The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

Don't like him co-authoring. He's not really co-authoring. He's farming out his brand and editing. I've read that before and I'm quite sure that's so.

I love James Patterson. And I have to agree with you D.m.

He is one of a group of big name authors whose work has become weaker as the number of their publications have become greater. I've stopped reading most of his. When I do I watch the co-authors name. Some of them are not readable. His early work I really enjoyed.

Nike wrote: "Don't like him co-authoring. He's not really co-authoring. He's farming out his brand and editing. I've read that before and I'm quite sure that's so."

That would explain why some of them are so poor.

I have not read James Patterson yet.Please sugguest me which one should I start with?

I would start with early Alex Cross series as in Along Came a Spider, Kiss the Girls, Roses are Red, Violets Are Blue, those are my favorites.

Thank you Carlos:-)

I disagree. I love his stuff. The Women's Murder Club books are great and the very last one, 12th of Never -- Free Preview -- The First 17 Chapters. was exceptional.

I also love the Alex Cross books.

D.m. wrote: "Yeah I agree with all of you. He used to be really good back in the day when he wrote books like Kiss the girls and along came a spider. Now I think he's just doing it for the money"

I agree that his earlier books are much more in-depth than the newer ones but I still like most of his books. I don't agree, though, about him doing it for the money. I think it has to be some sort of compulsion or something. He does a lot to get young people reading and that's very important for parents trying to find something their kids would really like to read.

Golden rule of thumb when dealing with Patterson is the earlier the better. Sometimes, it's advised to go so early, that it's pre his debut novel! :)

I agree with RMF -- his earlier books were better and those he writes on his own are better -- talked with some patrons at the library on this subject -- the variety is mixed -- some feel as long as he's writing they will read it -- some would rather read his mixed author since they like the Women's murder club series and wished the show would never have been cancelled. But personally I enjoy his earlier books and the ones he has written on his own. Kids love his series he has written -- they go out a lot...

I also think it's sad when a great writer co-authors and writing quality diminishes. The same thing happened to Clancy and I doubt I will buy another book of his.with a second name.
www.josephbradybooks.com

I'm disappointed in Patterson. I thought his books were good reads until he started farming them out to other authors and putting his name on them as a lure for readers who were familiar with his early works. What could his motivation be except to make money the easy way? The latter novels are inferior works. I read one and called it quits. Fool me once . . .

It's fair enough when a 'celebrity' hires a ghost writer, but for an established author to do so just doesn't make sense other than to line his/her own pockets.

It is rationale to believe many first works from any artist, whether a writer, painter or musician are among their best work. Of course there are many exceptions so it is dangerous to generalize. Consider this: Often the first book has gone through an arduous path to publication as many rejects have led to countless rewrites. By the time the first book is out, many years have passed since the book idea was conceived. When subsequent novels appear, a much shorter time has transpired. Case in point: I just published a book called Startup that I describe as "Michael Crichton meets John Grisham." Time from first draft to publication: 10 years!

If you become famous, will you hire "co-writers" to do the work and take the Patterson route to riches?

Scout wrote: "If you become famous, will you hire "co-writers" to do the work and take the Patterson route to riches?"

I'll let you know when I get there. ;)

Carlos wrote: "I would start with early Alex Cross series as in Along Came a Spider, Kiss the Girls, Roses are Red, Violets Are Blue, those are my favorites."

Totally agree with this and with a lot of the comments above. I find the concept of co-authoring a very odd one personally, but I guess that's a consequence of releasing about 15 books a year! The man is prolific bordering on ridiculous.

Having read a few of the other series, when it comes to Patterson, I plan to stick with Alex Cross novels from now on.

Alex Cross are my favorite as well, I don't like the co-authored ones

Yeah, I'm a fan, but I prefer what I consider vintage Patterson, "Along Came A Spider,"Kiss the Girls," etc....

Rob wrote: "It's fair enough when a 'celebrity' hires a ghost writer, but for an established author to do so just doesn't make sense other than to line his/her own pockets."

I take it all back...

"James Patterson pledges $1m to save bookshops in the US" http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainme...

Patterson is awesome! He does a lot for children also. I love his books, even the co-authored ones. He deserves his fame!

i love his co authored ones especially the Women's Murder Club. I just finished the Alex Cross Series and wasn't disappointed. I am waiting on the 12th of Never from the library.

I love James paterson his Mamimum Ride books better.t i enjoy bu

Evelyn wrote: "i love his co authored ones especially the Women's Murder Club. I just finished the Alex Cross Series and wasn't disappointed. I am waiting on the 12th of Never from the library."

Evelyn, have you tried the Private series featuring Jack Morgan by Patterson? It's a newer series that I think is very good. I believe it is co-authored, also. The first is called Private.

I have it in my to be read pile of books from the library and was thinking of trying it next, glad you said it is a good series. I also have some Evanovich books to be read but to be honest, I have read the excerpts and I think much prefer Patterson, he's a bit more edgy.

Evelyn wrote: "I have it in my to be read pile of books from the library and was thinking of trying it next, glad you said it is a good series. I also have some Evanovich books to be read but to be honest, I have..."

