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Order of James Patterson Books

Order of James Patterson Books: A Complete Guide

James Patterson is one of the most prolific and best-selling authors in the world. Known for his fast-paced thrillers, crime novels, and gripping storytelling, Patterson has written hundreds of books across multiple series and genres. If you’re looking to read his books in order, this guide will help you navigate through his extensive collection.

Who is James Patterson?

James Patterson is an American author best known for his thriller and mystery novels. He has created iconic characters like Alex Cross, Michael Bennett, and the Women’s Murder Club. Patterson is also known for collaborating with other writers to produce a vast array of books, including young adult fiction, romance, and non-fiction.

How to Read James Patterson’s Books in Order

Patterson’s books can be read in different ways, including:

  1. Publication Order – Reading books in the order they were published.
  2. Chronological Order – Reading books in the timeline order of events.
  3. Series Order – Reading books in their respective series.

Below is a breakdown of his most popular series in order.

1. Alex Cross Series (Thriller/Mystery)

The Alex Cross series follows detective and psychologist Alex Cross as he investigates complex crimes and faces dangerous criminals.

Alex Cross Books in Order:

  1. Along Came a Spider (1993)
  2. Kiss the Girls (1995)
  3. Jack & Jill (1996)
  4. Cat & Mouse (1997)
  5. Pop Goes the Weasel (1999)
  6. Roses Are Red (2000)
  7. Violets Are Blue (2001)
  8. Four Blind Mice (2002)
  9. The Big Bad Wolf (2003)
  10. London Bridges (2004)
  11. Mary, Mary (2005)
  12. Cross (2006)
  13. Double Cross (2007)
  14. Cross Country (2008)
  15. Alex Cross’s Trial (2009)
  16. I, Alex Cross (2009)
  17. Cross Fire (2010)
  18. Kill Alex Cross (2011)
  19. Merry Christmas, Alex Cross (2012)
  20. Alex Cross, Run (2013)
  21. Cross My Heart (2013)
  22. Hope to Die (2014)
  23. Cross Justice (2015)
  24. Cross the Line (2016)
  25. The People vs. Alex Cross (2017)
  26. Target: Alex Cross (2018)
  27. Criss Cross (2019)
  28. Deadly Cross (2020)
  29. Fear No Evil (2021)

2. Women’s Murder Club Series (Crime/Mystery)

This series follows a group of women—a detective, a reporter, a lawyer, and a medical examiner—who solve crimes in San Francisco.

Women’s Murder Club Books in Order:

  1. 1st to Die (2001)
  2. 2nd Chance (2002)
  3. 3rd Degree (2004)
  4. 4th of July (2005)
  5. The 5th Horseman (2006)
  6. The 6th Target (2007)
  7. 7th Heaven (2008)
  8. The 8th Confession (2009)
  9. The 9th Judgment (2010)
  10. 10th Anniversary (2011)
  11. 11th Hour (2012)
  12. 12th of Never (2013)
  13. Unlucky 13 (2014)
  14. 14th Deadly Sin (2015)
  15. 15th Affair (2016)
  16. 16th Seduction (2017)
  17. The 17th Suspect (2018)
  18. The 18th Abduction (2019)
  19. The 19th Christmas (2019)
  20. The 20th Victim (2020)
  21. The 21st Birthday (2021)

3. Michael Bennett Series (Thriller/Crime)

Michael Bennett is a New York detective and single father solving high-stakes cases.

Michael Bennett Books in Order:

  1. Step on a Crack (2007)
  2. Run for Your Life (2009)
  3. Worst Case (2010)
  4. Tick Tock (2011)
  5. I, Michael Bennett (2012)
  6. Gone (2013)
  7. Burn (2014)
  8. Alert (2015)
  9. Bullseye (2016)
  10. Haunted (2017)
  11. Ambush (2018)
  12. Blindside (2019)
  13. The Russian (2021)
  14. Shattered (2022)

4. NYPD Red Series (Thriller)

This series follows elite detectives handling high-profile crimes in New York City.

NYPD Red Books in Order:

  1. NYPD Red (2012)
  2. NYPD Red 2 (2014)
  3. NYPD Red 3 (2015)
  4. NYPD Red 4 (2016)
  5. NYPD Red 5 (2020)

5. Private Series (Thriller/Spy Fiction)

Private is a global investigative firm solving high-profile cases.

Private Books in Order:

  1. Private (2010)
  2. Private #1 Suspect (2012)
  3. Private Games (2012)
  4. Private London (2012)
  5. Private Berlin (2013)
  6. Private L.A. (2014)
  7. Private Down Under (2014)
  8. Private India (2014)
  9. Private Vegas (2015)
  10. Private Paris (2016)
  11. Private Rio (2016)
  12. Private Delhi (2017)
  13. Private Princess (2018)

Other Notable Books by James Patterson

Apart from his major series, Patterson has written standalone thrillers, young adult novels, and non-fiction books, including:

  • Standalone Thrillers: The Beach House, The Murder House, The Chef, etc.
  • Young Adult Fiction: Maximum Ride, Daniel X, and Witch & Wizard series.
  • Non-Fiction: The Last Days of John Lennon, Filthy Rich (about Jeffrey Epstein).

Conclusion

James Patterson’s books span multiple genres and offer a mix of thrill, suspense, and mystery. Whether you’re diving into the Alex Cross series, Women’s Murder Club, or Michael Bennett, this reading order guide will help you explore his works seamlessly. Happy reading!

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