Past Tense (Jack Reacher #23)

Past Tense by Lee Child is the twenty-third book in his Jack Reacher series. Reacher is a retire Army MP who now wanders the country aimlessly while stumbling onto mysteries.

As the summer ends, Reacher plans to leave New Hampshire and head toward the Southwest. But he does not get far. The man giving him a ride gets an emergency call and drops Jack off on the side of the road.

The next sign points, in one direction, to the town where Reacher's father was born. Why not check it out? He has never been there. His father joined the Marines at 17 and never went back.

Sally and Shorty are driving from Canada to NYC to sell something they have in a large, heavy suitcase. They are hoping to make it all the way without stopping, but their car has other ideas. A motel sign in the middle of nowhere has them turning off the tiny road they are on and hoping for the best.

Child has put Reacher into another situation where he both helps and causes trouble - mostly to those who deserve it. His adventures are always fun reads.

Child, Lee. (2018). Past Tense. New York: Delacorte Press.

The Midnight Line (Jack Reacher 22)

The Midnight Line by Lee Child is his twenty-second book in the Jack Reacher series. Reacher is an ex-Army MP who spent so much time in other counties that he is spending his retirement wandering the United States. And finding mysteries to solve or wrongs to right.

During one of the rest stops of the bus Reacher is riding toward the west, he is stretching his legs and passes a pawn shop. In the window is West Point class ring. He has to go in because no one who earned one would ever willingly part with it.

After buying the ring and pressuring the pawn shop owner to find out where it came from, Reacher is off to track down the owner - a woman based on ring size. The only things he knows are her graduation year and the S.R.S.

Child keeps creating great stories for Jack Reacher. His sense of honor and time as an MP compel him to do what he think of as the right thing. Each of theses books is a great read.

Child, Lee. (2017). The Midnight Line. NY: Delacourte Press.

Night School (Jack Reacher #21)

Night School by Lee Child is the 21st book in his Jack Reacher series - a retired Army MP who wanders the US stumbling onto situations that need to be resolved. This novel is a jump back to his time in the Army.

In 1996, Jack Reacher is a major in the US Army military police. He is an investigator who sees things that others often miss.

Coming off of a successful mission, Reacher is given a medal and told he is going back to school. The vague title of the class sounds like improving agency cooperation with other US alphabet groups. But really it is a black hole - an assignment so boring that no one will look for him while he works with two agents (FBI and CIA).

The CIA has an asset in Germany who is part of a new group out of the Middle East. The asset overheard a messenger say that the American wants one hundred million. Of course, this set the NSA in motion. They don't know what is going on, but it must be big.

With so little information the team, supplemented by helper of their choice, can try to figure out what would be worth that much, or try to find the messenger for the next part of the negotiation - without burning the asset. Reacher calls his favorite sergeant, Francis Neagley. One of my favorite supporting characters in any series, I was thrilled to get another book with Neagley!

Child's series is filled with great reads. Fans of mystery, suspense, and characters with their own, unbending sense of right and wrong, will love this series.

Child, Lee. (2016). Night School. New York: Delacourte Press.

Make Me (Jack Reacher #20)

Make Me by Lee Child is his twentieth book in the Jack Reacher series. An ex-Army military police detective, Reacher has been traveling aimlessly around the United States, stumbling across mysteries that he helps solve.

Reacher is on his way to Chicago, but is intrigued by a town called Mother's Rest, Oklahoma. Reacher wants to know if the name comes from a place on the wagon trail where someone stopped to give birth or where someone was laid to rest. He figures if he gets off the train and stays for one night he can see the historical marker or grave.

When Reacher leaves the train, a woman starts toward him as if she recognizes him. She, Michelle Chang, is a private investigator and ex-FBI who is looking for a colleague. Keever was on to something and called her for backup, but when she arrived she could not find him.

Reacher, always interested in a mystery, decides to stick around and help look for Keever. Unfortunately, the townspeople, who have something they would like to keep hidden, don't want anyone snooping around.

Reacher is a practically unstoppable character. He is smart, logical and has his own code of ethics. Child is a great mystery writer who comes up with a new mystery set in a new location for each books. This series is well written and creative - a great bet for mystery and suspense fans. (Speaking of fans - us fans are still waiting for a spin-off series about Frances Neagley!)

Child, Lee. (2015). Make Me. New York: Delacourte Press.

Personal (Jack Reacher #19)

Personal by Lee Child is the nineteenth book in his Jack Reacher series - Reacher is a retired Army MP who wanders the United States and steps in to solve crimes or inflict justice when he feels necessary.

Though Reacher has been out of the Army for years, you are never really out of the Army. On a bus near Seattle, Reacher finds a copy of the Army Times and sees his name in a personal ad. It says to call General Shoemaker - he is calling in a favor.

