What do you think?
Rate this book
Mysterious Profiles
Jack Reacher: A Mysterious Profile
The #1 New York Times–bestselling author reveals the story behind “one of this century’s most original, tantalizing pop-fiction heroes” (The Washington Post).
In this short piece, the creator of Jack Reacher shares the origins of the ex-military cop who now makes use of his skills in the civilian world—a place where he never feels quite at home. In addition, Lee Child reflects on writing and his own life the importance of character; making the transition from a television career to a literary career; how his famous character was almost named Franklin—and how he wound up being called Reacher instead.
“Jack Reacher is today’s James Bond, a thriller hero we can’t get enough of. I read every one as soon as it appears.” —Ken Follett, international-bestselling author of The Pillars of the Earth
“Every Reacher novel delivers a jolt to the nervous system.” —Kirkus Reviews
In this short piece, the creator of Jack Reacher shares the origins of the ex-military cop who now makes use of his skills in the civilian world—a place where he never feels quite at home. In addition, Lee Child reflects on writing and his own life the importance of character; making the transition from a television career to a literary career; how his famous character was almost named Franklin—and how he wound up being called Reacher instead.
“Jack Reacher is today’s James Bond, a thriller hero we can’t get enough of. I read every one as soon as it appears.” —Ken Follett, international-bestselling author of The Pillars of the Earth
“Every Reacher novel delivers a jolt to the nervous system.” —Kirkus Reviews
34 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 26, 2022
835 people are currently reading
400 people want to read
About the author
Lee Child
442 books34.2k followersLee 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.
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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
September 5, 2022
Lee Child is an English author who received a formal English education learning Latin, Greek and Old English. He worked a long time in television and started writing after buying some legal note pads and pencils. His wife began to worry possibly as the pay cheques had dried up, and he mentions going to the supermarket with her. She’s a small lady, he’s a big guy. He reached to the top shelf for a nice older lady, and his wife remarked that if he didn’t quite make in as a writer, he could always be a ‘reacher’. And there you have it.
He also completed a law degree. I can see why his books are full of such a wealth of information.
Then fiction started up, and we started burning brain cells on stories about things that didn’t happen to people who didn’t exist. Why? The only answer can be that humans deeply, deeply desired it. They needed the consolation. Real life is rarely satisfactory.
So I wanted Reacher to do what we all want to do ourselves – stand strong and unafraid, never back off, never back down, come up with the smart replies. I thought of all the situations that we – timid, uncertain, scared, worried, humiliated – find ourselves in and imagined a kind of therapeutic consolation in seeing our wildest dreams acted out on the pages. So Reacher always wins.
“I don’t really care about the little guy. I just hate the big guy. I hate big smug people who think they can get away with things.”
Insouciance is the word for Reacher!
This was an interesting quick insight into how Lee Child started the ball rolling with this famous series. And a good reminder for this reader to keep going with it!
I borrowed this through the Hoopla platform from my public library.
He also completed a law degree. I can see why his books are full of such a wealth of information.
Then fiction started up, and we started burning brain cells on stories about things that didn’t happen to people who didn’t exist. Why? The only answer can be that humans deeply, deeply desired it. They needed the consolation. Real life is rarely satisfactory.
So I wanted Reacher to do what we all want to do ourselves – stand strong and unafraid, never back off, never back down, come up with the smart replies. I thought of all the situations that we – timid, uncertain, scared, worried, humiliated – find ourselves in and imagined a kind of therapeutic consolation in seeing our wildest dreams acted out on the pages. So Reacher always wins.
“I don’t really care about the little guy. I just hate the big guy. I hate big smug people who think they can get away with things.”
Insouciance is the word for Reacher!
This was an interesting quick insight into how Lee Child started the ball rolling with this famous series. And a good reminder for this reader to keep going with it!
I borrowed this through the Hoopla platform from my public library.
May 21, 2022
Lee Child describes the creation of the Jack Reacher character. Very enjoyable for Reacher fans.
