Everything you need to know about the Jack Reacher books. Learn about Lee and Andrew Child, figure out which order to read them and quiz your Reacher knowledge.
Jack Reacher is a mysterious man.
A brutal ex-military officer with a thirst for justice, he’s drop-out renegade crusader who lives by his own code and roams the country, investigating suspicious – and often dangerous – situations.
He first appears in Killing Floor, stepping off a bus and walking hundreds of miles simply because he had nowhere else to be.
Since the publication of the first Jack Reacher book in 1997, the series has expanded to 30 books, each a self-contained thriller yet always anchored by the same unshakeable presence that is the enigmatic icon: Jack.
Read on to learn more about the series, the author and quiz yourself on your Reacher knowledge.
A quick overview
- Jack Reacher: Ex-military policeman, loner, drifter, and vigilante hero.
- First appeared in Killing Floor (1997); now nearly 30 books strong.
- Each novel is a stand-alone thriller but always anchored by Reacher’s presence.
- Created by Lee Child, now co-written with Andrew Child.
- Over 100 million copies sold worldwide, making Reacher one of the most iconic characters in modern thriller fiction.
About the series
Created by Lee Child in 1997, the Jack Reacher series started with Killing Floor. Today, Lee Child is joined by his brother Andrew Child in continuing the series, which has become a global phenomenon.
With 30 books in the series as of February 2026, the Jack Reacher books consistently achieve the number one slot on bestseller lists, resulting in over a hundred million copies sold.
No matter where the series takes readers, Reacher is unmoored, always moving, carrying only the clothes on his back. Yet wherever he goes, trouble seems to follow, and justice is never more than a few steps behind.
About Lee Child and Andrew Child
Lee Child is one of the world’s leading thriller writers. He was born in Coventry, raised in Birmingham, and now lives in New York. It is said one of his novels featuring his hero Jack Reacher is sold somewhere in the world every nine seconds. His books consistently achieve the number-one slot on bestseller lists around the world and have sold over one hundred million copies. Lee is the recipient of many awards, most recently Author of the Year at the 2019 British Book Awards. He was appointed CBE in the 2019 Queen's Birthday Honours.
Andrew Child is the author of nine thrillers written under the name Andrew Grant. He is the younger brother of Lee Child. Born in Birmingham, he lives in Wyoming with his wife, the novelist Tasha Alexander.
He has co-authored several Jack Reacher books with Lee Child, including:
The stories behind the books
In August 2025, the Penguin Random House imprint Bantam published Reacher: The Stories Behind The Stories.
The first-ever autobiographical collection by Lee Child, the book outlines the real-life experiences that shaped the Reacher series. From a moving account of meeting a fan to seeing his novels adapted for the big screen, it’s a must-read for any Jack Reacher fan.
The Reacher books in order
Here’s a quick visual overview of the best order to read the Jack Reacher books. For in-depth descriptions of each book, check out Jack Reacher books in order.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Whether you’re chasing shade on the beach, or sheltering in a bach during a surprise rainstorm, a good book is a summer holiday essential. On this list you’ll find some 2022 scorchers that you may have missed the first time around, and some awesome new releases which we highly recommend.
Temperatures are dropping, the nights are getting darker and it’s the perfect time to find a cozy spot to curl up with a good book . . .
Need help finding your next great beach read? This collection has every kind of reader covered.
We’ve all been there. . . reading the perfect book, completely invested in a fictional world, only to be disturbed by a neighbour mowing their lawns or the distant sound of dogs barking. Suddenly you’re pulled back to reality wondering what on earth happened.
An exclusive Lee Child short story to celebrate the release of No Middle Name.
An in-depth discussion between Lee Child and George Martin in Santa Fe, New Mexico, November 2018.
Preparation is key before bringing your kitten home. I recommend doing this preparation at least a couple of weeks before you get your kitten.
Take this quiz to find out what type of mullet you are, in honour of Nick Sharratt’s book, Mullets.
The shortlist for the 2025 Booker Prize has been announced, with four Penguin Random House titles named this year.
Here’s what you need to know about Dan Brown’s Robert Langdon series – including which order to read the books!
Becky, our Penguin NZ Director, shares 5 ways to use 5 edible weeds she found in her garden with the help of Andrew Crowe's Edible Weeds Handbook!