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Series · legal thriller

Jane Smith

by James Patterson

The Jane Smith series by James Patterson has 3 known books (3 published). It is best read in publication order, starting with 12 Months to Live (2023). The Hamptons Lawyer is the latest book with a fully recorded publication date.

Books
3 known books (3 novels)
Published
3
First published
2023
Status
ongoing
Shelved under
Thriller
Start here: 12 Months to Live (2023) — then read straight through in publication order.
Book one
Cover of 12 Months to Live
12 Months to Live (2023)

Reading order

The date order of published books and any announced future entries — the default way to read the series.

  1. 12 Months to Live

    Novel
    12 Months to Live opens the series in 2023 at 416 pages, co-written by James Patterson and Mike Lupica around defense attorney Jane Smith's terminal diagnosis and her vendetta against the man who destroyed her family.
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  2. Hard to Kill

    Novel
    Hard to Kill followed in 2024, its 400 pages continuing Jane's fight from Long Island's East End as both her legal troubles and medical situation keep escalating.
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  3. The Hamptons Lawyer

    Novel
    The Hamptons Lawyer closes out James Patterson and Mike Lupica's Jane Smith trilogy in 2025, matching the previous book's 400 pages as the third continuous chapter in Jane's timeline. It continues her fight from Long Island's East End as both her legal jeopardy and her terminal diagnosis keep escalating, following directly from 12 Months to Live and Hard to Kill on the same unbroken storyline.
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Key facts about the Jane Smith series

The Jane Smith series has 3 books on our list. Since all 3 are out now, you can read the whole list today.

Start with 12 Months to Live, since it opens the publication order in 2023. Hard to Kill is book 2, from 2024. The Hamptons Lawyer is book 3, from 2025.

Each title links to its own page, while the list keeps them in date order. Each book page shows its dates and editions.

The Hamptons Lawyer is the latest book with a full release date, out on 1 January 2025. The catalogue marks it as ongoing, yet no next book has a date so far.

The books came out between 2023 and 2025, while their length runs from 400 to 416 pages. That is a run of 2 years.

James Patterson has 196 books on our list. Additionally, they write Alex Cross, Women's Murder Club and Honeymoon, plus 12 more series. We shelve the books under legal thriller.

About the Jane Smith series

Jane Smith is a defense attorney given twelve months to live by a terminal diagnosis -- and decides to spend what's left of her life going after the man who destroyed her family. James Patterson and sportswriter-turned-novelist Mike Lupica built the series around that premise's mix of legal thriller mechanics and ticking-clock urgency, with Jane's health becoming as much a plot engine as any of the cases she takes.

12 Months to Live (2023) sets up her diagnosis and vendetta; Hard to Kill (2024) and The Hamptons Lawyer (2025) continue her fight from Long Island's East End as both her legal troubles and her medical situation keep escalating. The series has been optioned for television, with Renée Zellweger attached to star.

Frequently asked questions

How many Jane Smith books are there?

Three novels: 12 Months to Live (2023), Hard to Kill (2024) and The Hamptons Lawyer (2025).

What order should I read the Jane Smith books in?

Publication order, starting with 12 Months to Live. Jane's diagnosis and personal vendetta carry forward continuously across all three books.

Who writes the Jane Smith series?

James Patterson co-writes with sportswriter and novelist Mike Lupica.

Is Jane Smith being adapted for TV?

Yes -- a series adaptation of 12 Months to Live is in development at Max, with Renee Zellweger attached to star.

Is there a fourth Jane Smith book coming?

No further title had been announced as of this writing.

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