Jack Reacher books in order

Complete list of all 30 Jack Reacher books in order by Lee Child and Andrew Child. Full publication order from Killing Floor to Exit Strategy.

Jack Reacher is a former US Army Military Police major who now drifts across America, getting involved in situations that require his particular set of skills. Created by British author Lee Child, Reacher has become one of the most iconic thriller protagonists of the modern era. The character is known for his imposing 6'5" frame, his minimalist lifestyle (carrying no possessions), and his unwavering moral code.

The series began in 1997 with Killing Floor and has since grown to 30 novels, spawning two major films starring Tom Cruise and a successful Amazon Prime TV series with Alan Ritchson in the title role.

Publication order

# Title Year Author Kindle Paperback Audiobook
1 Killing Floor 1997 Lee Child UK US US
2 Die Trying 1998 Lee Child UK US US
3 Tripwire 1999 Lee Child UK US US
4 Running Blind 2000 Lee Child UK US US
5 Echo Burning 2001 Lee Child UK US US
6 Without Fail 2002 Lee Child UK US US
7 Persuader 2003 Lee Child UK US US
8 The Enemy 2004 Lee Child UK US US
9 One Shot 2005 Lee Child UK US US
10 The Hard Way 2006 Lee Child UK US US
11 Bad Luck and Trouble 2007 Lee Child UK US US
12 Nothing to Lose 2008 Lee Child UK US US
13 Gone Tomorrow 2009 Lee Child UK US US
14 61 Hours 2010 Lee Child UK US US
15 Worth Dying For 2010 Lee Child UK US US
16 The Affair 2011 Lee Child UK US US
17 A Wanted Man 2012 Lee Child UK US US
18 Never Go Back 2013 Lee Child UK US US
19 Personal 2014 Lee Child UK US US
20 Make Me 2015 Lee Child UK US US
21 Night School 2016 Lee Child UK US US
22 The Midnight Line 2017 Lee Child UK US US
23 Past Tense 2018 Lee Child UK US US
24 Blue Moon 2019 Lee Child UK US US
25 The Sentinel 2020 Lee Child & Andrew Child UK US US
26 Better Off Dead 2021 Lee Child & Andrew Child UK US US
27 No Plan B 2022 Lee Child & Andrew Child UK US US
28 The Secret 2023 Lee Child & Andrew Child UK US US
29 In Too Deep 2024 Lee Child & Andrew Child UK US US
30 Exit Strategy 2025 Andrew Child UK US US

Frequently Asked Questions

What order should I read the Jack Reacher books?

We recommend reading Jack Reacher books in publication order, starting with Killing Floor (1997). While each book is largely standalone, publication order lets you experience Reacher’s character development as Lee Child intended.

How many Jack Reacher books are there?

There are 30 Jack Reacher novels as of 2025. Lee Child wrote the first 24 solo, then co-authored with his brother Andrew Child starting with The Sentinel (2020). Andrew Child now writes the series.

Are Jack Reacher books standalone?

Yes, each Jack Reacher novel can be read as a standalone thriller. However, there are occasional references to past events and character development that rewards reading in order.

Who writes Jack Reacher books now?

Andrew Child (Lee Child’s brother) now writes the Jack Reacher series. Lee Child co-authored from 2020-2023 before handing over completely to Andrew.

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