Mystery Book News: Lee Child To Write Three More Jack Reacher Thrillers

"Initially I was planning on twenty-one [Jack Reacher books]", Lee Child has said. "I wanted to match but, as a matter of respect, not exceed John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee novels. He did twenty-one. That's one of the best series we have. So I feel I should do twenty-one Reacher novels and stop."

And so many thought that the 21st Jack Reacher book, Night School, scheduled to be published this coming November, would be the end of the series.

But now we're learning that more are coming.

"I changed my mind about stopping because of the readers, simple as that. They created the Reacher phenomenon in the first place, and they want more, so who am I to say no to them? And there are still plenty of stories to tell. I'm delighted that [publisher] Transworld agreed with me — I've been with them from the beginning, and they're like family to me. I'm really looking forward to the next few years."

Three new books are planned together with a short story collection and a novella, all featuring the popular Jack Reacher. The first of these is scheduled to be published in Fall 2017.

And for those who are waiting for the second film adaptation of the series, Never Go Back, with Tom Cruise reprising his role as Jack Reacher, hits theaters October 21, 2016.