Reacher calls from Seattle and is put through to General Shoemaker. He is told to wait in the coffee shop across the street. A half hour later Reacher is on his way to a base to be flown across the country to North Carolina.

There has been an attempt on the President of France. The shot was from almost three quarters of a mile. As there are only a couple dozen people in the world who could make that shot, Shoemaker has brought Reacher in because one of the potential suspects is someone he arrested sixteen years before.

Reacher will be partnered with Casey Nice of the State Department to investigate the few Americans on the suspect list. They will travel to the mid-West, France and England before the case is solved - and the time limit put on the case is running out. They have to find the sniper before the G8 meeting in London.

Child has created a great character in Jack Reacher. Fans will continue to follow his through his travels and adventures.

Child, Lee. (2014). Personal. New York: Delacourte Press.

Never Go Back (Jack Reacher #18)

Never Go Back by Lee Child is the eighteen book in his Jack Reacher series. Reacher is ex-Army and was the head of the MP Special Unit, the 110th. Since retirement he has been traveling around the United States and both getting into trouble and solving problems he finds along the way.

Reacher just arrived in Virginia from North Dakota. He is back at the 110th headquarters in Rock Creek, just outside of Washington, D.C. He came all this way because he spoke to the current commander, Major Susan Turner and wanted to meet her in person.

But when he arrives, it is not Major Turner in the office. Major Turner has been replaced by a temporary officer because she has been arrested for taking a bribe. And Reacher is told not to leave, that there are two cases pending against him.

Child's series just gets better. Fans will read any adventure involving Jack Reacher, and this one includes a jail break, a manhunt including the FBI, Army, DC police and four unknown thugs, and a conspiracy that reaches up the military command chain.

Child, Lee. (2013). Never Go Back. New York: Delacourte Press.

A Wanted Man (Jack Reacher #17)

A Wanted Man by Lee Child is the seventeenth book in his Jack Reacher series about an ex-military cop who is wandering the United States and keeps stumbling upon scenes where his training and detective skills can be of use.

In Nebraska a man is murdered by two men in black suits. Roadblocks are set up looking for them in a red car. FBI Agent Julia Sorenson is sent to the town where the murder occurred to begin an investigation.

Also in Nebraska, Jack Reacher is dropped off by a driver whose direction is going the opposite of where Reacher is headed. After some time in the cold on the side of a highway, he is picked up by two men and a woman who are headed East. While Reacher is glad of the ride, he thinks that all three of the people in the car are lying about something.

Child has written another exciting thrill ride in this series featuring a great character who makes his own rules to bring people to his sense of justice.

Child, Lee. (2012). A Wanted Man. New York: Delacourte Press.

The Affair (Jack Reacher #16)

The Affair by Lee Child is the sixteenth book in his Jack Reacher series. This book takes place just before the first book in the series - The Killing Floor.

It is 1997 and Jack Reacher is still an MP in the US Army. He is assigned to undercover as a second detective in the murder of a woman outside a military base in Mississippi.

From the start the case does not feel right to Reacher. The facts he was given are not what happened - and the woman is the third victim of a similar crime in the small town next to the base.

Though on site as much to cover the military as any other reason, Reacher cannot let a murder go unsolved. Technically, if the murderer in from the town and not the base, it is not his jurisdiction.

Child's flashback into Reacher's past - his last case as an MP - will thrill fans. We finally know why he quit the military. Child's writing and character have just become better over the series. Anyone looking for a good mystery would do well to start the Reacher series.

Child, Lee. (2011). The Affair. New York: Delacorte Press.

Worth Dying For (Jack Reacher #15)

Worth Dying For is the fifteenth Jack Reacher novel by Lee Child.

After the previous book I was not sure that Reacher was still alive. His adventures are always dangerous, but it did not seem likely that he could live through the last.

But here he is in Nebraska. He is on his way to Virginia to see a woman he might want to spend time with. Of course, when Reacher sees something he thinks is wrong, he fixes it.

This time he is mixed up in an area that is run by one family - the Duncans - who have everyone in the area dependent upon their trucking company for supplies. The nearest town is 60 miles south and other than one motel the land is all farms.

Lee has written another great story where layers upon layers are revealed with his unfolding of events. Reacher is a compelling character who takes the law into his own hands and brings bad guys to their knees.

Child, Lee. (2010). Worth Dying For. New York: Dell Books.

61 Hours (Jack Reacher #14)

61 Hours is the fourteenth Jack Reacher book by Lee Child. Reacher is an ex-military cop who keeps finding situations that need his expertise.

Reacher is passing through South Dakota when the bus his on breaks down outside of the town of Bolton. Because there is a storm coming in that will shut down the highway, the 22 people on the bus - 20 seniors on a tour, the driver, and Reacher who paid for a ride to the Rapid City - will stay in town until a new bus can be delivered.

