Skip to Main Content (Press Enter)

Past Tense

A Jack Reacher Novel

A Jack Reacher Novel

A Jack Reacher Novel

A Jack Reacher Novel

A Jack Reacher Novel

A Jack Reacher Novel

A Jack Reacher Novel

A Jack Reacher Novel

By Lee Child

By Lee Child

By Lee Child

By Lee Child

By Lee Child

By Lee Child

By Lee Child

By Lee Child

By Lee Child

By Lee Child

By Lee Child
Read by Scott Brick

By Lee Child
Read by Scott Brick

By Lee Child
Read by Scott Brick

By Lee Child
Read by Scott Brick

By Lee Child
Read by Scott Brick

By Lee Child
Read by Scott Brick

Best Seller

Part of Jack Reacher

Part of Jack Reacher

Part of Jack Reacher

Part of Jack Reacher

Part of Jack Reacher

Part of Jack Reacher

Part of Jack Reacher

Paperback $17.00

Apr 30, 2019 | ISBN 9781984820839

Mass Market Paperback $9.99

Apr 30, 2019 | ISBN 9780399593536

Large Print $31.00

Nov 05, 2018 | ISBN 9781984833662

Hardcover $28.99

Nov 05, 2018 | ISBN 9780399593512

Ebook $7.99

Nov 05, 2018 | ISBN 9780399593529

CD $19.99

Oct 15, 2019 | 780 Minutes

Audiobook Download $22.50

Nov 05, 2018 | 771 Minutes

Audiobook Download $15.00

Nov 05, 2018 | 389 Minutes

All Formats
+
    Past Tense by Lee Child
    Hardcover $28.99
    Nov 05, 2018 | ISBN 9780399593512

    Buy from Other Retailers:

    See All Formats (7) +

    Paperback (3)
    +

    • Paperback $17.00

      Apr 30, 2019 | ISBN 9781984820839

      Buy from Other Retailers:

    • Mass Market Paperback $9.99

      Apr 30, 2019 | ISBN 9780399593536

      Buy from Other Retailers:

    • Large Print $31.00

      Nov 05, 2018 | ISBN 9781984833662

      Buy from Other Retailers:

    Hardcover
    –

    • Hardcover $28.99

      Nov 05, 2018 | ISBN 9780399593512

      Buy from Other Retailers:

    Ebook
    +

    • Ebook

      Nov 05, 2018 | ISBN 9780399593529

      Buy from Other Retailers:

    Audio (3)
    +

    • CD $19.99

      Oct 15, 2019 | ISBN 9780593105337

      780 Minutes

      Buy from Other Retailers:

    • Audiobook Download

      Nov 05, 2018 | ISBN 9781524774325

      771 Minutes

      Buy from Other Retailers:

    • Audiobook Download

      Nov 05, 2018 | ISBN 9781984847522

      389 Minutes

      Buy from Other Retailers:

    Buy the Audiobook Download:

    About Past Tense

    #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Family secrets come back to haunt Jack Reacher in this electrifying thriller from “a superb craftsman of suspense” (Entertainment Weekly).

    Jack Reacher hits the pavement and sticks out his thumb. He plans to follow the sun on an epic trip across America, from Maine to California. He doesn’t get far. On a country road deep in the New England woods, he sees a sign to a place he has never been: the town where his father was born. He thinks, What’s one extra day? He takes the detour.

    At the same moment, in the same isolated area, a car breaks down. Two young Canadians had been on their way to New York City to sell a treasure. Now they’re stranded at a lonely motel in the middle of nowhere. The owners seem almost too friendly. It’s a strange place, but it’s all there is.

    The next morning, in the city clerk’s office, Reacher asks about the old family home. He’s told no one named Reacher ever lived in town. He’s always known his father left and never returned, but now Reacher wonders, Was he ever there in the first place?

    As Reacher explores his father’s life, and as the Canadians face lethal dangers, strands of different stories begin to merge. Then Reacher makes a shocking discovery: The present can be tough, but the past can be tense . . . and deadly.

    Don’t miss a sneak peek of Lee Child’s novel Blue Moon in the back of the book.

