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981 ratings | 481 reviews | avg rating:4.38

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J.F. Penn

Goodreads Author

Born

The United Kingdom

Website

https://www.JFPenn.com

Genre

Thriller, Fantasy, Crime

Influences

James Rollins, Michael Crichton, Matthew Reilly, Dan Brown, ...more

Member Since

November 2008

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/joannapenn

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I'm the award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thrillers, crime, dark fantasy, horror, short stories, and travel memoir.

The fast-paced ARKANE thrillers weave together historical artifacts, global locations, a kick-ass protagonist and a hint of the supernatural. Described by readers as "Dan Brown meets Lara Croft."

The Brooke & Daniel Crime Thriller Series features British detective Jamie Brooke alongside museum researcher Blake Daniel, as they solve dark crimes around London.

The Mapwalker fantasy adventure trilogy is set between Bath, England and the Borderlands in a split world fantasy where Sienna and the Mapwalker team travel through maps to adventure ...

A Thousand Fiendish Angels is a collection of 3 short st ...more

382 posts
J.F. Penn's Blog

Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Los Angeles, USA

I love ancient Gothic cathedrals, but I’m finding some interesting things in modern cathedrals too. Coventry showed me how beautiful new cathedrals can be, and in September 2026 I visited another surprising place, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles.

I arrived in a Waymo, my first ride in an autonomous vehicle, so the whole morning was modern meets ancient from the momen

Combine Editions
J.F. Penn’s books

Average rating: 4.01 · 12,398 ratings · 2,521 reviews · 57 distinct works • Similar authors

	Stone of Fire (ARKANE #1) 3.78 avg rating — 3,460 ratings — published 2011 — 23 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Desecration (A Brooke and Daniel Psychological Thriller, #1) 4.02 avg rating — 1,254 ratings — published 2013 — 17 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Crypt of Bone (ARKANE #2) 4.09 avg rating — 812 ratings — published 2011 — 12 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Map of Shadows (Mapwalker, #1) 3.73 avg rating — 634 ratings — published 2017 — 9 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Ark of Blood (ARKANE #3) 4.09 avg rating — 543 ratings — published 2012 — 13 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Day of the Vikings (ARKANE #5) 3.99 avg rating — 512 ratings — published 2014 — 9 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	One Day In Budapest (ARKANE #4) 3.88 avg rating — 490 ratings — published 2013 — 11 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Gates of Hell (ARKANE #6) 4.28 avg rating — 275 ratings — published 2015 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Delirium (A Brooke and Daniel Psychological Thriller, #2) 4.18 avg rating — 279 ratings — published 2014 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	ARKANE Thriller Boxset 1: Stone of Fire, Crypt of Bone, Ark of Blood 4.16 avg rating — 269 ratings — published 2013 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by J.F. Penn…

Series by J.F. Penn

ARKANE (13 books)
by

J.F. Penn (Goodreads Author)

3.98 avg rating — 7,773 ratings

London Crime (3 books)
by

J.F. Penn (Goodreads Author)

4.06 avg rating — 1,972 ratings

Mapwalker (3 books)
by

J.F. Penn (Goodreads Author)

3.90 avg rating — 970 ratings

Sin (3 books)
by

J.F. Penn (Goodreads Author)

3.34 avg rating — 183 ratings

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J.F.’s Recent Updates

J.F. Penn rated a book really liked it London Station by David McCloskey	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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J.F. Penn rated a book it was amazing Twisted Pike by David Barnett	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 06, 2026 01:40PM · like
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Sep 30, 2026 02:25PM · 1 like · like
J.F. Penn rated a book it was amazing Carry Me to My Grave by Christopher Golden (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 27, 2026 12:37PM · 1 like · like
J.F. Penn rated a book it was amazing The Seventh Floor (Damascus Station #3) by David McCloskey	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 17, 2026 06:10AM · 4 likes · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Seventh Floor by David McCloskey. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Seventh Floor by David McCloskey <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
J.F. Penn rated a book really liked it Moscow X by David McCloskey	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 11, 2026 07:49AM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Moscow X by David McCloskey. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Moscow X by David McCloskey <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
J.F. Penn rated a book really liked it Damascus Station by David McCloskey	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 07, 2026 11:18PM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Damascus Station by David McCloskey. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Damascus Station by David McCloskey <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
J.F. Penn rated a book it was amazing Big Little Truths (Big Little Lies, #2) by Liane Moriarty (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 07, 2026 11:18PM · like
J.F. Penn has read Big Little Truths (Big Little Lies, #2) by Liane Moriarty (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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J.F. Penn rated a book it was amazing Reliquary by Hannah Whitten (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 30, 2026 08:32AM · like

More of J.F.'s books…

Quotes by J.F. Penn (?)

