Lee Child

Lee Child: Biography

Lee Child (James Dover Grant) was born on October 29th, 1954 and is currently 69 years old. Lee Child was born in Coventry, England. Child attended University of Sheffield where he received a Bachelor of Laws and University of Sheffield where he received an Honorary Doctor of Letters.

Lee Child is the author of the Jack Reacher series which currently consists of 29 novels. The Jack Reacher series started in 1997 with the novel Killing Floor. The most recently released novel in the Jack Reacher series was The Secret which was released in 2023. There is an upcoming novel for the Jack Reacher series entitled In Too Deep which is being released on October 22nd, 2024.

Lee Child has a brother who is also an author, Andrew Grant. Lee Child has co-authored 5 novels with Andrew Child they are: The Sentinel, Better Off Dead, No Plan B, The Secret and In Too Deep.

The name "Lee Child" was born out of a family gag about the mispronunciation when talking about the Renault Le Car. He pronounced it "Lee Car" and it was a running gag that stuck.

The name "Jack Reacher" was born when Lee was in a grocery store with his wife reaching for something on a high shelf as he is tall. His wife remarked to him that if writing doesn't pan out he could always get a job as a "reacher in a supermarket" and Jack Reacher was named.

Lee's website won the 2002 "Best Crime Fiction Website" award at the Gumshoe awards that year.

Lee Child was shortlisted for the 2016 Dead Reader Award in The Tess Gerritsen Award for Best Series category for the Jack Reacher series.

Lee won the 2018 Dead Reader Award in The Wringer Award for the Character Who’s Been Put Through It All category for his character Jack Reacher.

Lee Child is a member of The Nielsen Bestseller Award's 21st Century Platinum Hall of Fame.

No Plan B was ranked as one of the Best Thrillers of 2022 by The Real Book Spy website listing it among the top 15 Action, Political, Military, and Spy Thrillers.

Lee Child: Awards & Accolades

Lee Child has won multiple awards including: The International Thriller Writers Award, Thrillermaster, in 2017, Theakston's Old Peculier, Outstanding Contribution to Crime Fiction, in 2017 and the British Book Awards, Author of the Year, in 2019. Lee Child was also nominated for the Crime Thriller Awards, The Bestseller Dagger, in 2011.

Lee Child has won many awards including:

• Killing Floor won the Barry Award, Best First Novel, in 1998 as well as the Anthony Award - Best First Mystery in 1998, Nielsen Awards - Platinum Bestseller in 2018.
• The Enemy won the Barry Award, Best Novel, in 2005 as well as the BookBrowse Awards - Ruby Award in 2005 and the Nero Award - Best Mystery Novel in 2005.
• 61 Hours won Theakston's Old Peculier, Crime Novel of the Year, in 2011.
• A Wanted Man won the British Book Awards, Crime and Thriller Book of the Year, in 2012.
• Running Blind / The Visitor won the Nielsen Awards, Gold Bestseller, in 2017.
• Never Go Back won The Dead Good Reader Award, The Page to Screen Award for Best Adapted Book, in 2017.
• Personal won the Nielsen Awards, Gold Bestseller, in 2017.
• Make Me won the Nielsen Awards, Gold Bestseller, in 2017.
• Night School won the Nielsen Awards, Silver Bestseller, in 2018.
• How to Write a Mystery: A Handbook from Mystery Writers of America won the Agatha Award, Best Non-fiction, in 2021 as well as the Anthony Award - Best Non-Fiction Book in 2022.

