Books to Read If You Like James Patterson

 James Patterson is one of the world's most popular authors, and there’s a reason for that. With his action packed thrillers, zippy short chapters and likable heroes, Patterson novels have sold in excess of 425 million copies. However, Patterson has his name on so many books, it’s easy to fall into simply reading a ton of James Patterson novels, as he has written or co-written over 200 or so novels. What are some other action packed readers worth reading? Here are other authors worth reading in the ever popular thriller genre if you like James Patterson novels.

Andrew Gross

Andrew Gross is known for writing like James Patterson, with tons of action and short chapters and there’s a reason for that. Gross actually has co-authored books with Patterson, including some of the Women’s Murder Club books like Second Chance and Third Degree, as well as the historical thriller he co-authored with Patterson called The Jester. He’s written popular action packed novels like The Blue Zone and The Dark Tide, which use the short chapters technique Patterson is known for. More recently he has taken to writing his own solo historical thrillers like The Fifth Column, which takes place in 1939 Europe and The One Man, among others.

Nelson DeMille

Nelson DeMille writes way longer books than Patterson, with some clocking in at 600 plus pages, but like Patterson, his books are jam packed with action and likable detectives. His most famous character, John Corey, might be a lot more cranky than the ever likable and hopeful Alex Cross, but does share that pursuit of justice. Like Patterson, DeMille also goes between first and third person in his chapters, with some chapters being action packed scenes described by the author and some chapters being funny thoughts narrated by Corey.

Lee Child

Lee Child is another bestselling mega author, like Patterson, having sold 100 million copies of his famous Jack Reacher series. Jack Reacher is a hitchhiking, beat them up kinda guy who often has a heart and the drive to do the right thing, much like a James Patterson character does. Appearing in over 27 novels, Reacher beats up bad guys, while traveling town to town, city to city, sometimes even different parts of the world, delivering justice without a question of payment attached.

Robert B Parker

Like James Patterson, Parker often wrote in short chapters, fast snappy dialogue and other ways to keep the pages moving. However, while his character, Spenser, has in common with Patterson’s characters Alex Cross and Michael Bennett the whole PI thing going on, Spenser is a much more old fashioned PI in the spirit of Ray Chandler. Appearing in over 50 novels, Spencer is still being written even with the passing of the main author, Parker, in 2010. Even some of the authors of Spencer novels crossover with James Patterson as co-authors, including famous sports writer Mike Lupca.

If you would like a personalized suggestion from me for a book, leave a comment on this article!

Author Spotlight: Dean Koontz

Dean Koontz is often considered the Pepsi to Stephen King’s Coke-Cola, which isn’t quite fair. I think Dean Koontz has his own unique brand of thrillers and horror novels, which while similar to King in some ways, still has its own flavor. If Stephen King is rock music, Dean Koontz is Christian rock. Koontz has more hope in his novels than King.  He has a great if a hokey sense of humor that make his proses crackle and his reads a fun read. Here are some Dean Koontz books worth reading.

 

Watchers

“Watchers” is the ultimate novel for dog lovers. Anyone who is a regular reader of Dean Koontz will know Koontz loves dogs. Dogs who are brave, or in the case of this novel, a super genius. Koontz often poses on the back of his novel with his current golden retriever. “Watchers” is the story of a normal but unfulfilled guy and an awkwardly shy woman who come together when they encounter a golden retriever who escaped from a lab, and displays an almost supernatural level of intelligence.  It’s a solid page-turner and a good introduction to many of Koontz’s themes.

Demon Seed

“Demon Seed” is one of Koontz’s scariest books. It’s the story of a woman who lives in a house that is ruled over by an artificial intelligence network, which becomes obsessed with her. To make the novel even scarier and more claustrophobic, the novel is literally narrated by the artificial intelligence network itself.

Odd Thomas

Odd Thomas is one of Koontz’s most beloved creations. A young fry cook who can communicate with the dead, who hangs out with dead classic Americana icons like Elvis, as his friends, while also inhabiting a quirky town that is very protective of him. Odd Thomas is an everyman. He dreams of simple things like owning an ice cream store or a tire shop, yet because of his supernatural ability, he is forced to become a hero. There are seven books in all with Odd Thomas as the main character by Koontz, and it's a great series read.

Life Expectancy

One of my favorite Koontz novels, because it’s like reading Koontz’s take on Stephen King’s classic tomb, “IT”. Like “IT”, this novel does have its own evil clown. A baby is born, and on its birth, a mysterious figure hands the father a list of things that will happen over the baby’s lifetime. Next to him, another baby is born, and this is the baby who ends up stalking the future adult throughout his life, dressed as an evil clown. This is one of Koontz’s quirky best, and says a lot about fate, and if it’s real or not.

