Reacher: The Stories Behind the Stories

This interesting book will not only appeal to readers of the Jack Reacher novels, but also to readers [and writers] who wish to uncover the physical mechanics behind the writing process; the dynamics that powered one of the world’s best-selling thriller series.

Written in a series of short chapters [which were initially short introductions to the limited print run special editions of each Jack Reacher novel solely written by Lee Child] from the first [Killing Floor] to the twenty fourth [Blue Moon], this book is so very interesting.

It opens - On Monday September 5th, 1994, at home, at the dining room table, I sat down to write. An hour later, I gave the first chapter to my wife. I asked, “Should I continue?”

“Yes,” she said. “I like it.”

Child’s self-deprecating, modest and amusing style at times raising a smile, while at others forcing the reader to pause for thought and ponder upon the hand of fate. The combination of the author’s work ethic, built-in self-reliance, positive [and generous] nature - collided many times with the hand of fate as he watched the cards fall, not always in his favour – but he always seemed to play the best possible hand. Case in point – the circumstances of the purchase of his Property in Southern France, as well as its subsequent sale.

Child also credits his success to the professionals around him, from his Agent Darley Anderson, his Publishing teams US, UK and Europe as well as continual referencing of his family. Above all else, the Jack Reacher novels were created to support his family.

There are moments of candid introspection, like Child reflecting over how 61 Hours remains one of his favourite Reacher novels, but personally perplexed at how many readers were confused by the climax. Child’s frustration at the US retitling of his fourth novel to Running Blind for American audiences which many British readers purchased unaware they already had the novel as it was published under the title The Visitor in the UK and Ireland. The author was annoyed that some readers may have inadvertently been cheated – such is the care he has for his audience.

Filled with interesting anecdotes such as how his debut Killing Floor was originally titled Bad Luck and Trouble, and how he eventually got to use that title for his eleventh novel – to working with Tom Cruise and the whole Hollywood experience.

There are other moments such as the background to the sixth Jack Reacher novel Without Fail, where his work became noticed by former president Bill Clinton, and the author had his first exposure as a political pundit on TV and Radio.  It was at this juncture that he changed US publishers, but to this day clings loyally to his British team.

The reflections upon returning to Killing Floor’s ‘first person’ narrative for his seventh novel Persuader from ‘third person’ providing interest for the writers in the room – especially considering its writing took place in New York City post-9/11. The author also explains that Persuader is his homage to Alistair MacLean and posits that it was the novel that provided him with his worst ever review.

And so it goes, one series of anecdotes bleeding into another until we reach the afterword by Otto Penzler which contextualises this book historically. We must also thank Penzler’s Mysterious Press for making these anecdotes available to a wider reading public.  

In closing, Lee Child provides “A Better Place” a short but elegant Jack Reacher story that is as enjoyable as it is in showcasing the author’s signature narrative style.

This is the most informative and entertaining book I’ve read so far in 2025. Reacher: The Stories behind the Stories helped recall how much pleasure reading the Lee Child novels had on me, enriching my own life by distracting me from my own [at times] Bad Luck and Trouble.