What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Palm Beach Murders
James Patterson · Book · 2022
If you loved The Palm Beach Murders, start with The Palm Beach Story (Preston Sturges, 1942) — a film on the same thread. Below: 3 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Palm Beach Murders across media.
What hooked you in The Palm Beach Murders is the way extreme wealth serves as a glamorous, high-stakes backdrop for dangerous, deceptive human behavior.
Films on the same thread
The Palm Beach Story
Preston Sturges · Film · 1942
Explores: Marriage of convenience, Social climbing, Eccentric wealth.
If the social climbing and eccentric wealth of The Palm Beach Murders caught your attention, this satirical look at marriage and money will feel like a sophisticated, classic predecessor.
The Housemaid
Paul Feig · Film · 2025
Explores: Class Conflict, Gaslighting, Identity Theft.
Much like the volatile relationships in The Palm Beach Murders, this thriller masterfully explores the dark power dynamics and hidden scandals that fester behind the closed doors of the elite.
Just Play Dead
Martin Campbell · Film · 2026
Explores: betrayal, cat-and-mouse game, greed.
The Palm Beach Murders captures the tension of domestic betrayal, and this film escalates those stakes into a lethal, fast-paced battle of wits where greed is the primary motivator.
Series on the same thread
Only Murders in the Building
Steve Martin · Series · 2021
Explores: True Crime Obsession, New York City, Intergenerational Friendship.
For readers who enjoyed the mystery elements of The Palm Beach Murders, this series offers a similarly engaging puzzle, replacing Florida high society with the eccentric world of true crime.
Death in Paradise
Robert Thorogood · Series · 2011
Shares a thread with The Palm Beach Murders: Cozy Mystery.
Fans of the detective work in The Palm Beach Murders will appreciate how this procedural balances dark, complex crimes against an idyllic setting that hides a much seedier underbelly.
R.J. Decker
Carl Hiaasen · Series · 2026
Explores: eccentric underworld, redemption arc, unconventional investigation.
If you enjoyed the Floridian setting and crime-focused narrative of The Palm Beach Murders, this series provides a gritty, hardboiled perspective on the state's eccentric and dangerous criminal underworld.
Your Friends & Neighbors
Jonathan Tropper · Series · 2025
Explores: wealth inequality, midlife crisis, moral decay.
This show mirrors the class disparity and moral decay found in The Palm Beach Murders, illustrating how quickly a life of privilege can spiral into a web of dangerous criminality.
Podcasts on the same thread
Hell in Heaven: A Mysterious Death in Paradise
Podcast
Explores: Paranoia, Expatriation, Wealth and Corruption.
The Palm Beach Murders explores the dark side of paradise, and this podcast offers a chilling, real-world investigation into how wealth and corruption can turn a dream into a nightmare.
Small Town Murder
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: provincial life, tragic irony, forensic breakdown.
If the investigative focus of The Palm Beach Murders appealed to you, this podcast provides an equally thorough, analytical look at the tragic and ironic nature of local homicide investigations.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Palm Beach Murders the same book as Let's Play Make-Believe?
Yes, The Palm Beach Murders is the same book as Let's Play Make-Believe. The title was changed for the 2022 publication by James Patterson, but the content remains the same story about Christy and Martin navigating their relationship amidst the crime-filled setting of Palm Beach.
Who wrote The Palm Beach Murders?
The Palm Beach Murders was written by James Patterson. It was published in 2022 and explores the dark side of the wealthiest zip code in Florida, focusing on a couple who find themselves in a complex situation following their first date.
What is the premise of The Palm Beach Murders?
The Palm Beach Murders follows Christy and Martin, two divorcees who do not believe in love at first sight. After meeting on a first date, their lives take a sudden turn in a setting where billionaires and luxury yachts hide the best murder plots money can buy.
When was The Palm Beach Murders published?
The Palm Beach Murders was published in 2022. It is a work by James Patterson that depicts the intersection of extreme wealth and criminal activity in Florida, featuring the characters Christy and Martin as they navigate a life-altering connection.