Who is James Patterson?
James Patterson was born on March 22, 1947, into an Irish working-class family in New York. Patterson published his first book, The Thomas Berryman Number, in 1976 and eventually left his job in 1996 to focus exclusively on writing. He currently lives with his wife, Sue, and their son, Jack, in Lake Worth Beach, Florida.
James Patterson is a popular American author. Patterson has sold over 400 million copies of his books. He was the first author to sell 1 million e-books. He became number one on Forbes’s list of highest-paid authors in 2013. Patterson also maintained that title for the following 3 years. While his most popular series are crime and mystery thrillers, he has also penned several non-fiction and children’s books.
Some of his most popular works are Alex Cross, Michael Bennett, Women’s Murder Club, and Maximum Ride series. He is the world’s bestseller author.
New York Times Bestseller
He holds not only a New York Times bestselling record but also a Guinness World Record for the highest number of #1 New York Times bestsellers by one author. With over 114 New York Times bestselling novels, his achievements are truly remarkable. The current total of #1 New York Times bestsellers by this author is an impressive 67.
Genre of Writing
Extending across multiple genres, Patterson has written something that anyone enjoy. His works extend across thriller, mystery, and comedy with series in young adult fiction and romance as well. He dabbles in science fiction with his book, Daniel X. Also, he has penned several children’s books as part of his initiative to reincorporate reading into the lives of children.
James Patterson has also coauthored many of his titles, such as an FBI series titled The Invisible Series and The Black Book Series, A Billy Harney Thriller with David Ellis, and the NYPD Red series with Marshall Karp. Some of his coauthors include big names that are not common in the writing space. These include Dolly Parton in their novel Run Rose, Run.
His books are in the category of mystery, thriller & suspense audiobooks alongside some other popular authors such as Michael Connelly.
What are the Top 3 James Patterson Audiobooks and Series?
Having written over 200 novels, James Patterson’s books are very popular and have generated a large fan base. From homicide to romance to unsolved cases, Patterson’s writing has captured the hearts of many.
His series tend to get the most publicity, but he wrote some real standalone gems such as The Beach House, The Murder House, You’ve Been Warned with Howard Roughan, and The Palm Beach Murders.
Here are the 3 best audiobooks of Patterson:
- Women’s Murder Club Series
- Alex Cross Series
- Micheal Bennet Series
1. Women’s Murder Club
With the 23rd novel expected to debut next year in 2023, The Women’s Murder Club Series is a thrilling crime series. It is one of James Patterson’s most popular works. Little, Brown & Co, Patterson’s exclusive publisher, published the first book in the series, 1st to Die, in 2001.
Coauthored with Maxine Paetro, the series currently has 22 novels. Also, the 23rd will be coming onto the shelves soon in 2023. Fans recommend beginning with the first book in the series, 1st to Die. All of the works in the Women’s Murder Club series have their corresponding numbers in the title. For example, 2nd Chance is the second book and The 5th Horseman is the 5th book.
In Audible, while narrators for the first 10 audiobooks vary, books 11 through 23.5 are narrated by Audie Award winner January LaVoy.
2. Alex Cross
Totaling 30 novels in 2022, the Alex Cross series is a very popular mystery crime thriller that keeps its readers anxiously turning pages. The series features Detective Alex Cross of the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department who specializes in forensic psychology. The series follows the life of Detective Cross as he navigates the tumultuous life of serial killers and crime investigations coupled with the dangers it presents to his family.
As with any series, it’s always a good idea to start at the beginning. The first book in the series, Along Came a Spider, paved the way for Patterson to break through into the raving success that he is today.
Several of the books in this series have been adapted for film, including the first novel, Along Came a Spider, followed by the second in the series, Kiss the Girls. Other popular books in the series include Jack & Jill, Deadly Cross, Roses are Red, and Double Cross.
3. Micheal Bennet
Coauthored with Michael Ledwidge, Patterson’s thrilling mystery series is comprised of 14 books and is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.
NYPD Detective, Michael Bennet, has dedicated his life to truth and justice. His novels center around his struggle to raise his 10 adopted children while navigating everything from hostage negotiations to homicide.
To enjoy the overarching plot of the life of Michael Bennet and his children, it is recommended that readers begin with the first book in the series, Step on a Crack.
Where to Listen to James Patterson’s Full Audiobooks?
To access the full-length unabridged audiobooks of Patterson, check these:
- Audible-Amazon: Audible is a leading provider of audiobooks, and they have a wide selection of James Patterson’s audiobooks available for purchase or as part of a subscription. Access Audible through their website or the Audible app, available on mobile devices.
- Apple Books: If you have an iOS device, find James Patterson’s audiobooks on Apple Books. Simply search for his name or the title of the specific audiobook you’re interested in, and purchase and download the audiobook directly to your device.
- Google Play Books: For Android users, Google Play Books offers a selection of James Patterson’s audiobooks. Similar to Apple Books, search for his name or the book title and purchase or download the audiobook to your Android device.
