their parents.

With vile, villainous, and unfriendly pirates standing as their enemies, they are going to have to do their best to both uncover the cryptic hints that point to the treasure while trying to stay alive against a far more experienced foe. Some of the best James Patterson children’s novels out there are right here.

House of Robots Series

More than enjoyable.

The House of Robots series is a candidly fantastic James Patterson’s children’s book series that we’ve enjoyed getting and spending the time to read. The House of Robots series is comprised of four novels and their order is as follows:

• House of Robots
• Robots Go Wild!
• Robot Revolution!
• House of Robots 4, which has yet to be published

Robotic Companion

James Patterson’s books for kids right here are some of the most enjoyable, engaging, and gratifying to read, not just for the youngest of children. Sammy Hayes-Rodriguez never had an easy time fitting in with the other kids at school, but when his brilliant mother comes up with the idea to take a mobile robot capable of speaking called E to school, even Sammy knows that it’s a bad idea.

More Than a Brother

Sammy is familiar with robots and how they work, seeing as his mother focuses and works on robots more than anything else. E, however, is convinced that it’s Sammy’s brother and with all of its quirks, it seems to be even more of a so-called geek than Sammy, himself, is.

Now whether E and Sammy are two sides of the same coin, two pees in a pot, or it’s a friendship waiting to be ruined, we can’t say as only picking up the novel will give you the answers.

Other Recommendations?

The following few series are ones that we thoroughly enjoyed reading as well: Patterson’s Harriet Blue series, Patterson’s Wizard and Witch books , the Confession series by Patterson, and Patterson’s Jack Morgan series.

Alissa Wynn

Alissa is an avid reader, blogger, and wannabe writer. (She's a much better cook than a writer actually). Alissa is married, has one human, one feline, and two canine kids. She always looks a mess and never meets a deadline.

The 1 00 Best Books of the 21st Century

As voted on by 503 novelists, nonfiction writers, poets, critics and other book lovers — with a little help from the staff of The New York Times Book Review.

Many of us find joy in looking back and taking stock of our reading lives, which is why we here at The New York Times Book Review decided to mark the first 25 years of this century with an ambitious project: to take a first swing at determining the most important, influential books of the era. In collaboration with the Upshot, we sent a survey to hundreds of literary luminaries , asking them to name the 10 best books published since Jan. 1, 2000.

Stephen King took part. So did Bonnie Garmus, Claudia Rankine, James Patterson, Sarah Jessica Parker, Karl Ove Knausgaard, Elin Hilderbrand, Thomas Chatterton Williams, Roxane Gay, Marlon James, Sarah MacLean, Min Jin Lee, Jonathan Lethem and Jenna Bush Hager, to name just a few . And you can also take part! Vote here and let us know what your top 10 books of the century are.

We hope you’ll discover a book you’ve always meant to read, or encounter a beloved favorite you’d like to pick up again. Above all, we hope you’re as inspired and dazzled as we are by the breadth of subjects, voices, opinions, experiences and imagination represented here.

The 100 Best Books of the 21st Century

• See the list of reader favorites
• See how your favorite authors voted
• Let us help you find a new book to read from the list
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Tree of Smoke

Denis Johnson 2007

Like the project of the title — an intelligence report that the newly minted C.I.A. operative William “Skip” Sands comes to find both quixotic and useless — the Vietnam-era warfare of Johnson’s rueful, soulful novel lives in shadows, diversions and half-truths. There are no heroes here among the lawless colonels, assassinated priests and faith-stricken NGO nurses; only villainy and vast indifference.

Liked it? Try “ Missionaries ,” by Phil Klay or “ Hystopia ,” by David Means.

Interested? Read our review . Then reserve it at your local library or buy it from Amazon , Apple , Barnes & Noble or Bookshop .

How to Be Both

Ali Smith 2014

This elegant double helix of a novel entwines the stories of a fictional modern-day British girl and a real-life 15th-century Italian painter. A more conventional book might have explored the ways the past and present mirror each other, but Smith is after something much more radical. “How to Be Both” is a passionate, dialectical critique of the binaries that define and confine us. Not only male and female, but also real and imaginary, poetry and prose, living and dead. The way to be “both” is to recognize the extent to which everything already is. — A.O. Scott, critic at large for The Times

Liked it? Try “ Jeff in Venice, Death in Varanasi ,” by Geoff Dyer or “ The Argonauts ,” by Maggie Nelson.

Ann Patchett 2001

A famed opera singer performs for a Japanese executive’s birthday at a luxe private home in South America; it’s that kind of party. But when a group of young guerrillas swoops in and takes everyone in the house hostage, Patchett’s exquisitely calibrated novel — inspired by a real incident — becomes a piano wire of tension, vibrating on high.

My wife and I share books we love with our kids, and after I raved about “Bel Canto” — the voice, the setting, the way romance and suspense are so perfectly braided — I gave copies to my kids, and they all loved it, too. My son was in high school then, and he became a kind of lit-pusher, pressing his beloved copy into friends’ hands. We used to call him the Keeper of the Bel Canto. — Jess Walter, author of “Beautiful Ruins”

Liked it? Try “ Nocturnes ,” by Kazuo Ishiguro or “ The Piano Tuner ,” by Daniel Mason.

Men We Reaped

Jesmyn Ward 2013

Sandwiched between her two National Book Award-winning novels, Ward’s memoir carries more than fiction’s force in its aching elegy for five young Black men (a brother, a cousin, three friends) whose untimely exits from her life came violently and without warning. Their deaths — from suicide and homicide, addiction and accident — place the hidden contours of race, justice and cruel circumstance in stark relief.

Liked it? Try “ Breathe: A Letter to My Sons ,” by Imani Perry or “ Memorial Drive: A Daughter’s Memoir ,” by Natasha Trethewey.

Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments

Saidiya Hartman 2019

A beautiful, meticulously researched exploration of the lives of Black girls whom early-20th-century laws designated as “wayward” for such crimes as having serial lovers, or an excess of desire, or a style of comportment that was outside white norms. Hartman grapples with “the power and authority of the archive and the limits it sets on what can be known” about poor Black women, but from the few traces she uncovers in the historical record, she manages to sketch moving portraits, restoring joy and freedom and movement to what, in other hands, might have been mere statistics. — Laila Lalami, author of “The Other Americans”

Liked it? Try “In the Wake: On Blackness and Being,” by Christina Sharpe or “ All That She Carried: The Journey of Ashley’s Sack, A Black Family Keepsake ,” by Tiya Miles.

Bring Up the Bodies

Hilary Mantel 2012

The title comes from an old English legal phrase for summoning men who have been accused of treason to trial; in the court’s eyes, effectively, they are already dead. But Mantel’s tour-de-force portrait of Thomas Cromwell, the second installment in her vaunted “Wolf Hall” series, thrums with thrilling, obstinate life: a lowborn statesman on the rise; a king in love (and out of love, and in love again); a mad roundelay of power plays, poisoned loyalties and fateful realignments. It’s only empires, after all.

Liked it? Try “ This Is Happiness ,” by Niall Williams or “ The Western Wind ,” by Samantha Harvey.

Zadie Smith 2005

Consider it a bold reinvention of “Howards End,” or take Smith’s sprawling third novel as its own golden thing: a tale of two professors — one proudly liberal, the other staunchly right-wing — whose respective families’ rivalries and friendships unspool over nearly 450 provocative, subplot-mad pages.

“You don’t have favorites among your children, but you do have allies.”

Let’s admit it: Family is often a kind of war, even if telepathically conducted. — Alexandra Jacobs, book critic for The Times

Liked it? Try “ Crossroads ,” by Jonathan Franzen.

Station Eleven

Emily St. John Mandel 2014

Increasingly, and for obvious reasons, end-times novels are not hard to find. But few have conjured the strange luck of surviving an apocalypse — civilization preserved via the ad hoc Shakespeare of a traveling theater troupe; entire human ecosystems contained in an abandoned airport — with as much spooky melancholic beauty as Mandel does in her beguiling fourth novel.

Liked it? Try “ Severance ,” by Ling Ma or “ The Passage ,” by Justin Cronin.

The Days of Abandonment

Elena Ferrante; translated by Ann Goldstein 2005

There is something scandalous about this picture of a sensible, adult woman almost deranged by the breakup of her marriage, to the point of neglecting her children. The psychodrama is naked — sometimes hard to read, at other moments approaching farce. Just as Ferrante drew an indelible portrait of female friendship in her quartet of Neapolitan novels, here, she brings her all-seeing eye to female solitude.

“The circle of an empty day is brutal, and at night it tightens around your neck like a noose.”

It so simply encapsulates how solitude can, with the inexorable passage of time, calcify into loneliness and then despair. — Alexandra Jacobs

Liked it? Try “ Eileen ,” by Ottessa Moshfegh or “ Aftermath: On Marriage and Separation ,” by Rachel Cusk.

The Human Stain

Philip Roth 2000

Set during the Clinton impeachment imbroglio, this is partly a furious indictment of what would later be called cancel culture, partly an inquiry into the paradoxes of class, sex and race in America. A college professor named Coleman Silk is persecuted for making supposedly racist remarks in class. Nathan Zuckerman, his neighbor (and Roth’s trusty alter ego), learns that Silk, a fellow son of Newark, is a Black man who has spent most of his adult life passing for white. Of all the Zuckerman novels, this one may be the most incendiary, and the most unsettling. — A.O. Scott

Liked it? Try “ Vladimir ,” by Julia May Jonas or “ Blue Angel ,” by Francine Prose.

The Sympathizer

Viet Thanh Nguyen 2015

Penned as a book-length confession from a nameless North Vietnamese spy as Saigon falls and new duties in America beckon, Nguyen’s richly faceted novel seems to swallow multiple genres whole, like a satisfied python: political thriller and personal history, cracked metafiction and tar-black comedy.

Liked it? Try “ Man of My Time ,” by Dalia Sofer or “ Tomás Nevinson ,” by Javier Marías; translated by Margaret Jull Costa.

Hisham Matar 2016

Though its Pulitzer Prize was bestowed in the category of biography, Matar’s account of searching for the father he lost to a 1990 kidnapping in Cairo functions equally as absorbing detective story, personal elegy and acute portrait of doomed geopolitics — all merged, somehow, with the discipline and cinematic verve of a novel.

Liked it? Try “ A Day in the Life of Abed Salama: Anatomy of a Jerusalem Tragedy ,” by Nathan Thrall, “ House of Stone: A Memoir of Home, Family, and a Lost Middle East ,” by Anthony Shadid or “ My Father’s Fortune ,” by Michael Frayn.

The Collected Stories of Lydia Davis

Brevity, thy name is Lydia Davis. If her work has become a byword for short (nay, microdose) fiction, this collection proves why it is also hard to shake; a conflagration of odd little umami bombs — sometimes several pages, sometimes no more than a sentence — whose casual, almost careless wordsmithery defies their deadpan resonance.

Liked it? Try “ Ninety-Nine Stories of God ,” by Joy Williams or “ Tell Me: Thirty Stories ,” by Mary Robison.

Detransition, Baby

Torrey Peters 2021

Love is lost, found and reconfigured in Peters’s penetrating, darkly humorous debut novel. But when the novel’s messy triangular romance — between two trans characters and a cis-gendered woman — becomes an unlikely story about parenthood, the plot deepens, and so does its emotional resonance: a poignant and gratifyingly cleareyed portrait of found family.

Peters’s sly wit and observational genius, her ability to balance so many intimate realities, cultural forces and zeitgeisty happenings made my head spin. It got me hot, cracked me up, punched my heart with grief and understanding. I’m in awe of her abilities, and will re-read this book periodically just to remember how it’s done. — Michelle Tea, author of “Against Memoir”

Liked it? Try “ I Heard Her Call My Name: A Memoir of Transition ,” by Lucy Sante or “ Didn’t Nobody Give a Shit What Happened to Carlotta ,” by James Hannaham.

Frederick Douglass

David W. Blight 2018

It is not hard to throw a rock and hit a Great Man biography; Blight’s earns its stripes by smartly and judiciously excavating the flesh-and-bone man beneath the myth. Though Douglass famously wrote three autobiographies of his own, there turned out to be much between the lines that is illuminated here with rigor, flair and refreshing candor.

Liked it? Try “ The Grimkes: The Legacy of Slavery in an American Family ,” by Kerri K. Greenidge or “Freedom National: The Destruction of Slavery in the United States, 1861-1865,” by James Oakes.

George Saunders 2000

An ersatz caveman languishes at a theme park; a dead maiden aunt comes back to screaming, scatological life; a bachelor barber born with no toes dreams of true love, or at least of getting his toe-nubs licked. The stories in Saunders’s second collection are profane, unsettling and patently absurd. They’re also freighted with bittersweet humanity, and rendered in language so strange and wonderful, it sings.

Liked it? Try “ Swamplandia! ,” by Karen Russell or “ Friday Black ,” by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah.

The Emperor of All Maladies

Siddhartha Mukherjee 2010

The subtitle, “A Biography of Cancer,” provides some helpful context for what lies between the covers of Mukherjee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book, though it hardly conveys the extraordinary ambition and empathy of his telling, as the trained oncologist weaves together disparate strands of large-scale history, biology and devastating personal anecdote.

Liked it? Try “ Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End ,” by Atul Gawande, “ Do No Harm: Stories of Life, Death, and Brain Surgery ,” by Henry Marsh or “ I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life ,” by Ed Yong.

When We Cease to Understand the World

Benjamín Labatut; translated by Adrian Nathan West 2021

You don’t have to know anything about quantum theory to start reading this book, a deeply researched, exquisitely imagined group portrait of tormented geniuses. By the end, you’ll know enough to be terrified. Labatut is interested in how the pursuit of scientific certainty can lead to, or arise from, states of extreme psychological and spiritual upheaval. His characters — Niels Bohr, Werner Heisenberg and Erwin Schrödinger, among others — discover a universe that defies rational comprehension. After them, “scientific method and its object could no longer be prised apart.” That may sound abstract, but in Labatut’s hands the story of quantum physics is violent, suspenseful and finally heartbreaking. — A.O. Scott

Liked it? Try “ The Rigor of Angels: Borges, Heisenberg, Kant, and the Ultimate Nature of Reality ,” by William Egginton, “ The Noise of Time ,” by Julian Barnes or “The End of Days,” by Jenny Erpenbeck; translated by Susan Bernofsky.

