What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Mentalist
Bruno Heller · Series · 2008
If you loved The Mentalist, start with Now You See Me (Louis Leterrier, 2013) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Mentalist across media.
What hooked you in The Mentalist was watching sharp minds unravel dark crimes through deep psychological observation and relentless obsession.
Books on the same thread
The Alienist
Caleb Carr · Book · 2006
Explores: Criminal Profiling, Early Forensics, Urban Decay.
If The Mentalist captivated you with psychological deduction and team dynamics, Dr. Kreizler's pursuit of a killer mirrors Patrick Jane's reliance on profiling human nature to crack unsolvable murder cases.
The Late Show
Michael Connelly · Book · 2017
Shares 2 threads with The Mentalist: Redemption, Police Procedural.
Like Teresa Lisbon navigating institutional friction in The Mentalist, Renée Ballard channels fierce determination on LAPD's night shift, bringing relentless focus to high-stakes investigations following departmental fallout.
The Girl on the Train
Paula Hawkins · Book · 2015
Explores: Unreliable Narrator, Alcoholism, Infidelity.
Fans of The Mentalist who appreciate keen observation and personal obsession will be drawn to Rachel Watson, whose voyeuristic fixation on everyday strangers drags her into an unraveling suburban mystery.
The Silent Patient
Alex Michaelides · Book · 2020
Explores: unreliable narrator, obsession, trauma and silence.
Theo Faber's obsession with unraveling a mute killer's motive echoes Patrick Jane's psychological probing in The Mentalist, where deciphering an elusive mind becomes a consuming pursuit of hidden truths.
Films on the same thread
Now You See Me
Louis Leterrier · Film · 2013
Shares a thread with The Mentalist: Revenge.
Patrick Jane's mastery of theatrical misdirection in The Mentalist is amplified here, where illusionists execute daring heists, turning performance and psychological deception into an elaborate game of revenge.
Memento
Christopher Nolan · Film · 2000
Shares a thread with The Mentalist: Revenge.
Leonard Shelby's desperate quest to avenge his murdered wife mirrors the grief and singular revenge driving Patrick Jane across The Mentalist, exploring how trauma distorts the relentless pursuit of retribution.
Heat
Michael Mann · Film · 1995
Explores: Professionalism vs. Personal Life, Obsession, Cat and Mouse.
The gripping cat-and-mouse dynamic between Vincent Hanna and Neil McCauley mirrors the high-stakes battle of wits in The Mentalist, where mutual obsession blurs the boundaries of professional and personal life.
Manhunter
Film · 1986
Shares a thread with The Mentalist: Police Procedural.
Will Graham's intense immersion into a serial killer's mindset reflects the psychological toll seen in The Mentalist, as both investigators confront profound trauma while hunting dangerous, elusive predators.
Podcasts on the same thread
Forensic Files
Podcast
Explores: crime scene investigation, scientific analysis, evidence-based analysis.
Viewers fascinated by how Patrick Jane pieces clues together in The Mentalist will appreciate the systematic, evidence-based deduction here, revealing how cold facts and scientific analysis solve real-world cases.
Criminal
Vox Media Podcast Network · Podcast · 2026
Explores: moral ambiguity, social justice, human behavior.
The Mentalist constantly explores what drives people to cross ethical lines, a theme mirrored in this podcast through intimate portraits of complex human behavior and individuals caught in moral gray areas.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Mentalist centered around a serial killer storyline?
The Mentalist centers on Patrick Jane pursuing a serial killer named Red John, who murdered his wife and daughter. While Jane consults for law enforcement agencies like the California Bureau of Investigation and the FBI to solve murders, his central goal remains catching Red John.
How long did The Mentalist run on television?
The Mentalist ran on CBS from September 2008 to February 2015. Created by Bruno Heller, the American procedural drama followed consultant Patrick Jane and senior agent Teresa Lisbon solving murder cases for law enforcement across those years.
Is Patrick Jane an actual psychic in The Mentalist?
Patrick Jane is not a real psychic in The Mentalist. He is a former phony psychic who relies on highly developed observational and psychological skills to assist law enforcement, including the California Bureau of Investigation and the FBI, in solving murder cases.
Does Patrick Jane work for the FBI in The Mentalist?
Yes, Patrick Jane works with the FBI in The Mentalist. Jane originally works as a consultant alongside senior agent Teresa Lisbon for the California Bureau of Investigation before their investigative work later involves the FBI.