Authors Like James Patterson: Long-Running Thriller Series to Read Next
Readers who finish a James Patterson series often want more of the same: fast chapters, a steady detective and a long shelf of books. This guide offers an editorial shortlist of authors similar to James Patterson. We chose them by stated criteria and editorial judgement, not by prose style.
We do not claim these writers sound like Patterson. They share a shape instead. Each series below is an ongoing thriller or mystery with 20 or more books.
How we chose these series
First, we looked at what Patterson himself writes. Our catalogue records 196 credited books for him, 137 of them in 16 series. His two best-known detective series are Alex Cross, with 35 books since 1993, and the Women’s Murder Club, with 26 books since 2001. You can see all of them on his author page.
Next, we set three filters against our own data. A series had to be filed under the thriller or mystery genre. It also had to be marked ongoing, and it had to hold at least 20 books. Those filters leave 30 series, not counting Patterson’s own two. From them we picked 16 by hand, aiming for a spread of settings, so this is a selection and not a complete list.
These picks are our editorial suggestions. They are not sales rankings, and they are not review scores. We do not quote sales figures or awards here because the catalogue does not store them.
Series that match Alex Cross on length
Alex Cross is a Washington, D.C. detective series. Several other long-running thriller series run for just as long. Here are the ones closest to the thriller side of the shelf. Our catalogue files all of these simply under thriller, so the groups below are our own informal grouping.
Spy, military and action thrillers
Spy and counter-terror series make up a large share of the list. In our catalogue, Jack Reacher has 33 books and has run since 1997. Mitch Rapp has 24 books since 1999.
Moreover, Gabriel Allon has 26 books since 2000. Scot Harvath also has 26, and it began in 2002. Meanwhile, Jack Ryan is the longest on our list, with 44 books since 1984.
Pike Logan has 30 books since 2011, and Cotton Malone has 23 books since 2006. Finally, Jason Bourne has 22 books and dates back to 1980.
Crime, forensic and adventure thrillers
Other picks lean toward crime, forensics and adventure. Prey has 36 books since 1989. Kay Scarpetta has 29 books since 1990.
Likewise, Agent Pendergast has 24 books, and it started in 1995. Sigma Force also has 24 books and began in 2004.
Mystery series on the same shelf
Four of the 16 series carry the mystery label in our catalogue. Alex Delaware has 41 books counted since 1985. Stephanie Plum has 36 books counted since 1994.
In addition, Walt Longmire has 30 books counted since 2004. Joe Pickett has 28 books counted since 2001. Our catalogue files them under mystery rather than thriller, so treat them as a change of pace.
The full shortlist at a glance
Every number below comes from the series pages. Counts and status can change when new books arrive, so check each series page for the current picture.
| Series | Books counted | First year | Genre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Ryan | 44 | 1984 | Thriller |
| Alex Delaware | 41 | 1985 | Mystery |
| Prey | 36 | 1989 | Thriller |
| Stephanie Plum | 36 | 1994 | Mystery |
| Jack Reacher | 33 | 1997 | Thriller |
| Pike Logan | 30 | 2011 | Thriller |
| Walt Longmire | 30 | 2004 | Mystery |
| Kay Scarpetta | 29 | 1990 | Thriller |
| Joe Pickett | 28 | 2001 | Mystery |
| Gabriel Allon | 26 | 2000 | Thriller |
| Scot Harvath | 26 | 2002 | Thriller |
| Sigma Force | 24 | 2004 | Thriller |
| Agent Pendergast | 24 | 1995 | Thriller |
| Mitch Rapp | 24 | 1999 | Thriller |
| Cotton Malone | 23 | 2006 | Thriller |
| Jason Bourne | 22 | 1980 | Thriller |
Books counted are the catalogue’s totals. Stephanie Plum, Walt Longmire and Joe Pickett each include one title dated after today, so 35, 29 and 27 of those are published. Alex Delaware includes one title with only a 2026 year, so 40 carry a date before today.
For comparison, Alex Cross has 35 books and the Women’s Murder Club has 26. Browse more of the shelf on our thriller genre page.
Series with co-authors and continuation writers
Patterson often works with a co-author, and so do several authors on this list. The Women’s Murder Club, for instance, credits both James Patterson and Maxine Paetro. Agent Pendergast credits Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.
Some series also outlive their creators or change hands. Our who-writes pages record the credited writer of every book. As a result, you can check who wrote what before you start.
Mitch Rapp was created by Vince Flynn, who is credited on 14 of its 24 novels. Kyle Mills then continued it, and Don Bentley has written the most recent entries. Jack Reacher follows a similar pattern. Lee Child created it, and Andrew Child later continued it.
This matters if you want a consistent voice. A series with a continuation author can feel different from book to book. Therefore, the who-writes page is a useful check before you commit.
How to pick your next series
Start from the length you want. If you want a series that will keep you busy for months, pick one of the 30-plus entries. If you want a quicker commitment, the 22-to-26 book series are easier to finish.
Then think about the setting. Spy and military series suit readers who enjoy global stakes. Series with a police or forensic focus may suit readers who prefer a single city and a steady cast.
Finally, always read in order. Our guide to publication order versus chronological order explains when each approach works. Our longest book series list shows where these 16 sit against the longest series in the whole catalogue.
If you would rather start with something shorter, try our completed trilogies and duologies. Fantasy fans can browse the completed fantasy series instead. Younger readers can start with series like Goosebumps.
A simple reading plan
Pick one series and give it three books. That is enough to judge the lead character, the pace and the tone. If it works, keep going in publication order.
For example, a reader who likes Alex Cross might sample Jack Reacher next. Both feature a single lead who moves from case to case. A reader who prefers a team might try Sigma Force or Agent Pendergast instead. This is an editorial hunch, not a measured match.
Because every series here is ongoing, new books may still arrive. We therefore point you to each series page for the latest status, rather than repeating release news here.
Frequently asked questions
Which authors are similar to James Patterson?
No one can say for certain, because similarity is a matter of taste. As a starting point, we picked 16 ongoing thriller and mystery series with 20 or more books from our catalogue, including Jack Reacher, Mitch Rapp and Gabriel Allon.
Which series does James Patterson write?
Our catalogue records 196 credited books for James Patterson, 137 of them in 16 series. Alex Cross, with 35 books, and the Women's Murder Club, with 26 books, are the two long-running detective series.
Where should I start with a long thriller series?
Start with book one of the series page. Each page shows the publication order, the book count and the current status, so you can see how much there is to read before you commit.
Do other authors continue a series after its creator?
Yes. Our who-writes pages show the credited writer of every book. Mitch Rapp, for example, was created by Vince Flynn and later continued by Kyle Mills and Don Bentley.