Order of Lee Child Books
British author Lee Child, whose real name is Jim Grant, is famous for the series of books featuring Jack Reacher. Lee Child started writing in 1997, and all his solo novels to date have featured Jack Reacher. Lee has however, contributed to numerous short story collections which are also listed here.
Lee Child made his debut as a published author in 1997 with the novel Killing Floor, which began his Jack Reacher series. Below is a list of Lee Child’s books in order of when they were originally published:
Publication Order of Jack Reacher Books
| Killing Floor | (1997) |    |
| Die Trying | (1998) | |
| Tripwire | (1999) | |
| Running Blind / The Visitor | (2000) | |
| Echo Burning | (2001) | |
| Without Fail | (2002) | |
| Persuader | (2003) | |
| The Enemy | (2004) | |
| One Shot | (2005) | |
| The Hard Way | (2006) | |
| Bad Luck and Trouble | (2007) | |
| Nothing to Lose | (2008) | |
| Gone Tomorrow | (2009) | |
| 61 Hours | (2010) | |
| Worth Dying For | (2010) | |
| The Affair | (2011) | |
| A Wanted Man | (2012) | |
| Never Go Back | (2013) | |
| Personal | (2014) | |
| Make Me | (2015) | |
| Night School | (2016) | |
| The Midnight Line | (2017) | |
| Past Tense | (2018) | |
| Blue Moon | (2019) | |
| The Sentinel | (2020) | |
| Better Off Dead | (2021) | |
| No Plan B | (2022) | |
| The Secret | (2023) | |
Chronological Order of Jack Reacher BooksIn chronological order, The Enemy would be the first book to read, as it takes place while Reacher is still in the Military followed by Night School.The Affair would be the next book to read, as it covers the end of Reachers Military career, and leads into Killing Floor.The short stories have Second Son(Reacher is 13) and High Heat(Reacher is 16).After that, all books would go by the order that they were published.Persuader also had flashbacks to during Reacher’s military career. | ||
Publication Order of Jack Reacher Short Stories/Novellas
| Second Son | (2011) | |
| Deep Down | (2012) | |
| High Heat | (2013) | |
| Not a Drill | (2014) | |
| Good and Valuable Consideration: Jack Reacher vs. Nick Heller | (2014) | |
| Small Wars | (2015) | |
| Too Much Time | (2017) | |
| The Christmas Scorpion | (2018) | |
| The Fourth Man | (2019) | |
| Cleaning the Gold | (2019) | |
| The Fourth Man is not available for purchase. | ||
Publication Order of Jack Reacher Collections
| No Middle Name | (2017) | |
Publication Order of Jack Reacher Miscellaneous Books
| Jack Reacher's Rules | (2012) | |
Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas
| I Heard a Romantic Story | (2012) | |
| James Penney's New Identity | (2019) | |
Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books
| Jack Reacher's Rules | (2012) | |
| The Hero | (2019) | |
Publication Order of Akashic Drug Chronicles Books
| The Cocaine Chronicles | (2005) | |
| The Marijuana Chronicles | (2013) | |
| The Nicotine Chronicles | (2020) | |
Publication Order of Harold Middleton Books
| The Chopin Manuscript | (2007) | |
| The Copper Bracelet | (2009) | |
| The Starling Project: An Audible Drama | (2014) | |
| Serial thrillers written by multiple authors. | ||
Publication Order of Mysterious Profiles Books
| Elvis Cole and Joe Pike | (2022) | |
| Jack Taylor | (2022) | |
| Jack Reacher | (2022) | |
| Charlie Parker | (2022) | |
| Hieronymus Bosch | (2022) | |
| Lincoln Rhyme | (2022) | |
| Alex Delaware | (2022) | |
| Tess Monaghan | (2022) | |
| Charlie Resnick | (2022) | |
| Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus | (2022) | |
| Inspector Morse | (2022) | |
| Dismas Hardy | (2022) | |
| Bob Lee Swagger | (2022) | |
| Aloysius X. L. Pendergast | (2022) | |
| Lou Boldt | (2022) | |
| Spenser | (2022) | |
| Charlotte and Thomas Pitt | (2022) | |
| John Rebus | (2022) | |
| Mallory | (2022) | |
| Jane Whitefield | (2022) | |
| Ian Rutledge: A Mysterious Profile | (2022) | |
| Amos Walker | (2022) | |
| Precious Ramotswe | (2022) | |
| Maisie Dobbs | (2022) | |
| The Lincoln Lawyer | (2022) | |
Publication Order of The MatchUp Collection Books
| Honor & ... | (2017) | |
| Deserves to Be Dead | (2017) | |
| Getaway | (2017) | |
| Midnight Flame | (2018) | |
| Short Story | (2019) | |
| Past Prologue | (2019) | |
| Faking a Murderer | (2019) | |
| Dig Here | (2019) | |
| Taking the Veil | (2019) | |
| Rambo on Their Minds | (2019) | |
| Footloose | (2019) | |
Publication Order of Anthologies
| Like a Charm | (2004) | |
| Greatest Hits | (2005) | |
| The Cocaine Chronicles | (2005) | |
| Death Do Us Part | (2006) | |
| The Best British Mysteries IV | (2007) | |
| Killer Year: Stories to Die For... | (2008) | |
| Phoenix Noir | (2009) | |
| First Thrills | (2010) | |
| The Dark End of the Street | (2010) | |
| The Best American Mystery Stories 2010 | (2010) | |
| The Rich and the Dead | (2011) | |
| First Thrills: Volume 2 | (2011) | |
| First Thrills: Volume 3 | (2011) | |
| First Thrills: Volume 4 | (2011) | |
| A Study in Sherlock | (2011) | |
| Vengeance | (2012) | |
| Love is Murder | (2012) | |
| The Interrogator and Other Criminally Good Fiction | (2012) | |
| USA Noir | (2013) | |
| Inherit the Dead | (2013) | |
| Reader's Digest: Today's Best Fiction | (2014) | |
| FaceOff | (2014) | |
| Belfast Noir | (2014) | |
| Manhattan Mayhem | (2015) | |
| The Best American Mystery Stories 2015 | (2015) | |
| In Sunlight or In Shadow: Stories Inspired by the Paintings of Edward Hopper | (2016) | |
| MatchUp | (2017) | |
| The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories - Part VII | (2017) | |
| Alive in Shape and Color | (2017) | |
| Ten Year Stretch | (2018) | |
| The Best American Mystery Stories 2018 | (2018) | |
| Exit Wounds | (2019) | |
| Invisible Blood | (2019) | |
| Dear NHS | (2020) | |
| How to Write a Mystery: A Handbook from Mystery Writers of America | (2021) | |
| The Mysterious Bookshop Presents the Best Mystery Stories of the Year: 2021 | (2021) | |
Note: Running Blind had a different title in the UK, going by the name The Visitor. The Harold Middleton series is a collaborative series that includes contributions from many different authors.
