Jack Reacher Short Stories & Novellas books in order

The Jack Reacher Short Stories and Novellas collection features twelve shorter works set in Lee Child's Jack Reacher universe, published from 2009 to 2025.

Reading order

# Title Published Author Buy on Amazon
1 Guy Walks Into a Bar 2009 Andrew Grant N/A
2 Second Son 2011 Andrew Grant Buy
3 Deep Down 2012 Andrew Grant Buy
4 Not a Drill 2014 Andrew Grant Buy
5 Good and Valuable Consideration: Jack Reacher vs. Nick Heller 2014 Andrew Grant Buy
6 The Picture of the Lonely Diner 2015 Andrew Grant N/A
7 Small Wars 2015 Andrew Grant Buy
8 The Christmas Scorpion 2018 Andrew Grant Buy
9 The Fourth Man 2019 Andrew Grant Buy
10 Cleaning the Gold 2019 Andrew Grant Buy
11 New Kid in Town 2024 Andrew Grant Buy
12 You Shook Me All Night Long 2025 Andrew Grant Buy

The Jack Reacher short stories and novellas fill in gaps around the main novel series, offering quick doses of the same tough-guy action that has made Jack Reacher a household name. Written by Lee Child (and more recently by his brother Andrew Grant, writing as Andrew Child), these twelve pieces range from brief short stories to longer novellas. Titles like Second Son and Small Wars explore Reacher’s earlier years, while others like The Christmas Scorpion and Cleaning the Gold drop him into compact standalone situations.

Published between 2009 and 2025, the collection spans the era when Lee Child was the sole author through the transition to Andrew Child as co-author and then primary writer. For fans of the main series, these shorter works offer more Reacher without the commitment of a full novel. For newcomers, they are a low-risk way to see if Reacher’s brand of wandering, trouble-finding heroics appeals to them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Jack Reacher Short Stories & Novellas series?

There are twelve books in the Jack Reacher Short Stories & Novellas series, published between 2009 and 2025.

What is the first book in the Jack Reacher Short Stories & Novellas series?

The first book in the Jack Reacher Short Stories & Novellas series is Guy Walks Into a Bar, published in 2009.

Do you need to read the Jack Reacher novels to enjoy the short stories?

Most of the short stories and novellas can be enjoyed on their own, as they feature standalone scenarios. Some fill in backstory from Reacher’s military past, while others slot between specific novels in the main series timeline.

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