James Patterson Books in Order
James Patterson has written 510 books, published between 1976 and 2026. The first book is The Thomas Berryman Number (1976) and the newest is The Murder Trial (2026). 4 more titles are announced, the first of them 27 Stars (2027). Publication order is the reading order below.
- Books
- 510 + 4 announced
- Published
- 1976–2026
- Confirmed
- 484 of 514 titles
- Pages on record
- 74,772 in 239 of 514 books
James Patterson, born on March 22, 1947, is an American writer whose catalogue here holds 514 books published from 1976 to 2027. The run opens with The Thomas Berryman Number (1976), and Along Came a Spider (1992) and Kiss the Girls (1995) follow later. Alex Cross, Michael Bennett, Maximum Ride, Daniel X, Witch & Wizard, NYPD Red, Private, Middle School and the Women's Murder Club are among the Patterson series, alongside standalone thrillers, non-fiction and romance. Marshall Karp shares the credit on 5 of the books. Patterson's sales exceed 425 million copies, and Patterson was the first person to sell one million e-books. Forbes ranked Patterson the highest-paid author in 2016, for a third year running, and the National Book Foundation gave Patterson the Literarian Award in November 2015. 27 Stars is scheduled for 2027.
The Dog Diaries series, written by James Patterson, is an illustrated series for readers aged 6 and up. It follows the adventures of Junior the Dog, pet of Rafe.
How many James Patterson books are there?
James Patterson has 510 published books, released between 1976 and 2026. They include 44 series and 15 titles listed outside any series. 4 more are announced, starting with 27 Stars (2027).
James Patterson Books in Publication Order
The table lists all 514 James Patterson books in the order they were released, with the release year, the page count where one is on record, and how many independent book listings confirm each title. Catalogue data as of September 2026.
There are 514 recorded titles, more than one list usefully holds. The 300 earliest are below; the series linked further down carry the rest, each in its own order.
- 119762884/4
- 219773414/4
- 3See How They Run / The Jericho CommandmentJames Patterson Standalone Novels #31979 · 320 pages · confirmed 4/419793204/4
- 41986–4/4
- 519893844/4
- 619912704/4
- 719925024/4
- 81995–4/4
- 91995–4/4
- 1019961984/4
- 111996–4/4
- 121997–4/4
- 1319984164/4
- 141999–4/4
- 15Cradle and All / Virgin (Remastered)James Patterson Standalone Novels #71999 · 355 pages · confirmed 4/419993554/4
- 1620004324/4
- 172000–4/4
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- 202001–4/4
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- 492008–4/4
- 50Saving the World2008 · confirmed 1/42008–1/4
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- 79The Postcard Killers2010 · confirmed 1/42010–1/4
- 80Med Head: My Knock-down, Drag-out, Drugged-up Battle2010 · confirmed 1/42010–1/4
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- 1022012–4/4
- 103The Worst Years of My Life2012 · 281 pages · confirmed 1/420122811/4
- 1042012–4/4
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- 116Merry Christmas, Alex Cross2012 · 320 pages · confirmed 1/420123201/4
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- 1192013–4/4
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- 1342014–3/4
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- 1372014–4/4
- 138Big Fat Liar: My Brother Is a Big, Fat Liar2014 · confirmed 1/42014–1/4
- 13920142934/4
- 1402014–1/4
- 141How I Survived Bullies, Broccoli, And Snake Hill2014 · 336 pages · confirmed 1/420143361/4
- 14220143554/4
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- 154Invisible2014 · confirmed 1/42014–1/4
- 155I Funny: A Middle School Story2015 · 320 pages · confirmed 1/420153201/4
- 156I Even Funnier: A Middle School Story2015 · 368 pages · confirmed 1/420153681/4
- 15720152034/4
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- 176Alert2015 · 368 pages · confirmed 1/420153681/4
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- 183Let's Play Make-Believe / The Palm Beach MurdersBookshots: Standalone Novels #12016 · 144 pages · confirmed 4/420161444/4
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- 251Nerdiest Wimpiest Dorkiest I Funny Ever2017 · 336 pages · confirmed 1/420173361/4
- 252Dog's Best Friend2017 · 256 pages · confirmed 1/420172561/4
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- 255Escape to Australia / Million-Dollar Mess Down UnderMiddle School #132017 · 257 pages · confirmed 4/420172574/4
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- 281The Moores Are Missing & The HousewifeBookshots: Standalone Novels #342017 · 474 pages · confirmed 4/420174744/4
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- 287A Middle School Story2018 · confirmed 1/42018–1/4
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James Patterson series and characters in order
Each link below opens a reading-order page with every book in publication order.