Hurricane Season

Fernanda Melchor; translated by Sophie Hughes 2020

Her sentences are sloping hills; her paragraphs, whole mountains. It’s no wonder that Melchor was dubbed a sort of south-of-the-border Faulkner for her baroque and often brutally harrowing tale of poverty, paranoia and murder (also: witches, or at least the idea of them) in a fictional Mexican village. When a young girl impregnated by her pedophile stepfather unwittingly lands there, her arrival is the spark that lights a tinderbox.

Liked it? Try “ Liliana’s Invincible Summer: A Sister’s Search for Justice ,” by Cristina Rivera Garza or “ Fever Dream ,” by Samanta Schweblin; translated by Megan McDowell.

John Jeremiah Sullivan 2011

When this book of essays came out, it bookended a fading genre: collected pieces written on deadline by “pulpheads,” or magazine writers. Whether it’s Sullivan’s visit to a Christian rock festival, his profile of Axl Rose or a tribute to an early American botanist, he brings to his subjects not just depth, but an open-hearted curiosity. Indeed, if this book feels as if it’s from a different time, perhaps that’s because of its generous receptivity to other ways of being, which offers both reader and subject a kind of grace.

Liked it? Try “ Sunshine State ,” by Sarah Gerard, “ Consider the Lobster ,” by David Foster Wallace or “ Yoga for People Who Can’t Be Bothered to Do It ,” by Geoff Dyer.

The Story of the Lost Child

Elena Ferrante; translated by Ann Goldstein 2015

All things, even modern literature’s most fraught female friendship, must come to an end. As the now middle-aged Elena and Lila continue the dance of envy and devotion forged in their scrappy Neapolitan youth, the conclusion of Ferrante’s four-book saga defies the laws of diminishing returns, illuminating the twined psychologies of its central pair — intractable, indelible, inseparable — in one last blast of X-ray prose.

Liked it? Try “The Years That Followed,” by Catherine Dunne or “From the Land of the Moon,” by Milena Agus; translated by Ann Goldstein.

A Manual for Cleaning Women

Lucia Berlin 2015

Berlin began writing in the 1960s, and collections of her careworn, haunted, messily alluring yet casually droll short stories were published in the 1980s and ’90s. But it wasn’t until 2015, when the best were collected into a volume called “A Manual for Cleaning Women,” that her prodigious talent was recognized. Berlin writes about harried and divorced single women, many of them in working-class jobs, with uncanny grace. She is the real deal. — Dwight Garner, book critic for The Times

“I hate to see anything lovely by myself.”

It’s so true, to me at least, and I have heard no other writer express it. — Dwight Garner

Liked it? Try “ The Flamethrowers ,” by Rachel Kushner or “ The Complete Stories ,” by Clarice Lispector; translated by Katrina Dodson.

Jon Fosse; translated by Damion Searls 2022

You may not be champing at the bit to read a seven-part, nearly 700-page novel written in a single stream-of-consciousness sentence with few paragraph breaks and two central characters with the same name. But this Norwegian masterpiece, by the winner of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Literature, is the kind of soul-cleansing work that seems to silence the cacophony of the modern world — a pair of noise-canceling headphones in book form. The narrator, a painter named Asle, drives out to visit his doppelgänger, Asle, an ailing alcoholic. Then the narrator takes a boat ride to have Christmas dinner with some friends. That, more or less, is the plot. But throughout, Fosse’s searching reflections on God, art and death are at once haunting and deeply comforting.

I had not read Fosse before he won the Nobel Prize, and I wanted to catch up. Luckily for me, the critic Merve Emre (who has championed his work) is my colleague at Wesleyan, so I asked her where to start. I was hoping for a shortcut, but she sternly told me that there was nothing to do but to read the seven-volume “Septology” translated by Damion Searls. Luckily for me, I had 30 hours of plane travel in the next week or so, and I had a Kindle.

Reading “Septology” in the cocoon of a plane was one of the great aesthetic experiences of my life. The hypnotic effects of the book were amplified by my confinement, and the paucity of distractions helped me settle into its exquisite rhythms. The repetitive patterns of Fosse’s prose made its emotional waves, when they came, so much more powerful. — Michael Roth, president of Wesleyan University

Liked it? Try “ Armand V ,” by Dag Solstad; translated by Steven T. Murray.

An American Marriage

Tayari Jones 2018

Life changes in an instant for Celestial and Roy, the young Black newlyweds at the beating, uncomfortably realistic heart of Jones’s fourth novel. On a mostly ordinary night, during a hotel stay near his Louisiana hometown, Roy is accused of rape. He is then swiftly and wrongfully convicted and sentenced to 12 years in prison. The couple’s complicated future unfolds, often in letters, across two worlds. The stain of racism covers both places.

Liked it? Try “ Hello Beautiful ,” by Ann Napolitano or “ Stay with Me ,” by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀.

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

Gabrielle Zevin 2022

The title is Shakespeare; the terrain, more or less, is video games. Neither of those bare facts telegraphs the emotional and narrative breadth of Zevin’s breakout novel, her fifth for adults. As the childhood friendship between two future game-makers blooms into a rich creative collaboration and, later, alienation, the book becomes a dazzling disquisition on art, ambition and the endurance of platonic love.

Liked it? Try “ Normal People ,” by Sally Rooney or “ Super Sad True Love Story ,” by Gary Shteyngart.

Mohsin Hamid 2017

The modern world and all its issues can feel heavy — too heavy for the fancies of fiction. Hamid’s quietly luminous novel, about a pair of lovers in a war-ravaged Middle Eastern country who find that certain doors can open portals, literally, to other lands, works in a kind of minor-key magical realism that bears its weight beautifully.

Liked it? Try “ The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida ,” by Shehan Karunatilaka or “ A Burning ,” by Megha Majumdar.

Olive Kitteridge

Elizabeth Strout 2008

When this novel-in-stories won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 2009, it was a victory for crotchety, unapologetic women everywhere, especially ones who weren’t, as Olive herself might have put it, spring chickens. The patron saint of plain-spokenness — and the titular character of Strout’s 13 tales — is a long-married Mainer with regrets, hopes and a lobster boat’s worth of quiet empathy. Her small-town travails instantly became stand-ins for something much bigger, even universal.

Liked it? Try “ Tom Lake ,” by Ann Patchett or “ Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage ,” by Alice Munro.

The Passage of Power

Robert Caro 2012

The fourth volume of Caro’s epic chronicle of Lyndon Johnson’s life and times is a political biography elevated to the level of great literature. His L.B.J. is a figure of Shakespearean magnitude, whose sudden ascension from the abject humiliations of the vice presidency to the summit of political power is a turn of fortune worthy of a Greek myth. Caro makes you feel the shock of J.F.K.’s assassination, and brings you inside Johnson’s head on the blood-drenched day when his lifelong dream finally comes true. It’s an astonishing and unforgettable book. — Tom Perrotta, author of “The Leftovers”

Liked it? Try “ G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century ,” by Beverly Gage, “ King: A Life ,” by Jonathan Eig or “ American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer ,” by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin.

Secondhand Time

Svetlana Alexievich; translated by Bela Shayevich 2016

Of all the 20th century’s grand failed experiments, few came to more inglorious ends than the aspiring empire known, for a scant seven decades, as the U.S.S.R. The death of the dream of Communism reverberates through the Nobel-winning Alexievich’s oral history, and her unflinching portrait of the people who survived the Soviet state (or didn’t) — ex-prisoners, Communist Party officials, ordinary citizens of all stripes — makes for an excoriating, eye-opening read.

Liked it? Try “ Gulag ,” by Anne Applebaum or “ Is Journalism Worth Dying For? Final Dispatches ,” by Anna Politkovskaya; translated by Arch Tait.

The Copenhagen Trilogy

Tove Ditlevsen; translated by Tiina Nunnally and Michael Favala Goldman 2021

Ditlevsen’s memoirs were first published in Denmark in the 1960s and ’70s, but most English-language readers didn’t encounter them until they appeared in a single translated volume more than five decades later. The books detail Ditlevsen’s hardscrabble childhood, her flourishing early career as a poet and her catastrophic addictions, which left her wedded to a psychotic doctor and hopelessly dependent on opioids by her 30s. But her writing, however dire her circumstances, projects a breathtaking clarity and candidness, and it nails what is so inexplicable about human nature.

Liked it? Try “ The End of Eddy ,” by Édouard Louis; translated by Michael Lucey.

All Aunt Hagar’s Children

Edward P. Jones 2006

Jones’s follow-up to his Pulitzer-anointed historical novel, “The Known World,” forsakes a single narrative for 14 interconnected stories, disparate in both direction and tone. His tales of 20th-century Black life in and around Washington, D.C., are haunted by cumulative loss and touched, at times, by dark magical realism — one character meets the Devil himself in a Safeway parking lot — but girded too by loveliness, and something like hope.

“It was, I later learned about myself, as if my heart, on the path that was my life, had come to a puddle in the road and had faltered, hesitated, trying to decide whether to walk over the puddle or around it, or even to go back.”

The metaphor is right at the edge of corniness, but it's rendered with such specificity that it catches you off guard, and the temporal complexity — the way the perspective moves forward, backward and sideways in time — captures an essential truth about memory and regret. — A.O. Scott

Liked it? Try “ The Office of Historical Corrections ,” by Danielle Evans or “ Perish ,” by LaToya Watkins.

The New Jim Crow

Michelle Alexander 2010

One year into Barack Obama’s first presidential term, Alexander, a civil rights attorney and former Supreme Court clerk, peeled back the hopey-changey scrim of early-aughts America to reveal the systematic legal prejudice that still endures in a country whose biggest lie might be “with liberty and justice for all.” In doing so, her book managed to do what the most urgent nonfiction aims for but rarely achieves: change hearts, minds and even public policy.

Liked it? Try “ Locking Up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America ,” by James Forman Jr., “ America on Fire: The Untold History of Police Violence and Black Rebellion Since the 1960s ,” by Elizabeth Hinton or “ Caste: The Origins of Our Discontent ,” by Isabel Wilkerson.

Interested? Reserve it at your local library or buy it from Amazon , Apple , Barnes & Noble or Bookshop .

Sigrid Nunez 2018

After suffering the loss of an old friend and adopting his Great Dane, the book’s heroine muses on death, friendship, and the gifts and burdens of a literary life. Out of these fragments a philosophy of grief springs like a rabbit out of a hat; Nunez is a magician. — Ada Calhoun, author of “Also a Poet: Frank O’Hara, My Father, and Me”

“The Friend” is a perfect novel about the size of grief and love, and like the dog at the book’s center, the book takes up more space than you expect. It’s my favorite kind of masterpiece — one you can put into anyone’s hand. — Emma Straub, author of “This Time Tomorrow”

Liked it? Try “ Autumn ,” by Ali Smith or “ Stay True: A Memoir ,” by Hua Hsu.

Far From the Tree

Andrew Solomon 2012

In this extraordinary book — a combination of masterly reporting and vivid storytelling — Solomon examines the experience of parents raising exceptional children. I have often returned to it over the years, reading it for its depth of understanding and its illumination of the particulars that make up the fabric of family. — Meg Wolitzer, author of “The Interestings”

Liked it? Try “ Strangers to Ourselves: Unsettled Minds and the Stories That Make Us ,” by Rachel Aviv or “ NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity ,” by Steven Silberman.

We the Animals

Justin Torres 2011

The hummingbird weight of this novella — it barely tops 130 pages — belies the cherry-bomb impact of its prose. Tracing the coming-of-age of three mixed-race brothers in a derelict upstate New York town, Torres writes in the incantatory royal we of a sort of sibling wolfpack, each boy buffeted by their parents’ obscure grown-up traumas and their own enduring (if not quite unshakable) bonds.

Liked it? Try “ Shuggie Bain ,” by Douglas Stuart, “ Fire Shut Up in My Bones ,” by Charles Blow or “ On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous ,” by Ocean Vuong.

The Plot Against America

Philip Roth 2004

What if, in the 1940 presidential election, Charles Lindbergh — aviation hero, America-firster and Nazi sympathizer — had defeated Franklin Roosevelt? Specifically, what would have happened to Philip Roth, the younger son of a middle-class Jewish family in Newark, N.J.? From those counterfactual questions, the adult Roth spun a tour de force of memory and history. Ever since the 2016 election his imaginary American past has pulled closer and closer to present-day reality. — A.O. Scott

Liked it? Try “ Biography of X ,” by Catherine Lacey or “ The Netanyahus: An Account of a Minor and Ultimately Even Negligible Episode in the History of a Very Famous Family ,” by Joshua Cohen.

The Great Believers

Rebecca Makkai 2018

It’s mid-1980s Chicago, and young men — beautiful, recalcitrant boys, full of promise and pure life force — are dying, felled by a strange virus. Makkai’s recounting of a circle of friends who die one by one, interspersed with a circa-2015 Parisian subplot, is indubitably an AIDS story, but one that skirts po-faced solemnity and cliché at nearly every turn: a bighearted, deeply generous book whose resonance echoes across decades of loss and liberation.

Liked it? Try “ The Interestings ,” by Meg Wolitzer, “ A Little Life ,” by Hanya Yanagihara or “ The Emperor’s Children ,” by Claire Messud.

Mary Gaitskill 2005

Set primarily in a 1980s New York crackling with brittle glamour and real menace, “Veronica” is, on the face of it, the story of two very different women — the fragile former model Alison and the older, harder Veronica, fueled by fury and frustrated intelligence. It's a fearless, lacerating book, scornful of pieties and with innate respect for the reader’s intelligence and adult judgment.

Liked it? Try “ The Quick and the Dead ,” by Joy Williams, “ Look at Me ,” by Jennifer Egan or “ Lightning Field ,” by Dana Spiotta.

Ben Lerner 2014

How closely does Ben Lerner, the very clever author of “10:04,” overlap with its unnamed narrator, himself a poet-novelist who bears a remarkable resemblance to the man pictured on its biography page? Definitive answers are scant in this metaphysical turducken of a novel, which is nominally about the attempts of a Brooklyn author, burdened with a hefty publishing advance, to finish his second book. But the delights of Lerner’s shimmering self-reflexive prose, lightly dusted with photographs and illustrations, are endless.

