Comparable authors?

[Ron]

I have read all of the Myron Bolitar books, enjoyed them all, Lee Child is another wonderful author, his Jack Reacher series is great.

[Rob]

I've posted this query a few other places over the last year with no luck - but perhaps this (knowledgeable and specialized) group can help me....

I'm trying to identify an audio book I listened to several years back. The hero (who I recall as an expert marksman) was commissioned to create a plan to assassinate the President, as a security test, and then (of course) finds the bad guys are executing it. The story takes place in the Washington DC area - a government facility in a park area to the west of the city, and along the Patomac River. I seem to remember the (CD) cover being blue and white, maybe with a picture of a missile firing.

I've looked at the booklists of most of the authors I see mentioned in this thread, but none of those books is ringing a bell for me. It is definitely NOT "Without Fail."

Ring a bell? Thanks!

[Jay]

Rob , do you have any character names or when it was published or set. It sounds like a movie, the shooter, with Mark Walberg

[Rob]

Hi, Jay. I don't recall any character names, nor do I know when it was published (but I don't recall anything really "out of date" in it, so probably 2000 or later). Perhaps there was a movie version, but what I "read" was an audio book. The setting was in the Washington DC area, with the climactic battle along the D.C. or Alexandria banks of the Patomac. Thanks, RL

[Gareth]

The author is Stephen Hunter the character is Bob Lee Swagger. Was adapted into the movie Shooter starring Mark Wahlberg.

Nerd trivia: the characters name is an inside joke as, in sniper parlance, a "S.W.A.G." is a Sophisticated Wild-Ass Guess.

[Rob]

Gareth, thanks, but the book I'm trying to remember / find is not "Point of Impact" ("Shooter"). Among other things, the locale of the book I'm seeking was 100% in the Washington D.C. area. Indeed I had misremembered the book to be a Reacher book, but when I re-read the Reacher series in order recently, I discovered the error in my memory. But, regardless, thanks -RL

[Al]

Could it be Barry Eisler's Inside Out

[Srikanth]

I have read books of authors like Michael Connelly, David Baldacci, Robert B Parker,Robert Crais, John Lutz, Lee Child, Vince Flynn, Brad Thor, John Sandford .Now I have started Stephen Hunter book. Some suggested Steve Hamilton and William Kent Kruger's books

[Pierre]

I enjoyed reading Coup D'Etats by Coes Dewey Andreas is the main character. similar to Reacher 6' 3" solid and mean . the books kinds of drag at first but it turns out to be an excellent novel.

[Brunhilde]

I see there is a book where Reacher teams up with another character, Nick Heller ? Has anyone read the Nick Heller books ?

[Cory]

I read Vanished and Buried Secrets with Nick Heller a couple of years ago. Pretty good. I would rate them at 6, maybe 7 out of 10. If you are OK with a little more violence, I suggest Mark Greaney's The Gray Man series. Main character, Court Gentry, an assassin with a moral compass. I am on book 4/5. Great thriller collection!!!

[Gareth]

Brunhilde wrote: "I see there is a book where Reacher teams up with another character, Nick Heller ? Has anyone read the Nick Heller books ?"

I read "Vanished", the first Nick Heller book, specifically because of the team-up with Reacher in Face/Off (which I suppose was the whole point of the Face/Off book). Found the character to be quite bland and never bothered with the follow-up (Buried Secrets).

If memory serves, I gave Vanished 2 stars on here.

[Brunhilde]

Thank you very much. Your commets are very helpful.

[Cathy]

I didn't see anyone recommend the Gray Man series by Marc Greaney. The closest thing to JR I have found, but dare I say, better.

[Brunhilde]

Thanks Cathy. I will give it a try.

[Stacey]

If you like the Mitch Rapp books, you will LOVE the Pike Logan books by Brad Taylor. The first book is called "One Rough Man."

[Stacey]

I also like Marc Cameron's books about Jericho Quinn.

[RS]

Which is the book series (I started a couple of years ago and now cant remember the name), where the main protagonist is a loner ex spy a lot like the characters above with one exception: a slight paranormal influence - he dies in an alley and then reawakens in a convent and is possessed by a violent spirit that tends toward an addiction to mayhem. Apart from that dynamic this is set in the real world.

[Ron]

Stacey wrote: "If you like the Mitch Rapp books, you will LOVE the Pike Logan books by Brad Taylor. The first book is called "One Rough Man.""

I have read all of the Pike Logan books, loved them all !

[Kathy]

Bru wrote: "David Morrell actually wrote "First Blood." Which is the movie series "Rambo" that Sylvester Stallone grabbed. The book was my all time favorite at that time. It was very, very good. Nothing like t..."

David Morrell wrote several other books that I believe are much better than First Blood, The Brotherhood of the Rose, The League of Night and Fog, The Fraternity of the Stone.

[Joseph]

1) Vince Flynn
2) Brad Thor
3) David Baldacci (Will Robbie and John Puller)
4) Michael Connelly(Bosch)
5) Marc Cameron

[Katherine☕️]

I would recommend the John Rain series by Barry Eisler. It's very well written and the main character reminds me of Reacher. John Rain is ex-military and makes his living as an assassin in Tokyo. He's a loner with exceptional combat and surveillance skills. I'm only on the first book but it's hooked me.

[Chris]

Not sure if anyone has mentioned Barry Eisler, although not an exact match with any of Lee Childs masterpieces. Clean Kill in Tokyo is in my opinion an enjoyable read. Lee Child is by far my favorite Author.

[Bru]

Hey welcome aboard Chris. Barry Eisler is a good one.