    Praise for Past Tense

    “Child is one writer who should never be taken for granted.”—The New York Times Book Review

    “[Lee Child] shows no signs of slowing down. . . . Reacher is a man for whom the phrase moral compass was invented: His code determines his direction. . . . You need Jack Reacher.”—The Atlantic

    “Superb . . . Child neatly interweaves multiple narratives, ratchets up the suspense (the reveal of the motel plot is delicious), and delivers a powerful, satisfying denouement. Fans will enjoy learning more of this enduring character’s roots, and Child’s spare prose continues to set a very high bar.”—Publishers Weekly (boxed and starred review)

    “Another first-class entry in a series that continues to set the gold standard for aspiring thriller authors.”—Booklist (starred review)

    “With his usual flair for succinctness and eye for detail, Child creates another rollicking Reacher road trip that will please fans and newcomers alike.”—Library Journal (starred review)

    About Past Tense

    #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • THE BLOCKBUSTER JACK REACHER SERIES THAT INSPIRED TWO MAJOR MOTION PICTURES AND THE UPCOMING STREAMING SERIES REACHER

    Family secrets come back to haunt Jack Reacher in this electrifying thriller from “a superb craftsman of suspense” (Entertainment Weekly).

    Jack Reacher hits the pavement and sticks out his thumb. He plans to follow the sun on an epic trip across America, from Maine to California. He doesn’t get far. On a country road deep in the New England woods, he sees a sign to a place he has never been: the town where his father was born. He thinks, What’s one extra day? He takes the detour.

    At the same moment, in the same isolated area, a car breaks down. Two young Canadians had been on their way to New York City to sell a treasure. Now they’re stranded at a lonely motel in the middle of nowhere. The owners seem almost too friendly. It’s a strange place, but it’s all there is.

    The next morning, in the city clerk’s office, Reacher asks about the old family home. He’s told no one named Reacher ever lived in town. He’s always known his father left and never returned, but now Reacher wonders, Was he ever there in the first place?

    As Reacher explores his father’s life, and as the Canadians face lethal dangers, strands of different stories begin to merge. Then Reacher makes a shocking discovery: The present can be tough, but the past can be tense . . . and deadly.

    This edition includes an excerpt of Lee Child’s novel Blue Moon.

    About Past Tense

    #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • THE BLOCKBUSTER JACK REACHER SERIES THAT INSPIRED TWO MAJOR MOTION PICTURES AND THE STREAMING SERIES REACHER

    Family secrets come back to haunt Jack Reacher in this electrifying thriller from “a superb craftsman of suspense” (Entertainment Weekly).

    Jack Reacher hits the pavement and sticks out his thumb. He plans to follow the sun on an epic trip across America, from Maine to California. He doesn’t get far. On a country road deep in the New England woods, he sees a sign to a place he has never been: the town where his father was born. He thinks, What’s one extra day? He takes the detour.

    At the same moment, in the same isolated area, a car breaks down. Two young Canadians had been on their way to New York City to sell a treasure. Now they’re stranded at a lonely motel in the middle of nowhere. The owners seem almost too friendly. It’s a strange place, but it’s all there is.

    The next morning, in the city clerk’s office, Reacher asks about the old family home. He’s told no one named Reacher ever lived in town. He’s always known his father left and never returned, but now Reacher wonders, Was he ever there in the first place?

    As Reacher explores his father’s life, and as the Canadians face lethal dangers, strands of different stories begin to merge. Then Reacher makes a shocking discovery: The present can be tough, but the past can be tense . . . and deadly.

    About Past Tense

    #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • THE BLOCKBUSTER JACK REACHER SERIES THAT INSPIRED TWO MAJOR MOTION PICTURES AND THE STREAMING SERIES REACHER

    Family secrets come back to haunt Jack Reacher in this electrifying thriller from “a superb craftsman of suspense” (Entertainment Weekly).

    Jack Reacher hits the pavement and sticks out his thumb. He plans to follow the sun on an epic trip across America, from Maine to California. He doesn’t get far. On a country road deep in the New England woods, he sees a sign to a place he has never been: the town where his father was born. He thinks, What’s one extra day? He takes the detour.

    At the same moment, in the same isolated area, a car breaks down. Two young Canadians had been on their way to New York City to sell a treasure. Now they’re stranded at a lonely motel in the middle of nowhere. The owners seem almost too friendly. It’s a strange place, but it’s all there is.

    The next morning, in the city clerk’s office, Reacher asks about the old family home. He’s told no one named Reacher ever lived in town. He’s always known his father left and never returned, but now Reacher wonders, Was he ever there in the first place?

    As Reacher explores his father’s life, and as the Canadians face lethal dangers, strands of different stories begin to merge. Then Reacher makes a shocking discovery: The present can be tough, but the past can be tense . . . and deadly.

