Books
What to read next if you love James Patterson
James Patterson is known for his edge-of-your-seat thrillers, with their fast-paced plots and unforgettable characters. He is one of the best-selling and most prolific writers in the crime and thriller genre and has brought us Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club and countless other series and standalone books.
You can tell when you’re reading a Patterson book: although his novels often have a crime at their centre, the focus is on stopping the bad guys from doing more damage rather than solving a mystery. Patterson’s books are also uniquely addictive because of the danger involved in the hunt for justice, as his main characters – including detectives, homicide inspectors, journalists and medical examiners – race against the clock in pursuit of the culprits, often putting themselves at risk in the process.
If you’ve already whizzed through Patterson’s books and you’re looking for your next read, we’ve got you covered. The following 11 books have a similar style and pacing and would be perfect for avid readers of James Patterson.
Books for James Patterson fans
Exit Strategy by Lee Child and Andrew Child
Exit Strategy by Lee Child and Andrew Child
Like Patterson, the Child brothers are masters of the fast-paced, heart racing thriller. The 30th book in the Jack Reacher series sees him on a new mission to rescue a mysterious man he meets in a café who slips him a cryptic note asking for his help. This is Reacher at his best: his razor-sharp mind and compelling mixture of toughness and dry wit are out in full force. He’s a character we’ve all come to love as this addictive series continues to go from strength to strength.
Gone Before Goodbye by Harlan Coben and Reese Witherspoon
Gone Before Goodbye by Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben
James Patterson is known for his short, sharp chapters that leave you wanting more, and this thriller from best-selling writer Harlan Coben and actress and producer Reese Witherspoon is similarly full of cliffhangers that will keep you turning the pages. The action revolves around former army surgeon, Maggie McCabe, who takes up an offer of secretive work performing surgery on a high-profile client and finds herself embroiled in a dangerous game of cat and mouse across the globe. Long-time Harlan Coben fans will recognise a few characters along the way!
Antihero by Gregg Hurwitz
Antihero by Gregg Hurwitz
If you love the way James Patterson’s thrillers dive straight into the action, this one is for you. The latest book in Gregg Hurwitz’ best-selling Orphan X series is another full-throttle ride that sees one-time government assassin Evan (aka Orphan X) on the hunt for some thugs who kidnapped a young woman from the subway in New York. Acting as Evan’s sidekick is Josephine ‘Joey’ Morales, a former Orphan operative and Evan’s surrogate daughter, and their deepening relationship is the book’s emotional core.
The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen
The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen
This dark, well-plotted thriller is perfect for fans of James Patterson, especially due to its focus on crime and medicine. A sadistic serial killer is on the loose, and Detective Jane Rizzoli is determined to find him. She’s hot on his trail, suspecting he has medical training. But something is eerily familiar about his MO – it’s remarkably similar to an old case where a victim shot her attacker in self-defence. Did he somehow survive and come back for more?
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
Retirement is sweet, especially for leisurely crime sleuths Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron. They meet up to investigate unsolved murders during their Thursday Murder Club. Little do they know they’re about to get sucked into a live investigation right at home. They’re determined to identify the killer and bring them to justice, but do they have what it takes? While the tone is a little lighter than Patterson’s Women’s Murder Club series, Osman’s books have that same crime-fighting camaraderie that we know and love.
The Wolf by Samuel Bjørk
The Wolf by Samuel Bjørk
Eight years have passed since someone kidnapped and murdered two boys, before artistically arranging their corpses. Swedish investigators couldn’t solve the crime and now the killer’s struck again – this time in Norway. Holger Munch is determined to solve the case, so he recruits Mia Kruger from the Police Academy. But she’s connected to the case in ways no one could have expected. The Wolf is a thrilling take on the return of a serial killer, much like Geoffrey Shafer’s international crime spree in James Patterson’s Alex Cross series.
No One Saw A Thing by Andrea Mara
No One Saw A Thing by Andrea Mara
Sive takes her young daughters on the London Underground during a family visit to London. In a moment of boredom, she checks her emails and the girls board the Tube without her. Panicked and hoping for the best, she goes to the next stop – only to find that one of her girls is missing. With every moment that passes, Sive’s daughter is less likely to be found. This is a true race-against-time thriller that will set your heart pounding like a Patterson Private novel.
Smoke and Ashes by Abir Mukherjee
Smoke And Ashes by Abir Mukherjee
India, 1921. Police captain Sam Wyndham discovers a body in an opium den while indulging his habit. He keeps his presence in the den secret, knowing he could lose his job. Then, he finds a second body with similar injuries and he’s sure the cases are connected. Can he solve the case while keeping his secret? This book has enough twists and turns to keep any James Patterson fan on the edge of their seat.
The Bat by Jo Nesbo
The Bat by Jo Nesbo
A Norwegian woman is murdered while travelling in Sydney. But she isn’t the only young woman who’s met an untimely end. When Norwegian detective Harry Hole travels to Australia to support the investigation, he gets more involved than he’s supposed to, helping the team discover an active serial killer. And now, the killer will only talk to him – a familiar theme throughout James Patterson’s books.
When the Bough Breaks by Jonathan Kellerman
When The Bough Breaks by Jonathan Kellerman
Seven-year-old Melody Quinn is a potential witness to the murder of Dr. Morton Hander, a psychiatrist who dealt in fraud, extortion, and sexual manipulation. Dr. Hander may have got what was coming to him, but Dr. Alex Delaware is helping Melody remember what happened so investigators can solve the case. Little does he know this case is about to get personal – much like when Alex Cross built his case against Kyle Craig.
The Retreat by Sarah Pearse
The Retreat by Sarah Pearse
Reaper’s Rock is now home to a luxury wellness retreat but, in it’s not-so-distant past, it was a serial killer’s old hunting grounds. When a woman’s body is found near the yoga pavilion, and another guest drowns, DS Elin Warner must figure out what’s going on before the killer claims their next victim. It’s a classic serial killer mystery true James Patterson fans will enjoy.
Have you read any of these books? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below…
Don’t miss James Patterson’s upcoming book, Judge Stone
Judge Stone by James Patterson and Viola Davis
The legal thriller, co-written with award-winning actress Viola Davies, follows a small-town judge who faces an ethical dilemma when she must decide whether to convict a doctor who carried out an illegal abortion on an underage girl. It’s gripping, topical and surprisingly moving – definitely one to add to your reading pile when it is released on 9th March 2026.
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