The Noise

The Noise is James Patterson’s 2021 thriller, co written with J.D. Barker, working in the supernatural thriller territory that Patterson has occasionally explored across his wider catalogue. The novel follows the survivors of a strange catastrophic event in the Pacific Northwest wilderness, with the noise of the title being a particular sound that has driven its survivors into states of catatonic shock or violent madness.

The Patterson and Barker collaboration produces the kind of brisk supernatural thriller that combines Patterson’s brand pacing with Barker’s experience in the supernatural horror corner. The chapters are short, the cliffhangers come at the end of nearly every section, and the central mystery of what the noise actually is and what is producing it drives the reader through the page count without much chance to slow down.

For longtime James Patterson fans interested in his less standard thriller territory, The Noise is a satisfying departure into supernatural horror. For readers who enjoy supernatural thriller fiction from authors like Stephen King’s lighter work or Blake Crouch’s high concept thrillers, the Patterson and Barker collaboration operates in adjacent territory.