These are some good novels to start with if you want to start reading Dean Koontz. Koontz has written over 100 novels, so if you do choose to pick him up, and look at him as more than a Stephen King clone, I think you’ll find something worth reading.

The Beginners Guide To The Fantasy Genre

 Like science fiction, fantasy is one of those very self-contained genres with its own tropes and types of language and characters. It’s a genre one doesn’t just pick up like mysteries or thrillers, or straight literary novels, because it’s very much its own type of thing. So, if one was going to pick up the fantasy genre, what would be good novels to start with? Here are a few.

The Sword Of Shannara by Terry Brooks.

Terry Brooks has been criticized for making his novel too much like “Lord of the Rings”, but his first novel “The Sword of Shannara” is still a really good starter novel for those who want to read fantasy. While “Lord of the Rings” is the golden standard of the epic fantasy genre, “The Sword of Shannara” is considered a classic as well. It’s similar in scope and the idea of a band of misfits going towards a magic item is like “Lord of the Rings” , but Brooks is a lot more readable than J.R.R. Tolkien, in a lot of ways. The story follows brothers Flick and Shea as they are entrusted to find a magic sword by a druid named Allanon. What follows is an adventure with battles and different types of magical creatures they meet along the way.There’s a reason this novel was the first ever fantasy ever to appear on the New York Times bestseller list, and that is the very readable and clear writing of Terry Brooks. 

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Millions upon millions of kids have been brought into the fantasy world by J.K. Rowling and her debut novel. Like Brooks, Rowling has a very clear and readable writing style which makes her books accessible for those who haven’t been inducted into the world of fantasy yet. Like Brooks, her premise isn’t the most original but she does it well and makes it her own. Something you will find in the fantasy genre is repeating tropes, like a merry band of misfits walking towards a magic item or in Rowling's case, a magic school. Millions of kids have been enchanted with the world of Harry, Hermione and Ron and like Brooks, will likely want to read all the sequels as well. Rowling tells a compelling story in her first book of discovering who you are, and finding a world you belong in. 

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

Magic kids and chosen ones is a true and classic trope of the fantasy genre, and The Golden Compass, the beginning of a trilogy, is no exception. Following Lara, a young orphan who lives in the halls of Oxford, in an alternative universe, Pullman’s classic fantasy novel is a perfect introduction to those who want to be introduced to more complex fantasy after reading the likes of Potter and Shannara. “The Golden Compass” deals with themes of religion, science and finding out where you are from. With a more complicated premise than a merry band looking for a magic object or going to a magic school, “The Golden Compass”, which kicks off the “His Dark Materials” trilogy, is a complex but readable adventure for fantasy readers of all ages. Also, it’s an introduction to a subgenre as well, called Steampunk, which incorporates modern technology and Victorian elements in the setting.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson is the story of a boy who finds he is half Greek God. What makes Percy Jackson unique isn’t so much the setting, which is basically a magic camp instead of a magic school, but the fact it replaces magic with mythology. So why is this a fantasy novel you might ask? Well, it has many of the elements found in traditional fantasy novels, including Percy being a chosen one, magic like powers and a battle between good and evil. As well as a ton of sequels. Also unique is this series isn’t classified as YA or epic adult fantasy, but a straight MG series, which means it’s middle grade, and written with younger readers in mind. However, adults can read it too, as it’s a very enjoyable fantasy series.

So here are some fantasy novels to start with. They are fun and engaging reads, with elements of magic you won’t find in the real world, which makes them such fun to read. Next week I will talk about introducing yourself to the science fiction world.

Author Spotlight: William Gibson

William Gibson is one of the most interesting authors I have ever read. His novels are considered classics of the science fiction genre, and he pioneered the subgenre of science fiction called cyberpunk. Cyberpunk is a dystopian genre which mixes computer lingo with a story, and can make for dense but rewarding reading. He is also credited with coining the word “cyberspace”. He influenced other science fiction authors like Neil Stephenson, Richard Morgan, Rudy Rucker and Cory Doctorow. If you want to get into reading William Gibson, here are some novels to start with.

Neuromancer (1984)  William Gibson’s first novel, the classic 1984 novel “Neuromancer” is considered a pioneering work of science fiction. The novel follows Henry Case, a washed up hacker, and a female cyborg named Molly Millions, who would appear in future novels by Gibson, as they confront a powerful form of artificial intelligence on a final hacking job. Dystopian, dense reading follows, as they confront the artificial intelligence trying to overtake the city. The novel is famous for both its portrayal of technology, and its opening line, which has become iconic for its portrayal of how technology intersects with the real world.

