Few characters in modern thriller fiction have had the same impact as Jack Reacher. Over the years, Child’s books have built an enormous fanbase, drawing readers into gripping, high-stakes adventures filled with intricate mysteries, explosive action, and sharp dialogue.
The series has been translated into multiple languages and has spawned two Hollywood adaptations starring Tom Cruise, as well as a hit Amazon Prime series featuring Alan Ritchson.
Since debuting in Killing Floor (1997), character Jack Reacher has appeared in 28 novels, with millions of copies sold worldwide. For the series, Child has been the recipient of multiple literary world awards, such as the Anthony Award, Barry Award, Nero Award and the RBA Prize for Crime Writing.
But with such an extensive catalog, which Lee Child books stand out? Based on their popularity and reader ratings on Goodreads, we’ve ranked the author’s top 11 novels.
11. Bad Luck and Trouble
Ratings: 99,114
In the eleventh installment of the mystery series, Bad Luck and Trouble, Jack Reacher – a former American military policeman – is drawn back into his old unit when members start turning up dead. Frances Neagley, a former colleague, reaches out to him after a coded message signals distress. Together, they unravel a conspiracy that threatens their former comrades.
The idea behind the plot came from Child’s nostalgia when he thought about old colleagues, workmates and friends from a previous job. He told The Vigilante Author in 2011: “Regular Reacher readers will know that he’s a pretty self-confident guy, but I wanted him to wobble just a little this time, to compare his choices with theirs, to measure himself against them.”
10. Worth Dying For
Ratings: 99,471
The fifteenth book in the series, Worth Dying For, sees Reacher in a desolate Nebraska town dominated by the oppressive Duncan family. Witnessing the residents’ fear, Reacher becomes entangled in a decades-old mystery which involves a mysterious shipment and ties to mobsters, and a decades-old missing child case.
The Jack Reacher novels can be read in any order, but Worth Dying For follows on directly from the end of 61 Hours.
9. The Affair
Ratings: 105,503
Set six months prior to Killing Floor, The Affair offers a glimpse into Reacher’s final days in the military. Tasked with investigating a murder in a small Mississippi town housing a military base, Reacher uncovers a web of deceit and corruption.
This prequel is the 16th book in the saga, but provides context to Reacher’s decision to leave the army, adding depth to his character’s backstory.
8. Gone Tomorrow
Ratings: 110,987
While riding a New York City subway, Jack Reacher witnesses a woman who appears to be a suicide bomber, and after she shoots herself, Reacher becomes entangled in a mystery surrounding her death and the events leading up to it.
In the 13th Reacher book, the detective, with the help of a NYPD detective and the victim’s brother, follows a trail of clues that lead him into a dangerous game of cat and mouse with various factions, including thugs and federal agents.
7. Without Fail
Ratings: 113,725
In Without Fail – book number 6 -, Reacher is approached by the Secret Service to assess the vulnerability of the Vice President-elect’s protection detail. Teaming up with his former colleague Frances Neagley, he identifies weaknesses and confronts potential threats.
The narrative delves into the meticulous world of security protocols and the challenges of safeguarding high-profile individuals. The novel received nominations for the 2003 Dilys Award and the Barry Award for Best Novel.
6. Running Blind
Ratings: 117,240
Also known as The Visitor in the UK, the 4th novel in the series presents Reacher with a baffling case: former military women are being murdered in their homes without any signs of struggle or forced entry. The FBI enlists Reacher’s help, suspecting him initially but soon realizing his value in tracking the elusive killer.
All of the women investigated have connections to Reacher’s past, which makes the investigation a touch more dangerous and personal.
5. One Shot
Ratings: 121,188
When a sniper kills five people in an Indiana town, all evidence points to a former military sharpshooter. Arrested, the suspect refuses to cooperate, only saying, “They got the wrong guy” and “Get Jack Reacher for me”. The news reaches the title character, who travels to Indiana to investigate, setting off a chain of events that reveals a deeper conspiracy.
The plot of this 9th instalment was notably adapted into a 2012 film titled Jack Reacher, starring Tom Cruise – with the location of the investigation changing from Indiana to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
4. Tripwire
Ratings: 134,932
Reacher’s attempt at a quiet life in Key West is interrupted when a private investigator searches for him, only to end up dead. This leads Reacher to uncover a complex plot involving a Vietnam War MIA and a ruthless adversary.
In the third book of the series, Lee Child intertwines personal history with suspense, revealing more about Reacher’s past and his connections.
3. The Enemy
Ratings: 140,998
Set during Reacher’s military tenure, the 8th book explores a conspiracy within the army following the suspicious death of a two-star general. As Reacher dives deeper into the investigation, he confronts internal politics and betrayal.
This installment was honored with the 2005 Barry Award for Best Novel, and was nominated for a Dilys Award.
2. Die Trying
Ratings: 156,282
In the second book of the saga, Reacher becomes an unintended hostage when he aids a woman on crutches – who turns out to be an FBI agent – only to be abducted alongside her. The captors, a Montana militia group, have grandiose plans that threaten national security.
Jack and the woman are chained together as they are driven across America by the kidnappers, who demand an impossible ransom, forcing Reacher to save them both or die trying.
1. Killing Floor
Ratings: 337,486
The debut novel, Killing Floor, is also the most popular book of the entire series. It introduces readers to Jack Reacher as he drifts into Margrave, Georgia, only to be arrested for a murder he didn’t commit.
As he investigates, Reacher uncovers a massive counterfeiting operation and personal ties to the crime. This gripping introduction set the tone for the series and earned the 1998 Anthony Award for Best First Novel, cementing its status as a classic in the thriller genre.