April 30, 2022
A very well-done narrative of a fascinating character, in a great series. The author in his own words gives the reader a pretty thorough history of the creation of "Jack Reacher". Even more than a description of where "Jack" came from is how he was created? And the situations in the authors' life that lead to the writing of this series. This short novella is more of an author's autobiography mixed in with the thought process needed to create the "Jack Reacher" series. It made for a very enjoyable read.
September 11, 2022
A few years back I started reading Jack Reacher books. I read almost 30 Reacher short stories and novels in under a year. I also read the whole Hunt For Reacher series by Dian Capri before finishing the Reacher novels. I absolutely loved the TV Series, and greatly enjoy the books. So as soon as I saw this offering I picked it up even without reading the description. That description is:
“In this short piece, the creator of Jack Reacher shares the origins of the ex-military cop who now makes use of his skills in the civilian world—a place where he never feels quite at home. In addition, Lee Child reflects on writing and his own life story: the importance of character; making the transition from a television career to a literary career; how his famous character was almost named Franklin—and how he wound up being called Reacher instead.”
This volume is one of 26 that were all released in 2022. It is a collection of pieces by authors about how they came up with their characters. Having read through the list there are a couple of others I am interested in, and my dad has read books in almost all of the series. But there are some that I feel are missing. I would love to see the stories behind Temperance Brennan, DCI Robert Kett, DCK Jack Logan, and DCI William Blake. But back to this volume, the creation of Reacher, no middle name, Jack. I highlighted a number of passages my first time through this little volume. Some of them are:
“Legal language strives for concision and avoids ambiguity wherever possible. The result is inevitably dull, but all that striving and avoiding really teaches a person how to write.”
“G. K. Chesterton once said of Charles Dickens, “Dickens didn’t write what people wanted. Dickens wanted what people wanted.” I would never compare myself to Charles Dickens, but I know exactly what Chesterton meant.”
“First: Character is king. There are probably fewer than six books every century remembered specifically for their plots. People remember characters. Same with television. Who remembers the Lone Ranger? Everybody. Who remembers any actual Lone Ranger story lines? Nobody.”
“Second conclusion: If you can see a bandwagon, it’s too late to get on. I think the person who said that to me was talking about investment issues—as if I had anything to invest—but it seemed an excellent motto for entertainment as well. It’s a crowded field. Why do what everyone else is doing?”
“His physical competence is really an expression of his mental competence too. He’s a fully functioning person.”
“So I wanted Reacher to do what we all want to do ourselves— stand strong and unafraid, never back off, never back down, come up with the smart replies. I thought of all the situations that we— timid, uncertain, scared, worried, humiliated—find ourselves in and imagined a kind of therapeutic consolation in seeing our wildest dreams acted out on the page.”
“He has no need for or interest in employment. He’s not a proactive do-gooder. So why does he get involved in things? Well, partly because of noblesse oblige, a French chivalric concept that means “nobility obligates,” which mandates honorable, generous, and responsible behavior because of high rank or birth.”
““Not really,” Reacher admits. “I don’t really care about the little guy. I just hate the big guy. I hate big smug people who think they can get away with things.””
Those quotes and this book give us insights into Reacher, Child, Child’s process of creating Reacher, and some of his writing style. In many ways this is a profile of Lee Child as much as it is of Jack Reacher. It was an excellent little read, and I can easily recommend it for fans of Reacher!
“In this short piece, the creator of Jack Reacher shares the origins of the ex-military cop who now makes use of his skills in the civilian world—a place where he never feels quite at home. In addition, Lee Child reflects on writing and his own life story: the importance of character; making the transition from a television career to a literary career; how his famous character was almost named Franklin—and how he wound up being called Reacher instead.”
This volume is one of 26 that were all released in 2022. It is a collection of pieces by authors about how they came up with their characters. Having read through the list there are a couple of others I am interested in, and my dad has read books in almost all of the series. But there are some that I feel are missing. I would love to see the stories behind Temperance Brennan, DCI Robert Kett, DCK Jack Logan, and DCI William Blake. But back to this volume, the creation of Reacher, no middle name, Jack. I highlighted a number of passages my first time through this little volume. Some of them are:
“Legal language strives for concision and avoids ambiguity wherever possible. The result is inevitably dull, but all that striving and avoiding really teaches a person how to write.”
