James Patterson, born on March 22, 1947, in Newburgh, New York, is one of the most prolific and popular authors of the 21st century. Known for his fast-paced thrillers, detective novels, and young adult series, Patterson has become a dominant force in the world of contemporary fiction, renowned for his compelling storytelling and innovative publishing approaches.
Patterson graduated from Manhattan College and Vanderbilt University, where he obtained a degree in English and a Master’s in English. He started his career in advertising, rising to become the CEO of J. Walter Thompson’s North American Company. However, it was his passion for storytelling that led him to the literary world.
Breakthrough in Literature
Patterson’s breakthrough came with “Along Came a Spider” (1993), the first novel featuring his iconic character, Alex Cross, an African American psychologist and detective. This book not only established Patterson as a major figure in the thriller genre but also introduced readers to his signature style: short chapters, fast-paced narratives, and suspenseful storytelling.
A Diverse and Expansive Bibliography
Over the years, Patterson has written numerous bestsellers and created several popular series, including the “Women’s Murder Club,” “Michael Bennett,” “Maximum Ride,” and the “Detective Harriet Blue” series. His ability to write across different genres, from thrillers to romance and science fiction, has endeared him to a broad range of readers.
Young Adult and Children’s Literature
Patterson has also made significant contributions to young adult and children’s literature. His series like “Maximum Ride,” “Witch & Wizard,” and the “Middle School” books have been particularly successful, combining action-packed adventures with themes relevant to young readers.
Collaborations and Co-Authoring
Known for his collaborative efforts, Patterson has co-authored books with various writers, broadening his reach and providing opportunities for emerging authors. This approach has allowed him to produce an impressive number of books each year.
Philanthropy and Advocacy for Reading
Beyond writing, Patterson is deeply committed to promoting literacy and education. He has donated millions of books to schools and the military and provided scholarships for teachers and funds for university writing programs. His dedication to fostering a love for reading in children and supporting educators is a cornerstone of his legacy.
Awards and Recognition
Patterson’s work has garnered numerous awards and honors, reflecting his impact on the literary world. He holds The Guinness World Record for the most #1 New York Times bestsellers and has been recognized for his contributions to literature and literacy.
In Summary
James Patterson’s influence on modern literature is undeniable. His innovative storytelling, prolific output, and commitment to promoting literacy have made him a household name and a pillar in the literary community. His books have not only entertained millions but also contributed to the important cause of fostering a love for reading among people of all ages.
The Dangerous Days of Daniel X(With: Michael Ledwidge)
(2007)
Watch the Skies(With: Ned Rust)
(2009)
Demons and Druids(With: Adam Sadler)
(2010)
Game Over(With: Ned Rust)
(2011)
Armageddon(With: Chris Grabenstein)
(2012)
Lights Out(With: Chris Grabenstein)
(2015)
Genesis
(2022)
Publication Order of Daniel X Graphic Novels Books
Alien Hunter(With: Leopoldo Gout)
(2008)
Daniel X: The Manga, Vol. 1(With: Michael Ledwidge)
(2010)
Daniel X: The Manga, Vol. 2(With: Ned Rust)
(2011)
Daniel X: The Manga, Vol. 3(With: Adam Sadler)
(2012)
Publication Order of Detective Harriet Blue Books
Never Never
(2016)
Fifty Fifty
(2017)
Liar Liar
(2018)
Hush
(2019)
Publication Order of BookShots: Detective Harriet Blue Books
Black & Blue
(2016)
Publication Order of David Shelley Books
Revenge(With: Andrew Holmes)
