Chain Reaction

Jack Reacher #31

by Lee Child, Andrew Child

‘She knew that finding Reacher would not be easy. But not impossible either.’

The world’s bestselling hero is back in a brand new, high-octane adventure!

Washington DC. General Susan Turner needs help from the only guy she knows will get the job done right.

Buckle up for a ride like no other . . .

THE BRAND NEW REACHER NOVEL FROM THE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Suspense, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Crime

416 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication October 20, 2026

About the author

Lee Child was born October 29th, 1954 in Coventry, England, but spent his formative years in the nearby city of Birmingham. By coincidence he won a scholarship to the same high school that JRR Tolkien had attended. He went to law school in Sheffield, England, and after part-time work in the theater he joined Granada Television in Manchester for what turned out to be an eighteen-year career as a presentation director during British TV's "golden age." During his tenure his company made Brideshead Revisited, The Jewel in the Crown, Prime Suspect, and Cracker. But he was fired in 1995 at the age of 40 as a result of corporate restructuring. Always a voracious reader, he decided to see an opportunity where others might have seen a crisis and bought six dollars' worth of paper and pencils and sat down to write a book, Killing Floor, the first in the Jack Reacher series.

Killing Floor was an immediate success and launched the series which has grown in sales and impact with every new installment. The first Jack Reacher movie, based on the novel One Shot and starring Tom Cruise and Rosamund Pike, was released in December 2012.

Lee has three homes—an apartment in Manhattan, a country house in the south of France, and whatever airplane cabin he happens to be in while traveling between the two. In the US he drives a supercharged Jaguar, which was built in Jaguar's Browns Lane plant, thirty yards from the hospital in which he was born.

Lee spends his spare time reading, listening to music, and watching the Yankees, Aston Villa, or Marseilles soccer. He is married with a grown-up daughter. He is tall and slim, despite an appalling diet and a refusal to exercise.

Reviews

[William Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to begin with a confession: I don’t get excited about new book releases anymore. Social media has turned publishing into a spectacle — a churn of trends, tropes, and algorithm-friendly storytelling. Too often, a book feels like a product first and a story second.

But every year, right around the start of January, one announcement still cuts through the noise: the reveal of the next Jack Reacher novel. Reacher and I go way back, and he’s one of the few characters who still feels immune to the pressures shaping modern publishing.

The thirty-first entry in the series, Chain Reaction (releasing October 20, 2026), arrives with Andrew Child fully in the metaphorical driver’s seat. This time, Reacher is pulled into an off-the-books investigation rooted in an increasingly cyber-soaked world — encrypted networks, digital footprints, and data centers, so many bloody data centers. As someone who lives and breathes tech, I always enjoy watching Reacher navigate environments he fundamentally doesn’t understand and has no interest in understanding. His analog instincts become a kind of superpower.
And that’s why I keep coming back. Times change. Technology evolves. But Reacher stays Reacher — grounded, dependable, and morally clear in a world that refuses to slow down.

This novel also brings back General Susan Turner, formerly Major Turner in Never Go Back and 61 Hours. Now leading the Army’s G 99 Section — a covert unit with intelligence-level reach — Turner doesn’t just ask Reacher for help; she hunts him down. That reversal alone sets the stakes, because usually Reacher finds you, not the other way around.

Turner’s presence also adds emotional texture. She and Reacher share a quiet, mutual affection — expressed through trust, competence, and the kind of warmth that exists only between two people who understand each other deeply. But they also know the limits. Any closeness between them can only last as long as the mission. Reacher’s life is built on movement; Turner’s is built on responsibility. Their connection is real, but it’s temporary by design. It’s mature, honest, and perfectly in line with the emotional realism that has always defined Reacher’s relationships.

What follows is a classic Reacher adventure: sharp pacing, grounded action, and a steady escalation of danger that blends old-school Reacher with modern threats. Andrew Child respects the series’ roots while acknowledging the world we live in now. The action is clean, the investigation tight, and the final act delivers exactly what fans expect. It’s the kind of story that makes me hope the TV adaptation picks Chain Reaction for Season 5. Several scenes in Chain Reaction would translate beautifully to screen.

In the end, Chain Reaction is a confident, satisfying entry in the franchise. If you’re a longtime fan of the books or you’ve come in through the TV series, it’s absolutely worth your time. It reminds you why Reacher endures: not because he changes with the world, but because he doesn’t.

[Martin Baggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the 31st installment of this iconic series, Lee and Andrew Child have delivered exactly what longtime fans have been craving: a return to the Reacher we know and love, fast-paced and unapologetically violent in all the right ways. From the opening pages, this felt like a course correction back to the character's roots.

