Patterson, who had a great thirst for knowledge, would end up at Manhattan College majoring in English. His Irish-American parents were certainly not wealthy or connected. In fact, his home was rather religious, with his Roman Catholic priests and nuns often showing up to see his devout mother.
Born in New York state to parents who taught and sold insurance, Patterson’s early life did not necessarily portend the wild twists and turns that would later take place in his thrillers.
