Lee Child’sReachernovels are the best of the best for those who love reading action and thriller books, yet those who have already readReachershould try checking out these other iconic mysteries. AlthoughReacheris quite popular these days, the series had rather small beginnings back in 1997with the release of the initial novel,Killing Floor.In this book, audiences meet Jack Reacher, a former member of the military police who is framed for murder in a small Georgia town. From there,Reacher’s exploits have expanded into 28 booksand a short story collection.
There are various elements ofReacherthat make it so addicting. First and foremost,Reacheroffers a compelling and talented main character who is easy to root for, precisely because he is not the perfect hero. Furthermore, Reacher is constantly put into high-stakes situations that not only call for violence, but are also mysteries in desperate need of unraveling. In this way, audiences get to enjoy fast-paced action while also becoming invested in large-scale conspiracies. Overall,the best thriller bookslikeReacherare those that center on interesting protagonists and riveting stories.
15Along Came A Spider By James Patterson
A Detective Investigates The Kidnapping Of A Young Girl
At this point,Reacheris a well-known name among thriller readers, so it makes sense to read up on some of the other franchises that sit alongside it, includingJames Patterson’sAlex Crossseries. With 32 books and counting, theAlex Crossnovels begin with the 1993 book,Along Came A Spider.In it, readers meetAlex Cross, a psychologist and police detective who is put on the case of a kidnapped child.Soon enough, Cross learns that this crime is part of a larger conspiracy aimed directly at him.
Prime Video’s New Alex Cross Show Repeats A Clever Reacher Season 2 Trick By Avoiding A Major Book Adaptation
Prime Video’s Cross adaptation includes an easter egg reference to another book in the series and repeats a cool Reacher trick in the process.
Cross and Reacher may not have the same rugged ambiance, but the two clearly have one thing in common: justice. Although Reacher has left his military life behind, he cannot help but step into action when a wrong has been committed. The same goes for Cross, who dedicates himself completely to every crime he solves. Plus,Cross offers a little extra story due to his family life, which he struggles to maintain alongside his job. Ultimately,Alex Crossis a popular series for a reason, so mystery fans should definitely give it a try.
LikeReacher, Alex Cross’s has also been adapted into a streaming series for Amazon, and movies featuring the character have been made in the past.
14Shifty’s Boys By Chris Offutt
A Military Officer Investigates A Hometown Murder
You do not have to read the first novel to understand the character or the plot…
Reacherfans who are interested in the criminal mysteries of the series will enjoyShifty’s Boys.Shifty’s Boysis actually a sequel story to Chris Offutt’sThe Killing Hillswith his central character Mick Hardin back again. You do not have to read the first novel to understand the character or the plot though.
Mick Hardin actually works in law enforcement for the military. After an IED explosion, he is sent home to recover. While there, a heroin dealer’s body is found in town, and the man’s mother wants Hardin’s help to find out who killed her son. She does not believe the local police will care about her son’s death. Though Hardin does not want to get in the sheriff’s way, who happens to be his sister, he goes undercover to find out what is going on.
The undercover aspect, Hardin’s gruff behavior, and his need to get to the truth are all parts of the novel that will appeal toReacherfans. Hardin is also another main character who is allowed to lean into his flaws.While on leave, he is wallowing, taking too many pain pills, and not acting like himself. IfReacherfans enjoy Hardin’s take on a crime thriller, there are also more books about Mick Hardin for them to enjoy, giving them multiple novels to read.
13The Templar Legacy By Steve Berry
A Mystery With A Historical Twist
For those who enjoy their action novels to have a bit more of a twist,The Templar Legacyis the perfect thing to pick up. Written by Steve Berry in 2006, this book centers onCotton Malone, a former operative for the U.S. Justice Department who has moved on from his life of justice to sell booksin Copenhagen. However, when a former colleague is robbed, he jumps into action and quickly learns that there is a centuries-old conspiracy at play that could put great power into the wrong hands.
Just likeAlex Cross, The Templar Legacyis a bit different fromReacher.It has elements of history that are integral to the story, and a main character who may be a bit less tortured than Jack Reacher. Yet, once again, both books are still based on the same concept of a central mystery and high-stakes that could lead to death.The Templar Legacyhas plenty of action and a plot that is particularly detailed, leaving readers satisfied once everything finally comes to light.
12American Assassin By Vince Flynn
A College Athlete Becomes A CIA Superagent
Over the years, Child’sReachernovels have jumped around to various different points in the protagonist’s life, but for those who especially love an origin story,American Assassinis the book to read. The 2010 novel, the first in a 23-book series, centers onMitch Rapp, a talented college athlete whose world is turned upside down when someone he cares about diesin a tragic terrorist attack. As a result, Rapp seeks revenge and is recruited by the CIA to become their ultimate superagent.
Rapp represents what Reacher was long beforeKilling Floor.
The biggest throughline betweenReacherandAmerican Assassinis revenge. Rapp starts out as an average young man with a bright future, but tragedy puts him on a completely new path. In many ways, this reflects Reacher’s own story. Rapp represents what Reacher was long beforeKilling Floor.In this way,American Assassinis a slightly different take onReacherbut with many of the same themes and concepts.Fans interested in seeing the character in a screen adaptation can also watch the movie of the same name.
11The Red Cobra By Rob Sinclair
A Man Investigates An Assassin
If the action ofReacheris what appeals to the fans, then they might enjoyThe Red Cobra, which is the start of a series as well.It’s the start of several books about Carl Logan AKA James Ryker, a man who spent twenty years working for the Joint Intelligence Agency, and now, plans to settle down into a more mundane life. He does not get the chance.
Instead, the man is pulled back into a murder investigation when his old boss tracks him down to tell him that a female assassin who uses the name Red Cobra has supposedly been murdered, Ryker has actually met the Red Cobra before, so when he sees the photos of the murdered woman, he knows they are not her, which is how he ends up on a mission to find out who she is and where the Red Cobra is.
ForReacherfans, it must be noted that the lead here is not quite as precise as Reacher. He does not care who gets in his way, which makes him a little more morally gray.The book also does not shy away from the gore involved in some of the confrontations, so this will be for those fans who wantReacherdialed up to 11.
10The Black Echo By Michael Connelly
A Homicide Detective Takes On A Deeply Personal Case
Another big name in thriller fiction-turned-TV is Harry Bosch, and those who have yet to look into this series should certainly add it to their lists. First published in 1992,The Black Echois the first book in the Harry Bosch series, and follows Bosch as he takes on the case of a Vietnam veteran who is murderedin Los Angeles. Not only must Bosch bring justice to this poor victim, but the investigation will bring back his own memories of the war, leading to emotional turmoil.
Bosch: Legacy Season 3 Teaser Trailer
Prime Video releases the first teaser trailer for Bosch: Legacy season 3, confirming the release fate for the show’s final set of episodes.
There is a reason whyBoschhas managed to become a popular TV show, garnering seven seasons and various spinoffs. Harry Bosch is a captivating character who perfectly balances dark and light. Like Reacher, he is undoubtedly a hero, but at times, his own trauma can lend him a sense of darkness.Boschalso benefits from having a solid setting in LA,which is different fromReacher,but allows audiences to become invested in places and people aside from Bosch himself.
9Zero Day by David Baldacci
A Military Investigator Looks Into A Gruesome Murder
Those who prefer their mysteries to be fairly straightforward might be interested inZero Dayby David Baldacci. In this novel,John Puller is the best investigator in the U.S. Army’s CID, leading him to be assigned the case of a military family who have all been brutally murdered. Teaming up with a local homicide detective, Puller tries to figure out who killed this family, and in turn, discovers that a larger crime is at play.
The plot ofZero Daymay seem simple, but that is exactly what makes it a solid entry for thriller lovers. At times, readers can find themselves overwhelmed by complex plots and an influx of characters. However,Zero Daydoes not include any of these frills, and instead, focuses on a single crime and a pair of detectives trying to solve it.Zero Dayis also great forReacherfans in particular because of Puller’s similaritiesto the titular protagonist.
8Rabbit Hole By Mark Billingham
A Police Officer Investigates While In A Mental Health Facility
Rabbit Holeis for thoseReacherfans who like their thrillers with a healthy dose of twists.Few novels are as twisty as Billingham’sRabbit Hole. Just when the reader (and the protagonist) thinks they have things figured out, another twist is thrown in for good measure.
Rabbit Holefollows Alice Armitage, a former police officer who finds herself suffering from a psychotic break after she has been self-medicating her Post Traumatic Stress Disorder with a mixture of alcohol and drugs. She thinks being held in a psychiatric ward will help her mental health improve, but when her roommate is murdered, Alice tries to unravel who could have done it. Of course, all of her theories implode when the person she suspects is also murdered.
Few novels are as twisty as Billingham’sRabbit Hole.
Alice is not likeReacheras a protagonist. The story is told from her point of view, and because she is heavily medicated, there are sometimes gaps in her memory, which does not always make her the most reliable. Her story is also confined to one place, unlike Reacher’s.Despite the differences, the fast pace of the story and the twists and turns as the mystery unfolds are perfect for aReacherfan.
7Orphan X by Gregg Hurwitz
A Skilled Assassin Helps The Needy
It is one thing toread more action thrillers, but another to have truly strong ties toReacher.Fortunately,Orphan Xhas the latter. In this Gregg Hurwitz novel,Evan Smoak is a trained assassin otherwise known as the Nowhere Man. He is completely unreachable and incredibly skilled at what he does: helping those in need. However, when his secret identity is put in jeopardy and his past is uncovered, Evan must do what he can to protect himself from his enemies.
Orphan XresemblesReacherbecause of Evan’s desire to help thosewho cannot help themselves. A mainstay ofReacheris the fact that Reacher travels around the country, stumbling upon crimes or issues that he can help with. Evan has a very similar attitude. As the Nowhere Man, he does not receive orders from higher ups, but instead, uses his knack for violence for good. This makes him a very strong companion to Reacher.
6The Monkey’s Raincoat by Robert Crais
A Detective’s Straightforward Case Goes Haywire
Another fan-favorite among thriller readers are the Elvis Cole and Joe Pike novels of Robert Crais, the first one beingThe Monkey’s Raincoat.In this book,detective Elvis Cole is put on the case of a man who took his son and disappeared, leaving his wife aloneand worried. Cole realizes the man has some shady dealings in Hollywood, but before he can get any answers, the man is found dead and the wife is missing as well, forcing Cole to work even faster to figure out what’s going on and why.
While the murder mysteries on this list may all feel the same,The Monkey’s Raincoatstands out, and it’s not just because of its title. Crais includes unique characters in his stories that are not as much action heroes as they are bedraggled detectives who have immense brain power.The Elvis Cole and Joe Pike novels verge on noir, and will feel fresh in comparison to other novels in the genre. All in all, fans ofReachermay find something to love in this series.
