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Lee Child's Jack Reacher Books 1-6: With Prose Translations
Ex-military policeman Jack Reacher is “a wonderfully epic tough, taciturn, yet vulnerable” (People). Catch up with his first six adventures in the #1 New York Times bestselling series by Lee Child.
Killing Floor
Die Trying
Tripwire
Running Blind
Echo Burning
Without Fail
Killing Floor
Die Trying
Tripwire
Running Blind
Echo Burning
Without Fail
2553 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2001
1774 people are currently reading
1061 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
April 4, 2015
I am glad I have the opportunity of rating the first 6 books as a bundle, because I am reading them so quickly I am not entirely able to separate them.
Jack Reacher was born in an US army base in Berlin of an officer father and French mother, moved all over the world as a child and then joined the army himself and became an MP, an army cop. When the series begins, however, he has left the army and decided to wander, not even carrying a bag, owning nothing and as free as it is possible to be - no cell phone, no email, no responsibilities, no paper trail... He even buys clothes every couple of days that he then thrashes, so as not to have to clean and own them.
And Child makes it work, which is in itself very thought-provoking.
Reacher is huge (which makes Tom Cruise impersonating him problematic), extremely strong and skilled in combat - hand to hand, guns, multiples, strategy, and even knives although he doesn't like them. He is ruthless, sometimes toeing or trampling the psychopath line, but hey, he does have soft spots and he is EFFICIENT. He gets things done, he doesn't allow sentimentality, shock, emotions to get in the way. In the way of his thinking, that is, because he is intensely smart, and thinks like a cop, all the time.
So take a guy with his impressive (but limited, in his own words) skillset, cut him loose on American roads and see what happens.
Because another great character in the books is America itself. Reacher said he spent a total of 5 years in the US as an adult and he now wanted to know his country better. Each book takes place in a very distinct location, and those really stayed with me, from the 'Pleasantville/Edward Scissorhands' eerie little town in the first book, to the cultish mountainous boondocks in the second, to the Red House in the stifling heat at the Mexican border, to the streets of New York city... Child, who is in fact British has done his homework very well. The locales stayed with me even more than the other characters.
The storylines are incredibly well built, progressive, detailed yet fast-paced, with many things at stake, or balls to juggle with. And Reacher remains mercifully calm throughout. I must admit I got a little tired of his being mistaken for the bad guy, arrested or harassed in the first books, but that streak eventually stopped, and I guess his lifestyle is so uncommon most cops would lock him up and ask questions later.
Also, you will spot what kind of woman Child goes for in every book; she is usually small, thin, blonde, athletic, perfectly shaped and wears A-shaped sleeveless dresses. In literally every single book. But hell, let the guy have his fantasy!
Note: I am a woman, and most absolutely liberal, btw, and I love the books - this in answer to a couple of comments to the effect the books were addressed to a male gun-loving population....
Jack Reacher was born in an US army base in Berlin of an officer father and French mother, moved all over the world as a child and then joined the army himself and became an MP, an army cop. When the series begins, however, he has left the army and decided to wander, not even carrying a bag, owning nothing and as free as it is possible to be - no cell phone, no email, no responsibilities, no paper trail... He even buys clothes every couple of days that he then thrashes, so as not to have to clean and own them.
And Child makes it work, which is in itself very thought-provoking.
Reacher is huge (which makes Tom Cruise impersonating him problematic), extremely strong and skilled in combat - hand to hand, guns, multiples, strategy, and even knives although he doesn't like them. He is ruthless, sometimes toeing or trampling the psychopath line, but hey, he does have soft spots and he is EFFICIENT. He gets things done, he doesn't allow sentimentality, shock, emotions to get in the way. In the way of his thinking, that is, because he is intensely smart, and thinks like a cop, all the time.
So take a guy with his impressive (but limited, in his own words) skillset, cut him loose on American roads and see what happens.
Because another great character in the books is America itself. Reacher said he spent a total of 5 years in the US as an adult and he now wanted to know his country better. Each book takes place in a very distinct location, and those really stayed with me, from the 'Pleasantville/Edward Scissorhands' eerie little town in the first book, to the cultish mountainous boondocks in the second, to the Red House in the stifling heat at the Mexican border, to the streets of New York city... Child, who is in fact British has done his homework very well. The locales stayed with me even more than the other characters.
The storylines are incredibly well built, progressive, detailed yet fast-paced, with many things at stake, or balls to juggle with. And Reacher remains mercifully calm throughout. I must admit I got a little tired of his being mistaken for the bad guy, arrested or harassed in the first books, but that streak eventually stopped, and I guess his lifestyle is so uncommon most cops would lock him up and ask questions later.
Also, you will spot what kind of woman Child goes for in every book; she is usually small, thin, blonde, athletic, perfectly shaped and wears A-shaped sleeveless dresses. In literally every single book. But hell, let the guy have his fantasy!
Note: I am a woman, and most absolutely liberal, btw, and I love the books - this in answer to a couple of comments to the effect the books were addressed to a male gun-loving population....
April 16, 2012
I'd never found mystery, per se, interesting before I met Jack Reacher, yet I read every Reacher novel published soon after reading the first. Child is full of contradictions. He writes terrific suspense scenes, but his narrative so often runs to staccato subject-verb-object patterns that it can be laughable. Reacher has admirable values, but they dont include sparing the life of someone who crosses him or playing by the rules. He's completely formulaic in his treatment of women. Not high recommendations; so what accounts for the charm this scoundrel of a superhero wields? Child's talent for making Reacher lovable...and his refrain of having the good guy overcome impossible odds to win, only to walk away toward the next challenge. Reacher's unique brand of humility and arrogance. Magic. Whatever it is, Reacher has kept me up reading far too late many times. I strongly recommend everything in the series.
February 22, 2023
Read these books over the last couple of months and enjoyed everyone of them
May 26, 2013
#4 in the series and I'm liking Jack Reacher less and less. But, saying that, I still cannot believe Hollywood cast Tom Cruise to play Reacher. Chipmunk. I also didn't think this one was written as well as the previous. If I continue this series--and there are what? 20 or so?--it'll be a challenge to see how they stand up. Or should I say who Jack Reacher turns into. Hmmm. Maybe he does turn into a chipmunk.
January 21, 2013
Jack reacher is an interesting character every time. Tom Cruise is not and never will b JR.
May 21, 2020
I decided to attack the Jack Reacher series by reading them in chronological order. I started with some of the short stories in the "No Middle Name" collection, then moved on to the books where he was still in the Army (The Enemy, Night School, The Affair). After finishing the set of six books, I'm feeling a bit burned out. Yes, Lee Child is an excellent writer, keeps the plot tight, and manages to create interesting and complex characters. However, it does seem that the more you read the more it feels like you are reading the same book over and over again. Nothing ever really changes between each book, sure the plots are different and in some cases have interesting twists, but the story is essentially the same; being that Jack Reacher, a former Army Major who cannot adapt to civilian life and lives the life of a vagabond, stumbles into one situation or another that forms the basis of the plot of each novel and has to find the bad guy. There's always some female character that is written who is always described as attractive and, without fail (no pun intended), ends up having a dalliance with Reacher. Reacher also always seems to use superhuman powers of deduction to unmask the bad guys and predict their move. The bad guys are also always killed and never taken into custody. In summary, the books start becoming a bit predictable.
The best part of the series is the main character himself. With Jack Reacher, Lee Child has created a complex, nuanced character that is fascinating to learn about. It's tough to really like Reacher, as he seems a bit cold and emotionless. But he is a man with clearly defined principles, someone who fights against injustice and isn't afraid to break the law in that fight. Someone who could be considered a top-achiever in his profession as a MP in the Army but who cannot adapt to civilian life. He's definitely not a cookie-cutter protagonist. Learning about Reacher, his background, the way he operates, and the things that make him tick has been the most satisfying and interesting part of the entire series, even though parts of him do seem to be embellished.