When Reacher sees that the Bolton police department has a situation, he asks about it. Reluctantly, Deputy Chief Peterson fills Reacher in on the facts. He also explains that in order to get the new prison on the edge of town, the Police department has some rules to follow. Now Peterson is worried about protecting a witness if the prison siren goes off - and all police officers are required to report to a security perimeter.

Reacher figures since he is stuck in town anyway he may as well meet the witness so he can guard her if anything happens at the prison. And what follows is Reacher -style justice for the bad guys.

Child has created a compelling, likable character with a firm sense of right and wrong, and the muscle to hold others up to his standards. He is the cop you want on your side in a fights. Fans of mystery and suspense novels should read the books from the beginning and get sucked into an addictive series.


Child, Lee. (2010). 61 Hours. New York: Dell Books.

Gone Tomorrow (Jack Reacher #13)

Gone Tomorrow is the 13th book in Lee Child's Jack Reacher series about an ex-military cop who keeps finding situations where his detective skills come in handy.

Reacher is in New York when he notices a woman acting suspicious on the subway. From a previous training he automatically runs through the 10-point list for a suicide bombers - and she meet all of the requirements. It doesn't make since as it is the middle of the night and there are only a few people on the train, but that is what the facts tell him.

But Susan Mark, the subway passenger he is looking at on the 6 train, is only one piece of the puzzle.

Child takes Reacher through the streets of Manhattan, followed not only by the police, FBI, and an unnamed federal agency, but by the soldiers of a far away country. This Reacher thriller will take readers on a crazy ride that will keep them up late into the night to find out what happens next.


Child, Lee. (2009). Gone Tomorrow. New York: Dell Books.

Nothing to Lose (Jack Reacher #12)

Nothing to Lose is the 12th Jack Reacher book by Lee Child.

Reacher's plan is to head to San Diego. He found himself in upper Maine and thought it would be interesting to work his way diagonally across the US. When he stops in Hope, Colorado and sees that the next town is called Despair he figures it is worth seeing just to say he had been there.

But when he enters the town of Despair he is not welcome. The people in the restaurant will not acknowledge him. A few minutes later four large men arrive to show him out. Reacher's philosophy is that he will not mess with you unless you mess with him - and then there are no rules.

Soon he is in the Despair jail. Next he is deposited on the border between Despair and Hope. A Hope police officer gives him a ride back into her town.

But now Reacher's plans to get to San Diego are on hold. He does not like being told what to do so he is on his way back to Despair to see what is wrong with the town.

Child has created a great character in Jack Reacher. He is tough, fair (in his way), and someone you would want in your corner in any fight.

Child, Lee. (2008). Nothing to Lose. New York: Dell Books.

Bad Luck and Trouble (Jack Reacher #11)

Bad Luck and Trouble is the eleventh book in the Jack Reacher series by Lee Child.

Reacher is in Portland, Oregon when he checks his bank account and finds too much money. Someone has deposited 1,030 dollars into his account.

Reacher was the head of a special investigations unit in the Army - made up of eight MPs. One of them, Frances Neagly, has sent a ten-thirty code - urgent assistance required.

Now Reacher is using some of that $1030 to fly to Los Angeles to meet Neagly. One of their old team has been killed. Neagly has been trying to contact the rest to bring them together to find out why.

This new element of bringing Reacher's old friends into the story will be a treat for fans. Child's series a great place for mystery and suspense fans to lose themselves.

Child, Lee. (2007). Bad Luck and Trouble. New York: Dell Books.

The Hard Way (Jack Reacher #10)

The Hard Way is the tenth book in Lee Child's Jack Reacher series about an ex-Army cop who always seems to be in the right place at the right time. Or possible it is the wrong place at the wrong time. Reacher is back in New York.

While he enjoys wandering the empty countryside of the US, New York City is one of his favorite destinations. And though he rarely spends more than one night in the same place, he decides that the cafe on Sixth between Bleeker and Houston has coffee that is worth another visit.

When a man who is obviously an ex-special forces soldier comes into the cafe and the waiter points to him, Reacher is pulled into a kidnapping investigation. The wife of a wealthy soldiers-for-hire company has been kidnapped. She and her daughter were taken sometime after they left for Bloomingdales. Reacher, at the cafe, was witness to the ransom money being picked up.

Now, for the mother and daughter, as well as a large payout, Reacher will use his skills of detection and do what he can to find them before it is too late. This may be my favorite Jack Reacher book to date.

Child, Lee. (2006). The Hard Way. New York: Dell Books.

One Shot (Jack Reacher #9)

One Shot is the ninth book in Lee Child's Jack Reacher series - about an ex-military cop who spends his time wandering the United States.