“Shaving is a way to start the workday by ritually not cutting your throat when you’ve the chance.”

“10:04” is filled with sentences that cut this close to the bone. Comedy blends with intimations of the darkest aspects of our natures, and of everyday life. Who can shave anymore without recalling this “Sweeney Todd”-like observation? — Dwight Garner

Liked it? Try “ The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P. ,” by Adelle Waldman, “ Open City ,” by Teju Cole or “ How Should a Person Be? ,” by Sheila Heti.

Demon Copperhead

Barbara Kingsolver 2022

In transplanting “David Copperfield” from Victorian England to modern-day Appalachia, Kingsolver gives the old Dickensian magic her own spin. She reminds us that a novel can be wildly entertaining — funny, profane, sentimental, suspenseful — and still have a social conscience. And also that the injustices Dickens railed against are still very much with us: old poison in new bottles. — A.O. Scott

Liked it? Try “ James ,” by Percival Everett or “ The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store ,” by James McBride.

Kiese Laymon 2018

What is the psychic weight of secrets and lies? In his unvarnished memoir, Laymon explores the cumulative mass of a past that has brought him to this point: his Blackness; his fraught relationship to food; his family, riven by loss and addiction and, in his mother’s case, a kind of pathological perfectionism. What emerges is a work of raw emotional power and fierce poetry.

Liked it? Try “ Men We Reaped ,” by Jesmyn Ward or “ Another Word for Love ,” by Carvell Wallace.

Jeffrey Eugenides 2002

Years before pronouns became the stuff of dinner-table debates and email signatures, “Middlesex” offered the singular gift of an intersex hero — “sing now, O Muse, of the recessive mutation on my fifth chromosome!” — whose otherwise fairly ordinary Midwestern life becomes a radiant lens on recent history, from the burning of Smyrna to the plush suburbia of midcentury Grosse Pointe, Mich. When the teenage Calliope, born to doting Greek American parents, learns that she is not in fact a budding young lesbian but biologically male, it’s less science than assiduously buried family secrets that tell the improbable, remarkable tale.

Liked it? Try “ The Nix ,” by Nathan Hill, “ The Heart’s Invisible Furies ,” by John Boyne or “ The Signature of All Things ,” by Elizabeth Gilbert.

Hua Hsu 2022

An unlikely college friendship — Ken loves preppy polo shirts and Pearl Jam, Hua prefers Xeroxed zines and Pavement — blossoms in 1990s Berkeley, then is abruptly fissured by Ken’s murder in a random carjacking. Around those bare facts, Hsu’s understated memoir builds a glimmering fortress of memory in which youth and identity live alongside terrible, senseless loss.

Liked it? Try “ Truth & Beauty: A Friendship ,” by Ann Patchett, “ The Best Minds: A Story of Friendship, Madness, and the Tragedy of Good Intentions ,” by Jonathan Rosen or “ Just Kids ,” by Patti Smith.

Nickel and Dimed

Barbara Ehrenreich 2001

Waitress, hotel maid, cleaning woman, retail clerk: Ehrenreich didn’t just report on these low-wage jobs; she actually worked them, trying to construct a life around merciless managers and wildly unpredictable schedules, while also getting paid a pittance for it. Through it all, Ehrenreich combined a profound sense of moral outrage with self-deprecating candor and bone-dry wit. — Jennifer Szalai, nonfiction book critic for The Times

Liked it? Try “ Poverty, by America ,” by Matthew Desmond or “ The Working Poor: Invisible in America ,” by David K. Shipler.

The Flamethrowers

Rachel Kushner 2013

Motorcycle racing across the arid salt flats of Utah; art-star posturing in the downtown demimonde of 1970s New York; anarchist punk collectives and dappled villas in Italy: It’s all connected (if hardly contained) in Kushner’s brash, elastic chronicle of a would-be artist nicknamed Reno whose lust for experience often outstrips both sense and sentiment. The book’s ambitions rise to meet her, a churning bedazzlement of a novel whose unruly engine thrums and roars.

Liked it? Try “ City on Fire ,” by Garth Risk Hallberg or “ The Girls ,” by Emma Cline.

The Looming Tower

Lawrence Wright 2006

What happened in New York City one incongruously sunny morning in September was never, of course, the product of some spontaneous plan. Wright’s meticulous history operates as a sort of panopticon on the events leading up to that fateful day, spanning more than five decades and a geopolitical guest list that includes everyone from the counterterrorism chief of the F.B.I. to the anonymous foot soldiers of Al Qaeda.

Liked it? Try “ Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and Bin Laden, from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001 ,” by Steve Coll or “ MBS: The Rise to Power of Mohammed bin Salman ,” by Ben Hubbard.

Tenth of December

George Saunders 2013

For all of their linguistic invention and anarchic glee, Saunders’s stories are held together by a strict understanding of the form and its requirements. Take plot: In “Tenth of December,” his fourth and best collection, readers will encounter an abduction, a rape, a chemically induced suicide, the suppressed rage of a milquetoast or two, a veteran’s post-­traumatic impulse to burn down his mother’s house — all of it buffeted by gusts of such merriment and tender regard and daffy good cheer that you realize only in retrospect how dark these morality tales really are.

Nobody writes like George Saunders. He has cultivated a genuinely original voice, one that is hilarious and profound, tender and monstrous, otherworldly and deeply familiar, much like the American psyche itself. With each of these stories, you feel in the hands of a master — because you are. — Matthew Desmond, author of “Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City”

Liked it? Try “Delicate Edible Birds: And Other Stories,” by Lauren Groff, “ Oblivion: Stories ,” by David Foster Wallace or “ The Nimrod Flipout: Stories ,” by Etgar Keret, translated by Miriam Shlesinger and Sondra Silverston.

Alice Munro 2004

On one level, the title of Munro’s 11th short-story collection refers to a pet goat that goes missing from its owners’ property; but — this being Munro — the deeper reference is to an unhappy wife in the same story, who dreams of leaving her husband someday. Munro’s stories are like that, with shadow meanings and resonant echoes, as if she has struck a chime and set the reverberations down in writing.

Liked it? Try “ Homesickness ,” by Colin Barrett or “ The Collected Stories of Lorrie Moore .”

Train Dreams

Denis Johnson 2011

Call it a backwoods tragedy, stripped to the bone, or a spare requiem for the American West: Johnson’s lean but potent novella carves its narrative from the forests and dust-bowl valleys of Spokane in the early decades of the 20th century, following a day laborer named Robert Grainier as he processes the sudden loss of his young family and bears witness to the real-time formation of a raw, insatiable nation.

Liked it? Try “ That Old Ace in the Hole ,” by Annie Proulx or “ Night Boat to Tangier ,” by Kevin Barry.

Life After Life

Kate Atkinson 2013

Can we get life “right”? Are there choices that would lead, finally, to justice or happiness or save us from pain? Atkinson wrestles with these questions in her brilliant “Life After Life” — a historical novel, a speculative novel, a tale of time travel, a moving portrait of life before, during and in the aftermath of war. It gobbles up genres and blends them together until they become a single, seamless work of art. I love this goddamn book. — Victor LaValle, author of “Lone Women”

“‘Fox Corner — that’s what we should call the house. No one else has a house with that name and shouldn’t that be the point?’

‘Really?’ Hugh said doubtfully. ‘It’s a little whimsical, isn’t it? It sounds like a children’s story. The House at Fox Corner. ’

‘A little whimsy never hurt anyone.’

‘Strictly speaking, though,’ Hugh said, ‘can a house be a corner? Isn’t it at one?’

So this is marriage, Sylvie thought.”

“Her brilliant ear. Her humor. Her openness. Her peculiar gifts. Some of her books are perfect. The rest are merely superb.” — Amy Bloom, writer

Liked it? Try “Light Perpetual,” by Francis Spufford or “ Neverhome ,” by Laird Hunt.

Hernan Diaz 2022

How many ways can you tell the same story? Which one is true? These questions and their ethical implications hover over Diaz’s second novel. It starts out as a tale of wealth and power in 1920s New York — something Theodore Dreiser or Edith Wharton might have taken up — and leaps forward in time, across the boroughs and down the social ladder, breathing new vitality into the weary tropes of historical fiction. — A.O. Scott

Be prepared for some serious mind games! Set in New York City in the 1920s and ’30s, the story of a Manhattan financier and his high-society wife is told through four “books” — a novel, a manuscript, a memoir and a journal. But which version should you trust? Is there even one true reality?

As we sift our way through these competing narratives, Diaz serves us clues and red herrings in equal measure. We know we are being gamed, but we’re not sure exactly which character is gaming us. While each reader will draw their own conclusion when they reach the end of this complex and thrilling book, what is never disputed is the ease with which money and power can bend reality itself. — Dua Lipa, singer and songwriter behind the Service95 Book Club

Liked it? Try “ This Strange Eventful History ,” by Claire Messud or “ The Luminaries ,” by Eleanor Catton.

The Vegetarian

Han Kang; translated by Deborah Smith 2016

One ordinary day, a young housewife in contemporary Seoul wakes up from a disturbing dream and simply decides to … stop eating meat. As her small rebellion spirals, Han’s lean, feverish novel becomes a surreal meditation on not just what the body needs, but what a soul demands.

“I want to swallow you, have you melt into me and flow through my veins.”

“The Vegetarian” is a short novel with a mysterious, otherworldly air. It feels haunted, oppressive … It’s a story about hungers and starvation and desire, and how these become intertwined.” — Silvia Moreno-Garcia, author of “Mexican Gothic”

Liked it? Try “ My Year of Rest and Relaxation ,” by Ottessa Moshfegh or “ Convenience Store Woman ,” by Sayaka Murata; translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori.

Marjane Satrapi 2003

Drawn in stark black-and-white panels, Satrapi’s graphic novel is a moving account of her early life in Iran during the Islamic Revolution and her formative years abroad in Europe. The first of its two parts details the impacts of war and theocracy on both her family and her community: torture, death on the battlefield, constant raids, supply shortages and a growing black market. Part 2 chronicles her rebellious, traumatic years as a teenager in Vienna, as well as her return to a depressingly restrictive Tehran. Devastating — but also formally inventive, inspiring and often funny — “Persepolis” is a model of visual storytelling and personal narrative.

Liked it? Try “ https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/19/books/review/martyr-kaveh-akbar.html '>Martyr! ,” by Kaveh Akbar or “ Disoriental ,” by Négar Djavadi; translated by Tina Kover.

Interested? Read our review . Then reserve it at your local library or buy it from Amazon , Barnes & Noble or Bookshop .

Toni Morrison 2008

Mercies are few and far between in Morrison’s ninth novel, set on the remote colonial land of a 17th-century farmer amid his various slaves and indentured servants (even the acquisition of a wife, imported from England, is strictly transactional). Disease runs rampant and children die needlessly; inequity is everywhere. And yet! The Morrison magic, towering and magisterial, endures.

Liked it? Try “ Year of Wonders ,” by Geraldine Brooks or “ The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois ,” by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers.

The Goldfinch

Donna Tartt 2013

For a time, it seemed as if Tartt’s vaunted 1992 debut, “The Secret History,” might be her only legacy, a once-in-a-career comet zinging across the literary sky. Then, more than a decade after the coolish reception to her 2002 follow-up, “The Little Friend,” came “The Goldfinch” — a coming-of-age novel as narratively rich and riveting as the little bird in the Dutch painting it takes its title from is small and humble. That 13-year-old Theo Decker survives the museum bombing that kills his mother is a minor miracle; the tiny, priceless souvenir he inadvertently grabs from the rubble becomes both a talisman and an albatross in this heady, haunted symphony of a novel.

Liked it? Try “ Freedom ,” by Jonathan Franzen or “ Demon Copperhead ,” by Barbara Kingsolver.

The Argonauts

Maggie Nelson 2015

Call it a memoir if you must, but this is a book about the necessity — and also the thrill, the terror, the risk and reward — of defying categories. Nelson is a poet and critic, well versed in pop culture and cultural theory. The text she interprets here is her own body. An account of her pregnancy, her relationship with the artist Harry Dodge and the early stages of motherhood, “The Argonauts” explores queer identity, gender politics and the meaning of family. What makes Nelson such a valuable writer is her willingness to follow the sometimes contradictory rhythms of her own thinking in prose that is sharp, supple and disarmingly heartfelt. — A.O. Scott

Liked it? Try “My 1980s and Other Essays,” by Wayne Koestenbaum, “ No One Is Talking About This ,” by Patricia Lockwood or “ On Immunity ,” by Eula Biss.

The Fifth Season

N.K. Jemisin 2015

“The Fifth Season” weaves its story in polyphonic voice, utilizing a clever story structure to move deftly through generational time. Jemisin delivers this bit of high craft in a fresh, unstuffy voice — something rare in high fantasy, which can take its Tolkien roots too seriously. From its heartbreaking opening (a mother’s murdered child) to its shattering conclusion, Jemisin shows the power of what good fantasy fiction can do. “The Fifth Season” explores loss, grief and personhood on an intimate level. But it also takes on themes of discrimination, human breeding and ecological collapse with an unflinching eye and a particular nuance. Jemisin weaves a world both horrifyingly familiar and unsettlingly alien. — Rebecca Roanhorse, author of “Mirrored Heavens”

Liked it? Try “ American War ,” by Omar El Akkad or “ The Year of the Flood ,” by Margaret Atwood.

Tony Judt 2005

By the time this book was published in 2005, there had already been innumerable volumes covering Europe’s history since the end of World War II. Yet none of them were quite like Judt’s: commanding and capacious, yet also attentive to those stubborn details that are so resistant to abstract theories and seductive myths. The writing, like the thinking, is clear, direct and vivid. And even as Judt was ruthless when reflecting on Europe’s past, he maintained a sense of contingency throughout, never succumbing to the comfortable certainty of despair. — Jennifer Szalai

Liked it? Try “ We Don’t Know Ourselves: A Personal History of Ireland ,” by Fintan O’Toole, “ Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin ,” by Timothy D. Snyder or “ To End All Wars: A Story of Loyalty and Rebellion, 1914-1918 ,” by Adam Hochschild.

A Brief History of Seven Killings

Marlon James 2014

“Brief”? For a work spanning nearly 700 pages, that word is, at best, a winky misdirection. To skip even a paragraph, though, would be to forgo the vertiginous pleasures of James’s semi-historical novel, in which the attempted assassination of an unnamed reggae superstar who strongly resembles Bob Marley collides with C.I.A. conspiracy, international drug cartels and the vibrant, violent Technicolor of post-independence Jamaica.