    About Past Tense

    #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • THE BLOCKBUSTER JACK REACHER SERIES THAT INSPIRED TWO MAJOR MOTION PICTURES AND THE UPCOMING STREAMING SERIES REACHER

    Family secrets come back to haunt Jack Reacher in this electrifying thriller from “a superb craftsman of suspense” (Entertainment Weekly).

    Jack Reacher hits the pavement and sticks out his thumb. He plans to follow the sun on an epic trip across America, from Maine to California. He doesn’t get far. On a country road deep in the New England woods, he sees a sign to a place he has never been: the town where his father was born. He thinks, What’s one extra day? He takes the detour.

    At the same moment, in the same isolated area, a car breaks down. Two young Canadians had been on their way to New York City to sell a treasure. Now they’re stranded at a lonely motel in the middle of nowhere. The owners seem almost too friendly. It’s a strange place, but it’s all there is.

    The next morning, in the city clerk’s office, Reacher asks about the old family home. He’s told no one named Reacher ever lived in town. He’s always known his father left and never returned, but now Reacher wonders, Was he ever there in the first place?

    As Reacher explores his father’s life, and as the Canadians face lethal dangers, strands of different stories begin to merge. Then Reacher makes a shocking discovery: The present can be tough, but the past can be tense . . . and deadly.

    This edition includes an excerpt of Lee Child’s novel Blue Moon.

    About Past Tense

    #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • THE BLOCKBUSTER JACK REACHER SERIES THAT INSPIRED TWO MAJOR MOTION PICTURES AND THE STREAMING SERIES REACHER

    Family secrets come back to haunt Jack Reacher in this electrifying thriller from “a superb craftsman of suspense” (Entertainment Weekly).

    Jack Reacher hits the pavement and sticks out his thumb. He plans to follow the sun on an epic trip across America, from Maine to California. He doesn’t get far. On a country road deep in the New England woods, he sees a sign to a place he has never been: the town where his father was born. He thinks, What’s one extra day? He takes the detour.

    At the same moment, in the same isolated area, a car breaks down. Two young Canadians had been on their way to New York City to sell a treasure. Now they’re stranded at a lonely motel in the middle of nowhere. The owners seem almost too friendly. It’s a strange place, but it’s all there is.

    The next morning, in the city clerk’s office, Reacher asks about the old family home. He’s told no one named Reacher ever lived in town. He’s always known his father left and never returned, but now Reacher wonders, Was he ever there in the first place?

    As Reacher explores his father’s life, and as the Canadians face lethal dangers, strands of different stories begin to merge. Then Reacher makes a shocking discovery: The present can be tough, but the past can be tense . . . and deadly.

    About Past Tense

    #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • THE BLOCKBUSTER JACK REACHER SERIES THAT INSPIRED TWO MAJOR MOTION PICTURES AND THE STREAMING SERIES REACHER

    Family secrets come back to haunt Jack Reacher in this electrifying thriller from “a superb craftsman of suspense” (Entertainment Weekly).

    Jack Reacher hits the pavement and sticks out his thumb. He plans to follow the sun on an epic trip across America, from Maine to California. He doesn’t get far. On a country road deep in the New England woods, he sees a sign to a place he has never been: the town where his father was born. He thinks, What’s one extra day? He takes the detour.

    At the same moment, in the same isolated area, a car breaks down. Two young Canadians had been on their way to New York City to sell a treasure. Now they’re stranded at a lonely motel in the middle of nowhere. The owners seem almost too friendly. It’s a strange place, but it’s all there is.

    The next morning, in the city clerk’s office, Reacher asks about the old family home. He’s told no one named Reacher ever lived in town. He’s always known his father left and never returned, but now Reacher wonders, Was he ever there in the first place?

    As Reacher explores his father’s life, and as the Canadians face lethal dangers, strands of different stories begin to merge. Then Reacher makes a shocking discovery: The present can be tough, but the past can be tense . . . and deadly.

    About Past Tense

    #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • THE BLOCKBUSTER JACK REACHER SERIES THAT INSPIRED TWO MAJOR MOTION PICTURES AND THE STREAMING SERIES REACHER

    Family secrets come back to haunt Jack Reacher in this electrifying thriller from “a superb craftsman of suspense” (Entertainment Weekly).

    Jack Reacher hits the pavement and sticks out his thumb. He plans to follow the sun on an epic trip across America, from Maine to California. He doesn’t get far. On a country road deep in the New England woods, he sees a sign to a place he has never been: the town where his father was born. He thinks, What’s one extra day? He takes the detour.

    At the same moment, in the same isolated area, a car breaks down. Two young Canadians had been on their way to New York City to sell a treasure. Now they’re stranded at a lonely motel in the middle of nowhere. The owners seem almost too friendly. It’s a strange place, but it’s all there is.