- Women's Murder Club books in order 26 books
- NYPD Red books in order 8 books
- Jane Smith books in order 3 books
- Private books in order 37 books
- Treasure Hunters books in order 15 books
- Middle School books in order 21 books
- Ali Cross books in order 3 books
- I Funny books in order 7 books
- James Patterson Children's books in order 12 books
- Max Einstein books in order 4 books
- Jacky Ha-Ha books in order 3 books
- Alex Cross books in order 39 books
- Michael Bennett books in order 20 books
- Maximum Ride books in order 22 books
- Womens Murder Club books in order 29 books
- Witch & Wizard books in order 10 books
- Daniel X books in order 12 books
- Bookshots books in order 83 books
- Private/Jack Morgan books in order 23 books
James Patterson books grouped by series
Each title below is a row in the publication-order table above. A group whose heading is a link has its own reading-order page; the other groups have no page of their own on this site.
James Patterson Standalone Novels
30 books30 titles published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.
Bookshots: Standalone Novels
36 books36 titles published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.
Alex Cross books in order
23 books by James Patterson- 1. Along Came a Spider
- 2. Kiss the Girls
- 3. Jack & Jill
- 4. Cat & Mouse
- 5. Pop Goes the Weasel
- 6. Roses Are Red
- 7. Violets Are Blue
- 8. Four Blind Mice
- 9. The Big Bad Wolf
- 10. London Bridges
- 11. Mary, Mary
- 12. Cross / Alex Cross
- and 11 more in the table above
James Patterson Non-Fiction
3 books3 titles published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.
Michael Bennett books in order
9 books by James Patterson- 1. Step on a Crack
- 2. Run for Your Life
- 3. Worst Case
- 4. Tick Tock
- 5. I, Michael Bennett
- 6. Gone
- 7. Burn
- 9. Bullseye
- 10. Haunted
Maximum Ride Graphic Novels in order
10 books- 1. Maximum Ride: The Manga, Vol. 1
- 2. Maximum Ride: The Manga, Vol. 2
- 3. Maximum Ride: The Manga, Vol. 3
- 4. Maximum Ride: The Manga, Vol. 4
- 5. Maximum Ride: The Manga, Vol. 5
- 6. Maximum Ride: The Manga, Vol. 6
- 7. Maximum Ride: The Manga, Vol. 7
- 8. Maximum Ride: The Manga, Vol. 8
- 9. Maximum Ride: The Manga, Vol. 9
- 10. Max Ride: Ultimate Flight
BookShots: Flames in order
10 booksMaximum Ride books in order
9 books by James PattersonJames Patterson Short Stories/Novellas
3 books3 titles published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.
Daniel X books in order
7 books by James PattersonDog Diaries Series in order
2 booksBlack Book / Billy Harney in order
1 bookDiscovery's Murder is Forever in order
2 booksWitch & Wizard books in order
5 books by James Patterson- 1. Witch & Wizard
- 2. The Gift
- 3. The Fire
- 4. The Kiss
- 5. The Lost
Witch & Wizard Graphic Novels in order
5 booksDaniel X Graphic Novels in order
4 booksConfessions in order
4 booksDetective Harriet Blue in order
3 books- 1. Never Never
- 2. Fifty Fifty
- 3. Liar Liar
David Ellis Standalone Novels
3 books3 titles published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.
Travis McKinley in order
2 booksAndrew Gross Standalone Novels
3 books3 titles published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.