Liked it? Try “ Telex From Cuba ,” by Rachel Kushner or “ Brief Encounters With Che Guevara ,” by Ben Fountain.

Small Things Like These

Claire Keegan 2021

Not a word is wasted in Keegan’s small, burnished gem of a novel, a sort of Dickensian miniature centered on the son of an unwed mother who has grown up to become a respectable coal and timber merchant with a family of his own in 1985 Ireland. Moralistically, though, it might as well be the Middle Ages as he reckons with the ongoing sins of the Catholic Church and the everyday tragedies wrought by repression, fear and rank hypocrisy.

This is the book I would like to have written because its sentences portray a life — in all its silences, subtleties and defenses — that I would hope to live if its circumstances were mine. It’s never idle, I guess, to be asked what we would give up for another. — Claudia Rankine, author of “Citizen”

Liked it? Try “ The Rachel Incident ,” by Caroline O’Donoghue or “ Mothers and Sons ,” by Colm Tóibín.

H Is for Hawk

Helen Macdonald 2015

I read “H Is for Hawk” when I was writing my own memoir, and it awakened me to the power of the genre. It is a book supposedly about training a hawk named Mabel but really about wonder and loss, discovery and death. We discover a thing, then we lose it. The discovering and the losing are two halves of the same whole. Macdonald knows this and she shows us, weaving the loss of her father through the partial taming (and taming is always partial) of this hawk. — Tara Westover, author of “Educated”

“There is a time in life when you expect the world to be always full of new things. And then comes a day when you realize that is not how it will be at all. You see that life will become a thing made of holes. Absences. Losses. Things that were there and are no longer.”

Chosen by Tara Westover.

Liked it? Try “ The Friend ,” by Sigrid Nunez or “Braiding Sweetgrass,” by Robin Wall Kimmerer.

A Visit From the Goon Squad

Jennifer Egan 2010

In the good old pre-digital days, artists used to cram 15 or 20 two-and-a-half-minute songs onto a single vinyl LP. Egan accomplished a similar feat of compression in this Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, a compact, chronologically splintered rock opera with (as they say nowadays) no skips. The 13 linked stories jump from past to present to future while reshuffling a handful of vivid characters. The themes are mighty but the mood is funny, wistful and intimate, as startling and familiar as your favorite pop album. — A.O. Scott

Liked it? Try “ Girl, Woman, Other ,” by Bernardine Evaristo, “ Doxology ,” by Nell Zink or “ Telegraph Avenue ,” by Michael Chabon.

The Savage Detectives

Roberto Bolaño; translated by Natasha Wimmer 2007

“The Savage Detectives” is brash, hilarious, beautiful, moving. It’s also over 600 pages long, which is why I know that my memory of reading it in a single sitting is definitely not true. Still, the fact that it feels that way is telling. I was not the same writer I’d been before reading it, not the same person. Arturo Belano and Ulises Lima, the wayward poets whose youth is chronicled in “Detectives,” became personal heroes, and everything I’ve written since has been shaped by Bolaño’s masterpiece. — Daniel Alarcón, author of “At Night We Walk in Circles”

Liked it? Try “ The Old Drift ,” by Namwali Serpell or “The Literary Conference,” by César Aira; translated by Katherine Silver.

Annie Ernaux; translated by Alison L. Strayer 2018

Spanning decades, this is an outlier in Ernaux’s oeuvre; unlike her other books, with their tight close-ups on moments in her life, here such intimacies are embedded in the larger sweep of social history. She moves between the chorus of conventional wisdom and the specifics of her own experiences, showing how even an artist with such a singular vision could recognize herself as a creature of her cohort and her culture. Most moving to me is how she begins and ends by listing images she can still recall — a merry-go-round in the park; graffiti in a restroom — that have been inscribed into her memory, yet are ultimately ephemeral. — Jennifer Szalai

Liked it? Try “ Leaving the Atocha Station ,” by Ben Lerner, “ All Fours ,” by Miranda July or “Swimming in Paris: A Life in Three Stories,” by Colombe Schneck; translated by Lauren Elkin and Natasha Lehrer.

Between the World and Me

Ta-Nehisi Coates 2015

Framed, like James Baldwin’s “The Fire Next Time,” as both instruction and warning to a young relative on “how one should live within a Black body,” Coates’s book-length letter to his 15-year-old son lands like forked lightning. In pages suffused with both fury and tenderness, his memoir-manifesto delineates a world in which the political remains mortally, maddeningly inseparable from the personal.

Liked it? Try “ American Sonnets For My Past and Future Assassin ,” by Terrance Hayes, “ Don’t Call Us Dead ,” by Danez Smith or “ Black Folk Could Fly ,” by Randall Kenan.

Alison Bechdel 2006

“A queer business.” That’s how Bechdel describes her closeted father’s death after he steps in the path of a Sunbeam Bread truck. The phrase also applies to her family’s funeral home concern; their own Victorian, Addams-like dwelling; and this marvelous graphic memoir of growing up gay and O.C.D.-afflicted (which generated a remarkable Broadway musical). You forget, returning to “Fun Home,” that the only color used is a dreamy gray-blue; that’s how vivid and particular the story is. Even the corpses crackle with life. — Alexandra Jacobs

I read “Fun Home” with creative writing students in a course I teach at Dartmouth College called “Investigative Memoir.” The first time I taught it, a student wrote in their anonymous course evaluation, “I should not have been exposed to this” — the censorious voice tends to be passive. The last time I taught it, a student said that if they’d found this in their high school library — in a state in which such books are now all but illegal in high school libraries — it would have changed their life. I’m long past my schooling, but “Fun Home” still changes my life every time I return. — Jeff Sharlet, author of “The Undertow: Scenes from a Slow Civil War”

Liked it? Try “ Blankets ,” by Craig Thompson, “ My Dirty Dumb Eyes ,” by Lisa Hanawalt or “ Small Fry ,” by Lisa Brennan-Jobs.

Claudia Rankine 2014

“I, too, am America,” Langston Hughes wrote, and with “Citizen” Rankine stakes the same claim, as ambivalently and as defiantly as Hughes did. This collection — which appeared two years after Trayvon Martin’s death, and pointedly displays a hoodie on its cover like the one Martin wore when he was killed — lays out a damning indictment of American racism through a mix of free verse, essayistic prose poems and visual art; a National Book Critics Circle Award finalist in both poetry and criticism (the first book ever nominated in two categories), it took home the prize in poetry in a deserving recognition of Rankine’s subtle, supple literary gifts.

Liked it? Try “ Voyage of the Sable Venus: And Other Poems ,” by Robin Coste Lewis, “How to be Drawn,” by Terrance Hayes or “ Ordinary Notes ,” by Christina Sharpe.

Salvage the Bones

Jesmyn Ward 2011

As Hurricane Katrina bears down on the already battered bayou town of Bois Sauvage, Miss., a motherless 15-year-old girl named Esch, newly pregnant with a baby of her own, stands in the eye of numerous storms she can’t control: her father’s drinking, her brothers’ restlessness, an older boy’s easy dismissal of her love. There’s a biblical force to Ward’s prose, so swirling and heady it feels like a summoning.

Liked it? Try “ Southern Cross the Dog ,” by Bill Cheng or “ The Yellow House: A Memoir ,” by Sarah Broom.

The Line of Beauty

Alan Hollinghurst 2004

Oh, to be the live-in houseguest of a wealthy friend! And to find, as Hollinghurst’s young middle-class hero does in early-1980s London, that a whole intoxicating world of heedless privilege and sexual awakening awaits. As the timeline implies, though, the specter of AIDS looms not far behind, perched like a gargoyle amid glittering evocations of cocaine and Henry James. Lust, money, literature, power: Rarely has a novel made it all seem so gorgeous, and so annihilating.

Liked it? Try “ Necessary Errors ,” by Caleb Crain.

White Teeth

Zadie Smith 2000

“Full stories are as rare as honesty,” one character confides in “White Teeth,” though Smith’s debut novel, in all its chaotic, prismatic glory, does its level best to try. As her bravura book unfurls, its central narrative of a friendship between a white Londoner and a Bengali Muslim seems to divide and regenerate like starfish limbs; and so, in one stroke, a literary supernova was born.

Liked it? Try “ Lionel Asbo: State of England ,” by Martin Amis or “ Americanah ,” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Sing, Unburied, Sing

Jesmyn Ward 2017

Road trips aren’t supposed to be like this: an addled addict mother dragging her 13-year-old son and his toddler sister across Mississippi to retrieve their father from prison, and feeding her worst habits along the way. Grief and generational trauma haunt the novel, as do actual ghosts, the unrestful spirits of men badly done by. But Ward’s unflinching prose is not a punishment; it loops and soars in bruising, beautiful arias.

“Home is about the earth. Whether the earth open up to you. Whether it pull you so close the space between you and it melt and it beats like your heart. Same Time.”

“This passage from ‘Sing, Unburied, Sing’ means so much to me. Richie says it to the protagonist, Jojo. He’s a specter, a child ghost, a deeply wounded wanderer, and yet also so wise.” — Imani Perry, author of “Breathe” and “South to America”

Liked it? Try “ The Turner House ,” by Angela Flournoy or “ Lincoln in the Bardo ,” by George Saunders.

The Last Samurai

Helen DeWitt 2000

Sibylla, an American expat in Britain, is a brilliant scholar: omnivore, polyglot, interdisciplinary theorist — all of it. Her young son, Ludo, is a hothouse prodigy, mastering the “Odyssey” and Japanese grammar, fixated on the films of Akira Kurosawa. Two questions arise: 1) Who is the real genius? 2) Who is Ludo’s father? Ludo’s search for the answer to No. 2 propels the plot of this funny, cruel, compassionate, typographically bananas novel. I won’t spoil anything, except to say that the answer to No. 1 is Helen DeWitt. — A.O. Scott

Liked it? Try “ The Instructions ,” by Adam Levin.

Cloud Atlas

David Mitchell 2004

Mitchell’s almost comically ambitious novel is indeed a kind of cumulus: a wild and woolly condensation of ideas, styles and far-flung milieus whose only true commonality is the reincarnated soul at its center. The book’s six nesting narratives — from 1850s New Zealand through 1930s Belgium, groovy California, recent-ish England, dystopian Korea and Hawaii — also often feel like a postmodern puzzle-box that whirls and clicks as its great world(s) spin, throwing off sparks of pulp, philosophy and fervid humanism.

Liked it? Try “ Same Bed Different Dreams ,” by Ed Park or “ Specimen Days ,” by Michael Cunningham.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie 2013

This is a love story — but what a love story! Crisscrossing continents, families and recent decades, “Americanah” centers on a Nigerian woman, Ifemelu, who discovers what it means to be Black by immigrating to the United States, and acquires boutique celebrity blogging about it. (In the sequel, she’d have a Substack.) Ifemelu’s entanglements with various men undergird a rich and rough tapestry of life in Barack Obama’s America and beyond. And Adichie’s sustained examination of absurd social rituals — like the painful relaxation of professionally “unacceptable” hair, for example — is revolutionary. — Alexandra Jacobs

Liked it? Try “ We Need New Names ,” by NoViolet Bulawayo, “ Netherland ,” by Joseph O’Neill or “ Behold the Dreamers ,” by Imbolo Mbue.

Ian McEwan 2002

Each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done, or so the saying goes. But what a naïve, peevish 13-year-old named Briony Tallis sets in motion when she sees her older sister flirting with the son of a servant in hopelessly stratified pre-war England surpasses disastrous; it’s catastrophic. It’s also a testament to the piercing elegance of McEwan’s prose that “Atonement” makes us care so much.

Liked it? Try “ The Sense of an Ending ,” by Julian Barnes, “ Brooklyn ,” by Colm Toíbín or “ Life Class ,” by Pat Barker.

Random Family

Adrian Nicole LeBlanc 2003

More than 20 years after it was published, “Random Family” still remains unmatched in depth and power and grace. A profound, achingly beautiful work of narrative nonfiction, it is the standard-bearer of embedded reportage. LeBlanc gave her all to this book, writing about people experiencing deep hardship in their full, lush humanity. — Matthew Desmond, author of “Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City”

I hate “Random Family.” It robbed us nonfiction writers of all our excuses: Well, it’s easier for fiction writers to achieve that level of interiority. Until “Random Family” entered the chat. It’s easier to create emotion on screen. Until “Random Family” entered the chat. It’s impossible to capture and understand a community if you’re an outsider. Until “Random Family” entered the chat.

Based on a decade of painstaking reporting in a social micro-world, it is a book of total immersion, profound empathy, rigorous storytelling, assiduous factualness, page-turning revelation and literary rizz. I hate “Random Family” because it took away all the excuses. I adore it because it raised the sky. — Anand Giridharadas, author of “The Persuaders: At the Front Lines of the Fight for Hearts, Minds, and Democracy”

Liked it? Try “ Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival & Hope in an American City ,” by Andrea Elliott or “ When Crack Was King: A People’s History of a Misunderstood Era ,” by Donovan X. Ramsey.

The Overstory

Richard Powers 2018

We may never see a poem as lovely as a tree, but a novel about trees — they are both the stealth protagonists and the beating, fine-grained heart of this strange, marvelous book — becomes its own kind of poetry, biology lesson and impassioned environmental polemic in Powers’s hands. To know that our botanical friends are capable of communication and sacrifice, sex and memory, is mind-altering. It is also, you might say, credit overdue: Without wood pulp, after all, what would the books we love be made of?

Liked it? Try “ Greenwood ,” by Michael Christie or “ Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures ,” by Merlin Sheldrake.

Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage

Alice Munro 2001

Munro’s stories apply pointillistic detail and scrupulous psychological insight to render their characters’ lives in full, at lengths that test the boundaries of the term “short fiction.” (Only one story in this book is below 30 pages, and the longest is over 50.) The collection touches on many of Munro’s lifelong themes — family secrets, sudden reversals of fortune, sexual tensions and the unreliability of memory — culminating in a standout story about a man confronting his senile wife’s attachment to a fellow resident at her nursing home.

Liked it? Try “ So Late in the Day: Stories of Women and Men ,” by Claire Keegan or “ Nora Webster ,” by Colm Tóibín.

