He's one of my favorite authors. I haven't gotten around to reading the books by Andrew, but have heard that they are rougher, more violent that the original books. What do you think?

I enjoy the books very much. I've never watched the series.

I've read a few. ( I always keep a few books unread for each of the few series I like best, saving them for amusement on long travel days). I wouldn't compare them other than to say that older brother seemed to be more adept at producing more engaging stories. But's he's also had many more years and many more volumes worth of experience. Hopefully Andrew will develop.

Another few tidbits of amusement provided by Lee Child (Jim Grant) in interviews:

He was hired as a production director of high quality drama by Granada TV in Britain, one of the independent concerns (ie, not the BBC). He told of how wonderful the job was, reflecting on things like lunch meetings with the likes of Sir John Gielgud, Sir Rex Harrison, etc., and pinching himself about how lucky he was. Then, an approximate quote:

LC - "But one day came along and I realized that I could no longer continue to work producing the top quality programs I had come to love".

Interviewer- "What happened?"

LC-"My boss came into my office and said 'You're fired' "

Fact for this next anecdote - he's 6'4" tall and thin as a rail.

In the aftermath of the abrupt termination, he moped around trying to think of what he could do for work. He'd been at Granada since graduation and had no other skills. One day, he and his wife went grocery shopping together. While walking down an aisle, they came upon a short, elderly lady who stopped him and pointing upward, asked "Excuse me please, could you get that item for me from the very top shelf?"

He obliged and they walked on. Suddenly, his wife grabbed his arm and said "I know what you can do. If you find nothing else, you can work in this store and be a reacher."

And so struck the lightening bolt of creativity.

“… deleted by the shovel expert.”

Best laugh in a week.

I love Reacher! He's the perfect fit for the show, vs Tom Cruise in the movies. I'm caught up, the next episode will air this week.

I haven't read the books...love the TV series. We've been watching details of Alan Ritchson's food and exercise routine. We're fascinated by THAT. :0)

Concerning Tom Cruise the pipsqueak, size-wise, in the starring roles in the two Reacher films, this was also a matter Child discussed in several interviews findable online.

His reaction was to the effect of "what author wouldn't be thrilled to have one of the most accomplished and respected actors in the business play a leading role in their story?"

And also, to the effect of "once a production company sent him a check, he was delighted for them to do whatever they wanted to do to make a feature film."

And, " I understand that many readers are upset, saying that Cruise doesn't provide the physically intimidating image of Reacher they've developed from reading the books. Every reader has the right to have their own image of Reacher in their mind's eye. The books remain unchanged. Readers can always refer back to the reading experience to see Reacher's image and physical appearance how they want to, nothing will ever change that.

But to the contrary, Ritchson does have that image. He's a big guy to begin with but works hard in advance of shooting to develop the musculature of a physically imposing man.

I've read all the books. I've seen the Amazon series--tomorrow a new episode drops. I've seen the Hollyweird movie (not a great "Reacher"). The books are 10,000 times better because we get to hear what's in Reacher's head. I miss that in the series. If you haven't read one of the books you are missing out on sooo much of who Reacher is and why. This season thus far is my least favorite but there were books whose story lines didn't wow me too. If you appreciate a guy doing good because it's the right thing to do (we'll conveniently ignore all the horrid killing) I heartily recommend the movie Sound of Freedom, a movie about real life heroes with Reacher's heart.

I enjoyed the Reacher books more than the series, but we are enjoying the series, too. Haven't started season 3 yet. Interesting about the two authors. I never saw the movies with Cruise, but I generally think he is a decent actor in whatever he's in. I do like that Ritchson is larger and burly - the physical stuff seems more plausible than a smaller person pulling it off.

LOVE the books and LOVE the series.

I enjoy Tom Cruise movies, but he just wasn’t the right fit for the movie.

I've read series in the past that are taken over my proteges or siblings etc. They have never been the same for me. I couldn't get through the first chapter of Andrews version of REACHER. It isn't just the character it's the authors writing that makes a book good.

Tom Cruise... IMO just too small, diminutive, short....to portray a great character in any movie!

I've read nearly all the Reacher books and Lee Childs still has his hand in and name on the cover, even with #29 (the most recent). While some have not grabbed me as strong as others, I'd find it very hard to perceive a different inflection in tone or style in any of the later partnered books.

I have trouble with Tom Cruise too. OK in Risky Business and Top Gun but there ends the appeal for me. OTOH, Alan Ritchson.........heavy sigh :))

Was not aware of the Lee Child/Jim Grant backstory although I doubt it affects my appreciation of his books. Nor does his brother's input, an accomplished author in his own right.