(2018)
Publication Order of Doc Savage Books
The Perfect Assassin
(2022)
Publication Order of Honeymoon Books
Honeymoon
(2005)
Second Honeymoon
(2013)
Publication Order of Instinct Books
Murder Games / Instinct
(2017)
Killer Instinct
(2019)
Steal
(2022)
Publication Order of Invisible Books (with David Ellis)
Invisible
(2014)
Unsolved
(2019)
Publication Order of Jane Smith Books
12 Months to Live
(2023)
Jane Effing Smith
(2024)
Publication Order of Katt vs. Dogg Books (with Chris Grabenstein)
Katt Loves Dogg(With: Chris Grabenstein)
(2021)
Publication Order of Maximum Ride Books
The Angel Experiment
(2005)
School’s Out – Forever
(2006)
Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports
(2007)
The Final Warning
(2008)
Max
(2009)
Fang
(2010)
Angel
(2011)
Nevermore
(2012)
Maximum Ride Forever
(2015)
Publication Order of Maximum Ride: Hawk Books
Hawk(With: Gabrielle Charbonnet)
(2020)
City of the Dead(With: Mindy McGinnis)
(2021)
Publication Order of Maximum Ride Graphic Novels Books
Maximum Ride: The Manga, Vol. 1
(2009)
Maximum Ride: The Manga, Vol. 2
(2009)
Maximum Ride: The Manga, Vol. 3
(2010)
Maximum Ride: The Manga, Vol. 4
(2011)
Maximum Ride: The Manga, Vol. 5
(2011)
Maximum Ride: The Manga, Vol. 6
(2012)
Maximum Ride: The Manga, Vol. 7
(2013)
Maximum Ride: The Manga, Vol. 8
(2014)
Maximum Ride: The Manga, Vol. 9
(2015)
Max Ride: Ultimate Flight
(2016)
Maximum Ride: The Manga, Vol. 10
(2021)
Publication Order of Michael Bennett Books
Step on a Crack(With: Michael Ledwidge)
(2007)
Run for Your Life(With: Michael Ledwidge)
(2009)
Worst Case(With: Michael Ledwidge)
(2009)
Tick Tock(With: Michael Ledwidge)
(2010)
I, Michael Bennett(With: Michael Ledwidge)
(2012)
Gone(With: Michael Ledwidge)
(2013)
Burn(With: Michael Ledwidge)
(2014)
Alert(With: Michael Ledwidge)
(2015)
Bullseye(With: Michael Ledwidge)
(2016)
Haunted(With: James O. Born)
(2017)
Ambush(With: James O. Born)
(2018)
Blindside(With: James O. Born)
(2020)
The Russian(With: James O. Born)
(2021)
Shattered(With: James O. Born)
(2022)
Obsessed(With: James O. Born)
(2023)
Crosshairs(With: James O. Born)
(2024)
Publication Order of Bookshots: Michael Bennett Books
Chase
(2016)
Manhunt(With: James O. Born)
(2017)
In order, read Chase after Bullseye and Manhunt after Haunted.
Publication Order of Discovery’s Murder is Forever Books
Murder, Interrupted(With: Christopher Charles,Alex Abramovich)
(2018)
Home Sweet Murder(With: Scott Slaven,Andrew Bourelle)
(2018)
Murder Beyond the Grave(With: Christopher Charles,Andrew Bourelle)
(2018)
Murder Thy Neighbor(With: Max DiLallo,Andrew Bourelle)
(2020)
Murder of Innocence(With: Max DiLallo,Andrew Bourelle)
(2020)
Till Murder Do Us Part(With: Max DiLallo,Andrew Bourelle)
(2021)
Publication Order of NYPD Red Books
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(By: Marshall Karp)
(2022)
Publication Order of Private Books
Private(With: Maxine Paetro,Mark Sullivan)
(2010)
Private London(With: Mark Pearson)
(2011)
Private Games(With: Mark Sullivan,Mark Sullivan)
(2012)
Private:#1 Suspect(With: Maxine Paetro)
(2012)
Private Berlin(With: Mark Sullivan,Mark Sullivan)
(2013)
Private L.A.(With: Mark Sullivan)
(2014)
Private Down Under / Oz(With: Michael White)
(2014)
Private India(With: Ashwin Sanghi)
(2014)
Private Vegas(With: Maxine Paetro)
(2015)
Private Sydney / Missing(With: Kathryn Fox)
(2015)
Private Paris(With: Mark Sullivan,Mark Sullivan)
(2016)
Private Rio / The Games(With: Mark Sullivan,Mark Sullivan)
(2016)
Private Delhi / Count to Ten(With: Ashwin Sanghi)
(2017)
Princess(With: Rees Jones)
(2018)
Private Moscow(With: Adam Hamdy)
(2020)
Private Rogue(With: Adam Hamdy)
(2021)
Private Beijing(With: Adam Hamdy)
(2022)
Private: Missing Persons(With: Adam Hamdy)
(2024)
Note: James considers Private, Private: #1 Suspect, Private L.A., Private Vegas, Private Paris and The Games as the only books part of the main series.