The plot reunites Reacher with General Susan Turner, last seen in "Never Go Back," now firmly entrenched in the Pentagon and carrying real institutional weight. When a member of her team is brutally murdered on covert duty, Turner can't trust her own chain of command, not even her deputy, so she reaches outside the system for the one person built to solve problems and vanish. That's classic Reacher setup, and it works because the stakes cut both ways: the mission threatens to derail Turner's career just as surely as it threatens to end Reacher's life.

The trail leads to Summertown, Colorado, one of the more memorably strange settings in the series. A diner, a motel, five massive data centers, two solar farms, and a population of four. The authors know how to use isolation as a pressure cooker, and watching Reacher get sized up by the one person tracking his arrival is a great slow burn before the violence starts. The formula is familiar, Reacher and a sharp female counterpart working a mystery stacked with bad guys, but the Childs season it well here, folding in AI, cryptocurrency, and hackers who can kill a camera feed or pop a lock without breaking stride. Add the cross-country travel and you've got a crackerjack Reacher thriller that never lets up.

One line stuck with me long after I closed the book: "You did the right thing. What was he going to do to you? That's how you measure it. Like for like, but get your retaliation in first. That's what I used to tell my people. Words to live by." It's a perfect distillation of the Reacher ethos, and a reminder of why this character still resonates thirty-one books in.

I finished "Chain Reaction" with the satisfied exhaustion only a great Reacher book delivers. The Child brothers have crafted another winner that has me already looking forward to book 32. Whether you're a longtime fan or new to the series, this one earns its place on the shelf.

A big thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

#Netgalley #Ballantine

[Peggy Huey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Net Galley allowed me early access to an electronic version of the story, which I devoured quickly. Major Susan Turner from Never Go Back returns to ask Jack Reacher for his help. She is now a one-star General in charge of a unit referred to as CSA GS-99, described as the army's version of the FBI. One of her CID Special Agents (John Bisley) was following a lead in Colorado when he was killed in circumstances that have raised Turner's antenna. To her way of thinking, Reacher is the perfect person to check out the location and determine what really happened to her agent--he can handle himself, he understands the army way of doing things, and, most importantly, he is outside of her chain of command, making the paper-trail for their interactions minimal. Reacher heads out to Summertown, just west of Denver, and finds massive solar panel fields and data centers, one of which, according to Bisley, may be a phantom center that is copying information from the legitimate data centers located nearby as the information is being moved around in the cloud where it is stored. He also finds the men responsible for Bisley's death and creatively deals with them. However, their appearance reveals that the perpetrators ultimately responsible for Bisley's death have managed to worm their way into the GS-99's NSA-level encrypted computer system, creating another, even more significant problem for Turner to fix. She joins Reacher in California, near Palo Alto, to trace one of the leads Reacher has unearthed to a local law firm that has been working with an A.I. start-up known as EEF — Everything Everywhere Forever. The two of them are joined by Turner's second-in-command Colonel Elwood to bring the perpetrators to justice and make things better for Bisley's wife and eleven-month-old daughter. #ChainReaction #NetGalley

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

There has been lots of discussion about the continued viability of the Reacher series since Lee announced he was handing it off to Andrew. It's had its ups and downs. However, with Chain Reaction, Reacher is back! Andrew Child has finally found his groove. I've read every Reacher book as soon as it is released for many years now, and this one is a winner.

Reasons why I say this:
Susan Turner returns! Reacher is best when he's teaming up with his military buds, and he and Susan have great chemistry, both when working and when...playing. ;)

These villains are eminently hateable! Axel Brill and Saxby Cameron (what ARE these names? I've never met one person with an x in their name) are brilliant tech bros with zero morals who employ lazy mercenaries. Watching people who think they're smarter than they really are get what's coming to them is soooo satisfying.

Reacher and the baby!!! Listen, I don't normally go gaga for baby stuff, but just imaging the gargantuan Reacher holding and soothing a tiny human makes me all warm inside. I can't imagine what more child-focused women would feel here.

I can absolutely see this as a future season of REACHER. The AI/hacker topic is so hot right now, the above points are all tv-positive, and can you imagine if they recast Cobie Smulders as Susan Turner, only matched up with Alan Ritchson? HOT.

The only negative I've had with reading this book is that it's already over and the book won't be released for another 3 months! Now I have to wait even longer for Andrew's next installment. :( First world problems!!!

