The Perfect James Patterson Book for Every Reader (2024)

NYPD Red: Red Alertby James Patterson with Marshall Karp

A fatal blast explodes in a room full of New York’s elite during a fundraiser. As the NYPD Red task force investigates, they discover that the A-listers they were formed to protect may be responsible for destruction on an unimaginable scale. This one’s a safe bet for the biggest Patterson fans—because it doesn’t even come out until March 2018, so there’s no way they’ve read it yet! Pre-order it for the Patterson fan in your life and it will arrive in March, reminding them again how thoughtful you are.

Expelledby James Patterson and Emily Raymond

Theo’s Twitter account was anonymous until someone posted a photo that went viral and got him expelled. He pairs up with Sasha, who was also expelled for a crime she didn’t commit, to find out who set them up. Not even his own best friend can be excluded from the list of suspects.

The Candies Save Christmasby James PattersonIllustrated by Andy Elkerton

Candies Jolly, Rolly, Bluey, Frosty, Greenie, and Chewy save Christmas by rescuing the loneliest, straggliest little tree. Bonus: James Patterson donates proceeds from his jimmy patterson imprint to initiatives that encourage reading.

Big Words for Little Geniusesby Susan and James PattersonIllustrated by Hsinping Pan

Introduce vocabulary words to tiny literary virtuosos with this fun and beautifully illustrated book. I won’t blame you if you flip through the pages before wrapping it upyou’ll definitely pick up a new word or two, too!

Laugh Out Loudby James Patterson and Chris GrabensteinIllustrated by Jeff Ebbeler

Jimmy loves reading so much, he wants to start the Willy Wonka chocolate factory version of a book company, run by and for kids. Filled to the brim with children’s book references, Jimmy’s story will show readers how dedication and aplomb can help you achieve almost anything.

The Maximum Ride Seriesby James Patterson

Max and her five siblings are genetically modified with bird DNA, resulting in enhanced physical abilities—and functional wings. On the run from a secret organization, they try to survive and save the world (if there’s time). I was obsessed with this series in high school. Luckily, with nine books in the series plus the manga serial, there’s plenty to feed an obsession.

Along Came a Spiderby James Patterson

Along Came a Spider is the first book in Patterson’s most popular series, Alex Cross—in which every book is downright addictive. Compelling and twisty, this is a quintessential thriller and the perfect place to start with his work. The story kicks off with the kidnapping of a famous actress’s daughter and a politician’s son and pits a brilliant forensic psychologist against a dangerous serial killer that the FBI and Secret Service can’t outsmart—even with him in custody.

The Murder of King Tutby James Patterson and Martin Dugard

James Patterson is known for his page-turning novels, but occasionally he brings his literary prowess to the world of nonfiction. Explore one of the oldest unsolved mysteries through the lens of Howard Carter’s arduous discovery of the pharaoh’s hidden tomb. It may be true, but the story still has all the intrigue, passion, and betrayal of the best James Patterson thrillers.

Penguins of Americaby James Patterson with Jack PattersonIllustrated by James Madsen

Readers have described this book as “delightful” and “pure joy,” so help the stressed-out people in your life relax with this humorous coffee table book that pairs beautiful illustrations of adorable penguins in everyday human situations with funny captions on each page.

Woman of Godby James Patterson with Maxine Paetro

This is a fictional thriller about a woman who may, or may not, become the next Pope. The main character, Brigid, is an incredible woman whose faith has never come easily to her. All this is set against the backdrop of a Sudanese civil war, drug dens, high-powered lawyers, Boston churches, and an evolving Catholic church.

Humans, Bow Downby James Patterson and Emily Raymond

Let’s get real—who is not a fan of Sarah Connor? In a world where the robots have just won the Great War, Six is a warrior woman with nothing left to lose. Six and her partner-in-crime, Dubs, are the only thing standing in between humanity and their permanent destruction. To do so, they must put their trust in the unlikeliest of allies.

Zooby James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge

Biologist Jackson Oz has been trying to warn the world about his theory of the coming human-animal conflict, to no avail. With violent animal attacks on the rise, he may be too late to stop the impending catastrophe.

Two from the Heartby James Patterson with Frank Costantini, Emily Raymond, and Brian Sitts

Two stories about the power of stories. One is about a woman who has fallen on hard times and takes to the road to ask both strangers and friends one question: What’s your best story? The second is about a tech billionaire who hires a novelist to write a different life for him to live, which one of his tech staff and his hardworking assistant will bring to reality.

Filthy Richby James Patterson with John Connolly and Tim Malloy

This is the true story of Jeffrey Epstein, a man who amassed incredible wealth in the financial sector and fell from grace due to his taste in young girls. This book explores all sides of the case, including the girls employed in Epstein’s home, the cops investigating the charges, as well as Epstein himself.

Tirzah Price is a librarian, YA writer, and lover of cold weather and knitwear. She holds an MFA in Writing for Children Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and isa contributor to Book Riot. Find her on Twitter@tirzahprice.

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