Publication Order of Bookshots: Private Books
Private Royals(With: Rees Jones)
(2016)
Private: Gold(With: Jassy Mackenzie)
(2017)
Publication Order of Rory Yates Books (with Andrew Bourelle)
Texas Ranger
(2018)
Texas Outlaw
(2020)
Publication Order of Ruby Bozarth Books
Juror #3(With: Nancy Allen)
(2018)
The Jailhouse Lawyer / Power of Attorney(With: Nancy Allen)
(2021)
Publication Order of Shadow Books
The Shadow
(2021)
Circle of Death
(2023)
Publication Order of Tom Moon Books
Lost
(2020)
Publication Order of Travis McKinley Books
Miracle on the 17th Green
(1996)
Miracle at Augusta
(2015)
Miracle at St. Andrews
(2019)
Publication Order of When the Wind Blows Books
When the Wind Blows
(1998)
The Lake House
(2003)
Publication Order of Witch & Wizard Books
Witch & Wizard(With: Gabrielle Charbonnet)
(2009)
The Gift(With: Ned Rust)
(2010)
The Fire(With: Jill Dembowski)
(2011)
The Kiss(With: Jill Dembowski)
(2013)
The Lost(With: Emily Raymond)
(2014)
Publication Order of Witch & Wizard Graphic Novels Books
Battle for Shadowland
(2010)
Witch & Wizard: The Manga, Vol. 1(With: Gabrielle Charbonnet,Svetlana Chmakova)
(2011)
Witch & Wizard: The Manga, Vol. 2(With: Ned Rust,Svetlana Chmakova)
(2012)
Witch & Wizard: The Manga, Vol. 3(With: Jill Dembowski,Svetlana Chmakova)
(2013)
Publication Order of Zoo Books
Zoo
(2012)
Zoo: The Graphic Novel
(2012)
Publication Order of Bookshots: Zoo Books
Zoo 2
(2016)
Publication Order of 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 / Virgin (Remastered)
(1999)
Sam’s Letters to Jennifer
(2001)
Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas
(2001)
The Beach House(With: Peter de Jonge)
(2002)
The Jester(With: Andrew Gross)
(2003)
Lifeguard(With: Andrew Gross)
(2005)
Beach Road(With: Peter de Jonge)
(2006)
Judge & Jury(With: Andrew Gross)
(2006)
The Quickie(With: Michael Ledwidge)
(2007)
You’ve Been Warned(With: Howard Roughan)
(2007)
Sundays at Tiffany’s(With: Gabrielle Charbonnet)
(2008)
Sail(With: Howard Roughan)
(2008)
Swimsuit(With: Maxine Paetro)
(2009)
The Postcard Killers(With: Liza Marklund)
(2010)
Don’t Blink(With: Howard Roughan)
(2010)
Toys(With: Neil McMahon)
(2011)
Now You See Her(With: Michael Ledwidge)
(2011)
Kill Me If You Can(With: Marshall Karp)
(2011)
The Christmas Wedding(With: Richard DiLallo)
(2011)
Guilty Wives(With: David Ellis)
(2012)
Mistress(With: David Ellis)
(2013)
First Love(With: Emily Raymond)
(2013)
Homeroom Diaries(With: Lisa Papademetriou)
(2014)
Public School Superhero(With: Chris Tebbetts)
(2015)
Truth or Die(With: Howard Roughan)
(2015)
The Murder House(With: David Ellis)
(2015)
Woman of God(With: Maxine Paetro)
(2016)
Word of Mouse(With: Chris Grabenstein)
(2016)
Humans, Bow Down(With: Emily Raymond)
(2017)
Pottymouth and Stoopid(With: Chris Grabenstein)
(2017)
The Store(With: Richard DiLallo)
(2017)
Expelled / The Injustice(With: Emily Raymond)
