books wanted in the style of Lee Child

stustaff · 10-15-2008, 09:40 AM

Been enjoying reading the Reacher books, a very easy read and entertaining.

anyone reccomend anything similiar.

Leep · 10-15-2008, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stustaff

Been enjoying reading the Reacher books, a very easy read and entertaining.

anyone reccomend anything similiar.

Here's the link to a fun utility that lets you put in the name of an author and it will map authors who write in a similiar fashion. http://www.literature-map.com/

cheers

Penforhire · 10-15-2008, 12:59 PM

Hmm, that's a good link provided! I was going to suggest some of those authors.

Lee Child's Reacher novels are tough to match IMO because the hero rides a fine line avoiding being overly-competent. He's on the hairy edge of believable.

John Sandford came to mind first, his Prey series.

Harlen Coben is one to look at but avoid the Myron Bolitar novels unless you want much more humor rolled into your mysteries.

I'd suggest Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch books, for an above-average driven-detective sort of fellow.

Ordinaryuser · 10-15-2008, 01:13 PM

One of my favorites is an older writer, John D. McDonald. He wrote a Travis McGee series. McGee is somewhat in the mold of Jack Reacher and I would recommend this as being the closest to what you like!

JSWolf · 10-15-2008, 01:16 PM

I'd also suggest the Spencer novels by Robert B. Parker.

VillageReader · 10-15-2008, 01:22 PM

Reacher's 'explosive' streak reminds me a bit of Eisler's John Rain - the titles all have rain in them. I think there are only 4 to date. All I've read so far have been set in Tokyo.

stustaff · 10-16-2008, 06:29 AM

Cheers everyone that gives me a place to get started I imagine with lee childs sales success will come a lot more in this style.

I actually spotted a book the other day that on the front cover taking up more space that the authors name was some text saying "If you like Jack Reacher you will love this"

cassidym · 10-17-2008, 07:07 PM

Very much agree about John D. McDonald. Read all of his books back in the 70's and 80's.

Roy White · 10-17-2008, 10:10 PM

Travis Mcgee rocks! I went thorugh a phase and read them all... Very fun. Not as hardboiled as Mickey Spillane and drenched in Florida sun and sea.

tompe · 10-17-2008, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roy White

Travis Mcgee rocks! I went thorugh a phase and read them all... Very fun. Not as hardboiled as Mickey Spillane and drenched in Florida sun and sea.

I like them a lot also. Very fun to read.

Maybe Dick Francis and Jeffery Deaver could be recommended here. I also think that Ian Flemming and Peter O'Donnell (Modesty Blaise) are entertaining and easy to read. Maybe Alistair MacLean fits also.

Roy White · 10-19-2008, 04:26 PM

If you're looking for hard boiled over the top pulp fiction from the 50's in the style of Dashiel Hammet or Spillane I HIGHLY recommend Jim Thompson. His best was A Killer Inside Me. Fairly violent and bleak stuff. Very descriptive yet reminisceent of Dostoevsky. He was highly skilled at laying down the inner motives of his characters. He wrote for the pulp mags mostly and scraped by while swimming in drink. His stories are all about grifters and losers and criminals of the worst kind, written from a chilling first person perspective that manages to justify the crime and violence in a weird way.

Dr. Drib · 10-19-2008, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roy White

If you're looking for hard boiled over the top pulp fiction from the 50's in the style of Dashiel Hammet or Spillane I HIGHLY recommend Jim Thompson. His best was A Killer Inside Me. Fairly violent and bleak stuff. Very descriptive yet reminisceent of Dostoevsky. He was highly skilled at laying down the inner motives of his characters. He wrote for the pulp mags mostly and scraped by while swimming in drink. His stories are all about grifters and losers and criminals of the worst kind, written from a chilling first person perspective that manages to justify the crime and violence in a weird way.

I totally agree.

Also, if you want something not quite as literary, but loads of fun to read, try the Shell Scott private eye novels by Richard S. Prather. I thoroughly enjoy these.

Fictionwise has 36 different titles.

