‘Reacher’ Creator Cites Spy Thriller ‘The Day of the Jackal’ as Inspiration

Interestingly, the character Jack Reacher might not exist if not for a 1971 novel by Frederick Forsyth. Like Lee Child’s debut, The Killing Floor, Forsyth’s first book was an instant hit when released and was even made into a movie before becoming part of a series. Child, an avid reader, was so impressed by Forsyth’s work that it ultimately inspired him to create Jack Reacher.







