Prime Video’sReachercould very well make eight or more seasons of its hit Alan Ritchson-led action thriller considering its wealth of source material to choose from. FollowingReacherseason 1’s adaptation of Lee Child’s debut Jack Reacher novel “Killing Floor”,Reacherseason 2 adapted the fan-favorite novel “Bad Luck and Trouble”, the eleventh book of the series, before taking on “Persuader”, the seventh Jack Reacher book. Although the source material forReacherseason 4 has yet to be revealed, production is expected to begin soon with a potential release date of late 2025.
WhileReacherseason 4could be based on Lee Child’s upcoming 30th Jack Reacher book “Exit Strategy”, it’s much more likely to be inspired by one of the othercelebrated books in the Jack Reacher series, some of which readers have enjoyed for decades. There’s always thepossibility of Amazon and series developer Nick Santora taking over the creative direction ofReacher, perhaps with a brand-new story outside of Lee Child’s canon material. SinceChild has already endorsed Amazon taking the reinsof the series, this may just happen down the line. In the meantime, these eight Jack Reacher books would all make standout television seasons.
8Tripwire
1999
“Tripwire” is the third Jack Reacher novel and is widely considered one of the best of the series. Published in 1998, “Tripwire” follows Reacher in Key West, Florida as he encounters a private investigator from New York named Costello, who was hired by the daughter of Reacher’s former commanding officer and mentor, General Garber. Garber is looking into a missing Vietnam War veteran, which leads him ona collision course with Victor Truman “Hook” Hobie.
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“Tripwire” would make for a compelling season of Amazon Prime Video’s Reacher because of its multiple settings in Florida and New York as well as its antagonist, “Hook” Hobie, who is one of the best in the series. Since the Reacher series has historically chosen some of the earlier books to adapt, “Tripwire” would make sense as a viable option. Like some of the best Reacher books,the story is loaded with tension, suspense, and twiststhat keep viewers engaged until the last page.
2000
Image via Prime Video
As the fourth Jack Reacher book, “Running Blind” feels like it was made for a TV adaptation. Set up as a traditional murder detective case,Reacher searches for a serial killer responsible for a series of deaths of several womenwho all mysteriously knew Reacher from the military. The murderer is a professional, leaving no evidence that police can use to identify, which sends Reacher on a mad hunt trying to figure out who was behind the killings and why.
“Running Blind” also takes place in New York City and would introduce Reacher’s girlfriend, Jodie Garber-Jacob, into the Amazon series.Also titled “The Visitor” in certain regions, “Running Blind” is a classic tale of searching for a mysterious murderer that would make for one of the most gripping seasons of the TV adaptations.
6Echo Burning
2001
“Echo Burning” is the fifth book of the Jack Reacher series, bringingReacher to Texas and offering a true Westen feel to the ex-military cowboy. Like “Persuader”, the book starts off with a gripping opening scene that leads to Reacher evading the police, which is how he meets the young, rich, and beautiful Carmen. Carmen needs Reacher to “deal with” her tax-evading husband, who is about to be released from prison.
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Withmost of “Echo Burning” taking place on a Texas ranch, it would feel like a combination ofReacherand a Taylor Sheridan Western seriesYellowstone, which for some viewers would be a dream come true. Similar to “Killing Floor”, Reacher can’t rely on corrupt local law enforcement for help, as the husband named Sloop poses a threat to Carmen’s life.
2002
“Without Fail” is the sixth Jack Reacher novel and may have one of the best premises out of the entire book series. Reacher must devise a way to assassinate the Vice President of the United States, for preventative security purposes, of course.Reacher gets entrenched in American politics as The Secret Service employs himto help track down would-be assassins who are tracking aim at the V.P.
“Without Fail” seems like one of the most logical choices for Reacher season 4 or beyond considering that Frances Neagley is already a main character in the book.
“Without Fail” seems like one of the most logical choices for Reacher season 4 or beyond considering thatFrances Neagley is already a main character in the book. This, combined with its Atlantic City and Washington D.C. settings and naturally intriguing premise, make “Without Fail” a great option for TV adaptation. It would feel like a lean into other popular one-man-army political thrillers such asThe Night Agentand the recently canceledThe Recruit.
2004
“The Enemy” is the eighth book in the Jack Reacher book series and thefollow-up to “Persuader”, although it’s not considered to be a sequel, but a prequel.“The Enemy” offers a sort of Jack Reacher origin story while he was still active in the military in 1990.
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After a Major General dies of a heart attack in a sketchy North Carolina motel, Reacher is ordered to deliver the news to his wife along with a female officer named Lt. Summer. When they arrive, they notice a break-in and a mystery unfolds.“The Enemy” would introduce Reacher’s mentor, Col. Leon Garber, to the Amazon series, which it has yet to do but will inevitably have to.
2005
“One Shot” provided the inspiration for Tom Cruise’s originalJack Reachermovie released in 2012. Not to step on Cruise’s toes, but many fans agree that Ritchson is the better of the two Reacher iterations and as such, should get a chance to do “One Shot” right as part of the Amazon series. “One Shot” is the ninth book of the Jack Reacher series and follows a mysterious sniper who kills five apparently random people in a public plaza in Indiana.
To truly be the best version of Reacher,Ritchson has got to nail a “One Shot” adaptation.
Authorities identify James Barr, a former military snipe, as the killer, who says they’ve got the wrong guy. Instead of calling an attorney, he calls for Reacher, who sees the news on TV and makes his way to Indiana. Those who’ve seen the Cruise movie already know what happens next, but to truly be the best version of Reacher,Ritchson has got to nail a “One Shot” adaptation.
2009
“Gone Tomorrow”, the thirteenth book in the series, brings Reacher back to New York City where he identifies suicide bombers on a late-night subway. With one of the most compelling premises of the series,“Gone Tomorrow” involves Reacher unfolding a political conspiracy leading back to D.C. He enlists the help of the NYPD, who initially tries to bury the case of a suicide on the subway, to get to the bottom of it.
“Gone Tomorrow” has one of the best opening scenes in theReacherseries, which I would love to see on screen. Although it would take place in New York once again following season 2,the story holds up well enough to justify the repeated setting.
161 Hours
2010
The fourteenth book of the series, “61 Hours” takes Reacher to South Dakota where a bus he’s hitching a ride on crashes in Bolton, South Dakota. The town of Bolton is home to a large prison and an abandoned U.S. military facility where a notorious gang of drug dealers seemingly operates. One Bolton woman tries to stand up to the powerful forces in her town, placing a target on her head that Reacher can only stop. Since “61 Hours” has one of the best endings of anyReacherbook, it would be enjoyable and satisfying on the screen.
