Fanfic Recs / The Mentalist

Proof that the remaining 10% is worth dying for here:

These are recommendations made by tropers for The Mentalist, all of which have been signed. After a few samples, you will be able to judge whether you might be interested in the 'fic, based on who recommended it. No-name recommendations will be zapped. Nobody would back up the rec. Discussion of the recommendation is welcome on the discussion page. As such discussion is important, do remember to add the discussion page to the watchlist, if need be.

General Fics

First Steps by (MaggieMay19)

• Recommended by: CritterKeeper
• Status: Complete
• Synopsis: Set just after Patrick Jane's release from the mental hospital. This story fills in some missing pieces very nicely. What happened to Patrick's highly lucrative business and all his assets when he fell apart after his family were killed? How did Patrick end up at CBI looking for access to their files? How did he manage to hide his having been committed? Why did Patrick seem relatively put-together when he was about to be released in "Red Bricks and Ivy" but appeared as a rumpled mess in "Red Dawn"?
• Comments: This author has a keen grasp of how characters' minds work, as well as an excellent ear for dialogue and evocative descriptions of both people and places. Characters we know are true to their on-screen selves, original characters are well-constructed and memorable. Many readers wind up incorporating this into their headcanon!

Shipping Fics

Stories focused on the romantic relationships between the cast.

The Art of Sanctuary by Starry 19

• Recommended by forsetipurge
• Status: Complete
• Pairing: Jane/Lisbon
• Synopsis: "But now he had to choose - love or revenge? Darkness or light? Loyalty to his past or hope for his future? And with every moment that ticked by, someone got closer to making that decision for him, only they weren't faced with his options. All they had to work with was life or death."
• Comments: This story is as good as Mentalist fanfics get, and better. The writing is witty, the characters are complicated, and the story is chock-full of twists and turns that will keep you up at night.