Ex-military policeman and drifter Jack Reacher coasts into small-town Margrave, Ga., where he’s suddenly arrested for the murder of a man who turns out to be his brother, Joe. This sets off a heart-pounding investigation into the mysterious killer—and the subsequent larger criminal operation—that haunts this picture-perfect southern town. The gruff Reacher is the unassuming, brooding protagonist at the center of it all.
More from TIME
Reflecting on how he developed Reacher’s character, Lee Child wrote that Reacher “slotted very neatly into the folk hero tradition, specifically the knight errant subgroup, which seems to be universal in appeal.” Child was, of course, completely right. Killing Floor was published in 1997 and became an instant hit, garnering countless awards, including the 1998 Anthony and Barry Awards for Best First Novel, and launched Child’s career as a successful commercial thriller author. The book is the twisty first entry in the New York Times best-selling Jack Reacher series, a global phenomenon with 28 installments, which has been translated into nearly 50 languages, and has been adapted for both television and film—the latter of which features Tom Cruise as Reacher. —Rachel Sonis
Buy Now: Killing Floor on Bookshop | Amazon
- Donald Trump Is TIME's 2024 Person of the Year
- Why We Chose Trump as Person of the Year
- Is Intermittent Fasting Good or Bad for You?
- The 100 Must-Read Books of 2024
- The 20 Best Christmas TV Episodes
- Column: If Optimism Feels Ridiculous Now, Try Hope
- The Future of Climate Action Is Trade Policy
- Merle Bombardieri Is Helping People Make the Baby Decision
