I have perused several Patterson books in the past and possess a plethora of his works. However, I always strive to read the books in sequential order. When his very first book arrived, I began with it. Regrettably, it wasn't overly impressive, as he hadn't yet adopted his customary formula of extremely short chapters.

Those who don't typically engage in reading often inquire about my motives for doing so. In a nutshell, I simply have a passion for reading. To that end, I have adopted the motto "Keep on Reading." I have an affinity for reading almost everything, with the exception of self-help books, although I do pick them up on occasion. I涉猎 almost all genres, but young adult, fantasy, and biographies are my favorites. Of course, my all-time favorite series is Harry Potter, but there are numerous other books that I absolutely adore. My bookcases are brimming with books that are patiently awaiting my perusal. Therefore, I can't linger and devote more time to this review. Just remember, I love reading this and have an insatiable appetite for more. You too should read what you love and then simply Keep on Reading.

After seeing the mixed reviews for this book, I was highly doubtful about its quality.

However, to my pleasant surprise, the book turned out to be a real gem. It vividly reminded me of the very reason why I had initially started reading Patterson's works.

Unlike his later books that have become relatively easy reads, this one presents a more complex narrative. The storyline seamlessly jumps around from the past to the present, featuring a story within a story. It is told from the viewpoints of the writer Ochs Jones, the hitman Thomas Berryman, and his rival Joe Cubbah.

The book has a captivating allure as Ochs' investigations gradually uncover the truth behind the murder of the black politician Jimmie Horn. There are numerous twists and turns in the tale that effectively keep the reader engaged, especially regarding the outcome for the anti-hero Thomas Berryman himself.

In recent times, I had unfortunately become disillusioned with Patterson's work. The excessive use of ghost writing and the repetitive nature of the Cross novels (where the family gets kidnapped by a madman and Cross saves them just in the nick of time) had left me somewhat disappointed.

But this particular book has reignited my love for the author. I am now eagerly looking forward to digging out his early work very soon.

So, I would highly recommend giving this book a chance. It is not your typical Alex Cross or Michael Bennett story. Instead, it is a dark and somewhat dry exploration of the repression of the rise to prominence of black people to positions of power in America and the paranoia that this entailed.

It truly held my attention throughout the reading process.

However, I continuously found myself in a state of anticipation, constantly waiting for that proverbial other shoe to drop or for something more exciting and unexpected to occur.

But then, all of a sudden, the book reached its end.

I was left in a state of uncertainty, unable to clearly determine who emerged victorious or what the actual conclusion really was.

I believe that the age of the book is quite evident here.

It was not crafted in the style of the more contemporary mystery thriller novels that are brimming with non-stop action and cliffhangers at every turn.

Nevertheless, it still managed to maintain my interest, even if the ending left me with a sense of incompleteness.

Perhaps this is a characteristic of the literature of that era, where a more subdued and thought-provoking approach was favored over pure adrenaline-pumping excitement.

Overall, it was an interesting read that offered a different perspective on the mystery thriller genre.

The Thomas Berryman Number was the very first published novel by James Patterson back in 1976.

This captivating book is written from the first-person perspective of journalist Ochs Jones. He is on a mission to piece together a story about Thomas Berryman, an assassin. Simultaneously, he reports on three murders and the intricate stories that lie behind them.

Ochs Jones had previously won a prize for a series of articles about the former black mayor of Nashville, Jimme Lee Horn. That story was set in the aftermath of the break in segregation laws that the south had celebrated. Sadly, Jimmie Lee Horn was murdered while on the campaign trail to become a senator.

Jones is contacted by a doctor at the William Pound Institute, a mental hospital on Long Island, New York. An inmate named Ben Tog appears to know a great deal about the murder of Jimmie Horn and the assassin Thomas Berryman. So, Jones decides to visit him. This encounter truly marks the beginning of a thrilling chase to find Thomas Berryman. However, the truth is not going to be easily discovered or published. At times, Jones feels as if he is chasing shadows, but gradually he starts to put the story together.

The pursuit of information forces Jones to spend many days and weeks away from his own family. While chasing Berryman, he seems to narrowly miss him at every turn. Even when using film and photography, nothing is very clear.

Overall, The Thomas Berryman Number is a remarkable debut thriller from Patterson that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

Way good



I don't want you to come to any hasty conclusions based solely on what I say. However, I just have an absolute and unwavering love for this man, James Patterson! His works are like a magical portal that transports me to different worlds, filled with excitement, mystery, and unforgettable characters. Each time I pick up one of his books, I know I'm in for a thrilling ride. The way he weaves his stories, the twists and turns that keep me on the edge of my seat, it's truly remarkable. James Patterson has a unique talent for captivating his readers and making them fall in love with his fictional universes. I can't get enough of his writing, and I highly recommend his books to anyone who loves a good read.

I had a really hard time reading this book.

It seemed to be all over the place, with the story jumping around in a way that was extremely tough to follow.

I suspect that this might have been Patterson's first book, and if that's the case, it was definitely not a good one.

The plot was convoluted, the characters were not well-developed, and it lacked the engaging qualities that I have come to expect from his later works.

However, it's important to note that he has come a long way since then.

His subsequent books have shown significant improvement in terms of storytelling, character development, and overall quality.

It's interesting to see how an author can grow and evolve over time, and Patterson is a great example of that.

Despite the flaws in this early work, it's clear that he had the potential to become a successful and talented writer, and he has certainly lived up to that potential.

If I could give 0 stars, I would.

As this was Patterson's first book, I swear on all that's holy that I don't know how this or any subsequent book of his got published. This (below) is an actual excerpt from the book. It, and everything else in the book, is complete and utter, purposeless, drivel.

I slogged up the spongy-wet front lawn, stood on a wet, bristle mat, and tried to get a brass lionhead to make noise for me. The knocker would stick on the downswing – then it would make a sound like tthummm. Stick, then tthummm.

“Doesn’t work right.” A man’s voice finally came from inside. “I’m coming around. I’m coming around.”

He of the bald head, an ancient fellow in a plaid shirt with black string tie, finally opened up the front door.

He was Miss Hatfield’s father, and he appeared to be well into his nineties. He shook from Parkinson’s disease, he told me, but other than that, everything was shipshape.

“She’s sleepin’ now,” he said after we’d gotten our autobiographies in order. “Works nights up at the hospital. I just picked her up at seven-fifteen.”

The old man looked down at a handsome gold watch, searched the dial for arms, looked back at me.

“Made my fortune sellin’ these Benruses,” he remarked. “You’re about six foot six, aren’t you?” he went on.

This book had no point, and I should have stopped reading 3 pages in...but I've read a number of his other (later) books and enjoyed them...so I kept expecting this to get better. Big mistake...

It was an absolute chore to finish.

I normally read a book this size in 1-3 days. It took me a full two weeks. I fell asleep on it in the middle of the day, first thing in the morning - any time I tried to make progress.

Don't waste your time.

This review clearly shows the disappointment of the reader with Patterson's first book. The excerpt provided gives a taste of the seemingly aimless and uninteresting writing. Despite having enjoyed some of his later works, the reader found this book to be a struggle to get through. The length of time it took to finish and the constant urge to fall asleep while reading are testament to its lack of appeal. It is advisable for others to avoid wasting their time on this particular book.

DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME. This book was an absolute bore and seemed to have no end in sight. Usually, I have the ability to breeze through his works within a day, but this particular one was a complete exception. It felt like an eternity to finish, and at one point, I was so frustrated that I seriously considered throwing it away halfway through.


The story failed to engage me from the very beginning. The characters were flat and uninteresting, and the plot lacked any real excitement or twists. It just plodded along, page after page, without ever getting better. I found myself constantly looking at the clock, hoping that I could just get through it and move on to something more worthwhile.


In conclusion, I would highly recommend that you avoid this book at all costs. It is a waste of time and energy, and you will be much better off spending your time reading something else that will actually capture your attention and keep you entertained.

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James Patterson is typically regarded as a highly accomplished writer, which is precisely why I find myself so astonished that he didn't manage to pull off this particular work.

Admittedly, I only made it halfway through the text, yet I still couldn't begin to understand it.

The story seemed to lack a clear narrative arc or coherent structure. The characters were not well-developed, and their actions and decisions felt random and unmotivated.

Moreover, the writing style itself was rather disjointed, with sentences and paragraphs that didn't flow smoothly from one to the next.

Overall, I was extremely disappointed with this offering from James Patterson and would not recommend it to others.

I'm an avid reader and have decided to include Patterson in my list of authors to explore. Generally, I have a preference for reading an author's books in the chronological order of their publication. However, in this instance, it turns out not to be a good idea.

This first novel of James Patterson's is truly bad. It is extremely difficult to follow the storyline, and quite frankly, it lacks any real interesting elements. I found myself constantly skimming through the pages just to get through the boredom more quickly.

I believe his next book was titled Season of the Machete. I sincerely hope that this one will be better. Otherwise, I will have to seriously rethink my plan of reading Patterson's works. I'm really crossing my fingers and hoping that the subsequent books will show an improvement and justify my decision to add him to my reading list.

Maybe I just caught him on a bad start with this first novel, and there are better things to come. Only time will tell, but for now, I'm left a bit disappointed with this initial encounter.

I do not concur with the overall negative appraisals for this particular book.

This marks my initial foray into reading James Patterson, and thus I initiated my exploration with his very first novel.

The plot is indeed rather intricate, populated with a plethora of characters. However, contrary to what others have averred, the story was not overly arduous to follow.

The settings within this book were truly remarkable, and I derived great pleasure from the numerous locations that were vividly described.

I am resolute in my intention to read more of Patterson's works in the future, as this initial encounter has left me with a favorable impression and a thirst for more of his literary offerings.