Lee Child (James Dover Grant)

Lee Child (real name James Dover Grant) is a bestselling British thriller writer best known for his Jack Reacher series of novels. Since 1997, Child has written 22 bestselling books in the Jack Reacher series, with the most recent one, The Sentinel, released in 2016. The books have been translated into 42 languages and sold over 100 million copies worldwide.

Growing up in Birmingham, England, Child studied law at Sheffield University and then moved to London to become a television writer and director. After being made redundant in 1995, Child picked up a pen and began to write. His first novel Killing Floor was published in 1997 and the story of drifter Jack Reacher began.

Jack Reacher is an ex-US military policeman who travels the US settling disputes and seeking justice. He is a lone wolf: he never carries I.D., credit cards or a cellphone, and has no set address. His backstory is slowly revealed throughout the novel series; he is 6’5'' tall, with green eyes, blond hair and 187 lbs in weight.

Each novel takes place in a different location in the US, usually covering urban and rural scenes, small towns, larger cities, military bases and rural areas. The characters throughout the Jack Reacher Series include antagonists, antagonists’ henchmen, law enforcement, military personnel and professionals such as doctors and lawyers. The books also feature hints of global geopolitical issues.

Child is known for his crafty plotting, vivid action sequences and complex villains. He frequently uses elements from his own life as source material, often making references to his hometown and home country. He has also been known to use the “Marvel Method” when writing his novels, conceiving the general story arc but leaving character dialogue and smaller details to improvisation.

Apart from the Jack Reacher series, Child has also writing a number of novels and short stories, including The Enemy (2004), Nothing to Lose (2007) and Small Wars (2009). In 2012, Child also wrote a book entitled Second Son, which looked at the character Jack Reacher as a teenager, growing up in a military family.

Child has also collaborated with writers such as Andrew Grant and Lee Child’s brother, Andrew Child, to write the Reacher novels. Apart from books, Jack Reacher has also been adapted for the big screen, with the first movie adaptation, Jack Reacher (2012) starring Tom Cruise, being released in 2012.

In conclusion, Lee Child is a bestselling author whose books have been translated into over 42 languages and sold over 100 million copies worldwide. His Jack Reacher series has been praised for its crafty plotting, vivid action sequences, complex villains and references to global geopolitical issues. His books have also been adapted for the big screen, with the first movie adaptation starring Tom Cruise.