The AffairThe Affair
Score Modern
What it's about
March 1997: a woman's throat is cut behind a bar in Carter Crossing, Mississippi, just down the road from a big army base. Is the killer a local or a soldier? Jack Reacher, still a military police officer, is sent undercover to find out, in the case that led him to leave the Army.
Why it's worth reading
It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and spent 18 weeks on the lists. It tells how Reacher became the drifter of the other books.
You'll love it if you liked
Gone Tomorrow
Worth Dying For
Without RemorseGood to know
It's a prequel, set right before the first book, Killing Floor, so it's a good starting point. It's told by Reacher himself.
By the numbers
- Readers73 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller65 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #54 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #339 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #668 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping
More by Lee Child
Worth Dying ForGone Tomorrow
61 Hours
The Midnight LineIf you like this, read next
Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland
Verity
Gone Girl
The Martian
2666
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Quick answers
Is The Affair worth reading?
Yes. It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and spent 18 weeks on the lists. It ranks #668 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 76.4 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Affair about?
March 1997: a woman's throat is cut behind a bar in Carter Crossing, Mississippi, just down the road from a big army base. Is the killer a local or a soldier? Jack Reacher, still a military police officer, is sent undercover to find out, in the case that led him to leave the Army.
How long does it take to read The Affair?
About 15 hours (609 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Affair?
If you liked it, try Gone Tomorrow by Lee Child, Worth Dying For by Lee Child or Without Remorse by Tom Clancy.