Behind the Beautiful Forevers

Katherine Boo 2012

If the smash movie “Slumdog Millionaire” gave the world a feel-good story of transcending caste in India via pluck and sheer improbable luck, Boo’s nonfiction exploration of several interconnected lives on the squalid outskirts of Mumbai is its sobering, necessary corrective. The casual violence and perfidy she finds there is staggering; the poverty and disease, beyond bleak. In place of triumph-of-the-human-spirit bromides, though, what the book delivers is its own kind of cinema, harsh and true.

Liked it? Try “ Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea ,” by Barbara Demick or “ Waiting to Be Arrested at Night: A Uyghur Poet's Memoir of China's Genocide ,” by Tahir Hamut Izgil; translated by Joshua L. Freeman.

Matthew Desmond 2016

Like Barbara Ehrenreich or Michelle Alexander, Desmond has a knack for crystallizing the ills of a patently unequal America — here it’s the housing crisis, as told through eight Milwaukee families — in clear, imperative terms. If reading his nightmarish exposé of a system in which race and poverty are shamelessly weaponized and eviction costs less than accountability feels like outrage fuel, it’s prescriptive, too; to look away would be its own kind of crime.

Liked it? Try “ Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America ,” by Barbara Ehrenreich or “ Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive ,” by Stephanie Land.

Percival Everett 2001

More than 20 years before it was made into an Oscar-winning movie, Everett’s deft literary satire imagined a world in which a cerebral novelist and professor named Thelonious “Monk” Ellison finds mainstream success only when he deigns to produce the most broad and ghettoized portrayal of Black pain. If only the ensuing decades had made the whole concept feel laughably obsolete; alas, all the 2023 screen adaptation merited was a title change: “American Fiction.”

Liked it? Try “ Yellowface ,” by R.F. Kuang or “ The Sellout ,” by Paul Beatty.

Say Nothing

Patrick Radden Keefe 2019

“Say Nothing” is an amazing accomplishment — a definitive, impeccably researched history of the Troubles, a grim, gripping thriller, an illuminating portrait of extraordinary people who did unspeakable things, driven by what they saw as the justness of their cause. Those of us who lived in the U.K. in the last three decades of the 20th century know the names and the events — we were all affected, in some way or another, by the bombs, the bomb threats, the assassinations and attempted assassinations. What we didn’t know was what it felt like to be on the inside of a particularly bleak period of history. This book is, I think, unquestionably one of the greatest literary achievements of the 21st century. — Nick Hornby, author of “High Fidelity”

Liked it? Try “ A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan's Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them ,” by Timothy Egan or “ We Own This City: A True Story of Crime, Cops, and Corruption ,” by Justin Fenton.

Lincoln in the Bardo

George Saunders 2017

A father mourns his young son, dead of typhoid; a president mourns his country riven by civil war. In Saunders’s indelible portrait, set in a graveyard populated by garrulous spirits, these images collide and coalesce, transforming Lincoln’s private grief — his 11-year-old boy, Willie, died in the White House in 1862 — into a nation’s, a polyphony of voices and stories. The only novel to date by a writer revered for his satirical short stories, this book marks less a change of course than a foregrounding of what has distinguished his work all along — a generosity of spirit, an ear acutely tuned to human suffering.

Liked it? Try “ Sing, Unburied, Sing ,” by Jesmyn Ward, “ Grief Is the Thing With Feathers ,” by Max Porter or “ Hamnet ,” by Maggie O’Farrell.

The Sellout

Paul Beatty 2015

Part of this wild satire on matters racial, post-racial, maybe-racial and Definitely Not Racial in American life concerns a group known as the Dum Dum Donut Intellectuals. One of them has produced an expurgated edition of an American classic titled “The Pejorative-Free Adventures and Intellectual and Spiritual Journeys of African-American Jim and His Young Protégé, White Brother Huckleberry Finn, as They Go in Search of the Lost Black Family Unit.” Beatty’s method is the exact opposite: In his hands, everything sacred is profaned, from the Supreme Court to the Little Rascals. “The Sellout” is explosively funny and not a little bit dangerous: an incendiary device disguised as a whoopee cushion, or maybe vice versa. — A.O. Scott

Some voices are so sharp they slice right through reality to reveal everything we’ve been hiding or ignoring or didn’t know was there. This novel cut into me — as a writer and reader and American. It’s fearless and funny and unlike anything else I’ve read. — Charles Yu, author of “Interior Chinatown”

Liked it? Try “ Harry Sylvester Bird ,” by Chinelo Okparanta or “ We Cast a Shadow ,” by Maurice Carlos Ruffin.

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay

Michael Chabon 2000

Set during the first heyday of the American comic book industry, from the late 1930s to the early 1950s, Chabon’s exuberant epic centers on the Brooklyn-raised Sammy Clay and his Czech immigrant cousin, Joe Kavalier, who together pour their hopes and fears into a successful comic series even as life delivers them some nearly unbearable tragedies. Besotted with language and brimming with pop culture, political relevance and bravura storytelling, the novel won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 2001.

“The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay” combines eloquent prose, captivating characters, a deeply researched setting and an adventure that previously only belonged to the pulps. High art and low art and who the heck cares? Chabon opened the doors not just for comic book nerds, but for every kind of nerd, including this gay one. Chabon’s book made me the writer I am, and I’m still dazzled by it: the century's first masterpiece. — Andrew Sean Greer, author of “Less”

Liked it? Try “ Carter Beats the Devil ,” by Glen David Gold or “ The Fortress of Solitude ,” by Jonathan Lethem.

Min Jin Lee 2017

“History has failed us, but no matter.” So begins Lee’s novel, the rich and roiling chronicle of a Korean family passing through four generations of war, colonization and personal strife. There are slick mobsters and disabled fishermen, forbidden loves and secret losses. And of course, pachinko, the pinball-ish game whose popularity often supplies a financial lifeline for the book’s characters — gamblers at life like all of us, if hardly guaranteed a win.

Liked it? Try “ Homegoing ,” by Yaa Gyasi, “ The Covenant of Water ,” by Abraham Verghese or “ Kantika ,” by Elizabeth Graver.

Rachel Cusk 2015

This novel is the first and best in Cusk’s philosophical, unsettling and semi-autobiographical Outline trilogy, which also includes the novels “Transit” and “Kudos.” In this one an English writer flies to Athens to teach at a workshop. Along the way, and once there, she falls into intense and resonant conversations about art, intimacy, life and love. Cusk deals, brilliantly, in uncomfortable truths. — Dwight Garner

Liked it? Try “ Checkout 19 ,” by Claire-Louise Bennett or “ Topics of Conversation ,” by Miranda Popkey.

Cormac McCarthy 2006

There is nothing green or growing in McCarthy’s masterpiece of dystopian fiction, the story of an unnamed man and his young son migrating over a newly post-apocalyptic earth where the only remaining life forms are desperate humans who have mostly descended into marauding cannibalism. Yet McCarthy renders his deathscape in curious, riveting detail punctuated by flashes of a lost world from the man’s memory that become colorful myths for his son. In the end, “The Road” is a paean to parental love: A father nurtures and protects his child with ingenuity and tenderness, a triumph that feels redemptive even in a world without hope. — Jennifer Egan, author of “A Visit From the Goon Squad”

Liked it? Try “ On Such a Full Sea ,” by Chang-rae Lee or “ The Buried Giant ,” by Kazuo Ishiguro.

The Year of Magical Thinking

Joan Didion 2005

Having for decades cast a famously cool and implacable eye on everything from the Manson family to El Salvador, Didion suddenly found herself in a hellscape much closer to home: the abrupt death of her partner in life and art, John Gregory Dunne, even as their only child lay unconscious in a nearby hospital room. (That daughter, Quintana Roo, would be gone soon too, though her passing does not fall within these pages.) Dismantled by shock and grief, the patron saint of ruthless clarity did the only thing she could do: She wrote her way through it.

Liked it? Try “ When Breath Becomes Air ,” by Paul Kalanithi, “ Crying in H Mart ,” by Michelle Zauner or “ Notes on Grief ,” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

Junot Díaz 2007

Díaz’s first novel landed like a meteorite in 2007, dazzling critics and prize juries with its mix of Dominican history, coming-of-age tale, comic-book tropes, Tolkien geekery and Spanglish slang. The central plotline follows the nerdy, overweight Oscar de León through childhood, college and a stint in the Dominican Republic, where he falls disastrously in love. Sharply rendered set pieces abound, but the real draw is the author’s voice: brainy yet inviting, mordantly funny, sui generis.

Liked it? Try “ Deacon King Kong ,” by James McBride or “ The Russian Debutante’s Handbook ,” by Gary Shteyngart.

Marilynne Robinson 2004

The first installment in what is so far a tetralogy — followed by “Home,” “Lila” and “Jack” — “Gilead” takes its title from the fictional town in Iowa where the Boughton and Ames families reside. And also from the Book of Jeremiah, which names a place where healing may or may not be found: “Is there no balm in Gilead?” For John Ames, who narrates this novel, the answer seems to be yes. An elderly Congregationalist minister who has recently become a husband and father, he finds fulfillment in both vocation and family. Robinson allows him, and us, the full measure of his hard-earned joy, but she also has an acute sense of the reality of sin. If this book is a celebration of the quiet decency of small-town life (and mainline Protestantism) in the 1950s, it is equally an unsparing critique of how the moral fervor and religious vision of the abolitionist movement curdled, a century later, into complacency. — A.O. Scott

“Then he put his hat back on and stalked off into the trees again and left us standing there in that glistening river, amazed at ourselves and shining like the apostles. I mention this because it seems to me transformations just that abrupt do occur in this life, and they occur unsought and unawaited, and they beggar your hopes and your deserving.”

From a dog-eared, battered, underlined copy of Marilynne Robinson’s “Gilead,” I offer the following quote which undoes me every time I read it — transformation and its possibility is so much a part of what I read for. — Kate DiCamillo, novelist

Liked it? Try “Tinkers,” by Paul Harding or “ Zorrie ,” by Laird Hunt.

Never Let Me Go

Kazuo Ishiguro 2005

Kathy, Ruth and Tommy are boarders at an elite English school called Hailsham. Supervised by a group of “guardians,” the friends share music and rumors while navigating the shifting loyalties and heartbreaks of growing up. It’s all achingly familiar — at times, even funny. But things begin to feel first off, then sinister and, ultimately, tragic. As in so much of the best dystopian fiction, the power of “Never Let Me Go” to move and disturb arises from the persistence of human warmth in a chilly universe — and in its ability to make us see ourselves through its uncanny mirror. Is Ishiguro commenting on biotechnology, reproductive science, the cognitive dissonance necessary for life under late-stage capitalism? He’d never be so didactic as to tell you. What lies at the heart of this beautiful book is not social satire, but deep compassion.

Liked it? Try “ Station Eleven ,” by Emily St. John Mandel, “ Oryx and Crake ,” by Margaret Atwood or “ Scattered All Over the Earth ,” by Yoko Tawada; translated by Margaret Mitsutani.

W.G. Sebald; translated by Anthea Bell 2001

Sebald scarcely lived long enough to see the publication of his final novel; within weeks of its release, he died from a congenital heart condition at 57. But what a swan song it is: the discursive, dreamlike recollections of Jacques Austerlitz, a man who was once a small refugee of the kindertransport in wartime Prague, raised by strangers in Wales. Like the namesake Paris train station of its protagonist, the book is a marvel of elegant construction, haunted by memory and motion.

Liked it? Try “ Transit ,” by Rachel Cusk or “ Flights ,” by Olga Tokarczuk; translated by Jennifer Croft.

The Underground Railroad

Colson Whitehead 2016

“The Underground Railroad” is a profound revelation of the intricate aspects of slavery and nebulous shapes of freedom featuring an indomitable female protagonist: Cora from Georgia. The novel seamlessly combines history, horror and fantasy with philosophical speculation and cultural criticism to tell a compulsively readable, terror-laden narrative of a girl with a fierce inner spark who follows the mysterious path of her mother, Mabel, the only person ever known to have escaped from the Randall plantations.

I could hardly make it through this plaintively brutal novel. Neither could I put it down. “The Underground Railroad” bleeds truth in a way that few treatments of slavery can, fiction or nonfiction. Whitehead’s portrayals of human motivation, interaction and emotional range astonish in their complexity. Here brutality is bone deep and vulnerability is ocean wide, yet bravery and hope shine through in Cora’s insistence on escape. I rooted for Cora in a way that I never had for a character, my heart breaking with each violation of her spirit. Just as Cora inherits her mother’s symbolic victory garden, we readers of Whitehead’s imaginary world can inherit Cora’s courage. — Tiya Miles, author of “All That She Carried: The Journey of Ashley’s Sack, a Black Family Keepsake”

“Mabel had packed for her adventure. A machete. Flint and tinder. She stole a cabin mate’s shoes, which were in better shape. For weeks, her empty garden testified to her miracle. Before she lit out she dug up every yam from their plot, a cumbersome load and ill-advised for a journey that required a fleet foot. The lumps and burrows in the dirt were a reminder to all who walked by. Then one morning they were all smoothed over. Cora got on her knees and planted anew. It was her inheritance.”

Chosen by Tiya Miles.

Liked it? Try “ The Prophets ,” by Robert Jones Jr., “ Washington Black ,” by Esi Edugyan or “ The American Daughters ,” by Maurice Carlos Ruffin.

Roberto Bolaño; translated by Natasha Wimmer 2008

Bolaño’s feverish, vertiginous novel opens with an epigraph from Baudelaire — “An oasis of horror in a desert of boredom” — and then proceeds, over the course of some 900 pages, to call into being an entire world governed in equal parts by boredom and the deepest horror. The book (published posthumously) is divided into five loosely conjoined sections, following characters who are drawn for varying reasons to the fictional Mexican city of Santa Teresa: a group of academics obsessed with an obscure novelist, a doddering philosophy professor, a lovelorn police officer and an American reporter investigating the serial murders of women in a case with echoes of the real-life femicide that has plagued Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. In Natasha Wimmer’s spotless translation, Bolaño’s novel is profound, mysterious, teeming and giddy: Reading it, you go from feeling like a tornado watcher to feeling swept up in the vortex, and finally suspect you might be the tornado yourself.

Liked it? Try “ Compass ,” by Mathias Énard; translated by Charlotte Mandell.

