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The Palm Beach Murders
James Patterson

The Palm Beach Murders

Quick Answer

Read "The Palm Beach Murders" as the 73rd book in the Murder Bookshots (Standalone Novellas) sequence. This follows the recommended publication order to preserve character development.

Sequence Warning

⚠️ Do NOT read before "Blood" (Book 72)

❓ Can I skip this book?
❌ No — Required

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

Verdict Insight: As the 73rd installment, this volume is critical for following the central narrative progression and plot development.

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2021354 pp
In this Floridian thriller from the world's #1 bestselling author, Palm Beach doesn’t just have billionaires, yachts, and private planes—it also has the best murder plots money can buy.   The Palm Beach Murders (previously published as Let's Play Make-Believe): Both survivors of the divorce wars, Christy and Martin don't believe in love at first sight and certainly not on a first date. But from the instant they lock eyes, life becomes a sexy, romantic dream come true. That is, until they start playing a strangely intense game of make-believe—a game that's about to go too far. (with James O. Born)   Nooners: Everyone who knows Tim says he's a good guy. But the popular advertising exec has a problem: a lot of the people who know him are getting murdered. And by the time he figures out why, Tim won't feel so good anymore. (with Tim Arnold) Stingrays: When a teenager goes missing on a Caribbean beach, the local police are baffled. It's up to the Stingrays, a world class team that solves the unsolvable, to unearth the truth: a truth that no one will believe. (with Duane Swierczynski)
Next Recommended Book

Injustice

Book #75 of 51 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 Murder Bookshots (Standalone Novellas) 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 The Palm Beach Murders?

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

Can I read The Palm Beach Murders before Blood?

No. We recommend reading Blood first. The Palm Beach Murders is the 73th book in the series and follows the core narrative established in earlier volumes.

Is The Palm Beach Murders required reading for the Murder Bookshots (Standalone Novellas)?

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

What comes after The Palm Beach Murders in the reading order?

The next recommended book after The Palm Beach Murders is Injustice (Book #75).