Patterson
Along Came a Spider
✦
Alex Cross
James Patterson - 31 books
Same author, same pacing, D.C. instead of San Francisco. If you like one Patterson series, you will like the other.
Series - Books in order
Women's Murder Club books in order
by James Patterson - 24 books - 2001-2024 - Updated June 2026
Four professional women in San Francisco solve crimes together: a homicide detective, a medical examiner, a reporter, and an assistant DA. Patterson's longest-running series after Alex Cross delivers the same short-chapter pacing with a strong ensemble cast and cases that are often ripped from real-world headlines.
Patterson
1st to Die
✦
1
Patterson
1st to Die
✦
1
Start with this book
Most readers should start with 1st to Die. It gives you the cleanest entry point before continuing through the full series order.Read on KindleListen on Audible
Buy on Amazon24 books - read in publication order
Show orderPublication order
Contains affiliate links| # | Book | Published | Rating | Where to read |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1st to Die 1st to DieStart | 2001 | 4.0 | |
| 2 | 2nd Chance 2nd Chance | 2002 | 3.9 | |
| 3 | 3rd Degree 3rd Degree | 2004 | 3.8 | |
| 4 | 4th of July 4th of July | 2005 | 3.9 | |
| 5 | The 5th Horseman The 5th Horseman | 2006 | 3.9 | |
| 6 | The 6th Target The 6th Target | 2007 | 3.9 |
Showing 6 of 24 - the openers plus the key entries. See the full 24-book list →
Our recommended reading order
publication
Patterson
1st to Die
✦
Best book to start with
1st to Die
Book #1, and still the best on-ramp. It sets up everything that makes this series work.
Similar series
If you love Women's Murder Club, try these next.
Slaughter
Triptych
✦
Will Trent
Karin Slaughter - 12 books
A GBI agent solving violent crimes with a strong female partner. Darker than Patterson but the same ensemble energy.
Frequently asked questions
The characters and their relationships develop across the series, but each book has a standalone case. Starting with 1st to Die is recommended for full context.
Most are. Patterson works with co-authors on this series, starting with Andrew Gross for the first few, then Maxine Paetro for the majority.
Contains affiliate linksUpdated June 2026