Reacher
Jack Reacher is the massive protagonist of a long-running series by Lee Child. Spanning almost 30 books, plus a few short stories and spin-offs, this series is seen by some as the 'gold standard' in modern day crime thrillers.
With the release of season 2 on Amazon Prime Video, starring Alan Ritchson as the titular character, we thought we'd do a recap of some of our favorite books in this series. If you've been enjoying the show, or are looking for a way to get into this awesome set of stories, then keep reading!
P.S. Keep in mind, the two books already adapted into seasons 1 and 2 of the show are Killing Floor (Book #1) and Bad Luck and Trouble (#11). Both of these books are phenomenal. I would even consider Bad Luck and Trouble to be my personal favorite, but for the sake of novelty, let's stick with non-show-adapted titles.
Die Trying (Book #2)
In the first sequel to Killing Floor, Jack Reacher finds himself stumbling into another set of coincidences that force him to get involved for the sake of a woman he's just met. He's kidnapped, tied up, and thrown into the back of a van alongside her, all the while thinking about lyrics to a song.
This book is a favorite of Joshua here at Forbes Brothers, and also the self-proclaimed favorite of Alan Ritchson himself! If you're itching to see where Reacher goes after his conflict in Margrave is all wrapped up, then this is the logical next step in the series.
Without Fail (Book #6)
In this book, Jack Reacher finds himself tied up with the Secret Service once again, only this time, it's not entirely about his brother. There's been a threat to the vice president of the United States, and a woman from his brother's life brings Reacher in to solve the case.
Lots to love in this book. It introduces Neagley to the series, who was added to the first season of the show and later returns in Bad Luck and Trouble. It also leans pretty heavily into Reacher's relationship with his late brother. It's got plenty of steamy romance and builds up to an explosive finale that could easily be adapted into the final episode of a season.
One Shot (Book #9)
When a troubled figure from his military-investigator past reappears, and supposedly fires six times into five people, Jack Reacher takes it upon himself to investigate. He knows the shooter, James Barr, and knows he was too good of a sniper to miss a shot. He's innocent, but Reacher has to prove it.
This is generally regarded as one of the best books in the series. It was the first to recieve an on-screen adaptation in the Tom Cruise movie Jack Reacher, and was even referenced in season 2 of the show. If you like well-crafted mystery and truly evil antagonists, this is a great one to check out.
Gone Tomorrow (Book #13)
In this book, Reacher is riding the subway beneath New York City in a car with only five passengers. Most of the passengers seem perfectly regular, except one, which checks off most of the ticks on the Israeli suicide bomber detection list. Reacher decides to confront her, and is thrust into a conspiracy almost as big as himself.
This book goes under a lot of people's radars, as it sits almost directly between two absolute hits from Lee Child. Don't get fooled into assuming it's a filler story, though. This book hits all the right notes in terms of mystery, action, and conspiracy--all key elements in a great Reacher story. If you like the New York setting in the show, and suspenseful, intense action, this is another great option.
61 Hours (Book #14)
In this book, Reacher hitches a ride on a tour bus, which crashes in the middle of a snowstorm. He and the passengers are ushered to the nearby small town of Bolton, South Dakota, where the police force is acting strange. It turns out they're protecting a key witness in a drug investigation, but a siren from the county prison could call the entire force away at any moment, leaving only Jack Reacher by her side.
Also regarded as a top book in the series, this one has seen a lot of fans calling for an adaptation for season 3 of the show. Personally, I think this would be a great idea. Its mystery is executed really well, its villain is memorable, and it sees an emotional breakdown from Reacher on par with John Rambo in First Blood. It also introduces the character of Susan Turner, who some might remember from Never Go Back, another book in the series and another adapted movie by Tom Cruise.
So those are our picks. Lee Child is an amazing author with one of the greatest protagonists in crime-fiction. We love his series and we hope all of you do as well. Check out his books if you haven't, and check out Reacher on Amazon Prime Video.
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