No Plan B (Jack Reacher 27), