james patterson is a famous american thriller writer. He is a bestselling author who has written over a hundred books, including those with co-authors. he writes independent series and novels and is the author of books of various genres.
If you’ve read James Patterson before, you’re already familiar with his fast writing and short chapters. if not, that’s something to take note of, as it might not appeal to you if you’re not interested in that speed of development.
You are reading: Best james patterson standalone books
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 suspense series
james patterson is best known for his series of suspenseful and investigative novels. in fact, most of his works fall into this category. some works were written by himself, while others were co-written by some of the most popular writers in the genre.
These are some of Patterson’s thrillers you should watch!
if you’re wondering if you should read james patterson, i’d suggest this book as a good start, though be careful as this series is quite long.
no unconditional fan of james patterson would not know alex cross, the protagonist of this book. Alex Cross is a brilliant detective who is on a cat and mouse chase with Gary Soneji, a brilliant serial killer, too brilliant that the authorities are struggling to bring him down. Along with Secret Service Supervisor Jezzie Flannagan, Alex attempts to capture and outwit the villain as he solves murder cases.
The book is a complete set of mystery, crime, thriller and suspense genres.
Unpredictable plot twists will leave you wondering how it all will unfold.
Unlike the ultimate series, the chase in this book is more dynamic and arouses interest. when you’ve got a brilliant detective chasing an equally brilliant villain, you’re in for a unique chase full of clever scenarios.
needless to say, the book isn’t just about the chase between alex and gary; It also introduces Alex’s relationships with his family and someone special to him.
There is a lot to say about this book, so you better experience it yourself. it’s fast-paced, so there’s no need to worry about the long installment you’ll have to catch up on (each book will definitely leave you wanting the next one, anyway). while it’s unlikely that every book in this series will satisfy you, in my opinion the first few installments are definitely worth reading.
Introducing, the elite task force, nypd red!
formed by the mayor of new york, this unit has the task of protecting the richest and most influential personalities in manhattan.
Detective Zach Jordan and his ex-girlfriend, Detective Kylie Macdonald, of the special unit, are assigned to investigate the case of Sidney Roth, a world-famous producer, who died of poisoning. Although Zach and Kylie are under orders to stop at nothing to catch the killer, this is proving more difficult than they imagined.
something to appreciate about zach and kylie’s relationship is their undeniable dynamic.
If you’re interested in investigative cases where crimes are committed in strange and overt ways, you might want to give this novel a try. it’s easy to read, and the cases, as well as point-to-point location changes, are easy to follow.
series information: co-authored with marshall karp; currently in its fifth installment, with the sixth book scheduled to be released in 2020
adaptation/related works: no adaptations yet
Following her brother’s arrest as the prime suspect in a murder case, sex crimes detective Harriet Blue is transferred to Perth, a small town in Western Australia, far from the media spotlight. She along with Detective Whittacker, she investigates the case of the missing miners.
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’re into the women’s murder club, you’ll get the same Lindsay Boxer vibe from Harry.
series info: harriet blue detective series has 5 books, including book 0.5, black & blue.
here comes the most challenging case in detective michael bennett’s career: a hostage crisis ensues during the funeral of a former first lady, and the lives of some of the country’s most prominent and influential people they are in danger. In addition, he finds out that his wife, who has cancer, is already counting down the days.
michael bennet is probably one of my favorite james patterson creations. the emotional and heartwarming struggle the main character has while doing his duty adds more character development to the story. This novel takes readers through emotional swings, from the suspenseful and mysterious events to the heartwarming scenes.
series information: there are currently 15 books in the installment. book 12, blindside, is the last installment.
adaptation/related works: last 2017, it was reported that an abc television adaptation is on the way.
An inspector, a police assistant, a chief medical examiner and a newspaper reporter: four women form the female killer club to investigate the mystery and find the killer behind the murders of newlyweds.
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what is expected from this series is how each woman plays her role with her specialization. They are a dynamic team of four women who gather information to solve the crime.
Each book in the series has its own slipcase, though the familiarity with previous installments will make you appreciate it all the more.
series information: there are 13 books in the female killer club series.
adaptation/related works: television series 1st to die (2003); female killer club television series (2007-2008)
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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 indeed going on. he drops out of graduate school and collects data on the attacks. what is causing all these behaviors? Will he be able to convince the world before more terrible attacks occur? Or is it too late for them to ensure a safe space for humans?
Of all of Patterson’s works, this novel has the simplest premise, and James Patterson, along with Michael Ledwidge, gave it a relevant approach. Compared to his other works, this one has less suspenseful effect. Some readers may not like scenes of animals attacking humans, and if you’re one of them, you might as well not read this book.
There are only two books in this series, so if you want a james patterson series with few installs, you have this to keep you busy.
series information: there are 2 books in the series.
adaptation/related works: cbs-tv series, zoo (2015); zoo: the graphic novel
james patterson best independent novels
if you don’t like series, you might want to try some of james patterson’s standalone books.
journalist ochs jones investigates the murder of a high-profile politician, jimmie lee. after learning of two other murder cases, she believes that these murders are related, so he is determined to track down the killer.
Meanwhile, Thomas Berryman is a ruthless killer who tags his kill with a number. can jones track down this cunning killer?
maybe you want to read the first book james patterson ever wrote. It will show you Patterson’s early writing style before he switched to fast-paced, short-chapter narrative.
A lot has changed in Patterson’s writing style, so if you’re new to his works, I suggest you put this book on hold and try his other novels first.
However, if you like a bit of a slow development (relative to other Patterson works), then reading this novel first shouldn’t be a problem.
This first novel by James Patterson won the 1977 Edgar Allan Poe Award for First Novel.
The current president, harrison tucker, is weeks away from being re-elected and a second victory is almost assured. 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 elections is not assured.
Meanwhile, First Lady Grace Tucker has suddenly disappeared. Agent Sally Grisson is tasked with investigating and finding the First Lady, whose disappearance appears to be more than just her running away to recover 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 that it didn’t stray from the usual speedy writing that James Patterson is known for. I’d say some parts are definitely predictable, but the suspenseful ride still lived up to my hype.
if you’re new to james patterson and would like to try it out by reading a stand-alone novel, this is one of two books I recommend to start with.
brigit fitzgerald has been through a lot in her life. a former doctor now a priest, she may even be the next pope. How will the lives of those who challenge the church change from her?
I didn’t expect a novel like this by 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 justified developments through a second book enough because it seems lacking in that respect.
the novel is full of religious undertones, although the book is more about action than religion. If you’re not comfortable with this type of story, you can skip this book.
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Released in August 2018, this book is the latest addition to James Patterson’s long list of thrillers.
It all comes down to our main character, bill robinson, a former detective who is recovering from the death of his wife and now runs a bed and breakfast inn after his dismissal from the service. his plan for a new beginning fails when chains of death begin to occur in his area.
By the way, what (or who) do you need to fight the crimes that have been going on are right under the same roof. Bill, along with his long-term tenants, battle Mitchell Cline, the drug lord responsible for the murders in Bill’s town.
As someone who has read Patterson’s early work, I can tell that the writing style has changed a bit. what I like about this novel is the new set of characters. james patterson and candice fox took time to develop the relationship between the characters to justify founding the team.
They will soon form up to fight against the villain of the story. how characters with different backgrounds complemented each other and worked towards the same goal is for you to discover.
If you’re not particularly looking for a complete crime thriller novel, I highly recommend reading this before reading the other james patterson series. If you’ve read his other books (for example, any of the Alex Cross series or The Killer Woman Club), this book might disappoint you.
If you’re new to james patterson and want to experience his crime-thriller style of writing, 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.
a standalone novel that i would recommend to new readers of james patterson, the story is about the mystery surrounding the multi-million dollar beachfront house in hamptons and the series of murders that have been going on in this murder house as far as how the locals refer to it.
As for former nypd cop jenna murphy, after many years of being away, she is back in hampton and langdon james, the chief of police, and her uncle offer her a position with the police of southampton. Here she gets involved in the murder house mystery and Noah Walker, the prime suspect. Now, Jenna is determined to solve the mystery behind the murders.
I highly recommend reading this novel. Of all the independent thrillers 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 trademark short, fast-paced chapters, as well as the tension-inducing thriller genre he’s known for.
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for newcomers, they will definitely be tempted to read more of his works.
yes, you read that right. The president is missing, but not entirely.
Cyberterrorism threatens the United States and President Jonathan Duncan faces accusations of being the suspect! Faced with impeachment, the president disappears.