Don

10-15-2008, 09:40 AM	#1
stustaff Wizard Posts: 1,054 Karma: 2110 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Derbyshire UK Device: sony reader PRS505 and 600	books wanted in the style of Lee Child Been enjoying reading the Reacher books, a very easy read and entertaining. anyone reccomend anything similiar.

10-15-2008, 01:16 PM	#5
JSWolf Mobile Reader Geek Posts: 34,207 Karma: 13801264 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Sony Reader PRS-650, iPad	I'd also suggest the Spencer novels by Robert B. Parker. __________________ Jon 2013 Reading List

10-17-2008, 07:07 PM	#8
cassidym Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,323 Karma: 5032368 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Northern Virginia, USA Device: Sony PRS-505, iPhone 5, Sony T1, iPad 3	Very much agree about John D. McDonald. Read all of his books back in the 70's and 80's. __________________ I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library. - Jorge Luis Borges

10-17-2008, 10:10 PM	#9
Roy White Evangelist Posts: 482 Karma: 7580 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Turner, Oregon Device: Sony Reader	Travis Mcgee rocks! I went thorugh a phase and read them all... Very fun. Not as hardboiled as Mickey Spillane and drenched in Florida sun and sea. __________________ Link to book I wrote on living with Chronic pain with hope (I do... sigh...) and published for Kindle in Amazons bookstore. http://www.amazon.com/Hope-Under-Lav...9829116&sr=1-1

10-19-2008, 04:26 PM	#11
Roy White Evangelist Posts: 482 Karma: 7580 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Turner, Oregon Device: Sony Reader	If you're looking for hard boiled over the top pulp fiction from the 50's in the style of Dashiel Hammet or Spillane I HIGHLY recommend Jim Thompson. His best was A Killer Inside Me. Fairly violent and bleak stuff. Very descriptive yet reminisceent of Dostoevsky. He was highly skilled at laying down the inner motives of his characters. He wrote for the pulp mags mostly and scraped by while swimming in drink. His stories are all about grifters and losers and criminals of the worst kind, written from a chilling first person perspective that manages to justify the crime and violence in a weird way. __________________ Link to book I wrote on living with Chronic pain with hope (I do... sigh...) and published for Kindle in Amazons bookstore. http://www.amazon.com/Hope-Under-Lav...9829116&sr=1-1

10-15-2008, 12:59 PM	#3
Penforhire Wizard Posts: 1,845 Karma: 5514220 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern California Device: Kindle PW, PRS-650, iPhone 4, iPad 4	Hmm, that's a good link provided! I was going to suggest some of those authors. Lee Child's Reacher novels are tough to match IMO because the hero rides a fine line avoiding being overly-competent. He's on the hairy edge of believable. John Sandford came to mind first, his Prey series. Harlen Coben is one to look at but avoid the Myron Bolitar novels unless you want much more humor rolled into your mysteries. I'd suggest Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch books, for an above-average driven-detective sort of fellow.

10-15-2008, 01:13 PM	#4
Ordinaryuser Enthusiast Posts: 32 Karma: 144 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: East TN Device: Kindle Touch, Nook Reader	One of my favorites is an older writer, John D. McDonald. He wrote a Travis McGee series. McGee is somewhat in the mold of Jack Reacher and I would recommend this as being the closest to what you like!

10-15-2008, 01:22 PM	#6
VillageReader Evangelist Posts: 430 Karma: 2718 Join Date: May 2006 Device: Iliad	Reacher's 'explosive' streak reminds me a bit of Eisler's John Rain - the titles all have rain in them. I think there are only 4 to date. All I've read so far have been set in Tokyo.

10-16-2008, 06:29 AM	#7
stustaff Wizard Posts: 1,054 Karma: 2110 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Derbyshire UK Device: sony reader PRS505 and 600	Cheers everyone that gives me a place to get started I imagine with lee childs sales success will come a lot more in this style. I actually spotted a book the other day that on the front cover taking up more space that the authors name was some text saying "If you like Jack Reacher you will love this"

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