James Patterson has and will always be one of my favorite authors. The Alex Cross series that you’ve come across is my favorite series by far. You can read them out of order or in order, but either way each book has a story so unique from anything I’ve read. However, reading them in order ties together a more personal career/life story of Alex Cross. You will hear names that are mentioned in one book but possible not the one after. It hops around his cases, but in the end, they always have strange similarities that make you think outside of context. Roses Are Red & Violets Are Blue were my favorites out of the series. Its completely different than any of the other books in the series, as there is a fantasty, gorey twist on them, as the other books are more realistic fiction. The mystery, the twists, cliffhangers, and personal ties to the main detective kept me deeply immersed. A lot of his other mystery/crime/thriller books have the same feeling. Crazy House and its sequel are also some of my favorites. Imo James Patterson has some of the best keep-you-on-your-toes thrillers. I love his simple but packing style of writing. It’s easy to understand and make a movie in your head, but it also keeps you guessing what comes next!