    The next morning, in the city clerk’s office, Reacher asks about the old family home. He’s told no one named Reacher ever lived in town. He’s always known his father left and never returned, but now Reacher wonders, Was he ever there in the first place?

    As Reacher explores his father’s life, and as the Canadians face lethal dangers, strands of different stories begin to merge. Then Reacher makes a shocking discovery: The present can be tough, but the past can be tense . . . and deadly.

    Read An Excerpt

    Read An Excerpt

    Read An Excerpt

    Read An Excerpt

    Read An Excerpt

    Read An Excerpt

    Read An Excerpt

    Read An Excerpt

    Listen to a sample from Past Tense

    Also by Lee Child

    Echo Burning
    Better Off Dead
    Reacher: Killing Floor (Movie Tie-In)
    The Sentinel
    The Affair
    See all books by Lee Child

    Also by Lee Child

    Echo Burning
    Better Off Dead
    Reacher: Killing Floor (Movie Tie-In)
    The Sentinel
    The Affair
    See all books by Lee Child

    Also by Lee Child

    The Secret
    No Plan B
    Echo Burning
    Better Off Dead
    Reacher: Killing Floor (Movie Tie-In)
    See all books by Lee Child

    Also by Lee Child

    Echo Burning
    Better Off Dead
    Reacher: Killing Floor (Movie Tie-In)
    The Sentinel
    The Affair
    See all books by Lee Child

    Also by Lee Child

    Echo Burning
    Better Off Dead
    Reacher: Killing Floor (Movie Tie-In)
    The Sentinel
    The Affair
    See all books by Lee Child

    Also by Lee Child

    Echo Burning
    Better Off Dead
    Reacher: Killing Floor (Movie Tie-In)
    The Sentinel
    The Affair
    See all books by Lee Child

    Also by Lee Child

    Echo Burning
    Better Off Dead
    Reacher: Killing Floor (Movie Tie-In)
    The Sentinel
    The Affair
    See all books by Lee Child

    Also by Lee Child

    Echo Burning
    Better Off Dead
    Reacher: Killing Floor (Movie Tie-In)
    The Sentinel
    The Affair
    See all books by Lee Child

    About Lee Child

    Lee Child is the author of more than two dozen New York Times bestselling Jack Reacher thrillers, with most having reached the #1 position, and the #1 bestselling complete Jack Reacher story collection, No Middle Name. Foreign rights in the Reacher series have sold in one hundred… More about Lee Child

    About Lee Child

    Lee Child is the author of more than two dozen New York Times bestselling Jack Reacher thrillers, with most having reached the #1 position, and the #1 bestselling complete Jack Reacher story collection, No Middle Name. Foreign rights in the Reacher series have sold in one hundred… More about Lee Child

    About Lee Child

    Lee Child is the author of more than two dozen New York Times bestselling Jack Reacher thrillers, with most having reached the #1 position, and the #1 bestselling complete Jack Reacher story collection, No Middle Name. Foreign rights in the Reacher series have sold in one hundred… More about Lee Child

    About Lee Child

    Lee Child is the author of more than two dozen New York Times bestselling Jack Reacher thrillers, with most having reached the #1 position, and the #1 bestselling complete Jack Reacher story collection, No Middle Name. Foreign rights in the Reacher series have sold in one hundred… More about Lee Child

    About Lee Child

    Lee Child is the author of more than two dozen New York Times bestselling Jack Reacher thrillers, with most having reached the #1 position, and the #1 bestselling complete Jack Reacher story collection, No Middle Name. Foreign rights in the Reacher series have sold in one hundred… More about Lee Child

    About Lee Child

    Lee Child is the author of more than two dozen New York Times bestselling Jack Reacher thrillers, with most having reached the #1 position, and the #1 bestselling complete Jack Reacher story collection, No Middle Name. Foreign rights in the Reacher series have sold in one hundred… More about Lee Child

    About Lee Child

    Lee Child is the author of more than two dozen New York Times bestselling Jack Reacher thrillers, with most having reached the #1 position, and the #1 bestselling complete Jack Reacher story collection, No Middle Name. Foreign rights in the Reacher series have sold in one hundred… More about Lee Child

    About Lee Child

    Lee Child is the author of more than two dozen New York Times bestselling Jack Reacher thrillers, with most having reached the #1 position, and the #1 bestselling complete Jack Reacher story collection, No Middle Name. Foreign rights in the Reacher series have sold in one hundred… More about Lee Child

