8 Crime and Action Books to Read if You Love Prime Video’s Reacher, from John Puller to Mitch Rapp
A military investigator takes the lead
David Baldacci’s Zero Day introduces John Puller, an investigator with the US Army’s Criminal Investigations Division. Like Reacher, Puller combines physical strength with intelligence, and a case in remote West Virginia leads him to suspect a larger plot.
The thriller offers twists and a charismatic lead, and it is the first of four Puller novels. Baldacci is known for suspenseful thrillers, making Zero Day a strong option for readers drawn to Reacher’s mix of action and investigation.
Private eyes in Los Angeles
Robert Crais introduced private investigators Elvis Cole and Joe Pike in The Monkey’s Raincoat, published in 1987. The series now includes 20 books, with the latest, The Big Empty, released in 2025.
Across their cases in Los Angeles, Cole and Pike encounter the city’s criminal underbelly, sometimes confronting events tied to their own pasts. The novels pair sharp crime stories with a witty, emotionally engaging partnership.
A new chapter for Mitch Rapp
Mitch Rapp, Vince Flynn’s action hero, has appeared in more than 20 novels. Don Bentley’s Capture or Kill is the first Rapp novel by the franchise’s current author and is set in 2011.
The story follows the US government’s effort to capture or kill Osama bin Laden. Rapp, a CIA assassin, is tasked with gathering intelligence and stopping an Iranian adversary. Published in 2024, the book was followed by Bentley’s Denied Access in 2025 and Double Tap in 2026.
Key points
- Zero Day follows Army investigator John Puller on a case in West Virginia.
- The Elvis Cole and Joe Pike series spans 20 books, including 2025’s The Big Empty.
- Capture or Kill is Don Bentley’s first Mitch Rapp novel.
- The recommended stories explore crime, action, mystery and suspense.