Best Jack Reacher Novel???

[Welshbeef]

I've the entire collection (all eBay for peanuts all hardback too).

Anyway have now read 5 of the 17 and am half way through the 6th.

So far I'd say Die Tryin is high on the list and only his second however of the others they are all good no weak links - is that the brilliance of it that they all deliver?

As such what's the best one to read and which should be left to last?

[marcosgt]

Does the lack of replies suggest they're all exactly the same?

M.

[Welshbeef]

marcosgt said:

Does the lack of replies suggest they're all exactly the same?

M.

Quite possibly - though didn't 24 basically come from Jack Reacher (hence the use of same forename)

[AM04ARO]

Bad luck and trouble, would be mine followed by The hard way, although I like them all.

I like them all.

[marcosgt]

Welshbeef said:

Quite possibly - though didn't 24 basically come from Jack Reacher (hence the use of same forename)

Did it? In what respect?

I just assumed Bauer was a general purpose government agent, the novelty was the real time element, which presumably isn't lifted from any Reacher book, is it?

M.

[marcosgt]

I've got a question about Reacher novels

I'm just finishing my first, The Affair, which is set before all the others.

Do the other novels follow any chronology. In other words, should you read them in sequential order or can you just pick up any of them and it'll work in isolation?

M

[Welshbeef]

Well Killing floor is the start and let's say things happen in that which are mentioned imthe second.
Not yet read the affair but its possible its before

[marcosgt]

Welshbeef said:

Well Killing floor is the start and let's say things happen in that which are mentioned imthe second.
Not yet read the affair but its possible its before

"The Affair" is billed as "how Reacher became the man he is" or words to that effect, but at the end of the book it mentions a book which is set in his army days, so obviously that predates "The Affair".

"Killing Floor" appears to be 'post Army' days, so whilst the first written, isn't the first chronologically.

M.

[Jaged]

marcosgt said:

I've got a question about Reacher novels

I'm just finishing my first, The Affair, which is set before all the others.

Do the other novels follow any chronology. In other words, should you read them in sequential order or can you just pick up any of them and it'll work in isolation?

M

I've read most of them (on Kindle) and I think they are best read in order to make sense.

The flash backs to his army days to explain his character come along at the right time as well. IMO

You either like the slightly OTT character/plots or you don't.
I do, it is escapism fiction after all.

Film out soon.
Not sure Tom Cruise can pull if off?
I have been looking forward to the films.

[LordGrover]

marcosgt said:

I've got a question about Reacher novels

I'm just finishing my first, The Affair, which is set before all the others.

Do the other novels follow any chronology. In other words, should you read them in sequential order or can you just pick up any of them and it'll work in isolation?

M

FAQ question 4: click.

Saw the film last night.
As an action film it was okay, as a Jack Reacher film pretty poor.

ETA fix link. Duh!

Edited by LordGrover on Wednesday 2nd January 11:47

[K50 DEL]

I've read them in order, as they were released.

There are references in some of the books to events that happened in previous books and some plotlines that only make sense if you've followed from the beginning.

I'd advise reading them in the order of publication yes.

Killing Floor
Die Trying
Tripwire
Running Blind
Echo Burning
Without Fail
Persuader
The Enemy
One Shot
The Hard Way
Bad Luck and Trouble
Nothing to Lose
Gone Tomorrow
61 Hours
Worth Dying For
The Affair
A Wanted Man

[ChrisBuer]

I've just started reading the Jack Reacher books and am on the 6th now (Without Fail) which is superb!

I still can't quite work out why they cast Tom Cruise to play Reacher in the film though. He's the complete physical opposite of Reacher (dark not blonde hair, short rather than tall, etc).

[Laurel Green]

ChrisBuer said:

I still can't quite work out why they cast Tom Cruise to play Reacher in the film though. He's the complete physical opposite of Reacher (dark not blonde hair, short rather than tall, etc).

The answer being--> $$$$$$ and the reason why I never viewed the film.

[LordGrover]

In the end, it didn't matter too much. I liked the film - not exactly a classic but enjoyable nonetheless. Rumour has it, Cruise is to star in the sequel too.

[blueg33]

ChrisBuer said:

I've just started reading the Jack Reacher books and am on the 6th now (Without Fail) which is superb!

I still can't quite work out why they cast Tom Cruise to play Reacher in the film though. He's the complete physical opposite of Reacher (dark not blonde hair, short rather than tall, etc).

I think Cruise owns the production company

[BluePurpleRed]

It should be Liam Neeson.

[ChrisBuer]

BluePurpleRed said:

It should be Liam Neeson.

Agreed!

[Bit of a Unit]

I'd read them in the order they were published. The are enjoyable but get a bit formulaic.

Any reader fan should also try Matt Hilton's joe hunter series very similar stuff, just as enjoyable.

[Welshbeef]

I've read two more The visitor and Echo Burning recently not really doing them in order simply select based on what plot I fancy. Thing is I've been reading so many other books inbetween (Jo Nesbo series) thing is lots of the other books take white a while to get into it whereas Jack Reacher your flying straight away.


Easy reading sure similar structure yep doesn't bother me.

[hairykrishna]

They are basically all the same although I think the later ones are better written. There was one that stood out as really ropey, although I forget the title. The one with two towns and the metal processing plant.