Best Jack Reacher books reviewed

The phenomenal success of the Jack Reacher books is down to gripping storytelling. Since the publication of the first book Killing Floor, which is now also an Amazon Prime Video series, Jack Reacher has appeared in 27 novels.

Tom Cruise starred as Jack Reacher in two movie adaptations, Jack Reacher (2012) and Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016), alongside Robert Duvall. Netflix also features a Jack Reacher-centric TV show, Reacher, with Alan Ritchson in the title role. Willa Fitzgerald stars as Roscoe Conklin.

All Reacher books are stand-alone works. Here are the best Jack Reacher books reviewed.

Who are the authors of Jack Reacher?

Ex-Granada TV presentation director Lee Child penned the first 24 Reacher novels. In 2020, Lee handed the protagonist over to his brother Andrew who’s since written the most recent three novels.

“He’s ninety percent me,” Lee Child’s said when explaining the reason for handing over the Jack Reacher series to his younger brother Andrew. And many similarities do indeed exist, not only between the two brothers but also between Jack Reacher and Lee Child.

Andrew Child’s three Reacher books carry on the story, yet the author has a different approach. In his second Reacher novel, Better Off Dead, Andrew tells the story in the third person, thus extending the perspective and taking the protagonist out of isolation.

Lee Child and his connection to Jack Reacher

While Lee Child was never a member of the military police, both he and Jack share many traits. For one, the two men are tall. Secondly, both were at loose ends after their perspective work dismissal. Child had to leave Granada TV, and Jack Reacher’s services were not required after the military downsized.

Moreover, the two men share a vigilante, bohemian streak while also showing traits of an addictive personality. In the author‘s words, Lee Child created a protagonist who is “a standard mythological figure, the noble loner, the samurai, who has been disowned by his master and condemned to wander the land.” And maybe, in some ways, that’s what Child imagined himself to be too. In any case, both Jack and Lee like to stand up for the underdog.

About Andrew Child

After a financially challenging yet successful stint in theater, Andrew Child spent 15 years in the corporate world before penning a series of thrillers. He was one of the first people to read the manuscript of Killing Floor.

When Lee wanted to stop writing Reacher books, but fans were hungry for more, Andrew was the obvious choice of successor. While the age gap between the two brothers meant a great deal of difference in upbringing, the two brothers shared the gift of writing gripping thrillers.

By the time Andrew took up the thread of the Jack Reacher novels, he had been hugely successful in his own right with page-turners such as Die Twice, Even, More Harm Than Good, False Positive, RUN, False Friend, Invisible, False Witness, The Affair, and Too Close To Home.

Andrew Child’s Jack Reacher novels include The Sentinel, Better Off Dead, No Plan B, and The Secret.

It will be interesting to see whether movie companies like Paramount will turn one of Andrew Child’s books into a movie.

Best Jack Reacher novels

Not all Child’s books are equal. As you would expect, some of the novels in the Jack Reacher series are enthralling, while some miss the mark somewhat. If you are hearing about them for the first time and don’t know where to begin, here are the top 10 Jack Reacher books.

Killing Floor by Lee Child (1997)

Within minutes of getting off the bus in a small town called Margrave, Georgia, the police arrest ex-military policeman Jack Reacher and charge him with a murder he did not commit.

One Shot by Lee Child (2005)

The police think they have the man who shot five people in cold blood. Except, the man accused disagrees and demands they get Jack Reacher.

Worth Dying For by Lee Child (2010)

Forever drifter Reacher walks into the heart of crime in a small Nebraska town, and against his better judgment, he investigates the disappearance of a child.

Gone Tomorrow by Lee Child (2009)

It’s easy to spot a suicide bomber. On the subway in New York, Jack is watching the passengers. Four are okay but what about number five?

61 Hours by Lee Child (2010)

Reacher must protect a woman, and some people don’t want to testify after a bus crash in icy South Dakota. 

Without Fail by Lee Child (2002)

Reacher travels with nothing but a toothbrush in his pocket, yet he is ready to step in. This time, he must help protect the vice president from an assassin.

The Enemy by Lee Child (2004)

A young Reacher still serving in the army must investigate the murder of a general.

Make Me by Lee Child (2015)

What Jack thought of as a brief stop-over turns into a nightmare unfolding at a desolate prairie railroad stop.

Die Trying: by Lee Child (1998)

Reacher and a supposed FBI agent are victims of a kidnapping plot. Can they defy the odds and escape the desolate destinations?

Tripwire by Lee Child (1999)

Jack Reacher prefers lying low. But when he realizes the detective who’s been on his tail is dead, he must confront the bad guys head-on. 

Other works

These are 10 of the best Jack Reacher books, but it was tough leaving out classics like Without Fail, Bad Luck and Trouble, Past Tense, Persuader, and No Middle Name, which are also worth checking out.

Among fans, Nothing to Lose and Night School ranked worst.

Listen to the best thriller audiobooks with Speechify

Apart from delving into Jack Reacher books or binge-watching the TV series, you can also enjoy a good thriller via audiobook.

On Speechify, you will find an expansive library of thrillers and short stories similar to the Jack Reacher series, including Dan Brown’s books and Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho by Stephen Rebello.

Speechify is accessible on all devices and available in 14 languages. Check out the enormous selection of war books, too, as well as fantastic books like Dan Brown’s Retribution or The Best New True Crime Stories by Mitzi Szereto. And for some classic literature, tune into Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment. Sign up for Speechify Audiobooks today and get your first premium audiobook for free.

FAQ

Is there going to be season 2 of Reacher?

According to The Reacher Instagram account, filming for Season 2 started last September, with the release due sometime in 2023.

Who is playing the new Jack Reacher?

Alan Ritchson is the new Jack Reacher, much to the relief of fans who couldn’t square Tom Cruise’s small stature with their hero’s physical height and prowess even though the Mission Impossible actor makes for an awesome Jack Reacher. Malcolm Goodwin and Willa Fitzgerald also star in the Amazon Prime Video series.

What is the latest book in the Jack Reacher series?

Andrew Child’s The Secret is due for release in September 2023.

What is the Jack Reacher movie about?

Jack Reacher joined the defense team of an ex-military investigator who police believe killed five people even though he felt they had the right man. The movie was a box office hit and is worth checking out.