Written by James Patterson and former US President Bill Clinton, this political thriller is sure to blow your mind with its twists and turns and realistic storytelling on political issues.
what makes this novel unique is the almost testimonial writing you can get from the novel. the president’s point of view is even more realistic when a former president himself is involved in the drafting.
I can’t say how much of this novel is the work of the president. however, the novel stayed true to patterson’s style of short chapters and fast-paced development.
There are quite a few novels (and even movies) that have president themes, so if you like those guys, I highly recommend this book.
adaptation/related works: a television adaptation of the president is yet to be released.
james patterson’s best young adult and romance novels
If you don’t think the suspense series or standalone novels mentioned above are to your liking, check out this list of romantic and already written novels by james patterson.
Don’t be fooled by the above lists; Although most of his work is thrillers, he is just as good when it comes to writing romance and young adult themes!
The story follows six genetically modified children (half human, half bird) 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 nervous, leading the group through a 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 teenagers who are currently in their genres). each chapter is packed with back and forth scenarios while being chased by the drafts (the men from school, basically). I would recommend this series for those who are not big fans of crime, suspense and mystery. genre, but they want to have a bit of them in their reading experience. If you find teen angst enjoyable, you’ll definitely love Max.
if you’re more into the crime/thriller genre and want more investigative plot lines, there’s definitely a james patterson book for you, but unfortunately, this book isn’t.
continue reading the list; the next book could be the one for you!
series information: the series has nine books which concluded with the release of the ninth book, maximum journey forever.
Adaptation/Related Works: Maximum Journey (2016 film); Marvel Comics adaptation Max Ride: First Flight, Max Ride: Last Flight and Max Ride: Last Flight; manga adaptation published by yen press. This book was nominated for the 2010 Golden Archer Award, Middle/High School category.
daniel x has the power and ability to create. At a very young age, Daniel X learned to survive only after his parents were brutally murdered in his presence. he uses his secret abilities to hunt down the killers of his parents. now, he goes through the list in hopes of finally taking down the killer.
If you loved the ultimate ride, then you should try this one! If you didn’t like Maximum Voyage (or haven’t read it) but you like science fiction (and maybe aliens), read this book and see if you’d like James Patterson’s science fiction writing. It’s certainly shorter than the ultimate series of rides, but it’s nothing short of an adventure!
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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)
Sixteen-year-old tandy angel and her three brothers come from a wealthy and successful family. they are winners and prodigies in their fields. but after the mysterious death of her parents, things begin to change.
Police cannot identify any other suspects besides Tandy and her siblings. the thing is, she may actually be guilty of the crime herself, though she can’t say for sure. She must now discover the truth behind the death of her parents and uncover some of the family’s deepest and most shocking secrets.
This novel has more of a thriller and less of a chase plot, compared to the series mentioned earlier in the list already. The character, Tandy, narrates the story directly to the audience, adding a more uplifting effect.
This is recommended for readers who enjoy reading about family secrets and mysteries.
warning for those who have read the maximum trip and are looking for a similar one; this is different and may not be to your liking.
katie wilkinson, an editor who works for a publishing house, is in a relationship with matthew harrison, an author and poet. just when she thought everything was fine, matthew suddenly disappears.
katie discovers a journal written by a woman named suzanne. She painstakingly reviews the diary as she learns about the past of the man she loves, but hoping to find out if they still have a chance.
This novel is James Patterson’s first work in the romance genre and demonstrates his versatility in writing different genres. I recommend it to readers who are looking for a romance novel and aren’t too fond of suspenseful stories. If he’s worried that this novel might be a romantic thriller, it is, in a romantic sense.
Adaptation/Related Works: Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas (2005 TV Movie)
Shortly after two straight losses, Jennifer gets the sad news again that her grandmother is sick. he receives a call and immediately returns to his grandmother’s house, the same town where he grew up. while he spends some time there, she discovers a pack of letters summarizing the love story of her grandmother, sam.
if you’re not a fan of suspense stories but want to read james patterson, i suggest you read this novel. Of course, since you don’t mind reading a romance novel either.
Reading this book can also be a nice break from back-to-back reading of Patterson’s thrillers. if you are looking for a good romantic novel, this may also be for you
This book was included in the National Top 100 Books of 2004 list.
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