Maxine Paetro is an American author who has been published since 1979. She is widely recognized for her collaboration with best-selling author James Patterson on the Women’s Murder Club novel series, as well as the Private and Confession series.

In 1979, Paetro published her first book, How to Put Your Book Together and Get a Job in Advertising, which saw its fourth revision in August 2010. She has also authored three novels: Manshare, Babydreams, and Windfall, published between 1986 and 1991.

In 1993, she collaborated with Dodd Darin to write the biography Dream Lovers: The Magnificent Shattered Lives of Bobby Darin and Sandra Dee. In addition to her writing, in 1984, Paetro created Broccoli Hall in Amenia, New York, an English-style cottage garden noted for its series of enchanted garden rooms, which has been featured in national magazines.