The following novels by Lee Child were also nominated for these awards:

• Killing Floor: Dilys Award, Best Mystery Novel (1998). Macavity Award, Best First Mystery (1998).
• Running Blind / The Visitor: Barry Award, Best Novel (2000).
• Without Fail: Barry Award, Best Novel (2002). Crime Writer's Association Award, Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award (2002). Dilys Award, Best Mystery Novel (2003).
• Persuader: Crime Writer's Association Award, Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award (2003). Gumshoe Award, Best Novel (2004).
• The Enemy: Audie Award, Best Male Narrator (2005). Dilys Award, Best Mystery Novel (2005).
• One Shot: Audie Award, Best Male Narrator (2006). Macavity Award, Best Mystery Novel (2006).
• The Hard Way: Gumshoe Award, Best Thriller Novel (2007).
• Bad Luck and Trouble: Gumshoe Award, Best Thriller Novel (2008). British Book Awards, Crime and Thriller Book of the Year (2008). Crime Thriller Awards, Author of the Year (2008). Anthony Award, Best Mystery Novel (2008). Theakston's Old Peculier, Crime Novel of the Year (2009).
• 61 Hours: Crime Writer's Association Award, Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award (2010).
• Worth Dying For: British Book Awards, Fiction Book of the Year (2010).
• The Affair: Goodreads Awards, Best Mystery and Thriller (2011).
• The Itinerary: Anthony Award, Best Short Story (2012).
• A Wanted Man: Goodreads Awards, Best Mystery and Thriller (2012).
• Never Go Back: British Book Awards, Crime and Thriller Book of the Year (2013). Goodreads Awards, Best Mystery and Thriller (2013). International Thriller Writers Award, Best Hardcover Novel (2014).
• Personal: Goodreads Awards, Best Mystery and Thriller (2014). British Book Awards, Crime and Thriller Book of the Year (2014). The Dead Good Reader Award, The Reichenbach Falls Award for Most Epic Ending (2015).
• FaceOff: Anthony Award, Best Anthology / Collection (2015).
• Make Me: Crime Writer's Association Award, Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award (2016).
• Night School: British Book Awards, Crime and Thriller Book of the Year (2017).
• In Sunlight or In Shadow: Anthony Award, Best Anthology / Collection (2017).
• Second Son: Crime Writer's Association Award, Short Story Award (2018).
• Too Much Time: International Thriller Writers Award, Best Short Story (2018).
• The Midnight Line: British Book Awards, Crime and Thriller Book of the Year (2018).
• Blue Moon: British Book Awards, Crime and Thriller Book of the Year (2020).
• The Sentinel: British Book Awards, Crime and Thriller Book of the Year (2021).
• Better Off Dead: The Dead Good Reader Award, The Race-Against-Time Award for Best Action Thriller (2022).

Lee Child: Lists & Other Mentions

• Nothing to Lose was a New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2008.
• Gone Tomorrow was a New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2009.
• 61 Hours was a New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2010.
• Worth Dying For was a New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2010.
• The Affair was a New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2011.
• A Wanted Man was a New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2012.
• Never Go Back was a New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2013.
• Personal was a New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2014.
• Make Me was a New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2015.
• Night School was a New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2016.
• The Midnight Line was a New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2017.
• Past Tense was a New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2018.
• Blue Moon was a New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2019.
• The Sentinel was a New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2020.
• Better Off Dead was a New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2021.
• The Secret was a New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2023.

Lee Child: TV/Movies Based on Books

In February 2022, the Jack Reacher TV series was released on Amazon Prime. It starred Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher. The first season of the show was based on the novel Killing Floor, which is the first book in the Jack Reacher series. It had 8 episodes.

The second series of Reacher premiered on December 15th. It is based on the novel Bad Luck and Trouble, and features the likes of Maria Sten playing Frances Neagley, as part of the Special Investigators.

The series has been renewed for a third season, and will be based on Persuader.


The novel One Shot was made into a movie starring Tom Cruise, and co-starring Rosamund Pike and Robert Duvall. This was directed by Christopher McQuarrie and was released in 2012. In 2016, a sequel was released entitled Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, and was loosely based on the novel Never Go Back. It co-starred Cobie Smulders.

Related Authors

The most common authors followed by users who also follow Lee Child are:

1. Michael Connelly, author of the Harry Bosch Series.
2. David Baldacci, author of the Amos Decker Series.
3. John Grisham, author of the Jake Brigance Series.
4. James Patterson, author of the Women's Murder Club Series.
5. Harlan Coben, author of the Myron Bolitar Series.

Lee Child: F.A.Q

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Dave W.

2 years ago

Absolutely my favorite series of all time. I like a book where you know the good guy is going to prevail and so on and you can put full trust in him.

I think Persuader is probably the best book although they are all very good.

I tried the audiobooks for the later ones but it was weird. The narrator just didn’t sound like Reacher in my head so I went back to physical reading.

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Dave W.

Reply to  Dave W.

2 years ago

Meant to say – watched the movies and also hated Tom Cruise lol.

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Graeme

Admin

Reply to  Dave W.

11 months ago

Have you watched the TV show on Prime? Probably enjoying that a lot more 🙂

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Kyler F

2 years ago

Like a lot of people, I was introduced to Jack Reacher through the Tom Cruise movies, so I picked up a couple of the books to try them out. Imagine my surprise when I got to the description of Reacher; quite the difference from the actor who portrayed him I’d say. Despite that I was made a quick fan of the series, and have read several of them by this point. Reacher’s stolid demeanor and quick thinking make for an interesting combo, and helps keep him alive in some thrilling and dangerous encounters. The books shifting from 1st to 3rd person perspective keeps the series installments different enough from each other so that you’re sure to remember each one.

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Austin D.

2 years ago

I’ve read most of the “Jack Reacher” books at least twice and some even more than that. I always look forward to the new book coming out because that means Reacher’s going on a new adventure for me to enjoy.

It’s great seeing this character be such a tough and imposing figure in one instance, and such a brilliant detective the next, and, in the end, putting the clues together.

Another great aspect is Reacher’s dry sense of humor, and his ability to deliver excellent comebacks.

It’s hard to pick a favorite, but “Persuader”, “The Hard Way”, and “One Shot”, “Tripwire” would have to be up near the top.

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Edgar A.

2 years ago

Lee Child and his Jack Reacher series of novels have been some of my favorite thriller and mystery works that I have read and reread multiple times over the years.
It was this series that also got me interested in movie and TV adaptations of popular books. Tom Cruise really is the best at being Jack Reacher and I am certain he got a ton of people interested in the series.
Unlike most detectives Reacher starts out as a drifter and becomes one of the most brilliant and memorable detectives ever written.
Its not easy to pick my favorite of the Jack Reacher series since they are all so good. But if I absolutely had to choose it would probably be One Shot, probably because I love the movie too much.

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Andrew M.

2 years ago

I like a scenario where the bad guys get what they deserve and the Lee Child does just that.
He’s among the world’s best thriller writers I know.
Jack Reacher is a compelling and page turning mystery series.
Lee’s books are utterly addictive and you can’t stop reading them once you start.
As a lover of action and suspense stories, I like how the author creates smart, confident and fascinating characters.
The books work out my mind trying to figure out what Reacher is thinking and doing and the reason behind it.
Thanks for this list of books by Lee Child; I’ll be able to read the entire Jack Reacher series in order.
I’m looking forward to completing the series in two months –time.

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Teddy B.

2 years ago

Lee Child’s series Jack Reacher series is often found in the list of favorites of readers across the world. This series as well as its film adaptations featuring Tom Cruise in the lead role are incredibly popular.

This series has helped Lee Child win prestigious literary awards and accolades.

My favorite Jack Reacher book is the 18th installment called Never Go Back because the movie based on this book features two of my most favorite actors, Cobie Smulders and Tom Cruise.

Another reason for liking this book is that it shows Jack Reacher’s modest and humane nature as well as his soft-heartedness and not just his tough outer personality as an ex-military officer.

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Michael K.

2 years ago

Lee Child came very close to giving me a heart attack when he gave that Guardian interview in which he admitted that he spent several years thinking about all the ways he could kill Reacher off.

That cannot happen. Seriously, I wouldn’t take it well. Admittedly, I wasn’t a fan of Child’s decision to pass the series on to his brother. I opposed the idea more vehemently back when I thought that Andrew Grant was just some random author Child had groomed to replace him.

Knowing that Child and Grant are brothers puts me at ease. Nonetheless, if I had my way, Child would write these novels forever, or at least until I died. But if he’s tired of writing this series, Grant is as good a replacement as any.

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DavidEdge

7 months ago

Plan B is a little disappointing so far, 33% through and struggling to keep my interest, but will continue for old times sake! Never had this problem before!

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Graeme

Admin

Reply to  DavidEdge

7 months ago

I really enjoyed that one. I thought it was a bit hard to get into with all the different stories going on that didn’t seem connected but glad I stuck with it. Hopefully it gets better for you – but that was a bit different to the usual novels.

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Deborah Moore

6 months ago

I always enjoy a novel with Jack Reacher as the main character but for some reason, I simply can’t get past Tom Cruise as the lead when the movie came out. Just all wrong in so many ways.

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Jungleed

5 months ago

Every Reached novel is a winner in my book. Waiting my turn to get Kindle version of The Secret in the next week or two.Also just re watched Prime 1st season of Jack Reacher and pumped for season 2 based on Bad Luck and Trouble in December. Also just read that the Child brothers have signed to do 4 more Reacher novels (including The Secret) which brought a smile to my face.

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azangie

4 months ago

I love Jack Reacher books!!! What a character – the world needs more like him. Always looking out for the underdog with no expectation of payment or anything. Keep them coming!!

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Dave Townley

4 months ago

I’m happy that the brother’s are getting along writing these books. It probably wasn’t easy with an extremely successful writer handing off some duties to his vastly insignificant brother. Just kidding, it’s all storyline and formula at this point.

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Dave Townley

4 months ago

I’m beyond thrilled that Lee Child actually has input on the TV Series. The movies weren’t terrible (well….) but, the series is right on point. Little Tommy driving like a racecar driver? Um, nope.

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Goodal

4 months ago

Love Jack Reacher (and the subsequent Reacher series), but I must say that I’m not a fan of the change in narrative perspective that is occurring with Lee Child writing as a partner with Andrew Child. These entries into the Reacher story have been weaker in my opinion, still enjoyable, but weaker overall. Anybody else have that feeling?

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Chy Anne

Reply to  Goodal

3 months ago

Totally agree with you. I will never stop reading Reacher books as long as they are written since it’s my favorite series of all time, but I am not as pleased with the latest books, and I think a lot of it has to do with the change of narrative. I hate the first person perspective. That’s not how they are supposed to be written.

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Tom

3 months ago

I maybe should read a few of these to see if they are that good. I tried watching the TV series but didn’t get into it.

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Art

Reply to  Tom

3 months ago

Yes read a few, the TV series is good but knowing Jack from the books puts a lot of things into perspective

Last edited 3 months ago by Art

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Art

3 months ago

I realize that like the rest of us Jack is getting older. It has been 26 years since we first met him and it appears that like the rest of us he is slowing down and is more laid back than he was. Having said that I now must state that he is a fictional character and not confined to the same rules as us. Give us back the kick-ass Jack that we have come too enjoy.

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azangie

3 months ago

I’m so glad Reacher, on Amazon Prime, has a main character that really fits Reacher in his books. I think his early books were better, but these latest ones do pack a punch.

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Waterburg72

1 month ago

PERSUADER – This is a re-read for me. This book will be the storyline of season three of the TV show “Reacher”. It will be interesting to see how the book looks on TV.

The story follows Reacher after he sees someone he had a run-in with ten years prior. He then gets caught up in a situation with the DEA. The story has no slow points. There is so much going on I was getting out of breath just reading the action.

This is one of Mr. Child’s better books in the series.

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msdelisle

1 month ago

Love, love, love Jack Reacher! I just learned that there is an Amazon series projecting Reacher as I imagine him when I’m reading. I may check it out.

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stalsma

16 days ago

Faking A Murderer – short story to fill in because no other Reacher book to read. Interesting ending.

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