I do like Janet Evanovich's books, but I agree with you that Patterson's books are much better mysteries and more hardcore. I like to read Evanovich when I want something a little more light and funny. I like the whole series of the Private books but my favorite is Private Games. I read it just before the Olympics began in London and it actually made me want to watch the Olympics that summer.

I am hooked on Paterson which isn't a good thing as he was so prolific!

Scout wrote: "I'm disappointed in Patterson. I thought his books were good reads until he started farming them out to other authors and putting his name on them as a lure for readers who were familiar with his e..."

Reply to post #15.

On a friend's insistence I was lent The Rabbit Factory by Marshall Karp. What an abysmal mess of a book. This is a hundred page story dragged out to over six hundred, mostly reminiscing, family history, and adolescent sexual innuendo in cliche form. It was so bad I wondered how an author this bad gets published in hard cover. Now I find he is co-authoring books with Patterson. I can't imagine how these turned out.

Ken wrote: "Scout wrote: "I'm disappointed in Patterson. I thought his books were good reads until he started farming them out to other authors and putting his name on them as a lure for readers who were famil..."

will have to watch for those ones Ken, doesn't seem like my type of book either. Did you finish The Rabbit Factory?

Evelyn wrote: Did you finish The Rabbit Factory?"

I struggled with it up until the story went to a ten page letter from his deceased wife. Started, quickly skimmed and got back to the story but knowing there were more diatribes in my future if I kept reading stopped me in my tracks.

life is too short to read books that don't engage our interest or worse yet, we can't follow.

I'm not personally a fan of the partnered novels on which James Patterson collaborates, but I greatly enjoy his Alex Cross works. I've also been buying the Women's Murder Club books for my wife, with the secret plan that I'll be able to read them for myself in the future. I do find the comments regarding his motivation to be interesting, as I recalled a recent letter he wrote to the editors of the New York Times Sunday Book Review when he was taken to task for his co-authoring ways:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/22/boo...

I think he's still taking this author thing pretty seriously after all this time!

Nate wrote: "I'm not personally a fan of the partnered novels on which James Patterson collaborates, but I greatly enjoy his Alex Cross works. I've also been buying the Women's Murder Club books for my wife, w..."

Nate, my husband enjoys reading the Women's Murder Club series along with me.

I love 'clean' thrillers,but haven't read him. Do his books have profanity or sex scenes?

he is definitely better as a solo writer but some of the coauthors ones are pretty good too

some but not raunchy hard core stuff

Christine wrote: "I love 'clean' thrillers,but haven't read him. Do his books have profanity or sex scenes?"

Kristina wrote: "some but not raunchy hard core stuff

Christine wrote: "I love 'clean' thrillers,but haven't read him. Do his books have profanity or sex scenes?""

Thanks, I can tolerate mild,occassional cursing,but not continous,and no "F" bombs,and no graphic sex.

alot of his books either solo or partnered describe good family situations like Alex Cross and the one with the New York policeman with all those kids? also the Womens murder club is pretty good.

In my opinion, he has quite a bit of sex and swearing in his books. The exception is the Michael Bennett series. That's the one with the 10 adopted kids. I let my daughter read that series. He has some books with less graphic stuff on occasion, but it's usually peppered throughout.

Kathryn wrote: "In my opinion, he has quite a bit of sex and swearing in his books. The exception is the Michael Bennett series. That's the one with the 10 adopted kids. I let my daughter read that series. He ..."

Oh wow,I think I will be avoiding his books,then,thank you for the warning!

I've read, or at least attempted to read, some of Patterson's co-author's works. Notable among them for being just plain awful is The Rabbit Factory by Marshall Karp. I didn't link it because I don't want to think I was responsible for anyone reading it. Cliches and tired, tired one liners set against a sendup of Disney.

I shudder to think what some of Patterson's farmed out work must be like.

Christine the Michael Bennett books are quite tame sex and swearing wise and very funny in places

I agree with Evelyn in regards to Michael Bennett. Another series is the Maximum Ride series. Those are something the whole family could enjoy, as ours did.

I have found that Patterson's TV commercials shrilling his books to be a real turnoff.
The only author who does the co-writer thing effectively is Clive Cussler, except for the one's he writen with his son. I stay far away from anything with Dirk Cussler's name on the cover.

I think Preston and child do a great job of co authoring.

Another great duo is Jefferson Bass, authoring the Body Farm series.

Perri O'Shaughnessy's another good co-authorship, it's to two sisters (Pamela and Mary) and really like their Nina Reilly series. The only Co-Authored Patterson books, that were really good are the one's with Andrew Gross.

I find that I enjoy most of Patterson's books, though I'll agree that the earlier ones (in particular Alex Cross) are the better ones.

Unlikely to win any literary prizes, they're all easy to read, great for holidays on the beach or by the pool when your brain can't cope with anything too taxing!

I enjoy most of his books. Yes they aren't rocket science but you know that when you pick one up. Although some are better story plots than others, probably due to who his co-author is. Good easy reads with plenty of action in my opinion.