Sign in with Facebook
Listopia > James Patterson Recommends His Favorite Thrillers
Goodreads asked author James Patterson to share his recommended reading list with us. The bestselling thriller writer has introduced legions of readers to beloved fictional characters and series, including Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, and Maximum Ride.
From James Patterson: "There has quite possibly never been a better time to stay home and read. I want to thank all of the essential workers who must continue doing their jobs in these uncertain times. For the rest of us, it’s our duty to stay indoors—and lose ourselves in a good book.
And there’s nothing better than a good thriller to transport readers to a different place—and most importantly, keep them turning the pages. Sure, there are crimes galore in these books, but a good mystery is about so much more than a murder. It needs to be packed with interesting characters and surprising twists if it’s going to get me hooked.
If you are craving a few more fictional thrills and suspense in your day-to-day, I’ve got a few of my favorites to get you started (and this is the short list)!"
[Check out more recommended reading lists from your favorite authors.]
From James Patterson: "There has quite possibly never been a better time to stay home and read. I want to thank all of the essential workers who must continue doing their jobs in these uncertain times. For the rest of us, it’s our duty to stay indoors—and lose ourselves in a good book.
And there’s nothing better than a good thriller to transport readers to a different place—and most importantly, keep them turning the pages. Sure, there are crimes galore in these books, but a good mystery is about so much more than a murder. It needs to be packed with interesting characters and surprising twists if it’s going to get me hooked.
If you are craving a few more fictional thrills and suspense in your day-to-day, I’ve got a few of my favorites to get you started (and this is the short list)!"
[Check out more recommended reading lists from your favorite authors.]
List Challenge
The average Goodreads member has read 1 out of 20 books on this list — how many have you read?
The average Goodreads member has read 1 out of 20 books on this list — how many have you read?
| 1 |
|
Cutter and Bone
by |
|
| 2 |
|
Lush Life
by |
|
| 3 |
|
The Digger's Game
by |
|
| 4 |
|
Night Dogs (Hanson #2)
by |
|
| 5 |
|
The Ice Harvest (The Ice Harvest #1)
by |
|
| 6 |
|
The Day of the Jackal
by |
|
| 7 |
|
Marathon Man
by |
|
| 8 |
|
Devil in a Blue Dress (Easy Rawlins, #1)
by |
|
| 9 |
|
Fletch (Fletch, #1)
by |
|
| 10 |
|
Killing Floor (Jack Reacher, #1)
by |
|
| 11 |
|
LaBrava
by |
|
| 12 |
|
Lethal White (Cormoran Strike, #4)
by |
|
| 13 |
|
The Neon Rain (Dave Robicheaux, #1)
by |
|
| 14 |
|
Hell to Pay (Derek Strange & Terry Quinn #2)
by |
|
| 15 |
|
The Poet (Jack McEvoy, #1; Harry Bosch Universe, #5)
by |
|
| 16 |
|
Chiefs (Will Lee, #1)
by |
|
| 17 |
|
The Black Book (Billy Harney, #1)
by |
|
| 18 |
|
Deliverance
by |
|
| 19 |
|
Dark of the Moon (Virgil Flowers, #1)
by |
|
| 20 |
|
The Force
by |
|
Get Results & Compare With Friends »
People Who Voted On This List (1)
Cybil
513 books
278 friends
278 friends
Comments Showing 1-30 of 30 (30 new)
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Omar
(new)
Apr 07, 2020 08:32PM
Nice list.
reply
|
flag
Ice Harvest and Digger's Game are on here twice that I noticed.
Peter wrote: "Are any of these written by women?"Robert Galbraith is Rowling's pseudonym.
Interesting list with a few of my favorite authors up there.Putting up one of your own books though, even if it was co-written.....slightly disappointing to see.
Omar wrote: Robert Galbraith is Rowling's pseudonym."i'm glad you pointed this out.
Norain wrote: "Peter wrote: "Are any of these written by women?"
lethal White is, and maybe women do not write decent thrillers.
I've been searching for a list like this - the last time I saw a list of recommended books by James Patterson, I loved all of them!
Chakib wrote: "Omar wrote: "Nice list."Robert Galbraith is Rowling's pseudonym."
i'm glad you pointed this out.
Norain wrote: "Peter wrote: "Are any of these written by women?"
Lethal White is, and maybe wo..."
I find very few female authors can keep my interest because without fail, they feel the need to slap in a "romance" to the story. If I want to read a romance , I'll pick up a book from that genre !!
I know there are some very successful female authors , most are just not for me.
