James Patterson's Alex Cross series has made a permanent stamp on American literature, but he has written many more great novels where Alex does not make an appearance. Below is a small list of notable James Patterson novels that are wonderful additions to any Patterson fan’s library.
Beach Road (Grand Central Publishing, 2006, ISBN: 9780446619141)
Beach Road takes place in the luxurious East Hampton community in New York where the super rich mingle with the locals and creates a unique dynamic that James Patterson and co-author Peter De Jonge exploit. Beach Road follows lowly local attorney Tom Dunleavy as he tries to unravel the truths and lies of a triple murder that rocked the small community and imprisoned one of his friends as the chief suspect.
As Tom tries to figure out what happened the night the three men were killed he starts to see a bigger conspiracy of lies and half truths from everyone in town. With the help of his ex-girlfriend and elite Manhattan lawyer, Kate, Tom digs deeper into the case without knowing where his search will end.
For those who love the Alex Cross series, Beach Road is an excellent change. With a hint of John Grisham and a typical Alex Cross novel, Beach Road is a solid thriller with a twist ending that will leave the reader shaking the book with shock.
The Jester(Grand Central Publishing, 2003, ISBN: 9780446613842)
The Jester is a book of historical fiction co-written with Andrew Gross and is one of the most unique James Patterson books. Taking place in medieval France, The Jester is very different from the other modern set Alex Cross novels and anything else Mr. Patterson has written, but that is what makes it so special.
The Jester follows the young Hugh, who is persuaded to leave his wife and newborn child to fight in the Holy Land in 1096 AD as a way to free himself and his family from their peasant status and escape the hold of his devious lord, Baldwin. After witnessing the horrors of fighting in the Holy Land, Hugh returns home to find that his child has been killed and his wife missing. In desperation Hugh searches for his wife with nothing but a staff he picked up from a fallen priest who died in the Holy Land.
The Jester is a twisting novel that is as un-Alex Cross in setting as can be found. However, there are still strong elements to traditional James Patterson novels. There is murder, kidnapping, and the desperate search for loved ones. For readers looking for something a bit different, The Jester is a brilliant addition by James Patterson to his list of novels.
Judge and Jury(Grand Central Publishing, 2006, ISBN: 9780446619004)
Judge and Jury is another James Patterson novel written with Andrew Gross, but this one is more the typical Patterson style. This novel is set around a very high profile trial of mob boss Dominic Cavello and the extent he will go to secure is freedom from the trial. The trial begins as it should but takes a deadly turn when a bus carrying the jury to their sequestered hotel is blown up with only one surviving juror.
This novel is very fast paced, even for seasoned Patterson readers, with a touch of deep emotion thrown into the plot as the main characters (FBI agent Nick Pellisante and surviving juror Andie DeGrasse) fight to bring Cavello to justice. At times the novel takes the formulaic route many mystery and thriller novels travel down, but with enough action and slight plot changes, Judge and Jury should not be forgotten by James Patterson fans.
For those James Patterson fans searching for more information on their favorite author, James Patterson has a very in depth website for fans.
 |