“But then why do we write if not to tackle the fears that others look to us to conquer?”
― Joanna Penn, Author 2.0 Blueprint

tags: inspirational, writing

20 likes

“The first time you get such a line edit, it hurts. You think you're a writer and then someone changes practically every sentence. Ouch. But editing makes your book stronger, and the reader will thank you for it.”
― J.F. Penn, How To Market A Book

4 likes

“Divine wisdom is like a spring that comes down from heaven through a pipeline of books.”
― J.F. Penn, Pentecost

3 likes

See all J.F. Penn's quotes »

Polls

September/October 2013 Group Read

The Bone Collector / Jeffery Deaver

32 votes, 14.5%

Heat Wave / Richard Castle

18 votes, 8.2%

We Have Always Lived in the Castle / Shirley Jackson

16 votes, 7.3%

Rum Punch / Elmore Leonard

15 votes, 6.8%

The Bookman's Tale: A Novel of Obsession / Charlie Lovett

15 votes, 6.8%

Murder on Astor Place / Victoria Thompson

13 votes, 5.9%

Bone Thief / Thomas O'Callaghan

11 votes, 5.0%

Into the Darkest Corner / Elizabeth Haynes

11 votes, 5.0%

52 Pick Up / Elmore Leonard

10 votes, 4.5%

Honeymoon/James Patterson

10 votes, 4.5%

Doha 12 / Lance Charnes

8 votes, 3.6%

Aftershock: A Thriller / Andrew Vachss

8 votes, 3.6%

The Pawn / Steven James

7 votes, 3.2%

The Stranger You Seek/ Amanda Kyle Williams

7 votes, 3.2%

Wild Justice/ Phillip Margolin

7 votes, 3.2%

Out / Natsuo Kirino

7 votes, 3.2%

The Maid's Version / Daniel Woodrell

7 votes, 3.2%

Pentecost / Joanna Penn (J.F. Penn)

6 votes, 2.7%

Ash / James Herbert

4 votes, 1.8%

The Bridge of the Americas / Larry Seeley

3 votes, 1.4%

Close My Eyes/ Sophie McKenzie

2 votes, 0.9%

Head Boy/ Mark Wilson

2 votes, 0.9%

The First Wave/ James R. Benn

1 vote, 0.5%

Sleight of Hand / Phillip Margolin

0 votes, 0.0%

Zanzibar/ Giles Foden

0 votes, 0.0%

Harnessed Passions / D.T. Jones

0 votes, 0.0%

220 total votes

1 comment

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Topics Mentioning This Author

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Connecting Reader...: Indie Book recommendations	20	116	Mar 20, 2012 06:31PM
Challenge: 50 Books: Deborah's 50 books for 2012	107	143	Dec 30, 2012 01:37PM
Crazy Challenge C...: Pssst...Whatcha Reading ? (2012)	1217	240	Jan 01, 2013 11:26AM
Crazy Challenge C...: The Amazing Race Challenge	154	216	Feb 07, 2013 12:23PM
Crazy Challenge C...: All About Me .. You? ... Challenge	266	226	Mar 01, 2013 05:16PM
Crazy Challenge C...: ~The Sub-Genre Challenge~	94	201	Mar 24, 2013 11:10PM

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J.F.’s Quotes

“For the best return on your money, pour your purse into your head.”
― Benjamin Franklin

tags: learning, self-development

96 likes

“Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.”
― Jim Rohn

tags: education, self-improvement

1016 likes

“Rich people have small TVs and big libraries, and poor people have small libraries and big TVs.”
― Zig Ziglar

809 likes

“Writing is an act of ego, and you might as well admit it.”
― William Zinsser, On Writing Well: The Classic Guide To Writing Nonfiction

42 likes

“Thoughts become things. If you see it in your mind, you will hold it in your hand.”
― Bob Proctor, You Were Born Rich

tags: philosophy

149 likes

More of J.F.’s quotes…

J.F.’s Friend Comments

Comments (showing 1-24) post a comment »

date

newest »

message 24: by Alan

Dec 16, 2018 07:31AM

Love your work.

reply | flag

message 23: by Alan

Jan 18, 2018 06:38PM

Hi Joanne. As a published writer myself (true paranormal and horror fiction), I really admire your work. I especially love the interviews you show on YouTube with various writers. Keep up the good work.

Regards
Alan Toner
www.alantoner.com

reply | flag

message 22: by David

Apr 13, 2015 01:19AM

Hello Joanne! I have been watching your YouTube videos for some time now. I'm finding them to be very interesting and informative. Good work! Dave

reply | flag

message 21: by J.F.

Apr 16, 2014 03:52AM

Just sent Day of the Vikings, kickass novella, to my editor! Should be out in the next few weeks - you can see some of my inspiration on Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/jfpenn/ragna...

reply | flag

message 20: by gj

Mar 17, 2014 09:55AM

It is so nice to have you as a new friend!
thanks for becoming a friend!
Please take a moment and stop at our website to subscribe to our newsletter and like us on Facebook- we would love to have you.
www.bragmedallion.com
You might want to join our group- indieBRAG here on Goodreads.

reply | flag

message 19: by Pamela

Jan 10, 2014 01:34PM

Hey J.F., Thanks for accepting my friend request.

reply | flag

message 18: by Dale

Dec 18, 2013 06:02AM

Joanna, thanx for accepting my friend request :)

reply | flag

message 17: by John

Mar 20, 2013 07:51AM

Thanks for friending back, Joanna. I finished Pentecost some time back and will be getting to Prophecy within the next month or so (busy editing my first novel). Where do you find the time to read so much considering everything else you do. Superwoman?
PS Two stars for The Great Gatsby? Interesting.

reply | flag

message 16: by DENISA

Feb 04, 2013 10:48AM