James Patterson Books in Order

James Patterson is an New York Times American crime and thriller writer and one of the biggest-selling authors in the world. He holds the Guinness World Record for the most New York Times #1 bestsellers by a single author, with 67 and counting. Before writing full time, he worked in advertising and eventually became CEO of J. Walter Thompson North America. His debut novel won the Edgar Award, but it was Along Came a Spider in 1993 that introduced Alex Cross, his best-known character, and turned him into a publishing powerhouse. His books have sold more than 425 million copies worldwide.

This page lists all James Patterson books in order, including Alex Cross, Women’s Murder Club, Michael Bennett, Jane Smith, and the rest of the adult series and children’s books.

Latest James Patterson Books

The Mother-Daughter Book Club
The Mother-Daughter Book Club, April 2026
26 Beauties
26 Beauties (Women’s Murder Club #26), May 2026
Private Tokyo
Private Tokyo (Private #21), May 2026

Upcoming releases:

  • Rocket’s Red Glare (June 8)
  • The Country Road Murders (July 13)
  • Delusional (August 17)
  • An Armada of Trouble (September 23)
  • The Munich Affair (September 21)
  • The Girl in the Lake (October 6)
  • The Family Cross (October 19)
  • The Murder Trial (November 23)
  • Blackball (April 2027)

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Alex Cross Series (Books in Order)

The Alex Cross series follows Washington, D.C., detective and forensic psychologist Alex Cross, as he investigates some of the country’s most dangerous killers, often at great personal cost to himself and his family. It is James Patterson’s longest-running series and the one most closely associated with his name, starting with Along Came a Spider in 1993. Two early books, Along Came a Spider and Kiss the Girls, were adapted into films starring Morgan Freeman.

Reading Order

  1. Along Came A Spider, 1993
  2. Kiss the Girls, 1994
  3. Jack & Jill, 1996
  4. Cat and 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, 2009
  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
  30. Triple Cross, 2022
  31. Cross Down, 2023
  32. Alex Cross Must Die, 2023
  33. The House of Cross, 2024
  34. Return of the Spider, 2025
  35. Cross and Sampson, 2026
  36. The Family Cross, 2026

Ali Cross Series (Books in Order)

The Ali Cross series follows Ali Cross, Alex Cross’s teenage son, as he begins solving cases of his own. Written for younger readers, the books are lighter and are an easier start to the Alex Cross world.

Reading Order

  1. Ali Cross, 2019
  2. Like Father, Like Son, 2021
  3. The Secret Detective, 2022

Ali Cross Graphic Novels

Co-authored with Adam Rau.

  1. Ali Cross: The Graphic Novel 1, 2021

Travis McKinley Series (Books in Order)

The Travis McKinley series, also known as the Miracle series, follows former advertising executive Travis McKinley, who finds his life changed by an unexpected second chance while on the golf course. The books are lighter in tone than most of James Patterson’s crime novels.

Co-authored with Peter De Jonge.

Reading Order

  1. Miracle on the 17th Green, 1996
  2. Miracle at Augusta, 2015
  3. Miracle at St Andrews, 2019

Women’s Murder Club Series (Books in Order)

The Women’s Murder Club series follows 4 of women in San Francisco, a homicide detective, an assistant district attorney, a medical examiner, and a journalist, who work together to solve major crimes. The series began in 2001 with 1st to Die and along with Alex Cross, it has become one of James Patterson’s most popular series. It was also adapted into a shorter TV series that aired from 2007 to 2008.

Co-authored primarily with Maxine Paetro, with earlier entries co-written with Andrew Gross.

Reading Order

  1. 1st to Die, 2000
  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, 2009
  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. The Trial, 2016
  17. 16th Seduction, 2017
  18. The Medical Examiner, 2017
  19. 17th Suspect, 2018
  20. 18th Abduction, 2019
  21. 19th Christmas, 2019
  22. 20th Victim, 2020
  23. 21st Birthday, 2021
  24. 22 Seconds, 2022
  25. 23rd Midnight, 2023
  26. 23 1/2 Lies, 2023
  27. The 24th Hour, 2024
  28. 25 Alive, 2025
  29. 26 Beauties, 2026

Honeymoon Series (Books in Order)

The Honeymoon series follows FBI agent John O’Hara as he investigates dangerous and manipulative women, so called femme-fatales who marry for money and leave their husbands dead. It is a short cat-and-mouse type series, where O’Hara is trying to lay a trap of his own to catch these “black widow” women.

Co-authored with Howard Roughan.