“G. K. Chesterton once said of Charles Dickens, “Dickens didn’t write what people wanted. Dickens wanted what people wanted.” I would never compare myself to Charles Dickens, but I know exactly what Chesterton meant.”
“First: Character is king. There are probably fewer than six books every century remembered specifically for their plots. People remember characters. Same with television. Who remembers the Lone Ranger? Everybody. Who remembers any actual Lone Ranger story lines? Nobody.”
“Second conclusion: If you can see a bandwagon, it’s too late to get on. I think the person who said that to me was talking about investment issues—as if I had anything to invest—but it seemed an excellent motto for entertainment as well. It’s a crowded field. Why do what everyone else is doing?”
“His physical competence is really an expression of his mental competence too. He’s a fully functioning person.”
“So I wanted Reacher to do what we all want to do ourselves— stand strong and unafraid, never back off, never back down, come up with the smart replies. I thought of all the situations that we— timid, uncertain, scared, worried, humiliated—find ourselves in and imagined a kind of therapeutic consolation in seeing our wildest dreams acted out on the page.”
“He has no need for or interest in employment. He’s not a proactive do-gooder. So why does he get involved in things? Well, partly because of noblesse oblige, a French chivalric concept that means “nobility obligates,” which mandates honorable, generous, and responsible behavior because of high rank or birth.”
““Not really,” Reacher admits. “I don’t really care about the little guy. I just hate the big guy. I hate big smug people who think they can get away with things.””
Those quotes and this book give us insights into Reacher, Child, Child’s process of creating Reacher, and some of his writing style. In many ways this is a profile of Lee Child as much as it is of Jack Reacher. It was an excellent little read, and I can easily recommend it for fans of Reacher!
May 12, 2022
Mini Bio Lee Child + Jack Reacher
This one is a mini bio of Lee Child and Jack Reacher.
The author relates how he created the character of Jack Reacher. The story of how he created Jack Reacher and why. This is a short interesting very short read. I liked this short origin story of Jack Reacher. It is worth it if you see discounted for .99 cents to a 1.99.
I have to make my review longer so it meets the minimum quota to be posted on this site. Feel free to move on to your next book.
This one is a mini bio of Lee Child and Jack Reacher.
The author relates how he created the character of Jack Reacher. The story of how he created Jack Reacher and why. This is a short interesting very short read. I liked this short origin story of Jack Reacher. It is worth it if you see discounted for .99 cents to a 1.99.
I have to make my review longer so it meets the minimum quota to be posted on this site. Feel free to move on to your next book.
December 21, 2025
Great to hear Child tell more about how it all started. This is a must have for fans of Reacher.
Read
November 4, 2024If you're a fan of Jack Reacher, this is a fas5 interesting read about how Reacher came to be.
December 30, 2022
Details of why Lee Child started writing, and how he chose Jack Reacher as his main character. Interesting.
April 8, 2025
Good Read
This book defines the main character of a highly popular series of action stories. It appears to be the author’s concept of what he created.
This book defines the main character of a highly popular series of action stories. It appears to be the author’s concept of what he created.
September 30, 2024
I feel somewhat guilty listing this as a ‘book’, I think it would be better described as a pamphlet. I read a review by a Goodreads friend (thanks Suz.) I had read Andy Martin’s “Reacher Said Nothing”, which was a study of Child and his writing techniques.
I first fell under the Reacher spell in 2009. In my life as an English teacher I have always tried to investigate the popular cultural my students were into. In the nineties GnR was graffitied over my students’ books, Home and Away was essential viewing, then came reality TV. None of my students knew where Big Brother came from. I was told that I looked like a contestant on Married at First Sight (we both had grey hair) The show sucked me in until my doppelgänger lost the love of his life and left the show with me in his shadow. I think some of my more masculine senior students were “into” the Reacher books, so I am guessing that was my introduction.
Few of these pop culture interests stuck, except for the six-foot four ex-army MP.
Reading Child’s account of the sources of the character you know that he went into writing to make money. He wanted to like what his audience would like. He wanted a character who always won. He wanted a character who stood up against the big, at times, rich, adversary. If a little guy got protected well, that was ok. (There are a couple of interesting anecdotes about the big man.)