If You Like Lee Child Books, You’ll Love…
- Andy McNab: Particularly, the Nick Stone series of books.
- Vince Flynn: Vince Flynn has a series of books featuring the character Mitch Rapp. While they often feature a fair amount of politics, Rapp is an ass-kicking machine just like Reacher, and the type of hero character you want to put your faith in!
- Michael Connelly
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I, like many was disappointed in Tom Cruise as reacher, it was a ridiculous choice. I pictured Liam Neeson but maybe he’s a little old. The Amazon guy is perhaps too young but I enjoyed Season One.
I tried to picture an earlier stephen seagall as Reacher, but he’s too large physically for the role. I haven’t yet seen someone who could measure up, but I hope casting crew experts can find a physique and age and capability for a new Jack Reacher. An American actor with the physical capabilities to match Lee Child’s creation. Also, can anyone suggest someone to portray the Butcher’s Boy from Thomas Perry’s novels?
I thought Tom Cruise was miscast as Reacher, of all the ones suggested I think Gerard Butler is the best choice. Even though I didn’t like Tom Cruise in this role I will always read the books. I even watched the movies just doesn’t feel as good as the books, because of this.
for sure Cruise is SOOOOO wrong – short stuff etc how can Cruise own the movie rights what the what the. too bad I will read the books but never watch another movie
Whoever plays him needs to be 6’5″ and physically fit but not buff. Probably hard to cast given those parameters. Here’s my top three: 3. Alexander Skarsgard 2. Josh Duhamel 1. Armie Hammer I might have included Joe Maganiello but his hair is kinda perfect.
I see Gerald Buttler.
He is tough, he is tall, and he can play rough.
I like Tom Cruise in the Mission Impossible movies, but NOT in the role of Jack Reacher. Every time I see that $1000 hair cut, I want to throw up.
Reacher with every hair in place!
And yes, it stopped me from buying the books.
The Rock should play Reacher .Same height and weight. Same temperment .
Lee Child does not own the movie rights…. TOM CRUISE DOES…. SAD, SAD, SAD………
Well the idiots have done it again Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher in Never Go Back, surely Lee Child must have something to say about casting. Even with lifters in his shoes he will never be the person portrayed in the book.
Oh, my goodness. Who in the world chose Cruise to be Jack Reacher.? I agree. Liam Neeson came to mind whild reading the very first book and I just picture him iin all others as I read. I came late to the Reacher series and I want to know what Mr. childs really thinks about Cruise. Reacer isn’t a cocky, angry little guy like Cruise portrayed him. PERIOD
They need to cast the guy that played Bulvie in the 13th warrior.
Jason Statham should be Reacher. End of story!
You’re not kidding Pinto. Not to mention the damage its done to the potential readers of his books. I suggest to someone “Try a Jack Reacher book” and they say to me, “a pansy Tom Cruise can play, NO THANKS, I’ll pass.” Getting your book made into a movie is good, settling for jumping on Oprah’s couch Tom Cruise is NOT. Not to mention the last book sucked. Jack didn’t even get…err romanced I’ll call it. I’m a woman and I look forward to his bedroom scenes.
Pure drivel and if the new one coming out isn’t any better I’ve read my last one. I sure do miss Jack Reacher of olden days.
Did anyone see Liam Neeson in Lawrence Block’s movie adaptation of “http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/a_walk_among_the_tombstones/trailers/11200797″ At 6’4” he’s built to be Jack Reacher..
Liam Neeson should be playing Jack Reacher in the movies. If Neeson plays anymore “Taken” movies he’ll get stereotyped as this brain dead character who let’s his simpleton daughter and sometimes loving wife roam the world apparently to see if he’s man enough to rescue them from expected death. Neeson certainly casts better than granny Tom Cruise. Spare me Tom Cruise as Jach Reacher.
Look for the keith calder books by hammond