James Brendan Patterson is an American author who has become one of the most commercially successful writers in the world. His extensive bibliography includes numerous series such as Alex Cross, Michael Bennett, Women's Murder Club, Maximum Ride, Daniel X, NYPD Red, Witch & Wizard, and Private, as well as the Middle School series. Beyond these franchises, he has written many stand-alone thrillers, non-fiction works, and romance novels. Patterson's commercial success is remarkable by publishing standards. His books have sold more than 425 million copies globally, and he achieved the distinction of being the first person to sell one million e-books. In 2016, he topped Forbes's list of highest-paid authors for the third consecutive year, earning $95 million that year alone. Over the course of a decade, his total income is estimated at approximately $700 million.