I wonder if James Patterson reads much written by women or people of color. This list is embarrassing in its lack of diversity. I know that many of these authors are very successful, most just aren't for me.
Quality should be the benchmark, not "diversity". I genuinely don't give a toss as to a writer's colour, gender or other irrelevancies, just whether their book is any good.
Philip wrote: "Quality should be the benchmark, not "diversity". "Vanillahugz wrote: "I find very few female authors can keep my interest because without fail, they feel the need to slap in a "romance" to the story."
I concure
Peter wrote: "Are any of these written by women?"Yes, Robert Galbraith is a pseudonym for J.K. Rowling - who is a female.
Matt wrote: "Peter wrote: "Are any of these written by women?"Yes, Robert Galbraith is a pseudonym for J.K. Rowling - who is a female."
Peter wrote: "Are any of these written by women?"
awesome question and based on their names no one on his list is a woman. SMH
anything by Walter Mosley is a good read. Especially his series books with Socrates, Leonid McGill, etc.
Nichelle wrote: "Matt wrote: "Peter wrote: "Are any of these written by women?"Yes, Robert Galbraith is a pseudonym for J.K. Rowling - who is a female."
Peter wrote: "Are any of these written by women?"
awesome..."
You commented on my comment which states that Robert Galbraith is a pseudonym for J. K. Rowling, who is a female - literally one of the most successful female authors of all time. She wrote the Harry Potter series.
Regardless, I think it's an insult to females for somebody to add them to a list of favourites simply because they are female. That in itself suggests they are there not based on merit, but instead because of their gender. This is an entirely subjective list, James Patterson created a list of books he likes, gender equality need not play a part.
Some excellent women thriller writers: Rachel Caine (Stillhouse Lake series), Samantha Downing, Karin Slaughter, Tana French
Matt wrote: "but instead because of their gender. This is an entirely subjective list, James Patterson created a list of books he likes, gender equality need not play a part"Of course they think it should factor all elements of diversity, Matt. this series of recommendation in itself did this, Patterson is the only white male of eighteen 18 authors asked to recommend books. I regret their chosen white male author is one whose career is long behind him, this chap hasn't written a bestseller in twenty years. 1/18!!
I highly recommend this book : Law School Exams: secrets of straight A students: Legal Writing for Exams Edition
You hit the nail on the head! I'm a woman, and I typically HATE novels written by women precisely because of the romance and/or the drooling over kids that most women feel compelled to include in the story line. That stuff's just cheap filler which requires very little in the way of talent. The only female author I read is Louise Penny.
I find it offensive for James Paterson to recommend a book of his own here. It is either clueless egotism or an attempt at self promotion that is inappropriate for a list like this. Besides, you would think he does well enough financially with the "book a month" he puts out (half or three quarters of which he doesn't even write), to not have to self promote in a place it is not called for.
Howard Sperber wrote: "I find it offensive for James Paterson to recommend a book of his own here. It is either clueless egotism or an attempt at self promotion that is inappropriate for a list like this. Besides, you w..."
It is LITERALLY a subjective list of James Patterson's favourite thrillers - how you can be offended by him listing one of his own books in his own list of favourite thrillers is beyond me. Who cares?
1) Self-promotion: I agree, one should not put one's own books on a list like this.2) I don't agree that women can not write a well-written thriller.
Anyone making such a statement has obviously never read a book written by one of my favorite female thriller writers, Fred Vargas.
Although her name seems manly enough, she is one of the leading French female thriller writers who definitely has a style of her own, that you either loathe or greatly admire. Not to be compared with any other style I know. Top Class. Can recommend her books to every thriller lover.
A little surprised that there wasn't a Karen Slaughter book here. He clearly likes her enough to name a character in one of his books after her
Interesting list, and some of them I read; however, not one female writer, and I can assure you, there are some great thriller/suspense female authors out there - Slaughter, Hood, Burton and more.
Nancy wrote: "Interesting list, and some of them I read; however, not one female writer, and I can assure you, there are some great thriller/suspense female authors out there - Slaughter, Hood, Burton and more."Gender representation was not a prerequisite when James Patterson was asked to compile a list. He was asked to compile a list of his favourite thrillers - if none of his favourite thrillers are written by females, then why would he add them to the list?
Do you think he should sacrifice a book he likes more for a book that he likes less just to include a female author? I think that then classifies his list as illegitimate, because the deciding factor for some of his choices becomes gender rather than what he actually considers his favourites.
Peter wrote: "Are any of these written by women?"Well yes...R. Galbraith is J.K Rowling’s nom de plume after all.