*****
Thanks to NetGalley and Bantam (Penguin Random House) for the ARC!

[Alexa Smeby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first Jack Reacher novel I've read, despite the series being 31 books deep. I came to it as a fan of the TV adaptation, and having Alan Ritchson's version of the character in my head while reading only made the experience better — I could picture Reacher clearly in every scene, which isn't always the case when you're starting a long-running series in progress.

Chain Reaction follows Reacher as he's pulled back into General Susan Turner's orbit after a member of her team is murdered on a covert assignment, leading him to an eerily sparse town in Colorado with barely any residents and a lot to hide. The plot moves fast, the setting is genuinely strange in a way that keeps the tension up, and Reacher's blunt, methodical way of solving problems is just as satisfying on the page as it is on screen. Even without the context of 30 prior books, the character work stands on its own — you don't need the backstory to understand who Reacher is or why people either want his help or fear him.

If anything, this book made me want to go back and start the series from the beginning, which feels like the best compliment I can give it. It's a strong entry point for newcomers and, I'd imagine, a satisfying continuation for longtime readers given Turner's return.

Highly recommended for thriller fans, especially anyone who — like me — has been enjoying the show and hoping for more seasons.

[Mvm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic Reacher Action Meets a High-Tech Threat: Jack Reacher is pulled into an off-the-books investigation with two Army officers trying to discover who is hacking into classified NSA data files. The case leads them into a cyber-soaked world of encrypted networks, digital footprints, and seemingly endless data centers.

One of the most entertaining aspects of the story is watching Reacher navigate technology he does not understand—and has no interest in understanding. His old-school instincts and ability to read people become a kind of superpower in a world dominated by computers and data.

The intrigue and danger build steadily as new details are revealed. The story delivers plenty of action, suspense, murder, unexpected twists, and bad people who believe they can get away with anything. The pacing is sharp, the investigation is tight, and the final act brings everything together in a satisfying climax.

This novel moves quickly and kept me hooked until the final page. It is a top-notch blend of modern threats and classic Reacher storytelling—and an excellent addition to the series.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an advance copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving this honest, personal, and unbiased review.

[Dr. Alan Albarran · Rating 5 out of 5]

The latest entry in to the long-running Jack Reacher series finds the protagonist working off the books with two Army officers to find out who is hacking into NSA data files. General Susan Turner has known Reacher for years, and seeks his help after an analyst in her unit is murdered while investigating the suspected site of the hacking in Colorado.

The murder turns out to be part of a bigger plot involving data centers, artificial intelligence, and bad actors (criminals). Reacher slowly begins to put the pieces together to try and understand the motive for the murder as well as the reasons behind it.

The book features a different side of Reacher as he interacts with the infant daughter of the murder victim--the first time this has happened in the series. Both the child and her mother are in danger as the people who took out her husband are also trying to tie up loose ends.

There is a lot of intrigue and action that slowly builds up to the climax where all the details are revealed.

I want to thank Lee and Andrew Child, Ballentine, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an ARC of this new book.

[Marion · Rating 5 out of 5]

The real Reacher has returned. The last couple of Reacher books were okay but this one we have the Lee Child’s Reacher, and it is unbeatable. What I really enjoy about this series is that Reacher just wants to explore the world and be left alone. It seems no matter where he goes, trouble finds him. This is why we can’t wait to read the next book. Well, this book is a winner in my eyes. We have Reacher and he’s paired up with Susan Turner who works for the military and has worked with him before. What chemistry these two have both on the field and off. This book has plenty of action, intrigue and the climax slowly builds when different details are revealed. I enjoyed the many plot twists and especially the ending. I can’t wait for the next one to come out. Reacher has been asked by Turner to find out who killed an agent out in Colorado and why. This is just a start to Reacher’s investigation, and it turns into a more dangerous plot than Turner thought. Pickup and read. This can be read as standalone. Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam Books for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Jacqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

I confess I opened this thirty-first book in the Jack Reacher series, Chain Reaction (Bantam 2026), somewhat suspiciously. I’ve devoured every Reacher book written by Lee Child, but not many be his nephew, Andrew. The voice is different, as though he’s trying too hard to replicate the old Reacher, can’t quite get it right, and in his failure, the story fails. So I took my time cracking open this book (usually I start it as soon as it arrives in my inbox), got five pages in, and changed my plans for the day. Andrew seemed to have learned to be Reacher.

