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.”
23 Best James Patterson Books to Read
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.