With that said though, coming back to the earlier point on predictability, Reacher never seems to change or grow throughout the series. He gows through the same motions and espouses the same thoughts and attitudes. After a certain point there seems to be nothing more to learn about Reacher himself. So you come to a point eventually where you have to consider if its worth continuing the series, whether there's going to be anything new and interesting coming forth from any further books you mean read in the series. For myself, I think I've had enough.
The best part of the series is the main character himself. With Jack Reacher, Lee Child has created a complex, nuanced character that is fascinating to learn about. It's tough to really like Reacher, as he seems a bit cold and emotionless. But he is a man with clearly defined principles, someone who fights against injustice and isn't afraid to break the law in that fight. Someone who could be considered a top-achiever in his profession as a MP in the Army but who cannot adapt to civilian life. He's definitely not a cookie-cutter protagonist. Learning about Reacher, his background, the way he operates, and the things that make him tick has been the most satisfying and interesting part of the entire series, even though parts of him do seem to be embellished.
With that said though, coming back to the earlier point on predictability, Reacher never seems to change or grow throughout the series. He gows through the same motions and espouses the same thoughts and attitudes. After a certain point there seems to be nothing more to learn about Reacher himself. So you come to a point eventually where you have to consider if its worth continuing the series, whether there's going to be anything new and interesting coming forth from any further books you mean read in the series. For myself, I think I've had enough.
January 12, 2018
#1 -- Reread June 2017 (audio book) -- I love the Jack Reacher books! So much so that I'm reading them again lol. I so enjoy listening to the audio for this series and love that they use the same voice actor (Dick Hill) for all of the books thus far. I enjoyed most things about this book and the one or two things I didn't were easily overlooked. So much o that at the moment I can't remember what they are. I remember thinking during the last disc 'why didn't he just do this?' but I can't remember now what I wanted him to do, so I qualify that as a keeper. :)
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#1 -- July 2014 (hard copy) -- Good book. (four star)
#2 -- Pretty good. (four star)
#3 -- Aug/Sept 2017 -- Audio by Dick Hill -- I enjoyed this reread; however, I am starting to pick out inconsistencies in the series and that is slightly bothering me. Also the heavy abuse in this book bothers me quite a bit as well and that is why it only gets four stars.
#3 -- Dec 2015 -- Enjoyable read (four star)
#4 -- 8.2017 -- I enjoyed it, but def not his best (3 star)
#4 -- 1.2016 --Eh decent
#5 -- June 2017 -- Audio Book (Dick Hill) -- I enjoyed this book again. I love all the Jack Reacher books, but this is not one of the best one's in the series. Both the main female characters are annoying throughout the whole book... but I still enjoyed it and would recommend it to those who already love Reacher stories.
#5 -- Feb 2016 -- Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Yes Alice got very annoying towards the end of the book, but skimming a bit fixed that and the other main female character was horrible as well. Otherwise Jack Reacher is awesome as always! And the little girl was so adorable! (Four Star)
#6 -- Pretty great read. (Four star)
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#1 -- July 2014 (hard copy) -- Good book. (four star)
#2 -- Pretty good. (four star)
#3 -- Aug/Sept 2017 -- Audio by Dick Hill -- I enjoyed this reread; however, I am starting to pick out inconsistencies in the series and that is slightly bothering me. Also the heavy abuse in this book bothers me quite a bit as well and that is why it only gets four stars.
#3 -- Dec 2015 -- Enjoyable read (four star)
#4 -- 8.2017 -- I enjoyed it, but def not his best (3 star)
#4 -- 1.2016 --Eh decent
#5 -- June 2017 -- Audio Book (Dick Hill) -- I enjoyed this book again. I love all the Jack Reacher books, but this is not one of the best one's in the series. Both the main female characters are annoying throughout the whole book... but I still enjoyed it and would recommend it to those who already love Reacher stories.