Reading Order

  1. Honeymoon, 2005
  2. Second Honeymoon, 2013

Michael Bennett Series (Books in Order)

The Michael Bennett series follows NYPD detective Michael Bennett as he investigates major crimes in New York City while raising his ten adopted children as a widower. Family life plays a big role in the series next to the police work, giving it a different feel from James Patterson’s other crime books.

Co-authored primarily with Michael Ledwidge, with later novels co-written with James O. Born.

Reading Order

  1. Step on a Crack, 2007
  2. Run for Your Life, 2009
  3. Worst Case, 2009
  4. Tick Tock, 2010
  5. I, Michael Bennett, 2012
  6. Gone, 2013
  7. Burn, 2014
  8. Alert, 2015
  9. Bullseye, 2016
  10. Haunted, 2017
  11. Manhunt, 2017
  12. Ambush, 2018
  13. Blindside, 2020
  14. The Russian, 2021
  15. Shattered, 2022
  16. Obsessed, 2023
  17. Crosshairs, 2024
  18. Paranoia, 2025
  19. Delusional, 2026

Private Series (Books in Order)

The Private series, also known as the Jack Morgan series, follows former marine and current private investigator Jack Morgan who is also and founder of the Global Private investigation agency with offices around the world. Each book takes place in a different city or country, with Jack working often extremely dangerous cases.

Co-authored with Michael White, Maxine Paetro, Mark Sullivan, Ashwin Sanghi, Kathryn Fox, Rees Jones, Jassy Mackenzie, and Adam Hamdy.

Reading Order

  1. Private, 2010
  2. Private London, 2011
  3. Private Games, 2012
  4. Private: No. 1 Suspect, 2012
  5. Private Berlin, 2012
  6. Private Down Under, 2012 (also titled Private OZ)
  7. Private L.A., 2014
  8. Private India: City of Fire, 2014
  9. Private Vegas, 2015
  10. Private Sydney, 2015 (also titled Missing)
  11. Private Paris, 2016
  12. Private Rio, 2016 (also titled The Games)
  13. Private Royals, 2016 (also titled The Royals)
  14. Private Delhi, 2017 (also titled Count to Ten)
  15. Private Gold, 2017
  16. Private Princess, 2018 (also titled Princess)
  17. Private Moscow, 2020
  18. Private Rogue, 2021 (also titled Missing Persons)
  19. Private Beijing, 2022
  20. Private Rome, 2023
  21. Private Monaco, 2024
  22. Private Dublin, 2025
  23. Private Tokyo, 2026

NYPD RED Series (Books in Order)

The NYPD Red series follows an elite NYPD unit that investigates crimes involving New York’s wealthiest and most powerful people in a world of money and priviledge.

Co-authored with Marshall Karp. From NYPD Red 7 onward, the series is written solely by Marshall Karp.

Reading Order

  1. NYPD Red, 2012
  2. NYPD Red 2, 2014
  3. NYPD Red 3, 2015
  4. NYPD Red 4, 2016
  5. NYPD Red 5, 2018
  6. NYPD Red 6, 2020

Invisible Series (Books in Order)

The Invisible series follows FBI researcher Emmy Dockery as she investigates serial murder cases that no one else is taking seriously, while using her uncanny talent of seeing patterns that others can’t detect.

Co-authored with David Ellis.

Reading Order

  1. Invisible, 2014
  2. Unsolved, 2019

Detective Harriet Blue Series (Books in Order)

The Detective Harriet Blue series follows Sydney Sex Crimes detective Harriet Blue, whose world falls apart when her brother is arrested for the murders of three young women. Convinced of her brother’s innocence, she becomes a fugitive by trying to work outside the law as she is set on clearing his name and uncovering the truth behind the murders.

Reading Order

  1. Black & Blue, 2016
  2. Never Never, 2016
  3. Fifty Fifty, 2018
  4. Liar Liar, 2018
  5. Hush Hush, 2019

Instinct Series (Books in Order)

The Instinct series follows criminal psychology professor Dylan Reinhart, who is a consultant of the NYPD on complex murder cases that need his own unusual way of thinking.

Co-authored with Howard Roughan.

Reading Order

  1. Instinct / Murder Games, 2017
  2. Killer Instinct, 2019
  3. Steal, 2022

Ruby Bozarth Series (Books in Order)

The Ruby Bozarth series follows newly qualified defense attorney Ruby Bozarth, in small-town Mississippi who finds herself handling serious murder cases almost as soon as her career begins.

