Reading Order
Lee Childseries.seoTitleShort
Start with Running Blind and continue through all 30 books in the listed reading order.
About This Series
The Lee Child series, featuring the iconic character Jack Reacher, is a collection of gripping thrillers that have captivated readers worldwide. Written by Lee Child, these novels are known for their fast-paced plots, intense action, and the enigmatic, justice-seeking protagonist, Jack Reacher. Each book immerses readers in a world of suspense and intrigue, making it a must-read for fans of the thriller genre.
What sets the Lee Child series apart is its masterful storytelling and the depth of its central character, Jack Reacher. The series explores themes of justice, morality, and the complexities of human nature, all while delivering edge-of-your-seat excitement. Ideal for readers who enjoy action-packed narratives with a strong, principled hero, these books offer a perfect blend of mystery and adventure.
For those new to the series, it's recommended to start with the first book, 'Running Blind,' to fully appreciate the development of Jack Reacher's character and the overarching themes. While each book can stand alone, reading them in order enhances the experience as you follow Reacher's journey across different landscapes and challenges.
Although no thought leaders have yet recommended this series on GurusReads, it remains a favorite among readers who appreciate intelligent thrillers with a compelling protagonist. Whether you're a seasoned fan or a newcomer to the genre, the Lee Child series promises an exhilarating reading experience that will keep you hooked from start to finish.
Start Here
Start with Running Blind
Book 1 by Lee Child • Published 2000
Across the United States, women who once filed complaints against the Army are being murdered in locked‑room fashion, with no evidence left behind. Reacher fits the FBI’s profile, so he joins the hunt to find a killer...
Complete List
Lee Child reading order
Ends with Worth Dying For
- 1
Book 1:Running Blind
Lee Child • 2000
Across the United States, women who once filed complaints against the Army are being murdered in locked‑room fashion, with no evidence left behind. Reacher fits the FBI’s profile, so he joins the hunt to find a killer...
- 2
Book 2:The Hard Way
Lee Child • 2006
Late one night in New York, Reacher sees a man collect a ransom from a parked car and realizes a kidnapping is under way. Drawn into mercenary boss Edward Lane’s hunt for his missing wife and stepdaughter, he finds th...
- 3
Book 3:Nothing to Lose
Lee Child • 2008
Walking into the paired towns of Hope and Despair, Colorado, Reacher is thrown out of one and warned away from the other. Refusing to leave, he digs into missing soldiers, a strange recycling plant, and a conspiracy t...
- 4
Book 4:A Wanted Man
Lee Child • 2012
After hitching a ride across the Midwest, Reacher finds himself sharing a car with two men and a nervous woman heading toward an FBI roadblock. A dead man back at a highway rest stop means this is no ordinary lift, an...
- 5
Book 5:Never Go Back
Lee Child • 2013
Reacher heads to Virginia to finally meet Major Susan Turner, the new commander of his old unit, but finds her under arrest and himself suddenly recalled to the Army. Framed for serious crimes, the two go on the run t...
- 6
Book 6:Good and Valuable Consideration: Jack Reacher vs. Nick Heller
Lee Child • 2014
During a Yankees–Red Sox game in a Boston bar, drifter Jack Reacher and private spy Nick Heller realize the nervous man sitting between them is about to be targeted. What begins as small talk turns into a tight, viole...
- 7
Book 7:Personal
Lee Child • 2014
A sniper takes a long‑range shot at the French president, and only a handful of marksmen in the world could have made it. One of them is a man Reacher once put in prison, and the hunt quickly becomes very personal.
- 8
Book 8:Make Me
Lee Child • 2015
A whim leads Reacher to get off a train in the isolated farming town of Mother’s Rest, where everyone seems to be hiding something. Teaming up with investigator Michelle Chang, he uncovers a chilling online business t...
- 9
Book 9:Night School
Lee Child • 2016
In 1996, Reacher is sent back to "school" with a CIA analyst and an FBI agent, only to learn their real mission is to stop an American from selling something for one hundred million dollars to extremists. First they m...
- 10
Book 10:The Sentinel
Lee Child • 2020
In a small Tennessee town crippled by a ransomware attack, Reacher stops a beating and saves an out‑of‑work IT manager. The man is being hunted for something he does not realize he knows, and Reacher sets about flushi...
- 11
Book 11:Better Off Dead
Lee Child • 2021
Near the Mexican border, Reacher comes across a crashed Jeep and an unconscious woman who turns out to be FBI agent Michaela Fenton. She is searching for her missing twin brother and a crime boss named Dendoncker, and...
- 12
Book 12:No Plan B
Lee Child • 2022
In a Colorado town, Reacher watches a man shove a woman under a bus and steal her bag, even as officials insist it was suicide. Tracking the killer south, he uncovers a private prison’s lethal scheme and a runaway tee...
- 13
Book 13:In Too Deep
Lee Child • 2024
Reacher wakes up in a locked room with a shattered wrist and no memory of the car crash that put him there. His captors plan to use him as muscle in a burglary crew, but the job hides a far more dangerous, high‑level...
- 14
Book 14:Exit Strategy
Lee Child • 2025
Reacher’s day in Baltimore starts with a quiet coffee and a brush with a skilled pickpocket who leaves a desperate note in his pocket. Following that plea drags him into a cross‑country chase involving stolen data, or...
- 15
Book 15:61 Hours
Lee Child
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- 16
Book 16:Bad Luck and Trouble
Lee Child
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- 17
Book 17:Blue Moon
Lee Child
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- 18
Book 18:Die Trying
Lee Child
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- 19
Book 19:Echo Burning
Lee Child
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- 20
Book 20:Gone Tomorrow
Lee Child
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- 21
Book 21:Killing Floor
Lee Child
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- 22
Book 22:One Shot
Lee Child
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- 23
Book 23:Past Tense
Lee Child
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- 24
Book 24:Persuader
Lee Child
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Book 25:The Affair
Lee Child
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- 26
Book 26:The Enemy
Lee Child
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- 27
Book 27:The Midnight Line
Lee Child
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- 28
Book 28:Tripwire
Lee Child
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Book 29:Without Fail
Lee Child
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- 30
Book 30:Worth Dying For
Lee Child
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Quick Answers
Lee Child FAQ
What is the best order to read the Lee Child series?
The recommended reading order is the numbered order shown on this page, starting with Running Blind.
How many books are in the Lee Child series?
There are 30 books currently listed in the Lee Child series on GurusReads.
Where should I start with the Lee Child series?
New readers should start with Running Blind, the first book in the reading order.
Is the Lee Child series complete?
Based on the publication years we have, the series appears possibly ongoing and spans releases from 2000 to 2025.