#5 -- Feb 2016 -- Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Yes Alice got very annoying towards the end of the book, but skimming a bit fixed that and the other main female character was horrible as well. Otherwise Jack Reacher is awesome as always! And the little girl was so adorable! (Four Star)
#6 -- Pretty great read. (Four star)
December 16, 2024
Reacher, books 1-6…
There are almost 30 books in this series and this book has the first six in the series. The first in the series, Killing Floor, introduces us to Jack Reacher, who is an ex-military investigator. He was a Major in the Army but was honorably discharged due to downsizing. Now he’s just a nomad, with no real home or job. He travels. And he ends up in a small town where by sheer coincidence, his older brother has just been murdered.
In the sixth book, Without Fail, it’s five years after his brother, Joe’s, death. But Jack is still traveling, and he’s helping people with their issues.
The beauty of this character is that he’s smart. Really smart. He can think like the bad guys so he can usually predict what they’d do, and he can act ten steps ahead of them. Plus he travels, so each story is placed in a different location. He did have some time with a special woman, whose father was a mentor of sorts, and who willed Reacher his house. That doesn’t last really long and he’s off traveling again.
The plots are meticulously crafted and the characters are all real. Mr. Child has talked about the creation of Reacher, and he’s hit on a great amalgamation of traits and abilities that make Reacher both relatable and entertaining.
Highly recommended. I’ll be looking forward to the rest of this series. Reacher is great and I can’t wait to read more.
There are almost 30 books in this series and this book has the first six in the series. The first in the series, Killing Floor, introduces us to Jack Reacher, who is an ex-military investigator. He was a Major in the Army but was honorably discharged due to downsizing. Now he’s just a nomad, with no real home or job. He travels. And he ends up in a small town where by sheer coincidence, his older brother has just been murdered.
In the sixth book, Without Fail, it’s five years after his brother, Joe’s, death. But Jack is still traveling, and he’s helping people with their issues.
The beauty of this character is that he’s smart. Really smart. He can think like the bad guys so he can usually predict what they’d do, and he can act ten steps ahead of them. Plus he travels, so each story is placed in a different location. He did have some time with a special woman, whose father was a mentor of sorts, and who willed Reacher his house. That doesn’t last really long and he’s off traveling again.
The plots are meticulously crafted and the characters are all real. Mr. Child has talked about the creation of Reacher, and he’s hit on a great amalgamation of traits and abilities that make Reacher both relatable and entertaining.
Highly recommended. I’ll be looking forward to the rest of this series. Reacher is great and I can’t wait to read more.
Read
April 14, 2024Love Lee Childs larger than life character Reacher!
I read one of Mr. Childs books years ago and it was good but not my usual read at the time. Watched the Tom Cruise movies and they were enjoyable but not great. Then the Amazon series came out and I was hooked. That actor is the walking, talking, embodiment of the character Reacher hands down. I can't believe he almost didn't get it because he was an inch or two shorter than the character. There are only so many actors 6'3" or over so they made a great choice. There was a six book deal for 48 bucks on Amazon and I bought it and have no regrets except that there are 25 books so I will be trying to not spend any more than I have to. Each book has kept me engrossed until the very last page.
I read one of Mr. Childs books years ago and it was good but not my usual read at the time. Watched the Tom Cruise movies and they were enjoyable but not great. Then the Amazon series came out and I was hooked. That actor is the walking, talking, embodiment of the character Reacher hands down. I can't believe he almost didn't get it because he was an inch or two shorter than the character. There are only so many actors 6'3" or over so they made a great choice. There was a six book deal for 48 bucks on Amazon and I bought it and have no regrets except that there are 25 books so I will be trying to not spend any more than I have to. Each book has kept me engrossed until the very last page.
August 4, 2019
Lee Child is the ultimate gifted writer and plot thinker. Each book is very different and Jack Reacher is a marvelous nonconformist invincible character. It feels like Lee shakes his arm and his books roll off the printer. Many authors probably wish they could write like Lee, and I certainly do. Anyone who loves to read thrillers will love Jack Reacher's stories. Thank God we have authors like Lee Child to keep us away from the stupid television. John Schwartz
August 4, 2023
Gotta love Reacher
I watched the 1st season of Reacher on Prime . As an avid reader I checked the 1st 6 book collection out from the library. I enjoyed every one of them. They read well, with a good suspense build up. I also like that once the mystery is solved, the resolution is quick. Reacher is a unique, straight forward, sexy, a little off, loner that you can't help but love. Looking forward to reading the next book.
