Flynn
Transfer of Power
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Vince Flynn
Vince Flynn - 20 books
Mitch Rapp is the CIA equivalent of Reacher. Fast, violent political thrillers.
LC
Author - Books in order
Lee Child books in order
Thriller Author - b. October 29, 1954, Coventry, England, UK - Updated June 2026
29+
novels
15+
stories
100 million+
copies sold
Lee Child created Jack Reacher in 1997 and never looked back. The series has sold over 100 million copies and turned into a hit TV show. Child's writing is stripped-down and addictive, built on short sentences and sharp observations. Reacher is a drifter, ex-military cop, and one of the most recognizable characters in modern fiction. In recent years, Child's brother Andrew Grant, writing as Andrew Child, has co-authored the newest entries.
Child
Killing Floor
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1
Child
Killing Floor
✦
1
Where to start
New to Child? Start with Killing Floor (1997) - a tight, self-contained read that is the definitive Child experience.
29+ novels - standalone, no series commitment
Publication order
Notable novels - newest readers can dip in anywhere; completists read top to bottom.
| # | Book | Year | Rating | Where to read |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Killing Floor Killing FloorStart here Thriller | 1997 | 4.1 | Kindle $9.99Paperback $9.99Audible $24.95Bookshop $16.99 |
| 2 | Die Trying Die Trying Thriller | 1998 | 4.0 | Kindle $9.99Paperback $9.99Audible $24.95Bookshop $16.99 |
| 3 | Tripwire Tripwire Thriller | 1999 | 4.0 | Kindle $9.99Paperback $9.99Audible $24.95Bookshop $16.99 |
| 4 | Running Blind Running Blind Thriller | 2000 | 4.0 | Kindle $9.99Paperback $9.99Audible $24.95Bookshop $16.99 |
| 5 | One Shot One Shot Thriller | 2005 | 4.0 | Kindle $9.99Paperback $9.99Audible $24.95Bookshop $16.99 |
| 6 | The Hard Way The Hard Way Thriller | 2006 | 4.1 | Kindle $9.99Paperback $9.99Audible $24.95Bookshop $16.99 |
| 7 | 61 Hours 61 Hours Thriller | 2010 | 4.1 | Kindle $9.99Paperback $9.99Audible $24.95Bookshop $16.99 |
| 8 | The Affair The Affair Thriller | 2011 | 4.0 | Kindle $9.99Paperback $9.99Audible $24.95Bookshop $16.99 |
| 9 | Past Tense Past Tense Thriller | 2018 | 3.9 | Kindle $9.99Paperback $9.99Audible $24.95Bookshop $16.99 |
| 10 | The Sentinel The Sentinel Thriller | 2020 | 3.7 | Kindle $9.99Paperback $10.99Audible $24.95Bookshop $17.99 |
Series & where they fit
Child's standalones are most of the work, but these series reward reading in order.
Jack Reacher
✦
Jack Reacher
Most popular29 books - 1997-2024 - Thriller
Ex-military cop Jack Reacher drifts across America with nothing but a toothbrush, solving problems with his fists and his brain.
Start with Killing Floor - See order →
Jack Reacher (Short Stories)
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Jack Reacher (Short Stories)
15 books - 2010-2023 - Thriller / Short Fiction
Quick-hit Reacher stories, most under 100 pages. Good for filling gaps between novels.
Start with Too Much Time - See order →
Child
Killing Floor
✦
Best book to start with
Killing Floor
The most complete on-ramp to Child: a contained story that shows exactly why this author matters.
Build your Child shelf
Most-loved titles in print, or start listening free on Audible.
If you like Lee Child
Authors and series with the same grip.
Baldacci
Absolute Power
✦
David Baldacci
David Baldacci - 45+ books
Multiple thriller series with ex-military and ex-government protagonists. Same pace, different flavor.
Lee Child books & movies in order
See every book matched to its screen version, with where to watch.
Frequently asked questions
You don't have to. Each book works as a standalone. But starting with Killing Floor gives you the best introduction to Reacher and is written in first person, unlike most of the others.
Lee Child's brother Andrew Grant (writing as Andrew Child) started co-authoring in 2020 with The Sentinel. Lee has been gradually handing off the series. Most longtime fans say the newer entries read a bit differently.
There are 29 full-length Reacher novels as of 2024, plus around 15 shorter stories and novellas.
Contains affiliate linksUpdated June 2026