1
by Lee Child
4.52011544 pages
Why you'll love it:
Another Lee Child book — if you love their writing style, this is a natural next pick.
10 Best Books Like Past Tense
If you loved Past Tense by Lee Child, here are the most similar books our readers recommend.
Quick Answer
The best books like Past Tense are:
- 1Worth Dying For by Lee Child4.5
- 2In too deep by Lee Child4.2
- 3Better Off Dead by Lee Child and Andrew Child0
- 4Die Trying by Lee Child Lee Child4.4#2
- 5The Lightning Rod by Brad Meltzer0
- 6Rising Tiger by Brad Thor0
- 7The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown0
- 8Only the Dead by Jack Carr0
- 9The Firm by John Grisham4.6
- 10Iceberg by Jennifer A. Nielsen4.7
When Jack Reacher detours to investigate his father's mysterious past in a small New England town, he discovers no record of his family ever living there—launching him into a dangerous quest for the truth. Meanwhile, two young Canadians become stranded at an eerie roadside motel where nothing is as it seems, setting the stage for a deadly collision of past and present. As Reacher digs deeper into long-buried secrets, he realizes that sometimes the past holds more danger than any current threat.
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Detailed Recommendations
2
by Lee Child
4.22025432 pages
Why you'll love it:
Another Lee Child book — if you love their writing style, this is a natural next pick.
3
by Lee Child and Andrew Child
0
Why you'll love it:
This thriller shares a gritty but assured tone that will resonate with Past Tense fans.
4
Die Trying
Jack Reacher #2 (works standalone)by Lee Child Lee Child
4.42010557 pages
Why you'll love it:
This thriller shares a relentless and propulsive tone that will resonate with Past Tense fans.
5
by Brad Meltzer
0
Why you'll love it:
This thriller shares a tense and propulsive tone that will resonate with Past Tense fans.
6
by Brad Thor
0
Why you'll love it:
This thriller shares a relentless and urgent tone that will resonate with Past Tense fans.
8
by Jack Carr
0
Why you'll love it:
This thriller shares a gritty and relentless tone that will resonate with Past Tense fans.
9
by John Grisham
4.61993501 pages
Why you'll love it:
This thriller shares a tense and propulsive tone that will resonate with Past Tense fans.
10
by Jennifer A. Nielsen
4.72023352 pages
Why you'll love it:
This thriller shares a hopeful adventure tone that will resonate with Past Tense fans.
Quick Comparison: Books Like Past Tense
| Book | Author | Rating | Year | Pages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worth Dying For | Lee Child | 4.5 | 2011 | 544 | Same author |
| In too deep | Lee Child | 4.2 | 2025 | 432 | Same author |
| Better Off Dead | Lee Child and Andrew Child | 0 | — | — | Similar vibes |
| Die Trying | Lee Child Lee Child | 4.4 | 2010 | 557 | Similar vibes |
| The Lightning Rod | Brad Meltzer | 0 | — | — | Similar vibes |
| Rising Tiger | Brad Thor | 0 | — | — | Similar vibes |
| The Da Vinci Code | Dan Brown | 0 | 2003 | — | Similar vibes |
| Only the Dead | Jack Carr | 0 | — | — | Similar vibes |
| The Firm | John Grisham | 4.6 | 1993 | 501 | Similar vibes |
| Iceberg | Jennifer A. Nielsen | 4.7 | 2023 | 352 | Similar vibes |
Authors Who Write Like Lee Child
If you enjoy Lee Child's writing style, explore these similar authors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What books are most similar to Past Tense?
The most similar books to Past Tense are Worth Dying For, In too deep, Better Off Dead.
What should I read after Past Tense?
After finishing Past Tense, readers most commonly pick up Worth Dying For next. Alternatively, you might enjoy more books by Lee Child, such as Echo Burning.
Who writes books like Lee Child?
Authors similar to Lee Child include Michael Connelly, John Sandford.
What genre is Past Tense?
Past Tense is a Thriller novel by Lee Child, published in 2018.
How long is Past Tense?
Past Tense varies in length depending on edition.
About Past Tense
The most hotly anticipated thriller of 2018 follows our hero Jack Reacher on a quest into his father's past, and climaxes in the most stomach-clenching, hair-raising, blood-curdling ticking time bomb of an adventure yet.Jack Reacher plans to follow the autumn sun on an epic road 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 very same moment, close by, a car breaks down. Two young Canadians are trying to get to New York City to sell a treasure. They're stranded at a lonely motel in the middle of nowhere. 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 that town. He knows his father never went back. Now he wonders, was he ever there in the first place?So begins another nail-biting, adrenaline-fuelled adventure for Reacher. The present can be tense, but the past can be worse. That’s for damn sure.