Co-authored with Nancy Allen.

Reading Order

  1. Juror #3, 2017
  2. The Jailhouse Lawyer, 2021

Texas Ranger Series (Books in Order)

The Texas Ranger series, also known as the Rory Yates series, follows Texas Ranger Rory Yates as he investigates violent crimes along the Texas–Mexico border.

Co-authored with Andrew Bourelle.

Reading Order

  1. Texas Ranger, 2018
  2. Texas Outlaw, 2020
  3. The Texas Murders, 2025

Murder is Forever Series (Books in Order)

The Murder Is Forever series is a set of standalone crime novels which are based on real cases that inspired the Murder Is Forever television series. Each book retells a true story of love, greed, or obsession that ends in murder.

Reading Order

  1. Murder, Interrupted, 2018
  2. Home Sweet Murder, 2018
  3. Murder Beyond Grave, 2018
  4. Murder Thy Neighbour, 2020
  5. Murder of Innocence, 2020
  6. Till Murder Do Us Part, 2021

Out of Sight Series (Books in Order)

The Out of Sight series, also known as the Amy Cornwall series, follows former U.S. Army intelligence officer Amy Cornwall, who desperately tries to protect her family, while uncovering a dangerous top-level government conspiracy before time is running out.

Co-authored with Brendan DuBois.

Reading Order

  1. The Cornwalls are Gone, 2019 (also titled The Cornwalls Vanished)
  2. Countdown, 2019

Tom Moon Series (Books in Order)

The Tom Moon series follows former NYPD detective Tom Moon, who leads a Miami task force in order to to take down an international crime gang that wants to penetrate their city.

Co-authored with James O. Born.

  1. Lost, 2019

Angela Hoot Series (Books in Order)

The Angela Hoot series follows young tech prodigy, hacker Angela Hoot, who is recruited into the FBI to investigate cybercrimes and track down digital threats that are difficult to trace. It is a young adult series.

Co-authored with Chris Tebbetts.

Reading Order

Sisters Detective Agency Series (Books in Order)

The Sisters Detective Agency series follows two sisters who run their private investigation agency in Florida and find themselves pulled into increasingly dangerous and complex criminal cases.

Co-authored with Candice Fox.

Reading Order

  1. 2 Sisters Detective Agency, 2021
  2. 2 Sisters Murder Investigations, 2025

Shadow Series (Books in Order)

The Shadow series is a modern reimagining of Lamont Cranston, the classic 1930s pulp and radio hero known as The Shadow. When Cranston and his partner Margo Lane are ambushed by their greatest enemy, they escape into the future, where Cranston wakes up 150 years later to find the same evil forces still at work.

Co-authored with Brian Sitts and Richard DiLallo.

Reading Order

  1. The Shadow, 2021
  2. Circle of Death, 2023
  3. The President’s Shadow, 2025

Black Book Thriller Series (Books in Order)

The Black Book Thriller series, also known as the Billy Harney series, follows Chicago detective Billy Harney as he investigates complex criminal cases, including a murder connected to a black book full of names that very powerful people want to keep hidden.

Co-authored with David Ellis.

Reading Order

  1. The Coldest Case, 2021 audiobook novella)
  2. The Black Book, 2017
  3. The Red Book, 2021
  4. Escape, 2022
  5. Blackball, 2027

Jane Smith Series (Books in Order)

The Jane Smith series follows Jane “Effing” Smith, a brilliant criminal defense attorney who, after learning that she has terminal cancer and knowing that her end is not far, she becomes fearless and takes on cases that others wouldn’t dare to go near, because she knows that she has nothing to lose.

Co-authored with Mike Lupica.

Reading Order

  1. 12 Months to Live, 2023
  2. Hard to Kill, 2024 (also titled 8 Months Left)
  3. The Hamptons Lawyer, 2025

Doc Savage Thriller Series (Books in Order)

The Doc Savage thriller series follows Brandt “Doc” Savage, a quiet anthropology professor who is the grandson of the legendary pulp hero Doc Savage. Kidnapped and put through a brutal training program with no explanation, he finds himself transformed, and discovers he may have been trained to become the perfect assassin.

Co-authored with Brian Sitts.

Reading Order

  1. The Perfect Assassin, 2023
  2. Murder Island, 2024

Holmes, Marple & Poe Series (Books in Order)

The Holmes, Marple & Poe series follows three contemporary private investigators in New York City who operate under the names Brendan Holmes, Margaret Marple, and Auguste Poe. Holmes handles the deduction, Marple the sharp observation, and Poe the dangerous legwork, just like the original famous namesakes.

Co-authored with Brian Sitts.

Reading Order

  1. Holmes, Marple & Poe, 2024
  2. Holmes is Missing, 2025
  3. The Girl in the Lake, 2026

Young Adult & Children’s Books

When the Wind Blows Series (Books in Order)

Reading Order

  1. When the Wind Blows, 1998
  2. The Lake House, 2003

Maximum Ride Series (Books in Order)

Reading Order

  1. The Angel Experiment, 2005
  2. School’s Out Forever, 2006
  3. Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports, 2007
  4. The Final Warning, 2007
  5. Max, 2009
  6. Fang, 2010
  7. Angel, 2011
  8. Nevermore, 2012
  9. Maximum Ride Forever, 2015

Daniel X Series (Books in Order)

Co-authored with Michael Ledwidge, Ned Rust, Adam Sadler, Chris Grabenstein, Leopoldo Gout

Reading Order

  1. Dangerous Days of Daniel X, 2008
  2. Watch the Skies, 2009
  3. Demons and Druids, 2010
  4. Game Over, 2011
  5. Armageddon, 2012
  6. Lights Out, 2015

 Daniel X Graphic Novels (Books in Order)

Reading Order

Witch & Wizard Series (Books in Order)

Reading Order

  1. Witch and Wizard, 2009, with Gabrielle Charbonnet
  2. Battle for Shadowland, 2010 (graphic novel with Dara Naraghi, Victor Santos)
  3. The Gift, 2010, with Ned Rust
  4. The Fire, 2011, with Jill Dembowski
  5. The Kiss, 2013, with Jill Dembowski
  6. The Lost, 2014, with Emily Raymond

Confessions Series (Books in Order)

Reading Order

  1. Confessions of a Murder Suspect, 2012
  2. The Private School Murders, 2013
  3. The Paris Mysteries, 2014
  4. The Murder of an Angel, 2015

I Funny Series (Books in Order)

Co-authored with Chris Grabenstein.

Reading Order

Crazy House Series (Books in Order)

Co-authored with Gabrielle Charbonnet.

Reading Order

  1. Crazy House, 2017
  2. The Fall of Crazy House, 2019

Time Travel Twins Series (Books in Order)

Co-authored with Tad Safran.

Reading Order

  1. The Time Travel Twins, 2024
  2. The Pharaoh’s Tomb, 2025
  3. An Armada of Trouble, 2026

Middle School Series (Books in Order)

Reading Order

Show All +

  1. Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life (with Chris Tebbetts), 2011
  2. Get Me Out of Here! (with Chris Tebbetts), 2012
  3. How I Survived Bullies, Broccoli, and Snake Hill (with Chris Tebbetts), 2013
  4. My Brother is a Big, Fat Liar (with Lisa Papademetriou), 2013
  5. Ultimate Showdown (with Julia Bergen), 2014
  6. How I Got Lost in London 2014
  7. Save Rafe! (with Chris Tebbetts), 2014
  8. Just My Rotten Luck (with Chris Tebbetts), 2015
  9. Going Bush (with Martin Chatterton), 2016
  10. Dog’s Best Friend (with Chris Tebbetts), 2016
  11. Hollywood 101 (with Martin Chatterton), 2016
  12. Escape to Australia / Million-Dollar Mess Down Under (with Martin Chatterton), 2017
  13. From Hero to Zero (with Chris Tebbetts), 2017
  14. Born to Rock (with Chris Tebbetts), 2019
  15. Master of Disaster (with Chris Tebbetts), 2020
  16. Field Trip Fiasco (with Martin Chatterton), 2021
  17. It’s a Zoo in Here! (with Brian Sitts), 2022
  18. Winter Blunderland (with Brian Sitts), 2022
  19. Million Dollar Mess (with Martin Chatterton), 2024
  20. Too Uncool for School (with Martin Chatterton), 2025

Jacky Ha-Ha Series (Books in Order)

Co-authored with Chris Grabenstein

Reading Order

Show All +

  • Jacky Ha-Ha, 2016
  • My Life is a Joke, 2017
  • Jacky Ha-Ha: My Life is a Joke, 2021 (graphic novel)
  • Jacky Ha-Ha Gets the Last Laugh, 2023

Little Geniuses Series (Books in Order)

Co-authored with Susan Patterson

Reading Order

Show All +

  • Big Words for Little Geniuses, 2017
  • Cuddly Critters for Little Geniuses, 2018
  • Bigger Words for Little Geniuses, 2019

Max Einstein Series (Books in Order)

The Max Einstein series follows Max Einstein, a 12-year-old scientific prodigy and Einstein superfan who uses her knowledge to solve real-world problems, including clean energy and poverty, sent on missions by a mysterious organization. The series aims to inspire a love of science in young readers.

