James Patterson lists his top 10 favourite thrillers – number one is a hidden gem | Books | Entertainment

High-profile writers are always emphasising the significance of reading as a means to enhance their writing. Renowned authors like Stephen King and Margaret Atwood have stressed the importance of writers being avid readers themselves.

George RR Martin, author of the Game Of Thrones series, once said: “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.” James Patterson, one of the best-selling authors of all time, is also a passionate reader.

With estimated book sales of around 400 million copies and a net worth of approximately £588 million, Patterson has penned classics such as Along Came a Spider, Kiss the Girls, and Murder House. Born on March 22, 1947, in Newburgh, New York, Patterson has achieved success on the New York Times bestseller list an impressive 114 times. And as one of the world’s most celebrated authors, Patterson has often been asked about his favourite books, and he shared his top 10 thrillers with GoodReads.

10. Killing Floor, Lee Child’s debut novel, introduced Jack Reacher. While passing through a small town, Reacher is accused of his own brother’s murder and uncovers a conspiracy involving the town officials.

9. Gregory McDonald’s iconic Fletch series introduces the eponymous train wreck of an investigative journalist as he dives into a whirlwind of new endeavours.

8. Walter Mosley’s enthralling Devil in a Blue Dress unfolds the tale of Easy Rawlins, an African American war veteran drawn into a search for the enigmatic, jazz club-loving Miss Daphne Monet.

7. Marathon Man by William Goldman follows a PhD student and marathon runner who becomes entangled in a dangerous plot involving his secret agent brother, smuggled Nazi diamonds, and a sadistic war criminal.

6. Frederick Forsyth’s The Day of the Jackal follows an assassin who is contracted to kill the president of France. It has been adapted, with a 2024 series starring Eddie Redmayne.

5. In Scott Phillips’ The Ice Harvest, we meet Charlie Arglist, a scheming lawyer plotting his escape with a suitcase full of cash, all while a slew of adversaries from his dubious past close in on him.

4. Kent Anderson’s Night Dogs features a Vietnam vet turned police officer battling internal demons while chasing leads on the streets.

3. Next up is ‘The Digger’s Game by George V Higgins, a tale of an ex-con who finds himself in too deep and under threat from the mob that is dialogue-heavy.

2. Lush Life by Richard Price explores privilege against the backdrop of societal disparity, focusing on a brash young hipster who is shot dead by a street kid from the wrong side of the tracks.

1. Cutter and Bone by Newton Thornburg follows two friends as they attempt to unravel a murder mystery that leads them into the Ozarks.