    Product Details

    Category: Suspense & Thriller

    Paperback | $17.00
    Published by Bantam
    Apr 30, 2019 | 416 Pages | 5-1/2 x 8-1/4 | ISBN 9781984820839

    Category: Suspense & Thriller

    Mass Market Paperback | $9.99
    Published by Dell
    Apr 30, 2019 | 512 Pages | 4-3/16 x 7-1/2 | ISBN 9780399593536

    Category: Suspense & Thriller

    Large Print | $31.00
    Published by Random House Large Print
    Nov 05, 2018 | 544 Pages | 6-1/8 x 9-1/4 | ISBN 9781984833662

    Category: Suspense & Thriller

    Hardcover | $28.99
    Published by Delacorte Press
    Nov 05, 2018 | 400 Pages | 6 x 9 | ISBN 9780399593512

    Category: Suspense & Thriller

    Ebook | $7.99
    Published by Dell
    Nov 05, 2018 | 416 Pages | ISBN 9780399593529

    Category: Suspense & Thriller | Audiobooks

    CD | $19.99
    Published by Random House Audio
    Oct 15, 2019 | 780 Minutes | ISBN 9780593105337

    Category: Suspense & Thriller | Audiobooks

    Audiobook Download | $22.50
    Published by Random House Audio
    Nov 05, 2018 | 771 Minutes | ISBN 9781524774325

    Category: Suspense & Thriller | Audiobooks

    Audiobook Download | $15.00
    Published by Random House Audio
    Nov 05, 2018 | 389 Minutes | ISBN 9781984847522
    YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

    Praise

    “Child is one writer who should never be taken for granted.”—The New York Times Book Review
     
    “[Lee Child] shows no signs of slowing down. . . . Reacher is a man for whom the phrase moral compass was invented: His code determines his direction. . . . You need Jack Reacher.”—The Atlantic
     
    “Superb . . . Child neatly interweaves multiple narratives, ratchets up the suspense (the reveal of the motel plot is delicious), and delivers a powerful, satisfying denouement. Fans will enjoy learning more of this enduring character’s roots, and Child’s spare prose continues to set a very high bar.”—Publishers Weekly (boxed and starred review)

    “Another first-class entry in a series that continues to set the gold standard for aspiring thriller authors.”—Booklist (starred review)
     
    “With his usual flair for succinctness and eye for detail, Child creates another rollicking Reacher road trip that will please fans and newcomers alike.”—Library Journal (starred review)

    “Cerebral . . . One doesn’t want Mr. Child’s storytelling to end. . . . Get your copy soon before Past Tense sells out. Then enjoy the ride.”—New York Journal of Books
     
    “The way everything winds up for all the participants shows a satisfying generosity of storytelling spirit.”—Kirkus Reviews

    Praise for the Jack Reacher series

    “The truth about Reacher gets better and better. . . . This series [is] utterly addictive.”—Janet Maslin, The New York Times

    “Jack Reacher is today’s James Bond, a thriller hero we can’t get enough of. I read every one as soon as it appears.”—Ken Follett

    “Reacher is the stuff of myth. . . . One of this century’s most original, tantalizing pop-fiction heroes.”—The Washington Post

    “I’m a fan.”—James Patterson
     
    “The Reacher novels are easily the best thriller series going.”—NPR

    “Reacher is a man for whom the phrase moral compass was invented: His code determines his direction. . . . You need Jack Reacher.”—The Atlantic
     
    “I pick up Jack Reacher when I’m in the mood for someone big to solve my problems.”—Patricia Cornwell
     
    “[A] feverishly thrilling series . . . You can always count on furious action.”—Miami Herald

    Looking for More Great Reads?
    21 Books You’ve Been Meaning to Read
    Get the latest updates about Lee Child
    And go from well-read to best read with book recs, deals and more in your inbox every week.
    And go from well-read to best read with book recs, deals and more in your inbox every week.
    By clicking “SIGN UP”, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to Penguin Random House’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and understand that Penguin Random House collects certain categories of personal information for the purposes listed in that policy, discloses, sells, or shares certain personal information and retains personal information in accordance with the policy. You can opt-out of the sale or sharing of personal information anytime.
    Dismiss
    Thanks!
    Something awesome is on its way.
    Back to Top

    Visit other sites in the Penguin Random House Network

    Raise kids who love to read

    Raise kids who love to read

    Today's Top Books

    Want to know what people are actually reading right now?

     An online magazine for today’s home cook

    An online magazine for today’s home cook