Co-authored with Chris Grabenstein

Reading Order

Show All +

  • The Genius Experiment, 2018
  • Rebels with a Cause, 2019
  • Saves the Future, 2020
  • World Champions!, 2021

Treasure Hunters Series (Books in Order)

The Treasure Hunters series follows the Kidd siblings, four children raised by their adventurous parents to search for lost treasures around the world. When their parents disappear, the children set out to find them, running into danger and discovery along the way. It is a fast-moving adventure series for middle-grade readers.

Reading Order

Show All +

  • Treasure Hunters, 2013
  • Danger Down the Nile, 2014
  • Secret of the Forbidden City, 2015
  • Peril at the Top of the World, 2016
  • Quest for the City of Gold, 2017
  • All-American Adventure, 2019
  • The Plunder Down Under, 2020
  • The Ultimate Quest, 2022

Minerva Keen’s Detective Club Series (Books in Order)

The Minerva Keen’s Detective Club series, also known as MK’s Detective Club, follows Minerva Keen, a sharp and observant young girl who sets up her own detective club and uses logic and careful thinking to solve mysteries in her neighborhood.

Reading Order

Picture Books

Reading Order

James Patterson Bookshots

BookShots are short standalone novels, typically around 150 pages in length, written to be read in a single sitting. James Patterson launched the BookShots imprint in 2016, with titles ranging from crime, thriller, to romance. Some feature recurring characters from his main series, while others are entirely standalone.

Alex Cross Bookshots

Chef Bookshots

Co-authored with Jeffrey J. Keyes

Diamond Trilogy Bookshots

Co-authored with Elizabeth Hayley

Jon Roscoe Thriller Bookshots

Co-authored with Robert Gold

Women’s Murder Club Bookshots

Co-authored with Maxine Paetro

Michael Bennett Bookshots

Co-authored with James O. Born

Private Series Bookshots

Co-authored with Jassy Mackenzie, Rees Jones

Zoo Bookshots

Co-authored with Michael Ledwidge

Flames Bookshots

Show All +

  • Learning to Ride, 2016
  • Sacking the Quarterback, 2016
  • The Mating Season, 2016
  • The Return, 2016
  • Bodyguard, 2016
  • Hot Winter Nights, 2016
  • Seducing Shakespeare, 2017
  • Bedding the Highlander, 2017
  • Sabotage, 2017
  • 50 Hidden Desires, 2017
  • Sexy Summer Flings, 2017
  • Love Me Tender, 2017
  • The Experiment, 2017
  • The Weekend Wife, 2017
  • Dawn’s Early Light, 2017
  • Christmas Sanctuary, 2017
  • Shopping for Love, 2018
  • Once Upon a Kiss, 2018

Detective Luc Moncrief Bookshots

Co-authored with Richard DiLallo

Mitchum Bookshots

Co-authored with James O. Born

Owen Taylor Bookshots

Co-authored with Brendan DuBois

Standalone Bookshots

Show All +

  • Let’s Play Make-Believe / The Palm Beach Murders, 2016
  • Break Point, 2016
  • Heist, 2016
  • Airport Code Red, 2016
  • The Witnesses, 2016
  • Little Black Dress, 2016
  • Dead Heat, 2016
  • The Pretender, 2016
  • Hunted, 2016
  • 113 Minutes, 2016
  • Trump vs. Clinton, 2016
  • The Women’s War, 2016
  • $10,000,000 Marriage Proposal, 2016
  • Taking the Titanic, 2016
  • Come and Get Us, 2016
  • The House Husband, 2017
  • The Shut-In, 2017
  • Night Sniper, 2017
  • Diary of a Succubus, 2017
  • Stealing Gulfstreams, 2017
  • The Lawyer Lifeguard, 2017
  • Stingrays, 2017
  • Nooners, 2017
  • Steeplechase, 2017
  • Deadly Cargo, 2017
  • The Dolls, 2017
  • The Family Lawyer, 2017
  • Dead Man Running, 2017
  • Scott Free, 2017
  • Absolute Zero, 2017
  • You’ve Been Warned – Again, 2017
  • The Exile, 2017
  • The Moores Are Missing & The Housewife, 2017
  • Avalanche, 2017
  • Kill and Tell, 2017
  • The 13-Minute Murder, 2019

