Murder, Mystery, and Mayhem!
James Patterson
A prolific writer, James Patterson has written 71 novels in 33 years, 63 of which have been bestselling hardbacks.
A prolific writer, James Patterson has written 71 novels in 33 years, 63 of which have been bestselling hardbacks.
Born: James Brendan Patterson
March 22, 1947
Newburgh, New York, US
Nationality: American
First Novel: The Thomas Berryman Number 1976
Alex Cross Series by James Patterson
One day as I was browsing for a good SF read, a book on display jumped off the shelf and grabbed my attention by the throat. Two reasons for this - the lettering on the cover fairly screamed "Pick Me UP!! Now!!" and the title, a line from a familiar old nursery rhyme. The book was Pop! Goes the Weasel by James Patterson. So I did as the book cover wanted me to do and picked the book up, read the Jacket, and actually paid for it without any specific reason.
I got home and again the screaming cover dictated that I begin reading this over my normal SF fare. I met Alex Cross, Nana Mama, John Sampson, and a deranged murderous lunatic nicknamed the Weasel. I was amazed several hours later to find that time had actually passed in the "real world", the book was finished, and I wanted more. I went back to the book store the next day and picked up the four earlier Alex Cross books. For a couple of days I wasn't seen or heard from, don't remember much except for murder and mayhem. I haven't missed a Cross book since.
1. Along Came a Spider (1993)
2. Kiss the Girls (1994)
3. Jack and Jill (1996)
4. Cat and Mouse (1997)
5. Pop! Goes the Weasel (1998)
6. Roses Are Red (2000)
7. Violets Are Blue (2001)
8. Four Blind Mice (2002)
9. The Big Bad Wolf (2001)
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) (with Richard DiLallo)
16. I, Alex Cross (2009)
17. Cross Fire (2010)
18. Kill Alex Cross (2011)
19. Merry Christmas, Alex Cross (2011)
20. Alex Cross, Run (2013)
21. Cross My Heart (2013)
22. Hope to Die (2014)
23. Cross Justice (2015)
24. Cross the Line (2016)
When the Wind Blows/Maximum Ride Series
When I saw the usual James Patterson screaming book jacket, I picked up When the Wind Blows, thinking "Great, another Cross adventure", not even looking at the rest of the jacket. (Can you say "Conditioned") I started reading and was surprised that Alex wasn't making an appearance. That was okay as Fran and Max, and the rest of the angels made up for it. But it did have the effect of making me look at the jacket before making a blind purchase. The Lake House was every bit as good and I definitely wanted to hear more about Max and friends.
When the Wind Blows
1. When the Wind Blows (1998)
2. The Lake House (2003)
When I picked up Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment, I was confused. Here was Max again, it was the same Max but the story was different. At first I was disappointed, but was soon drawn into the story. While not quite as good as the original Max, this alternate Max was enjoyable.
Maximum Ride
1. The Angel Experiment (2005)
2. School's Out-- Forever (2006)
3. Saving the World (2007)
4. The Final Warning (2007)
5. Max (2009)
6. Fang (2010)
7. Angel (2011)
8. Nevermore (2012)
9. Maximum Ride Forever (2015)
Having learned to look at the Patterson jackets, I was aware that the Murder Club books were not Cross books. I picked up 1st to Die expecting the same thrills I had from Alex and Max. It didn't work. I actually had to force myself to get through the book. I read a few pages of the next in line, 2nd Chance, at the book store, and put the book back on the shelf. The Murder Club books just don't do it for me. I looked at some of Patterson's stand alone's and some are good, some bad. The Jester is a great fun read, as is Beach House
Other Series
Women's Murder Club
1. 1st to Die (2001)
2. 2nd Chance (2002) (with Andrew Gross)
3. 3rd Degree (2004) (with Andrew Gross)
4. 4th of July (2005) (with Maxine Paetro)
5. The 5th Horseman (2006) (with Maxine Paetro)
6. The 6th Target (2007) (with Maxine Paetro)
7. 7th Heaven (2008) (with Maxine Paetro)
Michael Bennett (with Michael Ledwidge)
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 (2011)
7. Burn (2014)
8. Alert (2015)
9. Bullseye (2016)
Daniel X
1. Dangerous Days of Daniel X (2008) (with Michael Ledwidge)
2. Watch the Skies (2009) (with Ned Rust)
3. Demons and Druids (2010) (with Adam Sadler)
4. Game Over (2011) (with Ned Rust)
Alien Hunter (2008) (with Leopoldo Gout)
Witch and 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)
Jack Morgan
1. Private (2010) (with Maxine Paetro)
2. Private London (2011) (with Mark Pearson)
3. Private Games (2012)
Other Novels
The Thomas Berryman Number (1976)
Season of the Machete (1977)
The Jericho Commandment (1979)
aka See How They Run
Virgin (1980)
Black Market (1986)
aka Black Friday
The Midnight Club (1988)
Sam's Letters to Jennifer (1991)
Hide and Seek (1995)
Miracle on the 17th Green (1996) (with Peter De Jonge)
Cradle and All (1999)
Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas (2001)
The Beach House (2002) (with Peter De Jonge)
The Jester (2003) (with Andrew Gross)
The Lifeguard (2005) (with Andrew Gross)
Beach Road (2006) (with Peter De Jonge)
Judge and Jury (2006) (with Andrew Gross)
The Quickie (2007) (with Michael Ledwidge)
You've Been Warned (2007) (with Howard Roughan)
Sundays at Tiffany's (2008) (with Gabrielle Charbonnet)
Sail (2008) (with Howard Roughan)
Swimsuit (2009) (with Maxine Paetro)
Don't Blink (2010) (with Howard Roughan)
Postcard Killers (2010) (with Liza Marklund)
Toys (2011) (with Neil McMahon)
Now You See Her (2011) (with Michael Ledwidge)
Kill Me If You Can (2011) (with Marshall Karp)
The Christmas Wedding (2011) (with Richard DiLallo)
Guilty Wives (2012) (with David Ellis)
Mistress (2013) (with David Ellis)
First Love (2014) (with Emily Raymond)
Invisible (2014) (with David Ellis)
Homeroom Diaries (2014) (with Lisa Papademetriou)
Miracle at Augusta (2015) (with Peter De Jonge)
Public School Superhero (2015) (with Chris Tebbetts)
Truth or Die (2015) (with Howard Roughan)
The Murder House (2015) (with David Ellis)
Woman of God (2016) (with Maxine Paetro)
Word of Mouse (2016) (with Chris Grabenstein)
Humans Bow Down (2017)
The Black Book (2017) (with David Ellis)
Dr. Death (2017) (with Howard Roughan)
Pottymouth and Stoopid (2017) (with Chris Grabenstein)
The Store (2017)
Laugh Out Loud (2017) (with Chris Grabenstein)
From the Hardcover
"Never...
