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Books/book club

James Patterson et al

(39 Posts)
shandi6570 Thu 26-Mar-26 09:53:25

I use two libraries, one a main town library and the other a small community one.

In both libraries there are about two, or more, bookshelves of James Patterson books, with or without various co-writers.

I have asked a few friends and even a couple of librarians if they have read any of his books and could recommend a starting point, so far I haven't found anyone who reads them.

I find it strange that so much space is given to one author that doesn't seem to be widely read.

Perhaps a gransnetter can enlighten me and recommend a book to start with.

pen50 Mon 30-Mar-26 19:14:45

The early ones are quite good, the later ones, not so.

sodapop Sun 29-Mar-26 21:28:13

I love the Washington Poe series as well ViceVersa although the last one was a bit different.

ViceVersa Sun 29-Mar-26 21:10:01

NanKate

Discovered by chance ‘The Puppet Show’ by M W Craven. It has won a major book award and had so many 5 star ratings on Amazon I thought I would try it. I can’t put it down. Rather grizzly at the beginning but after that it has kept me loving the diverse characters and very clever storyline.

M W Craven's books are great, especially the Washington Poe series.

Iam64 Sun 29-Mar-26 20:57:33

That’s the latest Slaughter book I think sodapop. I read to the end but reluctantly. I hoped it might redeem itself, it didn’t, I found it unnecessarily distasteful

Susan56 Sun 29-Mar-26 20:56:34

I definitely haven’t read that one sodapop and don’t want to.It sounds absolutely horrendous.

NanKate Sun 29-Mar-26 20:50:03

Discovered by chance ‘The Puppet Show’ by M W Craven. It has won a major book award and had so many 5 star ratings on Amazon I thought I would try it. I can’t put it down. Rather grizzly at the beginning but after that it has kept me loving the diverse characters and very clever storyline.

sodapop Sun 29-Mar-26 14:29:02

Susan56 I used to love Karin Slaughter's books as well but I read one of her more recent ones and it was vile. Certainly put me off reading any more of her books. I'm not a prude by any stretch of the imagination but this book relied on sexual and incest themes. The story veered from one set of disturbed individuals to another, not enjoyable at all.

Chardy Sun 29-Mar-26 12:04:36

I also liked Louise Penny's Gamache books. And while we're on the subject of collaborations, I enjoyed her collaboration with Hillary Clinton.

Kloppqueen Sun 29-Mar-26 11:53:00

I'm a huge fan of the Alex Cross books. Also love Lee Child's Reacher books. Other authors I like include Jeffrey Deaver and Chris Carter. I've also read some David Baldacci books which I also enjoyed

Wyllow3 Sat 28-Mar-26 23:28:20

I did too, to the local volunteer run library where they were glad to have them, as they were in good condition. Becuase for me they weren't really "Read again" books. I gave them quite a lot, as I had a had a thriller reading period but found some too dark:
I kept the David Baldacci and the Lee Child's (Reacher).

what else were "keepers?" Well, the Ladies no 1 Detective Agency, and a writer I think is one of the best detective crime thrillers, which is the Louse Penny series, " 3 Pines".

Chocolatenoodle8 Sat 28-Mar-26 22:38:11

I first bought a JP book @20yrs ago and loved it. Swiftly purchased and read more JP books. Ended up with nearly every book! Loved The Women’s Murder Club and the Private series. The Alex Cross books were my favourite. Have now donated most of the JP books to the local charity shop.

Wyllow3 Sat 28-Mar-26 22:17:35

Those last 3 writers - I haven't tried the first two, on the list.

Baldacci "writes women" very well, I find.

Susan56 Sat 28-Mar-26 20:37:00

I love the David Baldacci books Wyllow.
I used to like Lee Childs Jack Reacher books but like James Patterson I think his earlier books were better before he too started co-writing.
I also enjoy Karen Rose, Karin Slaughter and Lynda La Plante.

Wyllow3 Sat 28-Mar-26 20:10:58

Later books were very "written by rote". Alex Cross is great, the Womens Murder club is worth a try however.

I much prefer David Balducci. anyone tried him as well? He wrote/writes on offs but some great series, like the Camel Club and, the woman Agent Atlee Pine, and I like the will Robie Series, and King and Maxwell.

dotpocka Sat 28-Mar-26 18:59:11

reacher the series is great alan ritcher is 6.3 230lb so a reacher
pretty the show has 3 seasons and thereis a 4th coming too

graciemabel Sat 28-Mar-26 18:31:53

Loved his books but Morgan Freeman as Alex Cross was so wrong, he was quite frankly too old and gnarly to be alex! Same with To Cruise as Jack Reacher. Jack is 6ft 5 so just not right. The books were thoroughly entertaining though. I liked the short chapters as it was easy to finish a chapter before lights out!

Iam64 Sat 28-Mar-26 18:11:13

Im with the majority in having enjoyed the early Alex Cross novels.
I was impressed that Patterson and another neighbour observed endless streams of young teenage girls to Epstein’s house in their Florida neighbourhood. A log was kept, the sheriff informed. The sheriffs department surveilled. Epstein was arrested and sentenced for an offence against a 14 year old girl. As we know, there were hundreds of others but difficulties with prosecuting these kind of offences existed. Epstein admitted one offence and spent his sentence leaving his cell throughout the day.
There’s a tv drama written by Patterson that has a millionaire with his private island as the plot

IamMaz Sat 28-Mar-26 18:04:49

I suggest you start with the Woman’s Murder Club too. They are in order by number in their titles. I buy them from charity shops.

WelshPoppy Sat 28-Mar-26 17:46:58

My daughter is a Dolly Parton addict so I bought Run Rose Run a couple of Christmases ago. While helping her move house last week I picked it up when waiting for her to arrive in the removal van. I enjoyed what I have read so far and will continue it when I go back to her house.

Menopauselbitch Sat 28-Mar-26 16:55:07

James Patterson is one of the only authors I read I think he’s brilliant. But start from his first ones as they are the best.

ClicketyClick Sat 28-Mar-26 15:54:54

Along cane a spider was made into a film and as often happens the film didn't do the book justice. Like others, I enjoyed his Alex Cross detective series but then lost interest for the same reasons above. Moved onto Karen Slaughter's books which are worth reading but can't seem to find hers in my local library.

Daffydilly Sat 28-Mar-26 15:32:29

I read somewhere that the newer novels are his own ideas but with different writers, so with varying skills and styles.

Maremia Sat 28-Mar-26 15:08:52

The books are not consistent now, with the new co-authors.
Must try the Dolly Parton one, thanks.

Diggingdoris Sat 28-Mar-26 15:01:18

I loved the Alex Cross series and the women's murder club, but gave up reading those with another author. So many being released, I'm sure he's not writing those. I like the short chapters as it moves the story along quickly.

Barbadosbelle Sat 28-Mar-26 14:41:35

.
He even partnered with Dolly Parton on one book!
.