Idoru (1996) This is Gibson’s take on pop culture and technology. Idoru is about a virtual Japanese pop star who draws a group of people together including a teenage fan, a body guard, a hacker and a Otaku, which means a person who is a massive fan of anything Japanese. The book reads a bit like an anime, with its quiet images, and tons of Japanese references. It’s one of my favorite science fiction books, and the idea of something non real drawing a curious group of people together, who aren’t sure of the pop star’s nature or their own, is so interesting to read.

Pattern Recognition (2003) One of Gibson’s best books, the book was famous for being the first fictional novel to bring up September 11th. Gibson actually rewrote the book after 9/11 happened to incoporate the terrorist attacks into the story. The story is about an advertising executive named Cayce, who is assigned by a mysterious marketing firm called Blue Ant to find who is responsible for mysterious footage released on the internet. The book is a slow burn, but worth reading as Cayce digs more and more into the mysterious footage, and meets Gibson’s usual cast of characters, including an Otaku, like in “Idoru”. She is also dealing with the aftermath of her father disappearing on 9/11. Everything comes crashing down as she starts to question what is really important. 

All Tomorrow’s Parties (1993) A cyberpunk detective story that takes place mostly on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, the story concerns a hacker who is now a bodyguard, as he meets a group of weird people, as he is trying to find who committed a murder through the use of virtural reality glasses. It takes place between virtual reality, and the aftermath of an earthquake in San Francisco. It’s a weird story which includes a Japanese sociologist, Russian immigrants and other characters he meets along the way. However, it leads to one of the most shocking endings I ever read.

These are some of the most dense, interesting reads I have ever read. Gibson uses a lot of computer language in his own narrative, so there are times you might have to stop and look up computer terms yourself. However, his books are always a rewarding read, because of how interesting they are. Gibson himself has said he isn’t a big computer guy, but finds the world computers have created to be interesting enough to write about, and he shows that in his many novels.

John Grisham’s “The Judge’s List” is a Long Chase

John Grisham’s novel “The Judge’s List” isn’t bad, but isn’t one of his better ones. I usually like Grisham, and even when he misses, I still like reading his books. He is a master at pageturners where the characters run from page one till the last page. However, “The Judge’s List” felt too much like a novel which became a big chase scene, and Grisham also made the mistake of revealing who the killer was way too fast. 

The plot is about a woman who suspects a sitting Florida judge of killing her father, and has devoted many years of her life to tracking him down. She turns to Lacy, a woman who runs an origanization which deals with complaints made against crooked judges. Together they try to piece together clues that this judge is the one who is a serial killer, and if that is true, he would be the first judge in American history to be convicted of murder.

Cat and mouse thrillers aren’t new, but I felt like Grisham revealed that the judge is the killer way too fast. I would of been more enthralled if he drawn out the suspicion more and didn’t automatically switch to chapters where the judge is the obvious murderer. I felt like a bit more mystery would have made this a better novel. I know Grisham doesn’t really write mysteries. He writes thrillers, which don’t have to necessarily be mysteries. However, this one could have been so easily a mystery.

Overall, the novel becomes a bit of a long chase, and I got a bit bored by the end. It’s still a fine pageturner, but I wish it was a bit more drawn out without such an instant reveal. I feel that would make the book a better read. Also, the villain was a bit too evil, to the point he felt a little cartoonish. Grisham is a good writer, but this wasn’t one of his better ones.

High School Sure Can Suck: Angsty Teen Novels Not Written By John Green

John Green is the king of the angst ridden YA novel, and he’s quite a good writer. However, he’s not the only one in town who writes about the angst ridden high school experience. It’s been a topic of YA novels for quite some time. Here are some angsty novels written by writers who are not John Green, that encompass the angst of being a young person.

Be More Chill by Ned Vizzini

The late Ned Vizzini wrote some real angsty novels, with highlights including “It’s Kind Of A Funny Story” and a book literally titled “Teen Angst? Naah…” but his most classic is his novel “Be More Chill”. “Be More Chill” follows a teen boy named Jeremy, who is a nerd. He suspects girls give him weird looks everytime there’s a glance at him. Though, he doesn’t have a ton of proof of this. One day, he comes across a supercomputer called a “Squid”, which he can put into his brian, which will give him instructions on how to be cool. Throughout the novel, he has to decide to be “cool” or be himself, and he learns lessons along the way. He also wonders if the “Squid” is really worth keeping in his mind. This book still is popular today, as it was made into a musical and is being developed as a motion picture.