(2017)
The President Is Missing(With: Bill Clinton)
(2018)
Juror #3(With: Nancy Allen)
(2018)
The First Lady(With: Brendan DuBois)
(2018)
The House Next Door
(2019)
The Inn(With: Candice Fox)
(2019)
The Warning(With: Robison Wells)
(2019)
The Summer House(With: Brendan DuBois)
(2020)
Cajun Justice(With: Tucker Axum)
(2020)
1st Case(With: Chris Tebbetts)
(2020)
The Midwife Murders(With: Richard DiLallo)
(2020)
The Coast-to-Coast Murders(With: J.D. Barker)
(2020)
Three Women Disappear(With: Shan Serafin)
(2020)
The President’s Daughter(With: Bill Clinton)
(2021)
The Noise(With: J.D. Barker)
(2021)
The Jailhouse Lawyer / Power of Attorney (With: Nancy Allen)
(2021)
2 Sisters Detective Agency (With: Candice Fox)
(2021)
The Guilty
(2021)
The Horsewoman (With: Mike Lupica)
(2022)
Run, Rose, Run (With: Dolly Parton)
(2022)
Death of the Black Widow (With: J.D. Barker)
(2022)
The Elephant Girl (With: Ellen Banda-Aaku,Sophia Krevoy)
(2022)
The Ninth Month (With: Richard DiLallo)
(2022)
Blowback (With: Brendan DuBois)
(2022)
The Girl in the Castle (With: Emily Raymond)
(2022)
The Twelve Topsy-Turvy, Very Messy Days ofChristmas (With: Tad Safran)
(2022)
The House of Wolves (With: Mike Lupica)
(2023)
Things I Wish I Told My Mother (With: Susan Patterson,Susan DiLallo)
(2023)
Lion & Lamb
(2023)
Holmes, Miss Marple & Poe (With: Brian Sitts)
(2024)
The #1 Lawyer (With: Nancy Allen)
(2024)
The Murder Inn (With: Candice Fox)
(2024)
Eruption (With: Michael Crichton)
(2024)
Cemetery Lake (With: J.D. Barker)
(2024)
Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas
Bloody Valentine
(2011)
Boys Will Be Boys
(2011)
Zero Tolerance
(2023)
Publication Order of Bookshots: Detective Luc Moncrief Books
French Kiss
(2016)
The Christmas Mystery
(2016)
French Twist
(2017)
Publication Order of Bookshots: Diamond Trilogy Books
Dazzling
(2016)
Radiant
(2016)
Exquisite
(2017)
Publication Order of Bookshots: Jon Roscoe Thriller Books
The Hostage
(2016)
The Verdict
(2016)
Kidnapped
(2016)
Publication Order of Bookshots: Owen Taylor Books
The End
(2017)
After the End
(2017)
Publication Order of BookShots: Flames Books
Learning to Ride(With: Erin Knightley)
(2016)
Sacking the Quarterback(With: Samantha Towle)
(2016)
The Mating Season(With: Laurie Horowitz)
(2016)
The Return(By: Erin Knightley)
(2016)
Bodyguard(By: Jessica Linden)
(2016)
Hot Winter Nights(With: Codi Gary)
(2016)
Seducing Shakespeare(By: Tabitha Ross)
(2017)
Bedding the Highlander(By: Sabrina York)
(2017)
Sabotage(By: Jessica Linden)
(2017)
50 Hidden Desires(With: Jessica Lemmon)
(2017)
Sexy Summer Flings(With: Codi Gary)
(2017)
Love Me Tender(With: Laurie Horowitz)
(2017)
The Experiment(By: HelenKay Dimon)
(2017)
The Weekend Wife(By: Beth Ciotta)
(2017)
Dawn’s Early Light(By: Jessica Scott)
(2017)
Christmas Sanctuary(By: Lauren Hawkeye)
(2017)
Shopping for Love(By: Renee Carlino)
(2018)