This pamphlet only scratches the surface of the character, his intricacies and nuances. He has no foibles!
Sadly, to me Reacher has lost much of his appeal. Tom Cruise playing Reacher was a disastrous mismatch. The first episode in the TV series was good, the second, too much shoot em up, knock em down.
To shut down Reacher would be like cutting down the bean stalk: no more gold. It is only my OCD condition that drives me to continue to read of Reacher’s escapades.
I don’t recommend this pamphlet, except for the obsessed Reacher acolytes.
I first fell under the Reacher spell in 2009. In my life as an English teacher I have always tried to investigate the popular cultural my students were into. In the nineties GnR was graffitied over my students’ books, Home and Away was essential viewing, then came reality TV. None of my students knew where Big Brother came from. I was told that I looked like a contestant on Married at First Sight (we both had grey hair) The show sucked me in until my doppelgänger lost the love of his life and left the show with me in his shadow. I think some of my more masculine senior students were “into” the Reacher books, so I am guessing that was my introduction.
Few of these pop culture interests stuck, except for the six-foot four ex-army MP.
Reading Child’s account of the sources of the character you know that he went into writing to make money. He wanted to like what his audience would like. He wanted a character who always won. He wanted a character who stood up against the big, at times, rich, adversary. If a little guy got protected well, that was ok. (There are a couple of interesting anecdotes about the big man.)
This pamphlet only scratches the surface of the character, his intricacies and nuances. He has no foibles!
Sadly, to me Reacher has lost much of his appeal. Tom Cruise playing Reacher was a disastrous mismatch. The first episode in the TV series was good, the second, too much shoot em up, knock em down.
To shut down Reacher would be like cutting down the bean stalk: no more gold. It is only my OCD condition that drives me to continue to read of Reacher’s escapades.
I don’t recommend this pamphlet, except for the obsessed Reacher acolytes.
March 14, 2023
I’ve told friends and family for years that Lee Child had learned his genera from Travis McGee.
I’m 70 years old. Like Lee Child my earliest reading was mythology. Greek, Norwegian, Chinese, American Indian; what ever was in the three city libraries that I could ride my bike to. I then discovered Science Fiction and read about 1,000 SF stories over the next 20 years. Then work and supporting my family took presidency.
I was middle aged when I discovered John D. McDonald. His books became my only escape from work and family. I read every book he wrote. I never managed that with Asimov. Asimov wrote hundreds of books. Two thirds were science based. McDonald and Child however, stuck with their genre. And, true to form I read all of their books.
For 20 years I’ve told friends and family (not that they were interested) that modern mystery writers owed major debt to McDonald. I considered this to be particularly true of Jack Reacher. He wa born from Travis McGee genetics. I’ve particularly enjoyed how both McDonald and Child allow their characters to evolve with the times. Since our world is changing rapidly, allow their main characters to evolve with the times makes them even more real to me, and admirable. Travis was a true chauvinist in the early books. But he matures with the times. Staying strong while still open to growth as a person.
I really appreciate that Lee Child is such a generous person. Not only does he help another author write books searching for Jack…but he shares now with Jack’s inception and Mythology.
Alan Hoshor, author of “Requiem for Humanity”.
I’m 70 years old. Like Lee Child my earliest reading was mythology. Greek, Norwegian, Chinese, American Indian; what ever was in the three city libraries that I could ride my bike to. I then discovered Science Fiction and read about 1,000 SF stories over the next 20 years. Then work and supporting my family took presidency.
I was middle aged when I discovered John D. McDonald. His books became my only escape from work and family. I read every book he wrote. I never managed that with Asimov. Asimov wrote hundreds of books. Two thirds were science based. McDonald and Child however, stuck with their genre. And, true to form I read all of their books.
For 20 years I’ve told friends and family (not that they were interested) that modern mystery writers owed major debt to McDonald. I considered this to be particularly true of Jack Reacher. He wa born from Travis McGee genetics. I’ve particularly enjoyed how both McDonald and Child allow their characters to evolve with the times. Since our world is changing rapidly, allow their main characters to evolve with the times makes them even more real to me, and admirable. Travis was a true chauvinist in the early books. But he matures with the times. Staying strong while still open to growth as a person.