The Corrections

Jonathan Franzen 2001

With its satirical take on mental health, self-improvement and instant gratification, Franzen’s comic novel of family disintegration is as scathingly entertaining today as it was when it was published at the turn of the millennium. The story, about a Midwestern matron named Enid Lambert who is determined to bring her three adult children home for what might be their father’s last Christmas, touches on everything from yuppie excess to foodie culture to Eastern Europe’s unbridled economy after the fall of communism — but it is held together, always, by family ties. The novel jumps deftly from character to character, and the reader’s sympathies jump with it; in a novel as alert to human failings as this one is, it is to Franzen’s enduring credit that his genuine affection for all of the characters shines through.

Sometimes we have a totemic connection to a book that deepens our appreciation. I had Jonathan Franzen's brand-new doorstop of a hardcover with me when I was trapped in an office park hotel outside Denver after 9/11. The marvelous, moving, often very funny novel kept me company when I needed company most. As Franzen himself wrote, “Fiction is a solution, the best solution, to the problem of existential solitude.” — Chris Bohjalian, author of “The Flight Attendant”

Liked it? Try “ Middlesex ,” by Jeffrey Eugenides, “ Commonwealth ,” by Ann Patchett or “ The Bee Sting ,” by Paul Murray.

The Known World

Edward P. Jones 2003

This novel, about a Black farmer, bootmaker and former slave named Henry Townsend, is a humane epic and a staggering feat of wily American storytelling. Set in Virginia during the antebellum era, the milieu — politics, moods, manners — is starkly and intensely realized. When Henry becomes the proprietor of a plantation, with slaves of his own, the moral sands shift under the reader’s feet. Grief piles upon grief. But there is a glowing humanity at work here as well. Moments of humor and unlikely good will bubble up organically. Jones is a confident storyteller, and in “The Known World” that confidence casts a spell. This is a large novel that moves nimbly, and stays with the reader for a long time. — Dwight Garner

Liked it? Try “ The Water Dancer ,” by Ta-Nehisi Coates or “ A Mercy ,” by Toni Morrison.

Hilary Mantel 2009

It was hard choosing the books for my list, but the first and easiest choice I made was “Wolf Hall.” (“The Mirror and the Light,” the third book in Mantel’s trilogy, was the second easiest.)

We see the past the way we see the stars, dimly, through a dull blurry scrim of atmosphere, but Mantel was like an orbital telescope: She saw history with cold, hard, absolute clarity. In “Wolf Hall” she took a starchy historical personage, Thomas Cromwell, and saw the vivid, relentless, blind-spotted, memory-haunted, grandly alive human being he must have been. Then she used him as a lens to show us the age he lived in, the vast, intricate spider web of power and money and love and need — right up until the moment the spider got him. — Lev Grossman, author of “The Bright Sword”

Liked it? Try “ The Lion House: The Coming of a King ,” by Christopher de Bellaigue or “ The Books of Jacob ,” by Olga Tokarczuk; translated by Jennifer Croft.

The Warmth of Other Suns

Isabel Wilkerson 2010

Wilkerson’s intimate, stirring, meticulously researched and myth-dispelling book, which details the Great Migration of Black Americans from South to North and West from 1915 to 1970, is the most vital and compulsively readable work of history in recent memory. This migration, she writes, “would become perhaps the biggest underreported story of the 20th century. It was vast. It was leaderless. It crept along so many thousands of currents over so long a stretch of time as to be difficult for the press truly to capture while it was under way.” Wilkerson blends the stories of individual men and women with a masterful grasp of the big picture, and a great deal of literary finesse. “The Warmth of Other Suns” reads like a novel. It bears down on the reader like a locomotive. — Dwight Garner

Liked it? Try “ The Twelve Tribes of Hattie ,” by Ayana Mathis, “ All Aunt Hagar’s Children ,” by Edward P. Jones or “ Traveling Black: A Story of Race and Resistance ,” by Mia Bay.

My Brilliant Friend

Elena Ferrante; translated by Ann Goldstein 2012

The first volume of what would become Ferrante’s riveting four-book series of Neapolitan novels introduced readers to two girls growing up in a poor, violent neighborhood in Naples, Italy: the diligent, dutiful Elena and her charismatic, wilder friend Lila, who despite her fierce intelligence is seemingly constrained by her family’s meager means. From there the book (like the series as a whole) expands as propulsively as the early universe, encompassing ideas about art and politics, class and gender, philosophy and fate, all through a dedicated focus on the conflicted, competitive friendship between Elena and Lila as they grow into complicated adults. It’s impossible to say how closely the series tracks the author’s life — Ferrante writes under a pseudonym — but no matter: “My Brilliant Friend” is entrenched as one of the premier examples of so-called autofiction, a category that has dominated the literature of the 21st century. Reading this uncompromising, unforgettable novel is like riding a bike on gravel: It’s gritty and slippery and nerve-racking, all at the same time.

Liked it? Try “ The Book of Goose ,” by Yiyun Li, “ Cold Enough for Snow ,” by Jessica Au or “ Lies and Sorcery ,” by Elsa Morante; translated by Jenny McPhee.

I haven’t read any of these books yet ...

If you’ve read a book on the list, be sure to check the box under its entry, and your final count will appear here. (We’ll save your progress.)

... but I’m sure there’s something for me.

Keep track of the books you want to read by checking the box under their entries.

Methodology

In collaboration with the Upshot — the department at The Times focused on data and analytical journalism — the Book Review sent a survey to hundreds of novelists, nonfiction writers, academics, book editors, journalists, critics, publishers, poets, translators, booksellers, librarians and other literary luminaries, asking them to pick their 10 best books of the 21st century.

We let them each define “best” in their own way. For some, this simply meant “favorite.” For others, it meant books that would endure for generations.

The only rules: Any book chosen had to be published in the United States, in English, on or after Jan. 1, 2000. (Yes, translations counted!)

After casting their ballots, respondents were given the option to answer a series of prompts where they chose their preferred book between two randomly selected titles. We combined data from these prompts with the vote tallies to create the list of the top 100 books.

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James Patterson – Books – Standalone Thrillers

Standalone thrillers, titles list.

Confessions of the Dead

Don't rent a summer house in Hollow's Bend this year! Patterson's scariest thrills since Death of the Black Widow.   Hollows Bend, New Hampshire, is a picture-perfect New England town where weekend tourists flock to see fall leaves and eat… Read More

The Murder Inn

It's the perfect getaway. But the past will always find you . . . When ex-cop Bill Robinson takes over The Inn by the Sea, all he wants is a quiet escape from the city. But when a crime boss… Read More

Holmes, Marple & Poe

Crime! Murder! Who are you going to call? In New York City, three intriguing, smart, and stylish private investigators open Holmes, Marple & Poe Investigations. Who are these detectives with famous names and mysterious, untraceable pasts? Brendan Holmes—The Brain: Identifies suspects… Read More

The Girl in the Castle

Beloved #1 bestselling author James Patterson delivers a thrilling novel about a teen caught between two worlds and the truths that could set her free—or trap her foreverMy name is Hannah Dory and I need you to believe me  … Read More

12 Months to Live

“Patterson and Lupica make a great team” (Carl Hiaasen) who get “deep into the lives of strong women” (Louise Penny) and Jane Smith is their greatest creation—a badass lawyer with a year to live. “Jane Smith is the best character… Read More

23 1/2 Lies

Enjoy three heart-racing thrillers from the New York Times bestselling master of suspense.23 1/2 LIES: Lindsay Boxer's estranged father is gunned down execution-style, and her investigation uncovers life-altering truths. (with Maxine Paetro)FALLEN RANGER: To Rory Yates, being a Texas Ranger means absolute… Read More

Lion & Lamb

Veena Lion and Cooper Lamb are rival PIs in Philadelphia in this “fun ride…the romance between Cooper and Veena is artfully handled…endearing characters including Cooper’s two preternaturally clever kids and his Rhodesian ridgeback puppy.” –Publishers Weekly​“Great storytelling…a spectacular murder case.” –Kirkus, starred… Read More

3 Days to Live

The people closest to you can be your most dangerous enemies in this heart-pounding collection of three thrillers from master of suspense and New York Times bestselling author James Patterson.3 Days to Live: A CIA-agent bride is on her European… Read More

The House of Wolves

Instant New York Times Bestseller! James Patterson and Mike Lupica are the thriller dream team! Jenny Wolf’s murdered father leaves her in charge of a billion-dollar empire—and a family more ruthless than Succession's Roys and Yellowstone’s Duttons.   The Wolfs, the most powerful… Read More

The Perfect Assassin

Prof. Brandt Savage—grandson of the legendary action hero—is forced into a top-secret training program where he discovers his true calling…as the perfect assassin.   Dr. Brandt Savage is on sabbatical from the University of Chicago. Instead of doing solo fieldwork… Read More

From the New York Times bestselling author of The President Is Missing, America has elected its most brilliant president ever, but he’s also a psychopath—and about to start a world war with our most dangerous enemy. US President Keegan Barrett… Read More

The Ninth Month

In this action-packed thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of The Midwife Murders, a mother-to-be sees the women in her social circle start to disappear—and she could be next . . . Emily Atkinson leads a complicated life… Read More

Death of the Black Widow

She destroys the men she loves—and escapes every time. The most dangerous killer James Patterson has ever created is also his most seductive. On his first night with Detroit PD, Officer Walter O’Brien is called to a murder scene. A terrified… Read More

The President's Daughter

A rocket ride of a thriller—the #1 New York Times bestselling blockbuster by President Bill Clinton and James Patterson, "the dream team" (Lee Child).All Presidents have nightmares. This one is about to come true.Every detail is accurate—because one of the… Read More

The Thomas Berryman Number

Discover James Patterson’s stunning debut, an Edgar Award-winning novel of prejudice and murder in the American South. You are about to begin a classic award-winning novel of suspense. When an up-and-coming politician is murdered in a small Southern town, reporter… Read More

Season of the Machete

Two killers are chasing an American man who’s about to face cold-blooded terror on a picture-perfect vacation . . . and discover a truth that could destroy them all.Cool and glamorous, they appear to be a successful couple on a… Read More

The Midnight Club

“The Midnight Club is the novel I wrote just before Along Came A Spider. I’m certain that both Alex Cross and Sampson originated in ideas I had while writing this story. It’s one of my favorites.” – James PattersonBestselling author… Read More

Hide and Seek

The world’s favorite singer is on trial for murdering a glamorous athlete . . . but in a ruthless world of power and privilege, life and death aren’t what they seem.It was the trial that electrified the world. Not just… Read More

See How They Run

His family has been murdered. His past lover is running for her life. And now, Dr. David Strauss must travel across Europe to track down the killers.Outside New York City, the palatial home of Dr. David Strauss’s parents is attacked… Read More

When the Wind Blows

While grieving her husband’s murder, a young Colorado veterinarian meets a troubled FBI agent and begins to uncover the world’s most sinister secrets in this thriller from James Patterson.Frannie O’Neill is a young and talented veterinarian living in Colorado. Plagued… Read More

Black Friday

A courageous federal agent and a resourceful woman lawyer are the only ones who can save New York City from the terror of a secret militia group.James Patterson’s classic superthriller, Black Friday, combines the breathtaking suspense of the Alex Cross… Read More

Cradle and All

Two teenage girls claim that they pregnant–and virgins. One is carrying the child of Christ… the other the son of Satan. In Boston, seventeen-year-old Kathleen is pregnant–but she swears she’s a virgin. In Ireland, another teenage girl, Colleen, discovers she… Read More

The Beach House

When New York law student Jack Mullen learns that his brother has drowned, he knows it can’t be an accident . . .Jack Mullen is in law school in New York City when the shocking news comes that his brother… Read More

Hugh De Luc returns from the Crusades to find his son killed, his wife kidnapped, and his town gutted in the search for a priceless relic . . . and now, he must fight to save everything he holds dear.Arriving… Read More

The Lake House

Six kids on the run must face a villain who threatens the future of human existence . . . but winning comes at a high price.Six children have escaped horrifying government experiments, a childhood in captivity, and a frightening brush… Read More

High risk, high reward: a $5 million heist is the perfect job for Ned Kelly. But when it all goes horribly wrong, he discovers a world of secrets and sabotage.Working as a lifeguard at a luxurious Florida resort, Ned Kelly… Read More

Dark mysteries come to East Hampton while a struggling lawyer fights to save his friend from being framed for a triple murder.Montauk lawyer Tom Dunleavy’s client list is woefully small-occasional real estate closings barely keep him in paper clips. So… Read More

Judge & Jury

When a single mom and aspiring actress ends up on an important jury, she must team up with an FBI agent to hunt down a vicious and powerful mob boss.Andie DeGrasse is not your typical juror. Hoping to get dismissed… Read More

The Quickie

Lauren Stillwell is not your average damsel in distress. When the NYPD cop discovers her husband leaving a hotel with another woman, she decides to beat him at his own game. But her revenge goes dangerously awry, and she finds… Read More

You've Been Warned

An aspiring photographer is about to get the chance of a lifetime in New York-and face a forbidden love that just might be her downfall.Kristin Burns has lived her life by the philosophy “Don’t think, just shoot”-pictures, that is. Struggling… Read More

Since the death of her husband, Anne Dunne and her three children have struggled in every way. In a last ditch effort to save the family, Anne plans an elaborate sailing vacation to bring everyone together once again. But only… Read More

THE BEACH…A breathtakingly beautiful supermodel disappears from a swimsuit photo shoot at the most glamorous hotel in Hawaii. Only hours after she goes missing, Kim McDaniels’s parents receive a terrifying phone call. Fearing the worst, they board the first flight… Read More

The Postcard Killers

Paris is stunning in the summerNYPD detective Jacob Kanon is on a tour of Europe’s most gorgeous cities. But the sights aren’t what draw him–he sees each museum, each cathedral, and each cafe through the eyes of his daughter’s killer.The… Read More

Don't Blink

Join reporter Nick Daniels as he uncovers deadly secrets in a page-turning thriller from the “unstoppable” James Patterson (USA Today).Seated at New York’s Lombardo’s Steak House, reporter Nick Daniels is conducting a once-in-a-lifetime interview with a legendary baseball bad-boy when… Read More