Reacher is in Florida when he sees someone he knows on the new. In Indiana a man has killed five people using a sniper rifle. The police have arrested James Barr based on overwhelming evidence.

Reacher heads for Indiana - not to help an old friend, but to make sure Barr is convicted of the crime.

Reacher is a compelling character with a strong sense of right and wrong. Child has given himself unlimited possibilities with storylines and locations keeping the series surprising and fresh.

Child, Lee. (2005). One Shot. New York: Dell Books.

The Enemy (Jack Reacher #8)

The Enemy by Lee Child is the eighth book in his Jack Reacher series and a flashback to Reacher's life in the Army.

A great change was taking place in the world around New Years of 1990. The Berlin Wall was coming down and the USSR was on its way out. In the Army, Reacher was suddenly transferred from Panama to Fort Bird, North Carolina.

When a two-star general dies in a sleazy motel, Reacher goes - not to investigate, but as a sign of respect for the man's rank. From a simple heart attack, the plot twists and turns in a way only Child can do.

Fans will be grateful for chance to get to know Reacher's brother Joe and even their mother. Readers who haven't yet started the Jack Reacher series - what are you waiting for?

Child, Lee. (2004). The Enemy. New York: Dell Books.

Without Fail (Jack Reacher #6)

Without Fail is the sixth Jack Reacher book by Lee Child.

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Reacher has no address, carries no identification, and rarely stays in the same place two nights in a row. It has been this way since he got out of the Army. But now someone is trying to find him.

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Secret Service agent M.E. Frolich is in charge of the safety of Vice President elect Armstrong. She is newly in her position and would like to run a test against their protocols. She wants to hire Jack based on something his brother said about him six years ago. And if anyone can illuminate hole in the Secret Service detail it is Jack Reacher.

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In my favorite Reacher book yet, Child spins a web of politics, law enforcement, assassins, and more to create a great book. If you are not up for starting at the beginning of this (now 15 book long) series, read this one first!

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Child, Lee. (2002). Without Fail. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons.

Echo Burning (Jack Reacher #5)

Echo Burning is the fifth book in Lee Child's Jack Reacher series - about an ex-military cop who is wandering the US since his discharge and getting into situations where his detective (and shooting) skills are put to use.

Echo county Texas has more oil rigs than people. It is as sparsely populated now as it was during the time of the Wild West. And the so called justice is about the same, too.

Reacher is leaving Lubbock when he is picked up by a woman who lives in Echo. She has been looking for a rough looking man to take home with her for protection. Or to kill her husband.

Though Reacher has killed a few people in his day, he is not a cold blooded killer. But he goes with her and becomes a ranch hand to check out the situation. Of course the situation is much more complicated than a woman stuck in an abusive marriage.

Child has created a compelling character in Jack Reacher. He a man you would want on your side in a fight and his adventures are a pleasure for readers.

Child, Lee. (2001). Echo Burning. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons.

Running Blind (Jack Reacher #4)

Running Blind (published as The Visitor in the UK) by Lee Child is the fourth book in the Jack Reacher series. Reacher is an ex-Army homicide detective who is just trying to live his life.

Reacher is minding his own business - living in the house he inherited, seeing Jodie Garber and just hanging out in New York. But one night in his new favorite Italian restaurant two men come in to scare a weekly payoff from the manager.

Reacher has never been good at sitting on the sidelines while others are being harassed. So he beats up the to toughs to send a message to their boss that the restaurant already has protection. What he doesn't realize is that the FBI is watching him beat them up.

An hour later he is arrested on charges of racketeering and as a suspect in a serial murder case. Someone is killing ex-Army women - women who were sexually harassed while they were in the service.

Reacher will need all of his skills as a detective to deal with the case, while trying to keep the FBI from threatening Jodie for his continued assistance.

Child's series featuring Jack Reacher contains books filled with suspense, mystery, great characters, and an almost bullet-proof protagonists. They are must-reads for any reading fans.

Child, Lee. (2000). Running Blind. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons.

Tripwire (Jack Reacher #3)

Tripwire is the third Jack Reacher book by Lee Child. Reacher is an ex-military police who has been traveling the United States since he was discharged.

When Reacher is in Key West, Florida digging swimming pools to refund his savings account, a stranger shows up asking questions about him. Reacher tells the man he has never heard of anyone by the name of Jack Reacher.

The next day two more men are asking about him. When he goes to question the first man, Reacher finds him dead. Now he feels responsible for finding out why the man was killed. He heads to New York to track down the guy's office and find out who sent him.

Soon Reacher is following the trail of a man no one has seen since the Vietnam war. A plan set in motion thirty years ago is about to be discovered and the man who put it in place will do anything to prevent that from happening.

Child's Reacher series are nail-biting adventures that will keep readers wanting more.

Child, Lee. (1999). Tripwire. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons.