Way back in December of 2011 (and again in the Decembers of 2013, 2015, and 2017), we took a look at the authors I have read the most, dating back to high school. Since our last check-in, I’ve read an additional 48 books from 50 different authors. There shouldn’t be much movement over the past 2 years, but it’s time to take another look and see if my “favorite” authors have changed much in that time span. Once again, we will be limiting ourselves to the now 70 authors from whom I have read more than one book.
| Author Name | Current Total | 2017 Total | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nancy Holder | 16 | 15 | 1 |
Nancy Holder adds 1 new book over the past 2 years to maintain her lead.
| Richard Castle | 15 | 14 | 1 |
The writer (or writers) using the nom de plume of the main character from the television show Castle sees a slight increase, despite the show being off the air for well over 3 years now.
| Stephen King | 13 | 12 | 1 |
| Greg Rucka | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| Christopher Golden | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| Brad Meltzer | 12 | 11 | 1 |
Very little movement in the next tier the past 2 years.
| Jeffery Deaver | 11 | 8 | 3 |
We round out the double digits with Deaver, who will be going up again soon, as I’m currently reading one of his books.
| Michael Jan Friedman | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| J.K. Rowling | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| Michael Crichton | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| Peter David | 7 | 7 | 0 |
This is a pretty stagnant grouping, although Rowling’s number is somewhat misleading as I’ve read one book by her pseudonym.
| David Mack | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| John Grisham | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| Mary Kubica | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Yvonne Navarro | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| William Shatner | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Scott Turow | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Amber Benson | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Jennifer McMahon | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| Jeff Mariotte | 5 | 5 | 0 |
Local author Mary Kubica continues to move up the rankings. Aside from that, very slight movement with mostly stagnation.
| James Ellroy | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Scott Adams | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Dan Brown | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Diana G. Gallagher | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Gillian Flynn | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Diane Carey | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Erle Stanley Gardner | 4 | 3 | 1 |
Another mostly stagnant group, though Jennifer McMahon and Yvonne Navarro manage to climb a rung or two up the ladder to the top.
| Kevin J. Anderson | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Keith R. A. DeCandido | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Bill Carter | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Max Allan Collins | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Riley Sager | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Suzanne Collins | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Karin Slaughter | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| John Vornholt | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| John R. Maxim | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Timothy Zahn | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Stieg Larsson | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| David Lagercrantz | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Adam Carolla | 3 | 2 | 1 |
A couple of new comers enter the list, with 3 reads apiece for Riley Sager and Karin Slaughter.
| James Patterson | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Jay Johnstone | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Paul Reiser | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Michael Chabon | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Paula Hawkins | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| David Fisher | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Jennifer Graham | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Howard Weinstein | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Howard Stern | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Joe Hill | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Melissa Metz | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Kathy Reichs | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Max Barry | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Matthew V. Clemens | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| John Passarella | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Mary Karr | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Diane Duane | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Laura Caldwell | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| George Orwell | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Kimberly McCreight | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Thomas Harris | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Homer | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Mel Odom | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Charles Grant | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Richard Roeper | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Rob Thomas | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Cameron Dokey | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Ron Luciano | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Warren Ellis | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Alan Sepinwall | 2 | 1 | 1 |