The House (and Apartments and Jaguars and ...) that Jack Helped Build

There really hasn’t been much doubt that international hottie and man of mystery Lee Child’s books have been a big, fat success almost since the publication of The Killing Floor in 1997. However, a funny little interview in the money section of The Times’ Web site ends any possible doubt. Child, whose 12th Jack Reacher novel, Nothing to Lose, was published in the UK last month (it hits U.S. bookstore shelves in June), tells The Times about some of the cool toys Jack Reacher has helped him obtain.

There are, for instance, the two apartments in Manhattan--one for living, one reserved exclusively for work. “The apartments cost about $950,000 each” about 10 years ago and “are in the same building so I have an 18-floor commute on the elevator.” The theme of live/work houses are repeated “inland from St. Tropez” and “a little market town” in France.

Child reports he was a “weakness” for mechanical watches, and the most extravagant thing he ever bought was a timepiece by Fabergé. “It runs a couple of minutes fast every day and it cost more than my Jaguar,” the author explains.

When asked about his worst investment, Child talks about his automobiles. “I change cars quite frequently and of course you lose a fortune on them.”

He says his best investment, though, was when he spent “£3.99 on paper and pencils to write my first book, which came out 11 years ago and is earning me a fortune all over the world.”

The Times interview is here.