I just discovered Nicholas Petrie who wrote "The Drifter" and recently "Burning Bright." Lee Child has an endorsement on the cover of the latter that says that Petrie's Peter Ash character is the closest match to Jack Reacher. I have to agree. The research that goes into those two books is impeccable. definitely a lot of fun!

[Bru]

Welcome to the group Katherine.

[Andy]

Hi All,

Here is my list below, ones which I have I have personally read. Looking for more alternatives, any suggestion would be appreciated:

Robert Crais - Elvis Cole and Joe Pike
Lee Childs - Jack Reacher
Barry Eisler - John Rain
Vince Flynn - Mitch Rapp
John Sandford - Lucas Davenport
Matt Hilton - Joe Hunter
Robert B Parker/Ace Atkins - Spenser
Janet Evanovich - Stephanie Plum
Clive Cussler - Dirk Pitt
Randy Wayne White - Doc Ford
John Locke - Donavon Creed
Harlan Coben - Myron Bolitar
Jeffrey Deaver - Lincoln Rhyme
Scott Mariani - Ben Hope 
Chris Kuzneski - Payne and Jones & The Hunters
James Twinning - Tom Kirk
Ace Atkins - Quinn Colson
John D Macdonald - Travis McGee 
Thomas Perry - The butchers boy
Brad Thor - Scott Harvath 
Raymond Chandler - Phillip Marlow
John Gilstrap - Jonathan Graves
Mark Greaney - The Gray Man/Courtland Gentry
David Baldacci - Will Robie
Alex Berenson - John Wells
Steve Hamilton - Alex McNight
Brad Taylor - Pike Logan
Joseph Finder - Nick Heller
Tom Wood - Victor
Tom cain - Samuel Carver 
Ross MacDonald - Lew Archer
Paul Wilson - repairman jack
Brett Battles - Jonathan Quinn

[Jack]

I've read them all as well and would suggest Orphan X by Gregg Hurwitz and The Hunter by Tom Wood. Both excellent and in my view better than Jack Reacher - see my website for reviews etc .

[Glenford]

If your still looking then go for Tom Wood books see review on my blog www.bookslikejackreacher.com

[Michael]

It depends on what you are looking for in my opinion. Personally, I like the detail used in the fights. Unfortunately, in books like Midnight Line, those sequences are few and far between, but they are sacrificed for a more character driven story. I’ve found this in the Mitch Rapp books by Vince Flynn. If you are a fan of the investigative aspects of Reacher, you might like the Harry Bosch series. For CSI focused investigation, in my opinion, it doesn’t get any better than Kay Scarpetta the forensic pathologist in the series by Patricia Cornwell, sorry Bones fans.

[Kristie]

Found a new author,
The President's Henchman (Jim McGill series Book 1)Jun 29, 2013
by Joseph Flynn free on kindle unlimited. I'm just now starting book 3 of this series. Not quite Jack, but a good read! While we await the next Jack Reacher book....

[Kristie]

The President's Henchman

[Ron]

I really enjoyed this series also

[Charles]

Been following this thread for awhile and just thought i'd add 2 cents. I like Child's plots (however predictable they become, but that's okay) and characters but the thing which I feel sets him apart is the quality of his prose. It is clean, spare, carefully crafted, and cliche free. This is a great rarity in this genre. I frequently can't get past the first few pages for many of the authors who have been mentioned because of their tired, pedestrian writing. Lee Child and Richard Stark, stand alone to me. Any suggestions for others of this stature?

[Kristie]

Thanks, Hadn't heard of Richard Stark, I'll give him a read.

[Charles]

Should have mentioned that Richard Stark is a pseudonym for author Donald Westlake. I'm not a big fan of his other writings that are a little to glib and light for my tastes. But in his Richard Stark persona he has a unique style befitting of his name that I find very powerful. He's been dead for a while; his Stark books are in reprint now and most libraries have some of his books.

[Kristie]

Really enjoyed reading these, thanks for the Nicholas Petrie information!

[Kristie]

I really like the Joe Ledger series by Jonathan Maberry. I think I've read them three times already.Jonathan Maberry

Several of his books are TV series, But, my favorite is the Joe Ledger series. They are great on audible, Ray Porter is the narrator and he is awesome.

[Kristie]

Another goodread is the Blood Oath Nathaniel Cade series by Christopher Farnsworth

[Wessel Gordon]

I've only ever read one of her books but Kathy Reich's style of writing, story line and research/facts had me mesmerized to the point where I nearly hanged a ''Do not disturb on pain of death'' notice on my nose.

Completely different to Jack Reacher but totally engrossing.

[Kristie]

Don wrote: "Thanks to both Opa and Zen13's recommendation, I have picked up a copy of American Assassin by Vince Flynn and will start reading within the hour. Thanks very much folks! Will feed back later!"
It is also a movie :), and a good one at that.
I like Jonathan Mayberry's Joe Ledger series as well, Probably one of my favorites. Oh and Christophe Farnsworth's Nathaniel Cade series, Don't discount it because it's got a vampire, it's not your usual vampire stories, more like Jack Reacher, honest. LOL

[Kristie]

John wrote: "The character I find most like Reacher is Joe Pike. Robert Crais has a very good series that features LA private eye Elvis Cole. Pike is Cole's partner.

There are three books that have Pike as the..."

Love this series as well, especially Joe Pike.

[Danielle]

Scott Blade writes about a character who is Jack Reacher's son. The stories are pretty similar to Lee Child's series.

Diane Capri has a series called "The Hunt for Jack Reacher"

Vince Flynn has a series about Reacher and he is good too.

Dan Ames writes about Reacher too.

But no one is the real Reacher (Lee Child's Character)

And have you watch the 2 seasons of the Reacher TV show?

[Kristie]

I second Dan Ames!
Also for a female Reacher try Ham by Dustin Stevens Very entertaining.