I really appreciate that Lee Child is such a generous person. Not only does he help another author write books searching for Jack…but he shares now with Jack’s inception and Mythology.
Alan Hoshor, author of “Requiem for Humanity”.
August 5, 2022
The creation of an icon
These looks behind the curtain, revealing the origins of our favorite fictional characters is surprisingly fascinating, it gives readers insight into those characters they have come to know and love over many decades. Reacher is a singularly interesting person, physically imposing and laser focused on doing right as opposed to obeying the rules; which makes him stand out in a world of flawed heroes. I read Child's work as an escape, it's nice to lose the world while I follow Reacher on his various adventures. Like Stuart Woods Stone Barrington, Reacher is one of my guilty pleasures; where Stone is cerebral, Reacher is purely physical and finding that is exactly what Lee Child intended for his creation is truly a dream come true. These books were interesting to me because I enjoy certain characters and want to know more about them directly from their source, but now I'm thinking I should investigate some characters that I'm unfamiliar with to see if perhaps I could find new series I haven't given a chance yet. If you love these characters or just want to know more about how they came to be these vignettes are perfect.
These looks behind the curtain, revealing the origins of our favorite fictional characters is surprisingly fascinating, it gives readers insight into those characters they have come to know and love over many decades. Reacher is a singularly interesting person, physically imposing and laser focused on doing right as opposed to obeying the rules; which makes him stand out in a world of flawed heroes. I read Child's work as an escape, it's nice to lose the world while I follow Reacher on his various adventures. Like Stuart Woods Stone Barrington, Reacher is one of my guilty pleasures; where Stone is cerebral, Reacher is purely physical and finding that is exactly what Lee Child intended for his creation is truly a dream come true. These books were interesting to me because I enjoy certain characters and want to know more about them directly from their source, but now I'm thinking I should investigate some characters that I'm unfamiliar with to see if perhaps I could find new series I haven't given a chance yet. If you love these characters or just want to know more about how they came to be these vignettes are perfect.
May 19, 2024
This was unexpectedly not a short story or an excerpt featuring the series protagonist. Instead, it is a thought-provoking 31-page essay by Lee Child about the creation of Jack Reacher: why he chose to write at all, how he came to create the character and name him, and who and what Reacher is. He also reveals that he is an erudite, deliberate creator who knew what he liked in a fictional hero, and methodically went about creating a compelling protagonist in the tradition of a knight-errant, not flawless although not a "defective detective", but still worth reading throughout the 24 novels he wrote over two decades before passing the series torch to his brother Andrew Child with the 25th book The Sentinel.
If you like this essay, check out The Hero: The Enduring Myth That Makes Us Human by Lee Child, his first nonfiction book. It's an 81-page monograph on the concept of the Hero.
This is one of 30 Mysterious Profiles (available as ebooks) published to showcase the mystery series and give insight to the main characters. I am particularly interested in Colin Dexter's profile of Morse.
If you like this essay, check out The Hero: The Enduring Myth That Makes Us Human by Lee Child, his first nonfiction book. It's an 81-page monograph on the concept of the Hero.
This is one of 30 Mysterious Profiles (available as ebooks) published to showcase the mystery series and give insight to the main characters. I am particularly interested in Colin Dexter's profile of Morse.
October 8, 2023
Lee Child explains Reacher
This story is interesting in a unique sense of character. Most writers don't really explain why a character is who he is! Mr. Child explains that his character has flaws and he has no intention of correcting them! What you see is what you get! I accept Teacher at face value and I don't have to take sides! Sometimes his flaws get him in trouble. As in the story where he is given a gun and enough bullets to kill all the bad guys, but he uses them up and still has two bad people left! Later the policeman indicates that Teacher was intentional in running out because he had a special fate for the last two, even though he suffers wounds because of it! Very unusual for a main character to have to face the flaw afterwards! I like the writing, no one is perfect! Thanks!
