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Reacher: The Stories Behind The Stories
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  • Published: 12 August 2025
  • ISBN: 9780857508751
  • Imprint: Bantam
  • Format: Trade Paperback
  • Pages: 256
  • RRP: $38.00

Reacher: The Stories Behind The Stories

Formats & editions
Tr. Paperback
12 Aug 2025
EBook
9 Sept 2025
EBook
14 Aug 2025
Audiobook
9 Sept 2025
Hardback
9 Oct 2025
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From global bestseller and creator of Jack Reacher, comes Lee Child’s first-ever autobiographical collection.

From global bestseller and creator of Jack Reacher, comes Lee Child’s first-ever autobiographical collection.

On Monday September 5th, 1994, at home, at the dining room table, I sat down to write. An hour later, I gave the first chapter to my wife. I asked, \"Should I continue?\"

\"Yes,\" she said. \"I like it.\"

From urgently scribbling out his debut Killing Floor in pencil (the stub of which he still owns), to taking a step back with Blue Moon, and everything in between, here are 24 fascinating personal reflections on his life and work, crafted across decades.

Whether it is through Lee’s moving account of meeting a fan years after her mother brought her to a book signing, to facing his first computer and the coming of the internet, to writing about New York just before – and just after – 9/11, to later seeing his novels adapted for the big screen . . . each riveting piece deftly evokes where he was, psychologically and physically, when he wrote each novel.

Lee has clearly felt unwavering gratitude for his readers since 1997. And these honest, witty and wise reflections were originally designed for fans of Reacher who may be interested in a ‘behind-the-scenes’ – or, in Lee’s words: ‘why the books turned out the way they did’.

But this collection is also so much more. It is the story of a man who once put pencil to paper in an attempt to turn his luck around . . . and who made every word count.
  • Published: 12 August 2025
  • ISBN: 9780857508751
  • Imprint: Bantam
  • Format: Trade Paperback
  • Pages: 256
  • RRP: $38.00
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About the author

Lee 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.

portrait photo of Lee Child

Also by Lee Child

In Too Deep
Safe Enough
The Secret
Persuader
Blue Moon
No Plan B
Better Off Dead
See all

Praise for Reacher: The Stories Behind The Stories

'Essential reading for all Reacher fans, or anyone who is remotely interested in reading and writing. A unique, fascinating insight into the creative and personal journey of one of the world’s finest authors. I loved it.'

STEVE CAVANAGH

‘It’s fascinating to pull back the curtain to see how one of the all-time greats gets his work done. REACHER: THE STORIES BEHIND THE STORIES is whip-smart, gripping, and chock-full of wit and charm, just like the author himself.’

KARIN SLAUGHTER, No.1 bestselling author of the Will Trent series

‘A fascinating look at the brilliant mind that created the iconic Jack Reacher. Both inspiring and instructive, this is a must-read for both readers and writers.’

TESS GERRITSEN, bestselling author of the Martini Club series

‘A terrific accompaniment to the books, and answers so many questions.’

JOANNE HARRIS, bestselling author of CHOCOLAT

'Need a Lee Child/Reacher fix? Of course you do. I did. Here’s everything you need to know about the Reacher novels. In chronological order. This book is perfect for rabid fans and unabashed addicts – like me.'

JAMES PATTERSON

‘Fans of the series (and would-be writers looking for tips) will relish this . . . engaging and instructive’

Sunday Times

'Fascinating'

The i Paper