This to my delight turned out to be a top notch story of high tech dreams, murder for all the wrong reasons, and bad people who think they can get away with anything, exactly what historically has inspired Reacher to join the fight on the side of justice. At the bequest of longtime friend, Brigadier General Turner, he does, bringing with him all his usual intellect, cleverness, wit, and physical power. I won’t tell you how it ends, but if you’ve read some in this series, you know. Now go on--grab the book. Enjoy every bit of it. 

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reacher is a Six foot-five trained ex military police officer who has never exactly settled into civilian life. He has no home, no car, no regular job. Instead, he’s on permanent walkabout wherever whim takes him. Reacher never finds trouble is too far distant and he has a penchant for helping others.

But here Reacher isn’t working alone but as part of a troika that includes now-General Susan Turner and her second in command Colonel Elwood, both of whom operate a super secret off-the-books outfit G99. Turner brings Reacher in because she thinks her unit has sprung a leak. A young officer in her unit died in Colorado visiting a solar farm and no one knows why.

Combining Reacher with Turner and Elwood offers three highly trained individuals who are each competent to take on murderous thugs run out of a Silicon Valley law firm. This is a modern battle for Reacher to fight in out digital world.

[Howard Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read and enjoyed all of the Jack Reacher novels, I thought I was extremely well versed in his character and make up. However, in this excellent novel, we see a softer side to him that we could never have imagined — his interaction with and feelings for an 11 month old child. Of course, there is a tremendous amount of action in this book with the requisite levels of fighting and murders; but, also, it was most impressive to actually see his deductive approach and powers in his examination of photographs and overall situations. In addition, one can only marvel at his daily consumption of food!
I can recommend this intriguing story without any reservations and thank NetGalley, the Childs and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read and review this exciting novel prior to its publication.

[Nicole Hancock · Rating 4 out of 5]

4-4.25 stars. It was interesting to read the Reacher ARC right after reading the new Eddie Flynn ARC by Steve Cavanagh (One of Us is Guilty). Both leads are very smart, which I love, and while lawyer Eddie throws metaphorical punches in the courtroom, our 6'5 friend Reacher beats people up with 1000 page books by Stephen King. But both are able to solve puzzles, see the big picture, and think several steps ahead - all makes for fun reading.

I enjoyed this one - especially as it took Reacher to the Bay Area where I live. Very typical Reacher - lots of coffee, some pie, and taking care of bad guys left and right. Won't upturn the literary world, but I still love reading him.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for providing me with an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

Expected pub date: October 20, 2026

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Lee Child, Andrew Child, Ballantine, and NetGalley for access to the Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

As this story unfolds, an old friend of Reacher’s finds a way to contact him and ask for help. A member of an Army investigative group has been murdered, and although the police have decided it was a robbery gone wrong. Reacher has been asked to investigate – outside the system, to learn the truth.

I love Reacher stories and I think I have read most, if not all of them. This one, like the others, is a solidly written story with a plot out of today’s headlines. The pacing and characters were great, but while it’s good, it’s not quite to the level of some of my earlier favorites – but still recommended.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another riveting Reacher read.
The series just keeps getting better and better with each new addition.
Reacher is tracked down by an old military friend, now a Brig General, who needs help in investigating the
death of another officer under her command. . She needs to make sure there was no criminality involved because she has a suspicion that he might have been intentionally killed while on a brief, unscheduled trip to Colorado..
Reacher agrees yo look in to it, off the books and heads to Colorado.
Non stop suspense, action, thrills and engrossing story line.
The usual well defined and skillfully integrated characters add to the masterfully scripted story that is a trademark of all the Child books.
Great read.

[Linda Quick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! They did it again! This book started with a likely mugging and turned into a complex, yet so very simple, national threat. Reacher is sought out by his friend to conduct an off the books investigation. She doesn't know what's going on or who is involved, so Reacher steps up to help. What follows is an engrossing story that had me turning pages just as quickly as possible.

This novel moves quickly and kept me hooked until the very last page. It has all the action you'd expect in a Reacher story, and even has Reacher doing something for the first time.

Fans of the genre will love this book. The authors are on my must read authors ' list.

[Tami · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent addition to the Reacher reads! and a fantastic birds-eye of data centers and bitcoin and how easy it would be to take advantage of both and rip off anyone who doesn't know any better. "Hindi to a beagle!" What a great line and a fantastic way to make someone dumb it down. I love Reacher! I also really loved how he showed his humanity and a bit of loneliness. Playing with the baby, cuddling with Turner. But still Reacher, through and through, wanting justice for a fallen brother in arms. And going about it in the only way he can. And at the end, going his own way. The nomad, hobo, remittance man. We all need a Reacher in our lives, may e now more than ever.