This story is interesting in a unique sense of character. Most writers don't really explain why a character is who he is! Mr. Child explains that his character has flaws and he has no intention of correcting them! What you see is what you get! I accept Teacher at face value and I don't have to take sides! Sometimes his flaws get him in trouble. As in the story where he is given a gun and enough bullets to kill all the bad guys, but he uses them up and still has two bad people left! Later the policeman indicates that Teacher was intentional in running out because he had a special fate for the last two, even though he suffers wounds because of it! Very unusual for a main character to have to face the flaw afterwards! I like the writing, no one is perfect! Thanks!
January 5, 2024
Thanks Lee Child! 🤓
I've loved Jack Reacher for years and have wished for real people like him who aren't afraid of or impressed with modern technologies, or the bullies all around us. Whether intended or not, the books show what a troubled society we live in, no matter where in the US. So, no matter where Reacher's wanderings happen to take him, he encounters people in bad situations they cannot extricate themselves from without significant help. And therein is the magic of great storytelling. And the reader knows, no matter what, a beatdown of some degree is coming and Reacher will always prevail. That he then simply walks away without fanfare, continuing his journey as if no big deal, nothing to see here!? Brilliant! Jack Reacher is just plain awesome! All books highly and happily recommended! 👉❤👈
I've loved Jack Reacher for years and have wished for real people like him who aren't afraid of or impressed with modern technologies, or the bullies all around us. Whether intended or not, the books show what a troubled society we live in, no matter where in the US. So, no matter where Reacher's wanderings happen to take him, he encounters people in bad situations they cannot extricate themselves from without significant help. And therein is the magic of great storytelling. And the reader knows, no matter what, a beatdown of some degree is coming and Reacher will always prevail. That he then simply walks away without fanfare, continuing his journey as if no big deal, nothing to see here!? Brilliant! Jack Reacher is just plain awesome! All books highly and happily recommended! 👉❤👈
June 21, 2023
Inside the mind of the writer and his main protagonist
Lee Child has had decades to develop his main protagonist over 27 novels. Here in this essay, he explains some of Reacher’s character traits, and why they are such an intrinsic part of his appeal to both the reader, and the writer of the series. The essay adds to our explicit understanding of who Reacher is, and how he came to be that way.
Lee Child has had decades to develop his main protagonist over 27 novels. Here in this essay, he explains some of Reacher’s character traits, and why they are such an intrinsic part of his appeal to both the reader, and the writer of the series. The essay adds to our explicit understanding of who Reacher is, and how he came to be that way.
November 11, 2023
Jack Reacher’s Origins
This is an excellent quick read for Jack Reacher fans to learn from Lee Child’s perspective how the character came to be. I loved learning Child’s process for making him a different kind of hero, who is sometimes awkward but unapologetic. I can’t forgive him for allowing Tom Cruise to be cast as Reacher, but all is forgiven with the the excellent casting in the new Reacher series. Enjoy!
This is an excellent quick read for Jack Reacher fans to learn from Lee Child’s perspective how the character came to be. I loved learning Child’s process for making him a different kind of hero, who is sometimes awkward but unapologetic. I can’t forgive him for allowing Tom Cruise to be cast as Reacher, but all is forgiven with the the excellent casting in the new Reacher series. Enjoy!
October 22, 2024
Fascinating insight to the Reacher evolution
Well, unlike his main character, Lee Child keeps this background story short and sweet, but just as enjoyable. Being a huge Reacher fan and now learning how much thought and deliberation he undertook during that development, means I am even more confused than ever... whatever was he thinking when he allowed Tom Cruise to play Jack!! Never will understand that.
Well, unlike his main character, Lee Child keeps this background story short and sweet, but just as enjoyable. Being a huge Reacher fan and now learning how much thought and deliberation he undertook during that development, means I am even more confused than ever... whatever was he thinking when he allowed Tom Cruise to play Jack!! Never will understand that.
April 28, 2022
Interesting insights into REACHER by Lee Childs
Very interesting and informative. I am glad you shared your process in "building or maybe discovering" Reacher.
I have always felt that Reacher is the guy you want at your side or watching your back when you go in harms way, as some of us are prone to do. He is the big brother we all would have loved to have had.
