Discuss the books, stories, films and recent Amazon series from the works of Lee Child and his main recurring character, Jack Reacher.
Sort by:
Best
Open comment sort options
Best
Top
New
Controversial
Old
Q&A
Reacher novels are thrillers.
Mysteries focus on finding the solution to a mystery; think classic "whodunnits" like Agatha Christie or most Sherlock Holmes story. The narrative is about the search for answers. Thrillers, on the other hand, focus on generating suspense usually surrounding the hero, who is typically in danger in some way and has to reason, or fight, his way out of it. A huge swath of contemporary genre novels are thrillers (like Mark Greaney novels); the pleasure of reading them (though I would never call reading a Greaney novel any sort of pleasure) is how the hero gets out of danger.
You might also classify Reacher stories as "mystery-thrillers" in that they combine a mystery (what is going on in that hotel? Why is the town of Margrave so tidy and prosperous?) with the suspense of seeing how Reacher averts danger while finding out the answer to those questions. (The mystery-thriller is also a dominant mode these days; virtually every Harry Bosch novel (Michael Connelly) has a mystery at its heart and a thriller baked in.)
But I'd say Reacher novels are more thriller than mystery or than mystery-thriller.
Are the reacher novels worth starting? I've been going back and forth on it. Have heard mixed reviews.
Noone in this sub will say no, otherwise why would they be here?
You're better off asking somewhere more general, but in my opinion what do you have to lose? Try one. If you don't like it don't read the rest.
Good point, forgot I posted onto the reacher sub. Im fairly new to reddit
Defo read some. They are really captivating.
Yes definitely. They are real page turners, I am a bit of a literary snob in some ways (English Degree, can't stand bad writing) and really enjoy them, with a few exceptions. Die Trying, Tripwire and Persuader are my favourites if you want ones which haven't been filmed/televised yet
What do you have to lose by trying?
Heck yes they’re worth starting and finishing! Another good series is the Mitch Rapp(American assassin) series.
I've heard of the mitch rapp series. How does it compare to reacher series?
I have a few but only read one, the ones season two was based on. It was really good and a quick read.
Thriller because the mysteries are usually very weak
Mystery? It’s not Scooby-Doo? He’s not pulling the mask off a goul to identify the hotel manager!
I've never read it. So how would I know. I've read thrillers, whodunit mystery like your main man Scooby, and thriller/mystery hybrids. Didn't know if it was straight thriller or whether it had mystery within the plot.
Start at the beginning and read them in ‘published’ order. If you don’t like the first one. The style won’t be for you. But you’d be in minority. As much as I loved season one on Amazon. It kind of ruins the illusion of the man and the story. But the books are so very good. Some less than others, but in the same way you can have an average restaurant pizza. It’s still a pizza.
More thriller… but kind of both.