Baldacci
Absolute Power
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David Baldacci
David Baldacci - 45+ books
Same speed and readability. Multiple thriller series with government and military backgrounds.
JP
Author - Books in order
James Patterson books in order
Thriller & Mystery Author - b. March 22, 1947, Newburgh, New York, USA - Updated June 2026
200+
novels
N/A
stories
400 million+
copies sold
James Patterson is the best-selling living author in the world. He's sold over 400 million books, holds the Guinness record for most #1 New York Times bestsellers, and has co-written with dozens of collaborators. His books are built for speed, with short chapters and relentless pacing. The Alex Cross series put him on the map, and he's since expanded into every genre from romance to children's books. Love him or debate him, his numbers speak for themselves.
Patterson
Along Came a Spider
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1
Patterson
Along Came a Spider
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1
Where to start
New to Patterson? Start with Along Came a Spider (1993) - a tight, self-contained read that is the definitive Patterson experience.
200+ novels - standalone, no series commitment
Publication order
Notable novels - newest readers can dip in anywhere; completists read top to bottom.
| # | Book | Year | Rating | Where to read |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Along Came a Spider Along Came a SpiderStart here Thriller | 1993 | 4.0 | Kindle $9.99Paperback $10.99Audible $24.95Bookshop $16.99 |
| 2 | Kiss the Girls Kiss the Girls Thriller | 1995 | 4.0 | Kindle $9.99Paperback $10.99Audible $24.95Bookshop $16.99 |
| 3 | Jack & Jill Jack & Jill Thriller | 1996 | 3.9 | Kindle $9.99Paperback $10.99Audible $24.95Bookshop $16.99 |
| 4 | 1st to Die 1st to Die Mystery / Thriller | 2001 | 4.0 | Kindle $9.99Paperback $10.99Audible $24.95Bookshop $16.99 |
| 5 | The Thomas Berryman Number The Thomas Berryman Number Thriller | 1976 | 3.7 | Kindle $8.99Paperback $9.99Audible $19.95Bookshop $14.99 |
| 6 | Pop Goes the Weasel Pop Goes the Weasel Thriller | 1999 | 4.0 | Kindle $9.99Paperback $10.99Audible $24.95Bookshop $16.99 |
| 7 | Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment YA / Sci-Fi | 2005 | 4.0 | Kindle $8.99Paperback $9.99Audible $19.95Bookshop $14.99 |
| 8 | Cross Cross Thriller | 2006 | 3.9 | Kindle $9.99Paperback $10.99Audible $24.95Bookshop $16.99 |
| 9 | The President Is Missing The President Is Missing Political Thriller | 2018 | 3.7 | Kindle $10.99Paperback $12.99Audible $29.95Bookshop $19.99 |
| 10 | Alex Cross Must Die Alex Cross Must Die Thriller | 2024 | 3.8 | Kindle $14.99Paperback $18.99Audible $29.95Bookshop $22.99 |
Series & where they fit
Patterson's standalones are most of the work, but these series reward reading in order.
Alex Cross
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Alex Cross
Most popular33 books - 1993-2024 - Thriller
DC detective and psychologist Alex Cross hunts serial killers. The series that made Patterson a household name.
Start with Along Came a Spider - See order →
Women's Murder Club
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Women's Murder Club
24 books - 2001-2024 - Mystery / Thriller
Four women in San Francisco, a detective, a reporter, a DA, and a medical examiner, solve cases together.
Start with 1st to Die - See order →
Michael Bennett
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Michael Bennett
14 books - 2007-2023 - Thriller
NYPD detective and father of ten. Faster-paced than Cross, set in New York.
Start with Step on a Crack - See order →
Patterson
Along Came a Spider
✦
Best book to start with
Along Came a Spider
The most complete on-ramp to Patterson: a contained story that shows exactly why this author matters.
Build your Patterson shelf
Most-loved titles in print, or start listening free on Audible.
If you like James Patterson
Authors and series with the same grip.
Coben
Tell No One
✦
Harlan Coben
Harlan Coben - 35+ books
Suburban thrillers with twist endings. If you like Patterson's pacing, Coben delivers the same rush.
James Patterson books & movies in order
See every book matched to its screen version, with where to watch.
Frequently asked questions
Along Came a Spider, the first Alex Cross novel. It's his most iconic series and the book that defined his style. If you want something standalone, try The President Is Missing.
Patterson writes detailed outlines and collaborates with co-authors who draft the books. He then edits and revises. Some books are more hands-on than others. The Alex Cross novels are generally the most 'Patterson' of his output.
The first few books are fairly standalone, but Cross's family life and recurring villains build over the series. Start with Along Came a Spider and read at least the first three before skipping around.
Contains affiliate linksUpdated June 2026