The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chobsky 

One of the most emo novels ever written, and I mean that in a good way, “The Perks of Being A Wallflower” is full of sayings made to be profound to the teen set like “we get the love we think we deserve” and “I feel infinite”. It’s a well written book, and was the only book by Stephen Chobsky for a very long time, until he came out with “Imaginary Friend” in 2019. “Perks” was written in 1999, so that gives you an idea of how long it took for Chosbky to write a second one. “Perks” however is a very sad and thoughtful book, and a short one at 256 pages. Its narrator is simply named Charlie, and we aren’t even sure that’s his real name, because he is writing letters to the reader through the book, and hints he is protecting his true identity. It’s sure to be a favorite of an angsty teen.

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Two outcasty 10th graders, Eleanor and Park, begin a first relationship with each other. Park is interested in alternative music and comics. Eleanor is abused by her step dad, who is often drunk, and ignored by her mother. She’s also overweight, which plays a role in her being unpopular with the other students at her new school. When they meet, they find each other, and become united in their outcast status. Rainbow Rowell is a very good writer, and uses her trademark humor and romance to tell the story of the two outcasted high school students. It’s worth a read, and will speak to the unpopular everywhere.

Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger

We arrive at the most iconic of outcast YA novels, before YA novels were really a thing. J.D. Salinger’s novel tells the story of Holden Caulfield, a depressed and angry teen, who goes around New York City, bemoaning everything. Some modern critics have dismissed this novel as the story of a spoiled brat, but anyone who does so has forgotten what it’s like being a teenager who is constantly angry at the world. Talking to a therapist, he bemoans his older brother who sold out to Hollywood, talks about his interactions with everyone from an old teacher to a prostitute, and talks of how he wants to save the children from “falling off the rye”, which can mean many things depending how you look at it. It’s a must read right of passage for every angst ridden teenager.

These are some angst ridden teen novels worth giving to your teenager, or your inner teenager if you are feeling angsty yourself. John Green is a great writer, but like a horror reader who only reads Stephen King, genres offer a lot more than one iconic writer. I think Green, who often suggests a ton of other writers on his YouTube channel, would agree.

If You Like Information, Here's Are Some Brainy Thriller Writers To Read

You might be asking yourself, why not just read non-fiction if you like information? While that is true, a story sometimes is the most fun thing to read. However, there is a subgenre of brainy fiction writers, mostly thriller writers, who mix information with stories. These authors are able to teach you something while also giving you a page turning adventure. Here are some brainy thriller writers worth reading.

Dan Brown

Dan Brown is one of the masters of information packed thrillers. His novels, most popularly his Robert Langdon books, which include the massive bestseller “The DiVinci Code”, are packed with fun facts about religion, puzzles and conspiracy theories he leaves the reader to make up their mind about. His books also double as travel porn, as his chase filled novels often take place around parts of Europe. Robert Langdon has been everywhere from Paris (Angels and Demons) to Washington D.C. (The Lost Key), and his chase scenes always take part in these city’s most scenic and iconic parts. However, that too often leads to fun facts, as Brown gives information about these landmarks. He also goes into other subjects as well. I learned a lot about NASA for example by reading his novel “Deception Point”.

Michael Critchon

The late Michael Critchon’s books are jam-packed with factoids about science, engineering, and other various topics. Whether it’s the DNA charts of “Jurassic Park”, the airplane reports in “Airframe”, the facts about micro robot technology in “Prey”, generic engineering in “Next”, Japanese mobsters in “Rising Sun'', or even scientific breakdowns of time travel in “Timeline”, Crichton novels are entertaining as well as very jam packed with information on various topics. Some Crichton novels even have a bibliography at the end, like a nonfiction book would.

Nelson DeMille

Nelson DeMille books will teach you a ton about counter terrorism and detective work, while also providing a thrilling page turner. Terrorism is a big topic in his novels, whether it be bioterrorism (Palm Island), international terrorism (The Panther), or home grown terrorism (Wild Fire). However, while you learn about many topics in his books, he does so with dry humor, and a thrilling mystery to boot. His main recurring character, John Corey, is an old fashioned detective, who is a bit of a gruff guy, which makes his books a throwback and a read which is really delightful.

John Grisham

It’s hard to find someone who hasn’t heard of John Grisham, but if you want information on how the legal system works while also being entertained, his legal thrillers are simply the best. From “The Firm” to “The Client” to many other novels, Grisham is the king of the legal thriller genre. However, Grisham’s brainy thrillers are not just legal thrillers. He has written about baseball (Calico Joe), football (Praying for Pizza and Bleachers), and recently, basketball and immigration (Sooley). He has even written an acclaimed collection of short stories about life in the South (Ford Country). Grisham is worth reading to know about the legal system, but also these other books can teach you even more topics.

So, here are some briany thriller writers to read. Just because it’s fiction doesn’t mean you can’t learn something new. These writers entertain as well as inform. These books are worth an entertaining but also educational read.