I watched the 1st season of Reacher on Prime . As an avid reader I checked the 1st 6 book collection out from the library. I enjoyed every one of them. They read well, with a good suspense build up. I also like that once the mystery is solved, the resolution is quick. Reacher is a unique, straight forward, sexy, a little off, loner that you can't help but love. Looking forward to reading the next book.
August 9, 2025
Love these early Reacher books — the lean, no-nonsense prose and tight plotting make them perfect page-turners, whether you’re new to the series or re-reading for nostalgia. If you’re an author or publisher thinking about translating thrillers like these to reach new readers, I found a book translation service that handles literary projects well: https://www.translation.pk/book-trans....
March 7, 2017
Essential Jack Reacher series
Read all books of the author and his series as a rule. So started at least a decade late with Lee Child's Jack Reacher series. All books are quick and Jack Reacher is such a wonderful character and kudos to Child's imagination for such a great character. Now moving on to Books 7-13.
Read all books of the author and his series as a rule. So started at least a decade late with Lee Child's Jack Reacher series. All books are quick and Jack Reacher is such a wonderful character and kudos to Child's imagination for such a great character. Now moving on to Books 7-13.
July 15, 2025
The adventures of Jack Reacher are highly entertaining and kept me turning the pages. The character is great -- complex in an understandable and relatable way. I look forward to the nuggets of humor in the stories. As usual for me, the books are so much better than any film adaptation. Recommended for anyone who likes a fast-paced, tightly wound story.
July 19, 2020
These books drew me in for a good two years, just went from one to another. Quick, fun reads with interesting characters and well thought out plot lines, engaging mysteries, and delightful twists here and there.
August 18, 2021
Great Jack Reacher anthology
Enjoyed reading these six books about Jack Reacher. Certainly know him much better now!! Enjoyable reading - well written. I would recommend to anyone wanting lots of action and adventure.
Enjoyed reading these six books about Jack Reacher. Certainly know him much better now!! Enjoyable reading - well written. I would recommend to anyone wanting lots of action and adventure.
June 15, 2022
Jack Reacher
Great bundle of six books. Very quick reads. Stories flow smoothly. So enjoyed these stories, finding someone that is able to do the things you think about doing. Thank you!
Great bundle of six books. Very quick reads. Stories flow smoothly. So enjoyed these stories, finding someone that is able to do the things you think about doing. Thank you!
September 16, 2022
I only read the first book- The Killing Floor. It is good. I got a bit tired of the redundancy but this could have just been a mood thing or because I watched the show recently.
I am not continuing with book 2 at this time, maybe down the future.
I learned a lot of cool stuff though
I am not continuing with book 2 at this time, maybe down the future.
I learned a lot of cool stuff though
May 17, 2025
First read these starting back in 2008; individually. Read this collection just now and going backwards from Book 6. Still delightful, mostly. And, by the bye, remembering, vaguely, about 5% of the stories. ha.
October 8, 2019
Jack Reacher review
This box set contains the first six books in the Jack Reacher series written by author Led Child. Excellent characters and storylines.
This box set contains the first six books in the Jack Reacher series written by author Led Child. Excellent characters and storylines.
January 21, 2020
Just love the stories of Jack Reacher
Read
May 28, 2020so far I have enjoyed all of Lee Childs books.
August 4, 2020
Absolutely Brilliant
June 3, 2021
Absolutely love these Jack Reacher novels. Can’t get enough of them. Six novels in one book, pure reading enjoyment.
September 22, 2021
Love all Jack Reached books. He always me me on the edge of my seat.
October 3, 2021
Jack Reacher is a modern day hero with values set in the past
A must read series
A must read series
January 19, 2022
Reacher always delivers. Great storytelling by Lee Child
May 26, 2023
Great Reads
A great read, always very technical and entertaining. I love the authors details and color. He describes tossed the scenes.
A great read, always very technical and entertaining. I love the authors details and color. He describes tossed the scenes.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews