Andrew Child Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Andrew Child

For readers looking to dive into Andrew Child's work, the starting point depends on whether you are seeking his contribution to the legendary Jack Reacher universe or want to experience his independent action thrillers. If you are here for Jack Reacher, the most logical starting point for his specific era is The Sentinel (2020), which marks the first book he co-authored with his brother, Lee Child. However, if you want the full context of Reacher's character, beginning with Lee Child's debut, Killing Floor (1997), is highly recommended.

If you want to explore his solo writing career, which he published under his real name, Andrew Grant, the best starting point is Even (2009). This novel introduces David Trevellyan, a Royal Navy intelligence officer who shares a similar relentless drive and physical prowess with Jack Reacher, making it the perfect transition piece for fans of military thrillers.

The Jack Reacher Co-Authored Era

In 2020, Lee Child announced his retirement from writing the Jack Reacher series solo. To keep the iconic character alive, he chose to pass the torch to his younger brother, Andrew, who adopted the pen name Andrew Child. The brothers have collaborated on several releases, maintaining the tradition of annual, fast-paced thrillers. Here is the publication order of the Jack Reacher books written by the duo:

• The Sentinel (2020) – Book 25: Reacher wanders into a small town in Tennessee and ends up protecting a local IT specialist from an organized cyber conspiracy.
• Better Off Dead (2021) – Book 26: Reacher helps an army veteran look for her missing brother, bringing him face-to-face with a dangerous crime syndicate in a dusty border town.
• No Plan B (2022) – Book 27: A tragic incident at a Colorado bus depot is ruled a suicide, but Reacher saw the killer in the crowd and sets out to expose a vast corporate conspiracy.
• The Secret (2023) – Book 28: A prequel set in 1992 where a young, active-duty military investigator Jack Reacher is tasked with solving a string of mysterious deaths.
• In Too Deep (2024) – Book 29: Reacher wakes up handcuffed to a bed in a strange room with no memory of how he got there, forced to outsmart his captors and piece together the conspiracy.
• Exit Strategy (2025) – Book 30: Reacher is drawn into a Baltimore conspiracy when a stranger slips him a note with a desperate cry for help.
• Chain Reaction (Scheduled for October 2026) – Book 31: General Susan Turner enlists Reacher's help for a high-stakes mission, though tracking down the wanderer is an ordeal in itself.

Jack Reacher: Chronological vs. Publication Order

While the overall Jack Reacher series spans over thirty books, the co-authored era by Lee and Andrew Child is mostly straightforward to read in publication order. However, there is one major chronological caveat: The Secret (2023) is a prequel set in 1992 when Reacher was still an active-duty military police officer. Because of this, it occupies a much earlier place in the overall chronological timeline of Reacher's life, sitting right after Night School (set in 1996) and The Enemy (set in 1997) in internal chronology. For readers who only want to follow the modern co-authored books, reading them in publication order remains the most satisfying way to experience the evolution of Reacher's partnership with Andrew's writing style.

The Andrew Grant Solo Series

Before taking on the Jack Reacher legacy under the pen name Andrew Child, the author published several highly acclaimed thriller series under his birth name, Andrew Grant. These series are entirely separate from the Reacher universe but share similar high-stakes tension and cinematic action.

David Trevellyan Series

David Trevellyan is a British Royal Navy intelligence officer who finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, navigating deep conspiracy and rogue operations. It is his most popular solo series and should be read in order:

1. Even (2009)
2. Die Twice (2010)
3. More Harm Than Good (2012)

Detective Cooper Devereaux Series

Set in Alabama, this series follows detective Cooper Devereaux, an investigator with a complicated past who handles intense, psychological crime cases. This police procedural-thriller hybrid must be read in order:

1. False Positive (2015)
2. False Friend (2017)
3. False Witness (2018)

Paul McGrath Series

Paul McGrath is an army veteran who goes undercover as a courthouse janitor to seek justice for his fallen comrades and unravel financial crimes. The series consists of two books:

1. Invisible (2019)
2. Too Close to Home (2020)

Standalone Novels and Tie-Ins

Outside of his main character series, Andrew Grant published a standalone corporate thriller, Run (2014), which follows an IT consultant whose life is turned upside down when he becomes the prime suspect in a murder investigation. In 2023, he also contributed to the sci-fi space with the comic prequel Star Trek: Resurgence.

What to Know Before You Start

If you are transition-reading from Lee Child's solo Reacher novels to the co-authored books, you will notice a slight shift in tone. Andrew Child brings a more modern, fast-paced sensibility with a heavier focus on contemporary technology, cyber threats, and slightly more cinematic action choreography. Despite these shifts, Reacher's core traits—his laconic dialogue, mathematical precision in fights, lack of baggage, and strong moral compass—remain completely intact. If you want a quick taste of Andrew's writing before committing to the novels, you can look for his contributions to short stories and anthologies like Hotel California (2022).