What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Mentalist
Bruno Heller · Series · 2008
If you loved The Mentalist, start with The Mentalist (John Tallon Jones, 2017) — a book from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Mentalist across media.
What hooked you in The Mentalist was the way a brilliant, obsessive mind navigates the blurred lines between justice and personal vengeance.
Start with the source
Books on the same thread
The Late Show
Michael Connelly · Book · 2017
Shares 2 threads with The Mentalist: Redemption, Police Procedural.
Much like Patrick Jane in The Mentalist, Renee Ballard works within the LAPD to seek redemption, offering a grounded look at the personal toll of solving complex crimes.
The Alienist
Caleb Carr · Book · 2006
Explores: Criminal Profiling, Early Forensics, Urban Decay.
If you enjoyed the forensic insight and psychological depth of The Mentalist, you will appreciate how this historical thriller utilizes early profiling to solve chilling, complex urban mysteries.
The Girl on the Train
Paula Hawkins · Book · 2015
Explores: Unreliable Narrator, Alcoholism, Infidelity.
The Mentalist excels at exploring the fractured psyche, and this thriller mirrors that intensity by forcing you to navigate an unreliable perspective while uncovering dark, hidden truths.
Fool Me Once
Harlan Coben · Book
Shares a thread with The Mentalist: grief.
Fans of The Mentalist will recognize the familiar weight of grief and the struggle for clarity amidst gaslighting and conspiracy, themes that drive this tense, character-focused mystery.
Films on the same thread
Now You See Me
Louis Leterrier · Film · 2013
Shares a thread with The Mentalist: Revenge.
This film captures the same thrill of high-stakes misdirection found in The Mentalist, showcasing how a group of clever individuals uses illusion and strategy to outsmart the law.
Memento
Christopher Nolan · Film · 2000
Shares a thread with The Mentalist: Revenge.
If the drive for vengeance in The Mentalist kept you watching, you will be captivated by this film's intense, fractured exploration of a man obsessed with solving his wife's murder.
Heat
Michael Mann · Film · 1995
Explores: Professionalism vs. Personal Life, Obsession, Cat and Mouse.
The Mentalist thrives on the cat-and-mouse dynamic, and this film masterfully explores the obsessive professionalism and moral ambiguity shared between a dedicated detective and a brilliant criminal.
Manhunter
Film · 1986
Shares a thread with The Mentalist: Police Procedural.
This film mirrors the psychological profiling expertise seen in The Mentalist, highlighting the dangerous, obsessive bond that forms when a brilliant mind hunts a lethal predator.
Podcasts on the same thread
Forensic Files
Podcast
Explores: crime scene investigation, scientific analysis, evidence-based analysis.
If you valued the procedural rigor and scientific observation in The Mentalist, this series offers a fascinating, fact-based look at how forensic evidence brings complex criminals to justice.
Criminal
Vox Media Podcast Network · Podcast · 2026
Explores: moral ambiguity, social justice, human behavior.
The Mentalist excels at exploring the nuance of human behavior, and this podcast provides a similarly compelling look at the moral ambiguity and legal complexities of the human condition.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Mentalist based on a book?
Yes, The Mentalist was adapted into a book format in 2017. While the television series created by Bruno Heller in 2008 follows Patrick Jane and his work with the California Bureau of Investigation, the 2017 book serves as a literary adaptation of the original source material.
Who created the television series The Mentalist?
The television series The Mentalist was created by Bruno Heller. It first premiered in 2008 and centers on Patrick Jane, a former celebrity psychic medium who utilizes his skills of observation to assist the California Bureau of Investigation in solving serious criminal cases.
What is the premise of The Mentalist?
The Mentalist follows Patrick Jane, a former celebrity psychic medium who uses his expertise in reading people and sharp observation skills to solve crimes. He works alongside the California Bureau of Investigation to assist them with their most difficult cases throughout the duration of the series.
When was the book version of The Mentalist released?
The book adaptation of The Mentalist was released in 2017. This publication follows the core narrative established in the 2008 television series, which features Patrick Jane as a former celebrity psychic medium using his specialized skills to help the California Bureau of Investigation solve serious crimes.