Novellas and Short Stories

  • The Witnesses, 2016
  • The Guilty, 2021
  • Fear the Wolf, 2022
  • 10 Rules for the Perfect Murder, 2024
  • 7 Hours to Die, 2024
  • The Commuter, 2025
  • Game of Nines, 2025
  • Trapped, 2026

Anthologies and Short Story Collections

Standalone Novels

Non-Fiction Books

James Patterson Biography

James Patterson author

James Patterson is an American author best known for the Alex Cross series, and his numerous bestselling mystery, thriller, and suspense novels.
Official website: jamespatterson.com

James Patterson was born in 1947 in Newburgh, New York. He earned a BA in English from Manhattan College in 1969 and later also earned a Master of Arts in English at Vanderbilt University, graduating summa cum laude. He first studied to become a doctor, however, he soon left school to work in advertising.

He joined the advertising agency J. Walter Thompson as a junior copywriter and later became CEO of its North American division. While working in advertising, James Patterson wrote stories in his spare time. His debut novel, The Thomas Berryman Number, was published in 1976 by Little, Brown and Company and and it won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel.

In 1993, James Patterson brought his readers his most famous character, Alex Cross, which started his longest and commercially most successful series. Over the next few decades, he created numerous series across adult, young adult, and children’s fiction, including the Women’s Murder Club, Michael Bennett, Private, Maximum Ride, Middle School, and I Funny.

James Patterson is one of the most commercially successful authors today, with hundreds of millions of copies of his books sold worldwide and a large number of titles appearing on The New York Times bestseller list. Beyond his writing career, he is also known for his philanthropic works, particularly in his support of reading and other education initiatives, which include book donations and scholarship programs that are created for teachers.

James Patterson Books Adaptations

Several of James Patterson’s novels have been adapted for film and television.

  • Kiss the Girls – adapted into the feature film Kiss the Girls (1997)
  • Along Came a Spider – adapted into the feature film Along Came a Spider (2001)
  • 1st to Die – adapted into the television film First to Die (2003)
  • Miracle on the 17th Green – adapted into the television film Miracle on the 17th Green (1999)
  • Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas – adapted into the television film Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas (2005)
  • Cross (novel) – adapted into the feature film Alex Cross (2012)
  • Maximum Ride series – adapted into the feature film Maximum Ride (2016)
  • Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life – adapted into the feature film Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life (2016)
  • The Postcard Killers – adapted into the feature film The Postcard Killings (2020)
  • Alex Cross series – adapted into the television series Cross (2024–present)

James Patterson Awards and Honors

James Patterson has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to literature, particularly as an author of mystery, thriller, and children’s books, as well as for his support of reading and education initiatives.

Awards

  • The Thomas Berryman Number – Edgar Award for Best First Novel (1977)
  • BCA Mystery Guild – Thriller of the Year
  • International Thriller Writers – Thriller of the Year
  • Children’s Choice Book Awards – Author of the Year (2010)
  • National Book Foundation – Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community (2015)
  • Kid Stew (children’s TV series) – ten Emmy Awards
  • National Endowment for the Humanities – National Humanities Medal (2019)
  • International Thriller Writers – Silver Bullet Award (2025)

Nominations and Shortlists

  • National Parenting Publications Honors Awards
  • International Reading Association – Young Adults’ Choices Booklist
  • American Library Association – Teens’ Top Ten Pick
  • Book Sense Children’s Pick
  • Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Award nomination (2011)
  • Fang – Children’s Choice Book Awards, Teen Choice Book of the Year nomination (2011)
  • Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life – Children’s Choice Book Awards, Author of the Year nomination (2012)

Edited by

Marika

Founder of Mystery Sequels, a reference site focused on listing mystery and thriller books in the correct reading order. I maintain and update the site’s bibliographies as new titles are released, ensuring accuracy and consistency across author and series pages.

Readers Also Like

Last verified:

17 Comments

  1. Are u going to write a second back on Idaho four after the trial.

  2. I don’t see any of the Witch & Wizard books on your list
    Witch & Wizard
    1 Witch and Wizard (2009) (with Gabrielle Charbonnet)
    2 The Gift (2010) (with Ned Rust)
    3 The Fire (2011) (with Jill Dembowski)
    4 The Kiss (2013) (with Jill Dembowski)
    5 The Lost (2014) (with Emily Raymond)

    1. The series has been added including the Battle for Shadowland graphic novel

Comments are closed.