Once Upon a Kiss(By: Sara Jane Stone)
(2018)
Publication Order of Bookshots: Mitchum Books
Hidden
(2017)
Malicious
(2017)
Malevolent
(2020)
Publication Order of Bookshots: Standalone Novels
Let’s Play Make-Believe / The Palm Beach Murders(With: James O. Born)
(2016)
Break Point(With: Lee Stone)
(2016)
Heist(With: Rees Jones)
(2016)
Airport Code Red(With: Michael White)
(2016)
The Witnesses(With: Brendan DuBois)
(2016)
Little Black Dress(With: Emily Raymond)
(2016)
Dead Heat(With: Lee Stone)
(2016)
The Pretender(With: Andrew Bourelle)
(2016)
Hunted(With: Andrew Holmes)
(2016)
113 Minutes(With: Max DiLallo)
(2016)
Trump vs. Clinton
(2016)
The Women’s War(With: Hilary Liftin)
(2016)
$10,000,000 Marriage Proposal(With: Shan Serafin)
(2016)
Taking the Titanic(With: Scott Slaven)
(2016)
Come and Get Us(With: Shan Serafin)
(2016)
The House Husband(With: Duane Swierczynski)
(2017)
The Shut-In(With: Duane Swierczynski)
(2017)
Night Sniper(With: Christopher Charles)
(2017)
Diary of a Succubus(With: Derek Nikitas)
(2017)
Stealing Gulfstreams(With: Max DiLallo)
(2017)
The Lawyer Lifeguard(With: Doug Allyn)
(2017)
Stingrays(With: Duane Swierczynski)
(2017)
Nooners(With: Tim Arnold)
(2017)
Steeplechase(With: Scott Slaven)
(2017)
Deadly Cargo(With: Will Jordan)
(2017)
The Dolls(With: Kecia Bal)
(2017)
The Family Lawyer(With: Rachel Howzell Hall)
(2017)
Dead Man Running(With: Christopher Farnsworth)
(2017)
Scott Free(With: Rob Hart)
(2017)
Absolute Zero(With: Ed Chatterton)
(2017)
You’ve Been Warned – Again(With: Derek Nikitas)
(2017)
The Exile(With: Alison Joseph)
(2017)
The Moores Are Missing & The Housewife(With: Loren D. Estleman,Sam Hawken)
(2017)
Avalanche(With: David Inglish)
(2017)
Kill and Tell(With: Scott Slaven)
(2017)
The Doctor’s Plot
(2018)
The 13-Minute Murder(With: Shan Serafin)
(2019)
Publication Order of Short Story Collections
The House Next Door(With: Max DiLallo,Tim Arnold,Susan DiLallo)
(2019)
3 Days to Live
(2023)
Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books
The Day America Told the Truth(With: Peter Kim)
(1991)
Torn Apart / Against Medical Advice(With: Hal Friedman)
(2008)
The Murder of King Tut(With: Martin Dugard)
(2009)
Med Head: My Knock-down, Drag-out, Drugged-up Battle with My Brain(With: Hal Friedman)
(2010)
Filthy Rich(With: John Connolly,Tim Malloy)
(2016)
All-American Murder(With: Alex Abramovich,Mike Harvkey)
(2018)
The House of Kennedy / The Kennedy Curse(With: Cynthia Fagen)
(2020)
The Last Days of John Lennon(By: Casey Sherman)
(2020)
Walk in My Combat Boots(With: Chris Mooney)
(2021)
The Defense Lawyer(With: Benjamin Wallace)
(2021)
E.R. Nurses: True Stories from America’s Greatest Unsung Heroes(With: Matt Eversmann)
(2021)
James Patterson by James Patterson: The Stories of My Life
(2022)
Diana, William, and Harry(With: Chris Mooney)
(2022)
Walk The Blue Line(With: Chris Mooney,Matt Eversmann)