[SusanH · Rating 5 out of 5]

General Susan Turner returns in this novel to find Jack Reacher and investigate why an agent was killed in Denver, Colorado. Reacher is really back in this installment and I loved this book. There is intrigue, chases, action and plot twists. It’s always better to start at the beginning of a series, however this can be read as a standalone. Reacher stills lives frugally, however he now has some understanding and appreciation for cell phones, the internet and AI. It doesn’t take away from the basic character and personality of Jack Reacher. This would be a great story for the TV series. With thanks to Netgalley and Ballantine for this ARC. My opinions are my own.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a classic Reacher story! I have loved the Reacher series for a long time and haven't missed an installment. Bringing back Susan Turner was a highlight for me. She shows another side to Reacher and I love the way they work together in the field. As always, the pacing, tension, and fight scenes were well written. I enjoyed the mystery in this one as well and how the location shifted often. The technical elements were well described and interesting as well. It helps that Reacher needs things explained to him on a kindergarten level. Do we know how it's going to end? Yes of course, but that is part of the Reacher charm. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC copy of this book.

Chain Reaction” represents the best entry in the Jack Reacher series since the Lee Child/Andrew Child collaboration began.. Various strengths include an always welcome teaming up with old military friends (this time, now General Susan Turner), a timely, intricate plot around AI & cyber crimes, and a re-infusion of many of the old Reacher personality quirks (including several amorous interludes with Turner).

The pacing of the story is excellent, and the action is consistent and entertaining throughout. This is a return to classic Reacher, and hopefully a template for future entries. Highly recommended.

5 stars

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack is back. By far the best of Jack Reacher in a while. This time the 110th is reaching out to him for help and he is happy to help the CO, a past love interest. This story bring big tech, AI, the military and some very shady characters into an intriguing plot that will keep you guessing till the end. The book starts out like a 9mm shot from a Sig Sauer MPX and does not slow down. On an off the books investigation, Reacher is turned loose and the results are truly entertaining. You hand will get tired turning pages, as you will not want to put this book down.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reacher's back and Susan Turner is with him. I recently read a review by someone who has been sorely disappointed by the Lee/Andrew Child books. Claimed they didn't come close to getting Reacher's voice right. I couldn't disagree more. This is the Reacher I know and love. The big guy. Great plot (and nice touch having Reached totally ignorant about AI and crypto, as of course he would be). Loved the part about the Chinese acupuncturist. The usual fun and wild ride. Absolutely give yourself permission to enjoy.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack Reacher is out in the world and is hard to locate. The authors bring back Susan Turner who is now a General and needs his help in figuring out why her guy was killed in Colorado. What happens next, is a lot of action, killing and mayhem. Always a fun read each time with Reacher and his exploits. Interesting that I couldn’t figure out what was going on with the bad guys which makes it more exhilarating. Fast paced, thought provoking and a great escape from the real world.

[David Jonescu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any time a new Reacher book comes out, it is an immediate read. This is an immediate hit with everything you’d expect from the Reacher universe. The major parts of the book feel relevant today. I could also see this becoming a season of the Reacher TV show. Great read!

I received a free advanced copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one started with a bang and didn't stop until the conclusion. Reacher reunites with Susan Turner to help her solve a problem in her division. Fast-paced, kept me turning the pages as fast as I could. I think this was the strongest entry since the Lee/Andrew collaboration and look forward to the next one.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so much better than the last few books. As good as the first few! Either Andrew has really learned Reacher's voice or Lee is more involved. Either way, this was fantastic. I suggest going in blind. I’ve read the cover copy as it exists now, and I’m glad I didn’t read it first.

[Mike Lyons · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read - as always Reacher's internal thought processes are wonderful to follow. Always interesting to see how he comes to a course of action. I thought that this installment in his story is better than some of the previous books

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reacher is tracked down by a friend to help her figure out who murdered one of her men and why only they don't realize it's going to set them up next on the hit list.

What a great read. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Likestotravel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cheers for another fabulous Reacher book - may be the best one yet! Packed with action - on the hunt for the bad guys and between the sheets. Classic style with a modern theme gives all the entertaining thrills.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballentine for the opportunity to read this ARC.

[John Purcell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't get enough of Reacher. So I am very fortunate to have had an advance copy to read. I loved Chain Reaction. It brings back one of the only recurring characters (other than Reacher) in the series. Great read, but now I have to wait another year for a new story.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

5 stars

While this was the 31st book in the series it felt fresh. There was some tenderness by Reacher that I don’t recall in the prior books and made him even more likable. Great read. I highly recommend this book.