Bookshots: Alex Cross in order
3 books- 1. Action
- 2. Cross Kill
- 3. Detective Cross
House of Robots in order
3 booksBookshots: Detective Luc Moncrief in order
3 booksBookshots: Jon Roscoe Thriller in order
3 books- 1. The Hostage
- 2. The Verdict
- 3. Kidnapped
Bookshots: Women's Murder Club in order
2 booksLittle Geniuses Series in order
2 booksBookshots: Mitchum in order
2 booksInstinct in order
1 bookRory Yates Series in order
1 book- 1. Texas Ranger
James Patterson Short Story
1 book1 title published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.
When the Wind Blows in order
2 booksHoneymoon in order
2 booksAlex Cross Miscellaneous
2 books2 titles published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.
Zoo in order
2 booksMichael Bennett Bookshots in order
2 booksBookshots: Private in order
2 booksWord of Mouse in order
1 bookCrazy House Series in order
2 booksCandies in order
2 booksBookshots: Owen Taylor in order
2 books- 1. The End
- 2. After the End
Ruby Bozarth in order
1 book- 1. Juror #3
BookShots: Detective Harriet Blue in order
1 book- 1. Black & Blue
Bookshots: Chef in order
1 book- 1. Killer Chef
Emily Raymond Short Story
1 book1 title published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.
David Shelley in order
1 book- 1. Revenge
John Connolly Non-Fiction
1 book1 title published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.
Standalone books
15 books15 James Patterson titles here are not listed as part of any series.
James Patterson Books in Chronological Order
By publication date, the James Patterson books run from The Thomas Berryman Number (1976) to The Murder Trial (2026), the sequence in the table above. The Private series also has a separate in-universe order on record: Private books in chronological order. No other James Patterson story order is on record.
Do you have to read James Patterson books in order?
You only need to read James Patterson books in order within each series: the books listed here span 44 separate series, and each series has its own publication order.
Where to start with James Patterson
Start with the first book of the James Patterson series you want to read: Women's Murder Club starts with 1st to Die (2000), NYPD Red starts with NYPD Red (2012) and Jane Smith starts with 12 Months to Live (2023). The earliest catalogued title overall is The Thomas Berryman Number (1976).
What is the first James Patterson book?
The Thomas Berryman Number (1976) is the first James Patterson book, and the numbered table above starts with it.
What is the newest James Patterson book?
The Murder Trial (2026) is the newest James Patterson book released so far.
Is there a new James Patterson book coming?
Yes. 27 Stars (2027) is the next James Patterson book announced in the catalogue. A publication year announced this far ahead moves, so it is worth rechecking: every announced title dated after 2026 sits on the upcoming book releases page.
Awards James Patterson has won
Wikidata records 1 award for James Patterson. Each row states whether the title won or was shortlisted, and the year the award was given.
- Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best First Novel1977Won
Printable James Patterson Books in Order Checklist
A printable checklist of all 514 books in publication order is on the James Patterson reading checklist, with a tick box beside each title.
James Patterson at a glance
- Still publishing
- James Patterson is still publishing. 27 Stars is announced for 2027.
- Release pace
- James Patterson books have appeared more than one a year on average.
- Length
- 74,772 pages across the 239 of 514 books with a recorded length, a median of 336 pages each.
- Busiest decade
- Most James Patterson books, 274 of 514, were published in the 2010s.
- Corroboration
- 400 of the 514 titles appear in all four independent book listings, and 484 in at least three.
What the James Patterson books are about
373 of the 514 James Patterson books carry subject tags in Open Library's catalogue. The subjects below are the ones that recur across them, most frequent first: thrillers is tagged on 82 of 373. The subjects are cataloguers’ headings, not a plot summary.
- Thrillers 82 of 373 books
- Children's fiction 51 of 373 books
- Murder 46 of 373 books
- Investigation 40 of 373 books
- Police 37 of 373 books
- Suspense 37 of 373 books
- Humor 32 of 373 books
- American literature 30 of 373 books
- Adventure stories 29 of 373 books
- Mystery & detective, police procedural 26 of 373 books
- Brothers and sisters 25 of 373 books