Now You See Her

From bestselling team James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge, Nina Bloom must confront the killer she thought she escaped forever to save the life of an innocent man. The perfect lifeA successful lawyer and loving mother, Nina Bloom would do anything… Read More

Kill Me If You Can

A poor art student living in New York stumbles on a bag of diamonds . . . but they come at a price in this unforgettable novel from “America’s #1 storyteller” (Forbes).Matthew Bannon, a poor art student living in New… Read More

Private Games

The world’s most renowned investigation firm is in charge of security for the Olympic Games. But when a killer strikes hours before the event, they must stop him in his tracks.Private, the world’s most renowned investigation firm, has been commissioned… Read More

Guilty Wives

After a lavish night of guilty pleasures in Monte Carlo, four best friends face an awful morning of arrests — and a fight for survival.Only minutes after Abbie Elliot and her three best friends step off of a private helicopter,… Read More

In James Patterson’s pulse-racing New York Times bestseller, violent animal attacks are destroying entire cities-and two unlikely heroes must save the world before it’s too late.All over the world, brutal animal attacks are crippling entire cities. Jackson Oz, a young… Read More

James Patterson’s scariest, sexiest stand-alone thriller since The Quickie.Ben isn’t like most people. Unable to control his racing thoughts, he’s a man consumed by his obsessions: movies, motorcycles, presidential trivia-and Diana Hotchkiss, a beautiful woman Ben knows he can never… Read More

Read the #1 New York Times bestselling thriller Invisible, then continue the series with Unsolved. Everyone thinks Emmy Dockery is crazy. Obsessed with finding the link between hundreds of unsolved cases, Emmy has taken leave from her job as an… Read More

Truth or Die

D. C. attorney Trevor Mann is about to discover a shocking secret . . . and to uncover the truth, he must solve the most shocking mystery of his life.After a serious professional stumble, attorney Trevor Mann may have finally… Read More

The Murder House

Detective Jenna Murphy comes to the Hamptons to solve a murder — but what she finds is more deadly than she could ever imagine.Trying to escape her troubled past and rehabilitate a career on the rocks, former New York City… Read More

Woman of God

A new Pope will be chosen in Rome . . . and she just might be a woman. But she’s made some powerful enemies who will stop at nothing-not even murder.The world is watching as massive crowds gather in Rome,… Read More

Humans, Bow Down

In a world run by machines, humans are an endangered species — and their only hope is a rebel warrior with nothing left to lose.The Great War is over. The robots have won. The humans who survived have two choices:… Read More

The Moores Are Missing

From the world’s #1 bestselling writer: three pulse-pounding thriller novels in one!The Moores are Missingwith Loren D. Estleman: The Moore family just vanished from their home without telling a soul. A last-minute vacation? A kidnapping? A run for their lives?… Read More

The Family Lawyer

A collection of three thrilling James Patterson stories: a criminal defense attorney investigating a bullying accusation, the NYPD’s most brilliant detective facing her darkest fears to prevent a string of crimes, and a woman investigating the murder of her brother-in-law.The… Read More

The House Next Door (Hardcover Library Edition)

An affair spirals out of control, a detective investigates four mysterious disappearances, and a mysterious message from space leads to a manhunt in these three electrifying thrillers from the world’s #1 bestselling writer.The House Next Door (with Susan DiLallo): Married… Read More

The First Lady (Hardcover Library Edition)

One secret could bring down the government when the President’s memorable affair becomes a nightmare he longs to forget in this page-turner from James Patterson that will keep you up reading all night long.Sally Grissom is a top Secret Service… Read More

The Cornwalls Vanish (previously published as The Cornwalls Are Gone)

When Captain Amy Cornwall’s family goes missing, the Army Ranger will do whatever it takes to bring them home in this cinematic thriller that begins with a mysterious phone call and ends with a twist you’ll never see coming.In her… Read More

The 13-Minute Murder (Hardcover Library Edition)

A psychiatrist, a mother, and an expert hitman each race against time in these three fast-paced thrillers from the world’s #1 bestselling writer, James Patterson.Dead Man Running: Psychiatrist Randall Beck specializes in PTSD cases — and his time is limited.… Read More

The Warning

In this fast-paced thriller, a power plant explosion takes a small-town community off the grid — all while a terrifying force lurks in the shadows.Two roads lead to Mount Hope. None leads out.A small southern town was evacuated after a… Read More

From the world’s #1 bestselling author comes a story of revenge as a former SAS soldier is ready to settle into civilian life when he’s hired to solve the mysterious death of a daughter, diving into a seedy world that… Read More

The Summer House

When seven murder victims are found in a small town, the homicide investigation shakes a small-town sheriff to her core in James Patterson's tense thriller.Once a luxurious southern getaway on a rustic lake, then reduced to a dilapidated crash pad,… Read More

Top cop, devoted sister, and now Inmate 3329: even prison bars won’t stop Harriet Blue from seeking justice for the murder of her brother.Prison is a dangerous place for a former cop — as Harriet Blue is learning on a… Read More

Cajun Justice

This explosive standalone thriller from the world’s #1 bestselling author follows ex-Secret Service agent Cain Lemaire as he uncovers dark secrets hidden beneath the Tokyo streets.The Bayou is a unique place to live and it provides a grit and passion… Read More

Genius programmer Angela Hoot has always been at the top of her class, but now she's at the bottom of the FBI food chain—until her first case threatens everyone around her. ​Angela's graduate school days at MIT come to an abrupt… Read More

The Midwife Murders

In this psychological thriller, a missing patient raises concerns in a New York hospital, but as others start disappearing every dark possibility becomes more and more likely.To Senior Midwife Lucy Ryuan, pregnancy is not an unusual condition—it's her life's work.… Read More

The Coast-to-Coast Murders

A detective and an FBI agent join forces on what seems like an open-and-shut case—but a new rash of killings sends them on a pulse-pounding race against time in this intense thriller.​Michael and Megan Fitzgerald are siblings who share a… Read More

Three Women Disappear

Sarah, his personal chef. Anna, his wife. Serena, his maid. All three had access to a murder victim's home. And all three women are missing. Sarah, his personal chefAnna, his wifeSerena, his maidAccountant Anthony Costello has a talent for manipulating both… Read More

Non-Fiction

Filthy Rich

Now a #1 Netflix documentary series. Get the full shocking story about billionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein in this #1 New York Times bestselling and definitive book. Jeffrey Epstein rose from humble origins into the New York City and Palm Beach… Read More

The Murder of King Tut

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The Jailhouse Lawyer Kindle Edition

• Print length 577 pages
• Language English
• Sticky notes On Kindle Scribe
• Publisher Little, Brown and Company
• Publication date September 20, 2021
• File size 961 KB
• Page Flip Enabled
• Word Wise Enabled
• Enhanced typesetting Enabled
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• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08X4C3HKF
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Little, Brown and Company (September 20, 2021)
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 20, 2021
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• File size ‏ : ‎ 961 KB
• Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
• Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 577 pages
• #470 in Legal Thrillers (Kindle Store)
• #1,826 in Murder Thrillers
• #2,336 in Crime Thrillers (Kindle Store)

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About the authors

Nancy allen.

New York Times Bestselling Author Nancy Allen practiced law in the Ozarks for fifteen years as Assistant Attorney General and Assistant Prosecutor. She served on the faculty at Missouri State University for sixteen years, teaching law classes.

With James Patterson, she co-authored The #1 Lawyer (2024), The Jailhouse Lawyer (2021) and Juror #3 (2018).

Nancy is also the author of the Ozarks Mystery Series and the Anonymous Justice Series.

James Patterson

James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time. He is the creator of unforgettable characters and series, including Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride, and of breathtaking true stories about the Kennedys, John Lennon, and Tiger Woods, as well as our military heroes, police officers, and ER nurses. Patterson has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton, and collaborated most recently with Michael Crichton on the blockbuster “Eruption.” He has told the story of his own life in “James Patterson by James Patterson” and received an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.

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Customers find the plot captivating and well-defined. They also say the characters are believable. Opinions are mixed on the writing quality, with some finding it well-written and others saying it lacks logic and common sense.

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Customers find the storyline captivating, entertaining, and well-written. They also love the characters and the plot, and say the book grabs their attention instantly.

"Both stories were page turners! I couldn’t read fast enough. Intense . On the edge of my seat. A quick read" Read more

"An excellent read fast paced and captivating plot ...." Read more

"...The characters were well defined and be!ievable. I commend the authors. James Patterson has never disappointed me." Read more

" Kind of predictable and dragged in spots...." Read more

Customers like the plot of the book. They say it's a real page turner, with good stories and good endings. They also mention that it holds their attention until the end.

" Wonderful book , almost hard not to put it down" Read more

"... Well worth your reading time investment ." Read more

" enjoyable read " Read more

"The the book was as good as expected and it's always knowing that you get a good book that keeps you coming back to him" Read more

Customers find the female attorneys in the book strong.

"...Both stories have strong female attorneys and good story lines. Both stories are quick reads and stand alone...." Read more

"...Each book had a very strong female lawyer who had to resolve a tough situation. I couldn't put them down and was sorry when they ended...." Read more

"...I liked these books very much. Two strong ladies beating the odds ." Read more

"More like a couple of novellas. Action packed and kick ass women lawyers . Will be done before you know it." Read more

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing quality of the book. Some find it well written, while others say it's not well written and predictable. They also mention that the story lacks logic and common sense.

"...The violence is well-written and did not overly frighten me. I highly recommend it, especially because it comes in large print ." Read more

"...Buyer beware - false and misleading - not to mention disappointing." Read more

"The book was very well written and grabbed my attention instantly. It was a real page turner and I could not put it down...." Read more

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Customers find the plot pace of the book too short for any real development, and slow to develop. They also mention that the book falls short on the climax.

"This JP/? Starts out interesting enough but really falls short on the climax ...." Read more

" Slow to develop a nd too much repetition. I know Mr. Patterson has other writers write for him under his name...." Read more

"...Not the same women. Not necessarily badly written but to short for any real development . Just ok, not up to par and not worth the money." Read more

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"I had no interest in trashing him": James Patterson on why he needed to tell Tiger Woods' story

The author shares his opinions on the controversial golfer, book banning and george clooney's new york times op-ed, by gabriella ferrigine.

"I just wanted to tell the story and let people figure out."

When the "story" in question is recapping of the entire life and career of an athlete as illustrious — and scrutinized — as professional golfer Tiger Woods, the stakes are considerably high. 

If anyone's up to the task, it's  James Patterson .

"He's an important figure in history."

"Tiger, Tiger," the uber-prolific best-selling author's latest book (July 15, Little Brown and Company), strays considerably from his thriller-heavy fiction portfolio. It's a biography born out of Patterson's general enjoyment of golf — he's already penned a fiction series centered on a burgeoning pro golfer — and the widely shared knowledge that Woods is "a major figure."

Second only to the legendary "Golden Bear" Jack Nicklaus in his Masters Tournament victories (Woods has five Green Jackets to Niklaus' six), Woods from a young age was considered to be a golfing prodigy. His parents, Earl and Kultida Woods, were immensely supportive of their son's talent and ambitions, even taking out a second mortgage on their home so that a teenaged Tiger Woods was eligible to play in the then-nascent American Junior Golf Association (AJGA), where he could compete amongst top junior golfers and gain exposure to college recruiting scouts.

"Tiger, Tiger" delves deeply into Woods' family, presenting a candid portrait of their unique dynamic and diverse background. Woods' multiethnic identity — Earl was half Black, a quarter Native American and a quarter Chinese, while Kultida is half Thai, a quarter white and a quarter Chinese — has been a focal point of the athlete's career and his life more broadly, and as Patterson elucidates, sometimes a point of contention. "Tiger, Tiger" notes how t hough his mother, Tida, calls him the “Universal Child” who can “hold everyone together,” she also expressed frustration about how the media often construed him as explicitly Black.  Woods, who coined the self-referential term "Cablinasian" to describe his mixed heritage, drew public ire in 1997 when he told Oprah that he shared in that same frustration. 

In the book, Patterson also doesn't shy away from addressing Woods' personal woes — namely, his bouts of infidelity that led to the 2010 divorce from his ex-wife Elin Nordegren and the stark shift in Woods' public perception that lingered for some time after. But to hear it in Patterson's own words, "Let's forgive people within reason."

"I had no interest in trashing him," Patterson tells me over Zoom of Woods' past controversies. "He's had some real bumps in the road and they're in the book, but I'm not going to make judgments."

Check out the full interview with Patterson, in which he explains how he told Woods' story differently, why he thinks Woods is a good dad in spite of his past scandals, and the "big problem" of book censorship. 

The following interview has been edited for length and clarity. 

I'm 26, and I've grown up around your books my whole life.

Oh, so what? Stop bragging. I don't care how old you are.

( Laughs ) Your books have been in my mom and dad's curio cabinet since I was a kid. I've read several of your thrillers but I've actually never read anything of yours about sports. What in particular drew you to want to write a biography about Tiger Woods other than his fame and talent? He's been the subject of plenty of biographies already.

Other than his fame or talent? Come on, that covers too much ground. I tell stories and I think in general most of the people who write about him — they're not storytellers. They put a lot of facts down where they editorialize, and what I wanted to do was just tell story after story after story that kind of captures — not necessarily for sports fans but for everybody because I think he's an important figure in history. That's just because of his golf but also because of the trajectory of his life — from being on "The Mike Douglas Show" at five and predicting that he would beat [Jack] Nicklaus and Tom Watson before he was 21 to the fact that even though he lists himself as Asian, he's talked about as Black. And that was obviously a big deal for his father too. Earl really was interested in him making some real inroads into golf and also into white-dominated sports.

So I just think he's a major figure. I think this is a book for a lot of people who aren't necessarily golfers, who don't care about golfers but I would like to hear his story and want to hear it as a storyteller would tell it, not as a sports writer. There's a lot of editorializing these days on the front pages of newspapers which I don't really approve of. I don't think they should be editorializing on the front page. I think on the front page, just lay out the story as best you know with the facts. And same thing with sports writers. They always want to editorialize and show us what they are. I just wanted to tell the story and let people figure out. They'll do their own, you know, how do they feel about him, how do they feel about us human beings. I had no interest in trashing him. He's had some real bumps in the road, and they're in the book, but I'm not going to make judgments.

"I think Tiger's a really smart person."

