BookPath
Housewife
James Patterson

Housewife

Quick Answer

Read "Housewife" as the 51st book in the Standalone Novels sequence. This follows the recommended publication order to preserve character development.

Sequence Warning

⚠️ Do NOT read before "Cemetery Lake" (Book 50)

❓ Can I skip this book?
❌ No — Required

This book is essential to the core narrative and character development.

Verdict Insight: As the 51st installment, this volume is critical for following the central narrative progression and plot development.

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2011284 pp
<p>Murder, suspense, sex--and some handy household tips.</p><p><br></p><p>Every desperate housewife would love an alias. Donna Stone has one and it's government sanctioned. Oh sure, you've got to be ruthless to take on Russian mafia bosses, rogue dictators, and terrorists set on destroying the world. But it takes real killer instincts to survive suburbia. Try juggling the 5th grade phone tree during a shootout with arms dealers, or driving carpool while being chased by Chinese double agents.</p><p><br></p><p>Donna's life wasn't always this complicated. Five years earlier she was just another woman with two preschoolers, a baby bump, and an adoring husband, Carl, with whom she lived happily ever after in a McMansion in the Orange County, California community of Hilldale. But Donna's life was changed forever the night she delivered her baby:</p><p><br></p><p>Carl's car blew up on the way to the hospital.</p><p><br></p><p>Turns out Carl was an assassin for the black ops organization known as Acme Corporation. The hit on Alex was carried out by the Quorum, a terrorist cell he was tracking. The Quorum's motto: &quot;Show me the money.&quot; Governments and corporations do as they're told--or suffer bloody consequences.</p><p><br></p><p>Carl left something behind that the Quorum wants badly. To protect herself and avenge Carl's death, Donna joined Acme. Whereas her hostessing skills rival Martha Stewart's, her marksmanship is second to none.</p><p><br></p><p>A good thing, too, because the Quorum has planted a sleeper cell in Hilldale. For Donna, that's too close for comfort. Will she be able to save her family before the Quorum blows up Los Angeles?</p><p><br></p><p>Acme's way of flushing out the Quorum is by &quot;bringing Carl back from the dead.&quot; But terrorism makes strange bedfellows. Jack Craig, the wild card Acme operative paired with Donna brings, new meaning to that old adage &quot;Honey, I'm home...&quot;</p><p><br></p><p>&quot;The last book that made me laugh: The Housewife Assassin's Handbook. I taught it in a class about comic novels.&quot;</p><p>—Jane Smiley, Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author</p><p>​</p><p>&quot;This book hits all the right notes...I now want a week at the beach to read them all...I'm completely smitten.&quot; — Barbara Ve</p><p><br></p>
Next Recommended Book

Housewife

Book #51 of 524 in Series

Complete Series Reading Order

Publication Order

Preserves character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended.

Chronological Order

May spoil surprises but improves timeline clarity for deep lore fans.

Order Confidence

high Confidence

Why this order?

Our team of curators analyzes publication history, author interviews, and internal narrative continuity to establish the definitive reading sequence. This ensures zero spoilers and maximum narrative impact.

Why This Order Is Confusing

Many reading lists for Standalone Novels conflict because early publishers often labeled short story collections as standalone novels, or rearranged internal chronologies for marketing. This guide follows original author intent and narrative continuity to settle the debate for good.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I skip reading Housewife?

This book is essential to the core narrative and character development.

Can I read Housewife before Cemetery Lake?

No. We recommend reading Cemetery Lake first. Housewife is the 51th book in the series and follows the core narrative established in earlier volumes.

Is Housewife required reading for the Standalone Novels?

Yes, it is a core installment in the series reading order and contains critical character development and plot progression.

What comes after Housewife in the reading order?

The next recommended book after Housewife is Housewife (Book #51).