assume you know someone. Harry Blue is the top Sex Crimes investigator in her department. She's a seasoned pro who's seen it all. But even she didn't see this coming: her own brother arrested for the grisly murders of three beautiful young women.
Never...
accept a reassignment to the middle of nowhere "for your own good." Harry's been sent to a makeshift town in a desolate landscape-a world full of easy money, plenty of illegal ways to spend it, and a ragtag collection of transient characters who thrive on the fringes of society. A place where little grows, but evil flourishes.
Never...
trust anyone. Looking into a seemingly simple missing persons case, Harry's been assigned to a new "partner." But is he actually meant to be a watchdog? Still reeling from the accusations against her brother, Harry can't even trust her own instincts, which she's never doubted...until now. ......"
From the Hardcover:
"Even for Private Investigations, the world's top detective agency, it's tough to find a man who doesn't exist . . .
Craig Gisto has promised Eliza Moss that his elite team at Private Sydney will investigate the disappearance of her father. After all, as CEO of a high-profile research company, Eric Moss shouldn't be difficult to find.
Except it's not just the man who's gone missing. Despite the most advanced technology at their disposal, they find every trace of him has vanished too.
And they aren't the only ones on the hunt. Powerful figures want Moss to stay "lost," while others just as ruthlessly want him found.
Meanwhile, a routine background check becomes a frantic race to find a stolen baby and catch a brutal killer - a killer Private may well have sent straight to the victim's door . . ."
From the Hardcover
"In all of Alex Cross's years with Homicide, Washington, DC, has never been more dangerous.
After shots pierce the tranquil nighttime calm of Rock Creek Park, a man is dead: what looks at first like road rage might be something much more sinister. But Alex has only just begun asking questions when he's called across town to investigate a new murder, one that hits close to home: Washington's own chief of detectives. And Alex's former boss, beloved mentor of Alex's wife, Bree.
Now there's a killer on the loose, a long list of possible suspects, a city in panic, and nobody in charge of the besieged police force.
Until Bree gets tapped for the job.
As Bree scrambles to find her footing and close two high-profile cases, new violence stuns the capital. What should be a time for her to rely on Alex for support and cooperation is instead a moment of crisis in their marriage as well as their city when their investigative instincts clash and their relationship reaches a breaking point.
And the fiendish mind behind all the violence has appointed himself judge, jury, and executioner, with a terrifying master plan he's only begun to put in motion. To beat him at his own game, Alex and Bree must take the law back into their own hands before he puts them both out of commission...permanently."
From the Hardcover:
"St. Peter's Square, Rome.
White smoke signals that a new Pope has been chosen.
Is it possible that the new Pope...is a woman?
The world is watching as massive crowds gather in Rome, waiting for news of a new pope, one who promises to be unlike any other in history. It's a turning point that may change the Church forever. Some followers are ecstatic that the movement reinvigorating the Church is about to reach the Vatican, but the leading candidate has made a legion of powerful enemies who aren't afraid to kill for their cause.
Faith has never come easy for Brigid Fitzgerald. From her difficult childhood with drug-addled parents to her career as a doctor healing the wounded in Sudan to a series of trials that test her beliefs at every turn, Brigid's convictions and callings have made her the target of all those who fear that the Church has lost its way--dangerous adversaries who abhor challenges to tradition. Locked in a deadly, high-stakes battle with forces determined to undermine everything she believes in, Brigid must convert her enemies to her cause before she loses her faith...and her life........"
From the Hardcover:
"A shocking true crime tale of money, power, and sex from the world's most popular thriller writer.
Jeffrey Epstein rose from humble origins to the rarefied heights of New York City's financial elite. A college dropout with an instinct for numbers--and for people--Epstein amassed his wealth through a combination of access and skill. But even after he had it all, Epstein wanted more. And that unceasing desire--especially a taste for young girls--resulted in his stunning fall from grace. From Epstein himself, to the girls he employed as masseuses at his home, to the cops investigating the appalling charges against him, FILTHY RICH examines all sides of a case that scandalized one of America's richest communities. An explosive true story, FILTHY RICH is a riveting account of wealth, power and the influence they bring to bear on the American justice system."
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