In fact, I think it's interesting in terms of who he is, how those stories, how his life is a big part of what happened. Like what happened with his wife. If you think about his life, he was always shielded from kind of — he was like, "Go golf, be great at golf, and don't worry about the other stuff." And when he grew up and he was a stutterer and he was nearsighted and then when he went to Stanford, they called him Urkel. He was a nerd, you know, and he was kind of out of it. And I think that when he fell in love with this very beautiful, I think quite nice person, I don't think he was ready for it. I don't think he knew what was going on. I don't know if he even dated much. There was very little that I've ever read or heard about with him in terms of, you know, so I don't think he was at all prepared for it. That doesn't excuse him for running around and whatever, but you understand it a little better.

The level of attention to detail in the book is incredibly noteworthy. You include conversations and observations that span decades of Tiger's life. And in specific regard to his ex-wife, you even include, for example, a text message that Tiger sent to one of his alleged mistresses. And Elin sends a lure text to the woman after seeing it. How do you approach conducting research for a biography like this and how that might differ from writing?

Yeah, they're everything I can get. I have some researchers. My general thing about research is, if it's about Hawaii, I'll go and do that myself. If it's a crack house in the Bronx, I might have somebody else go do it. So this is a combination. A lot of this stuff I kind of knew. I followed him up to a point. I knew where to look for some of it. My editor, Denise Roy, was really involved as well. So she found a lot of things. And we just put it all together and then try to turn it into a story. But I think if you go through the whole story, even like the crash in California, if you look at his history of the operations and the fact that he was in pain for a long time, you understand — and I don't know for sure that that had to do with the crash, but I suspect that it did. Whatever the heck he was taking — and I don't know if he was overdoing it necessarily, but I just think it makes a more complete story. And once again, I'm not going to excuse him for either one of those things, but I like context.

I didn't want to go in this thing to trash him or turn him into a hero. I think he's a really interesting character. I think he's an important person for a lot of our lives. I think he's had some importance in American history and he is a spectacular golfer as well.

The effect of his parents was extreme with Tiger. And I think mostly good. Everybody has their own theories about how you should bring up kids. But I think it was a loving environment. I think his dad recognized that he had unbelievable talent early. And I think up to a point he left it up to Tiger, and Tiger chose to really go with the talent. Right. But I don't think his father pushed, pushed, pushed him. And interestingly, I think his mother in some ways had more of an effect on the way he golfed because her thing was, "Crush them! If you're up nine strokes going into the four, I want you to win it with 15 strokes ahead."

Right. And so that's kind of just a little humor there. 

But then she ends up defending him so fiercely in the face of this media frenzy that comes about after all this scandal unravels when public perception of him is not great. How do you feel about the way Tiger was portrayed after all this happened? Was it fair?

If it's fair, I don't know. I tried to be as fair as I could be. I had an interview with an English newspaper earlier today and they said they find it interesting over there because their style is if somebody gets big, they want to cut them down. And this, the reporter felt that Americans didn't really do that that much, American press. And I said, to an extent, I don't think they do. I think they give Tiger a little bit of space — I mean, they could be harsher. And they are. But, you know, look — it's the world we live in. You've got X number of people and . . . you can go online and you can anonymously throw whatever you want to have out there. And it's in the drinking water now so everybody does it. I wouldn't say I'm a super great, great, great Christian anymore, but I always have that thing about like I'm like, "Let's forgive people within reason." I think he's been a good dad in spite of all this stuff. And one of the characters that I hadn't really read almost anything about was Sam [Woods' daughter]. And the notion that when he asked her to give the speech when he went into the Hall of Fame, she said, "I inducted you in the Dad Hall of Fame a long time ago." And that's nice. And I think he's close to Charlie [Woods' son] as well. And then she would make fun of him saying, well, "How important can you be if you go to Comic Con dressed as Batman?" You know what I mean? And that's good stuff.

There's another scene that I love in terms of Tiger and Sam. He always had trouble sleeping. I think he's always had some anxiety problems and stuff like that. And so he frequently would get up if she was crying as a baby. But what he would do — I don't know if you remember this — but he would go in and he would do leg presses with her on his legs until she would fall asleep. 

I do remember that!

And that's interesting to me. But I think the notion that he really wanted to be a good dad, even though he obviously screwed up as a husband . . . I think somehow he's maintained the dad thing to within reason because the kids both seem to be very close to him. I'm not exactly sure what the dynamic there is, and I would suspect that a lot of that comes from his own relationship with his parents who — whatever people are always judging about, well, "I wouldn't have done it that way." Look, you bring up your kids, and they're always going to find something that you did.

They go like, "Oh, you know what you did to me when I was 12?"

"No."

"Well, I'll never forget it."

And that's always a piece of the puzzle. But I think his parents did well by him. And if I brought up a kid and they went on to become the best golfer in the world and a good dad, I'd be saying, "Yeah, OK. Well, you know, he's not perfect. I'm not perfect, but I'm cool with it."  That's just where I come from. And part of the storytelling thing is a combination of trying to be truthful and then having some compassion when it's appropriate. 

Right. And I feel like you're able to convey this story about a golfer in such a way that speaks to your ability to write compelling thrillers. It's structured in a way that really lent to that style that you typically tend to engage in. 

It's a story, story, story. When I was running J. Walter Thompson, I wasn't a great public speaker. And I remember going out and I did a thing for the New York Times and there were five writers and I followed this woman and she was fricking hilarious. She was hilarious. She just told story after story after story. And I read from the book and it was awful. And I learned that lesson — just tell stories, even if you're giving a speech, tell stories. They want to be entertained. They're not there to listen to you, "Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah." Yeah, whatever. That's where it came from.

What was the most surprising thing you learned about Tiger? I wasn't sure how much you spoke to him throughout this process.

"The direction we're going in is awful, and hideous, and destructive."

I didn't speak to him at all. Never spoke to him. I've only been in a room with him once and it's kind of interesting. My wife and I played in a — my wife by the way, she's the big shot, a four-time all-American swimmer. But we played in a FedEx thing, the pro-gas kind of thing or amateur pro whatever. And afterward, there was a cocktail thing and they were celebrating his caddy who had just gotten into the Caddy Hall of Fame. It was a dark room and Sue and I were sitting near the back and I noticed coming in the back — Tiger came in late and he just stood in the back by himself. And I couldn't stop watching him, and he was laughing his ass off about his caddy. And you could just feel the closeness that he had with the caddy and just that human thing was, was very nice. To watch him when he was unguarded and not worried about — little did he know he was being observed. But it was nice. And once again, you felt a little bit like you kind of got a little peek at who he was. And that's one of the things that I try to do with the book to really give people a peek or a lot of peeks actually at kind of who he is.

I think one of those really important peeks has to do with his identity. Tiger's ethnic background has been a focal point of his career as a professional golfer, but also more broadly.

Not for him so much. At least in his own way he expresses it. Yeah. You know, the fact that he's always said that he's Asian and in terms of his father being kind of 50-50 and his mother essentially being Asian American.

How did you go about deciding what to include about Tiger's identity? What felt the most pertinent to you?

Enough so that you get a feeling for it. I mean his father obviously clearly wanted him to make more noise about — because I think his father felt what it meant to be perceived as Black in the military, perceived as Black when you go to golf. And I think it puts a chip on your shoulder — his father's shoulder. Tiger doesn't seem to have that same chip on his shoulder. And I don't know how he really feels in his heart of heart . . .  I think he probably does feel Asian and I think he probably feels this is not, hasn't been a huge thing in his life, or he's great at compartmentalizing and just kind of being like, "OK, fine. That is what it is. I'm not going to worry about it."

I have a thing in terms of driving me through life up to a point, which is I try not to worry too much about things that I can't do anything about. It's like, things happen. There was a quote today — [James] Carville. It was a thing in The Times — that editorial Carville did. It was an interesting thing about what he thinks the Democrats should do now. And at the end of it, he quotes — he doesn't know whether it's Churchill or somebody else — but something to the effect of, "Never waste a good crisis." Something like that. And I don't know. I think Tiger's a really smart person, and I think he's figured some stuff out about the way he needs to navigate his way through life. And I don't know if he's still figuring out how to deal with being with another human being, a partner — for whatever reason, who knows why that happens.

In 2014, you spoke with Salon's Chief Content Officer, Erin Keane, about encouraging younger generations to read. The two of you chatted about doing so by using professional athletes as conduits, both from a promotional perspective and as a subject matter perspective. I was wondering how you see Tiger Woods and "Tiger, Tiger" fitting into that mission.

I think it's a good story for kids. I mean, you get to a certain point and you can read anything. Yeah. And that point could be when you're 10 and it could take longer. But I think it's one of those adult books that kids can definitely read. There's nothing in there that kids aren't like — OK he had affairs or whatever he had. The kids — whatever. They know. I think you know, once again, I did not expect a lot of kids to read it, but probably the kids that will read it are kids who are very sports-oriented. Actually, what I would always try to do with kids is get them just good stories. Even this thing of like, "Well, you're a boy and you like baseball — you should read a lot of baseball books." I don't know. There are some good baseball books and a lot of bad ones. And I guess if you're obsessed with it, you don't care. And if you're learning how to be a better reader, that's OK too.

It's an insult, actually. 

You mentioned your productivity was owing to your daily routine, which typically includes playing golf. And I'm wondering what is your background in the sport and what intrigues you about it, say, more than baseball or football or some other sport.

I have no background. As a kid — I'll give you my sports reel. I'm 5'11, I could dunk in high school, and I have nine holes-in-one. Sue, my wife's, is six [holes in one.]

That's a great resume between the two of you.

And she's really irritating. At a certain point, she had four and I had three. This is a true story. And so on Feb. 6 of that year, I had another one. And she's very competitive. So she said, "I don't like it, but I can live with it." Two days later, we were out playing together. I had another hole-in-one. This is two hole-in-one in three days. We're standing on the tee. Does Sue give me a big hug? No. Does she say, "Nice shot, honey!" No. She looks at me and very appropriately says, "You've got to be s****ing me." So that's Augusta, and we both enjoy it.

When I was a kid, I was a good student — you know, pretty well-rounded. But if I had to study or if I was reading a bunch of stuff, I would always go out every once in a while and just shoot baskets in the backyard. For 15 minutes or whatever. And that would clear my brain. Still does. It just clears my brain. Everything's gone. No deadlines, no anything. And that's the way it works for the two of us. And Sue and I, mainly we'll go out for like nine holes, which would take us like an hour and 15. There's a course that we play; they literally will let us go out at six in the morning if we want to. We go bang the ball. Nobody's in front of us. Nobody's in back of us. We're done in an hour.

This is the college English major in me wanting to ask this question, but I was curious — did you draw inspiration, for the book's title from the William Blake poem, "Tyger, Tyger?"

I just stole it. I mean, God! ( laughs ) 

One of the opening scenes in the book is when Tiger wins his fifth Masters Tournament in 2019 and the crowd chants, "Ti-ger, Ti-ger!" 

"The Thomas Berryman Number," my first book. Thomas McGuane, who was one of my favorite writers back then — a little older than me. When I was writing my first novel, I sent a note out to three novelists that I admired. Larry Woiwode is one of them. You probably haven't read him. I don't know if you've read McGuane either. He publishes now a lot of short stories in the New Yorker. He's — I don't know what he is. He's old. And he wrote back from Montana and he just said, "Dear Jim, Write a good book. Your friend, Thomas."

So that's where the Thomas comes from. The Thomas Berryman of my first book and Berryman was the poet [John Berryman.] So yeah. So I've always been a little literary snob.

In 2023, Your "Maximum Ride" sci-fi YA series was removed from Florida's Martin County school district board.

Among others.

You were understandably rankled by this.

And I don't rankle easily. I'll tell you that.

Given the "crisis" you alluded to before — the fraught political state of the country — what concerns do you have regarding future literary censorship? 

I don't think it's a huge deal right now, honestly, but it's irritating right now. And it doesn't even have to do with book banning. It just has to do with in general, the direction we're going in is awful and hideous and destructive. And people love to get up there like, "Oh, you know . . ." So my book got banned. Who cares? It's not the end of the world. I mean, there are more serious ones, obviously — Toni Morrison, etc. Shouldn't do that. The thing of it is, I try to talk to the people who are on the fence. I'll try to talk their language, and one of the things I said about the book banning is, "I don't want the people, some stranger to tell the people in my family what they should and shouldn't read." And the reason I say it that way is most of these people are libertarian-oriented and you want them going, "Yeah, goddammit! Right. Why should some stranger tell us what we —" . . . and that's the really, really bad thing about this.

For example, in Martin County, one woman went in and complained about X number of books, including "Maximum Ride," which she had never read. And they pulled them . . . that's crazy. The other thing about parents is — and this is always what drives the drums or whatever — is, "I should be able to be careful with my kids read." Yes, you should do that. Absolutely. And if your seven-year-old comes home with "The Hunger Games," you should be able to say, "Honey, let's talk about this because I'm not sure if you're ready for 'The Hunger Games.' You know, it's kind of violent."

( Imitating child ) "Yeah. No, but it's about hunger and . . . "

So once again, just turning it on people. Yes, you should be concerned with what your kid — more about what they're watching on their telephones and stuff. Take care of your kids. Absolutely. But don't take care of my kids. Take care of your own kids.

Does the censorship issue inform your approach to new writing?

Don't sit there writing and say, "Jim thinks there isn't a big book banning problem." There is a big problem.

Agreed. So does it affect how you approach your new projects, for example, or how you think about them? 

Trying to do stuff that'll get banned on purpose? Yes! 

I'm glad that the biography will be out in the world. I didn't know that much about Tiger, so I'm glad to have had the opportunity to speak to you about him.

I think that's the thing that's useful about the book. I think it is very readable and I think it's good for people to know. It'd be silly to go through life and not have a clue about that guy, 'cause he's just one of those people. More important than George Clooney. Even though Clooney got to do an editorial  at The Times. It was a stupid editorial too. That's why it was just like, why? It was bad. It was just a bad piece. 

about this topic

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Gabriella Ferrigine is a staff writer at Salon. Originally from the Jersey Shore, she moved to New York City in 2016 to attend Columbia University, where she received her B.A. in English and M.A. in American Studies. Formerly a staff writer at NowThis News, she has an M.A. in Magazine Journalism from NYU and was previously a news fellow at Salon.

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