Very interesting and informative. I am glad you shared your process in "building or maybe discovering" Reacher.
I have always felt that Reacher is the guy you want at your side or watching your back when you go in harms way, as some of us are prone to do. He is the big brother we all would have loved to have had.
April 9, 2023
Another short essay by one of my favourite authors about how they started to write and how they created their protagonist. I have found these fascinating to read the writers letting us into their craft. I will continue to work my way through these to get some insights about my favourite characters and their origins. Love them!
April 9, 2023
Interesting
An interesting background to the origins of the Reacher characterand how he came to be the sort of person he appears in the books. While there have been many imitators, and other authors have attached themselves to Child's bandwagon, no-one compares with Reacher in reality.
An interesting background to the origins of the Reacher characterand how he came to be the sort of person he appears in the books. While there have been many imitators, and other authors have attached themselves to Child's bandwagon, no-one compares with Reacher in reality.
October 6, 2023
For the love of Reacher!
A good look at the Author's idea behind his character Jack Reacher. Interesting to me because I love these novels. I can relate to Lee Child's interest in books early on! Short and to the point, this excerpt divulges into one of my favorite fictional characters.
A good look at the Author's idea behind his character Jack Reacher. Interesting to me because I love these novels. I can relate to Lee Child's interest in books early on! Short and to the point, this excerpt divulges into one of my favorite fictional characters.
January 19, 2024
Not really a book, more of an extended interview with Child and background on his character of Jack Reacher. Was quite good though, enjoyed hearing some of his thoughts on the creation of the character and his motivations. Especially in light of just finishing season 2 of Reacher on Amazon this morning - which is not what you'd expect if you are a diehard fan of the book series.
June 21, 2024
I am a fan of all Jack Reacher. Really appreciate the writing style of Lee Child, the author. This short book discusses how the idea & the written description of Jack Reacher came to be. Interesting process. Thanks Lee Child for letting us understand a little of your thinking while creating this fascinating main character.
Read
June 12, 2025This is a quick read - 15 minutes or less - where Lee Child gives a brief, interesting history of how he became a writer and how the character of Jack Reacher came about. It is good insight into how one writer's thought process works. It forces the reader to reflect on the creative processes we have and can use. It suggests how 'new and different' comes about in a world of 'copycat'.
August 21, 2025
I enjoy the way you picked out his name, reacher and then a simple name like Jack I enjoy reading about how he helps the helpless other people that are being taken advantage please continue writing about reacher
It was very interesting how you picked out his name, special reacher, and then get a simple name like Jack
It was very interesting how you picked out his name, special reacher, and then get a simple name like Jack
December 24, 2025
Jack reacher in so many words
This is a great explanation of Jack reacher I’ve read most of his books, and I found them to be immediately gripping, and not wanting to put them down. I would recommend them to anybody who likes. action and twists to the plot as well as an ending you, do not expect.
This is a great explanation of Jack reacher I’ve read most of his books, and I found them to be immediately gripping, and not wanting to put them down. I would recommend them to anybody who likes. action and twists to the plot as well as an ending you, do not expect.
April 27, 2022
Interesting insights into Reacher's origin
If you ever wondered how a great character like Jack Reacher came to be, this answers you questions. Wonderful insights into the author's intentions in creating one of my all time favorite characters.
If you ever wondered how a great character like Jack Reacher came to be, this answers you questions. Wonderful insights into the author's intentions in creating one of my all time favorite characters.
May 2, 2022
An interesting profile!
Child's profile is as interesting and intriguing as Reacher! It is fun to be included in this profile of the great and powerful Jack (no middle name) Reacher!
Child's profile is as interesting and intriguing as Reacher! It is fun to be included in this profile of the great and powerful Jack (no middle name) Reacher!
May 20, 2022
Memories
I rated this book four stars because Lee Child touched on all the reasons I enjoy the Reacher series and evoked memories of having read his stories before I knew them to be a series.
I rated this book four stars because Lee Child touched on all the reasons I enjoy the Reacher series and evoked memories of having read his stories before I knew them to be a series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews