# Richard Taylor Patterson's Works **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 15, 2011, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-taylor-pattersons-works/606280 "2011-12-15T05:41:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-taylor-pattersons-works/606280/1 "2011-12-15T05:41:09Z")
Has anyone read any of his works? I’ve picked up a copy of his _The Race_ today about a popular moderate Republican senator who’s running for President but _DUNDUNDUN_ has his chances hampered not only his moderate positions (from what I can tell from his statements his quite close to Obama actually) but due to his black actress girlfriend. Well I suppose its interesting although it’ll be a bit preachy… ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-taylor-pattersons-works/606280/2 "2011-12-15T17:25:17Z")
Never heard of him, and apparently Google hasn’t either… ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-taylor-pattersons-works/606280/3 "2011-12-15T20:59:18Z")
Look for Richard North Patterson. Never read him, though. ---
**Author:** ![SeldomSeen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@SeldomSeen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeldomSeen)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-taylor-pattersons-works/606280/4 "2011-12-15T23:48:51Z")
I’ve just recently started to read some of Patterson’s books (and yes, it is Richard \*North \*Patterson. To date, _In the Name of Honor, The Spire,_ and _Silent Witness_. It’s not great literature, but it does make for a pretty good read. His style is very similar to John Grisham’s in that it is mostly of the “legal thriller” genre. I think Patterson is actually a somewhat better writer than Grisham…his books seem to be more tightly plotted, his characters stay in character better. If I have any complaint about Patterson’s books it is that they tend to be formulaic. There is always a surprising twist in the last 1/4 wherin the leading character’s best friend/oldest confidant/close associate turns out to be the bad guy. All in all, as I said, pretty good light reading. I probably wouldn’t pay the price for a hardcover, but I’ll definitely buy more in paperback. SS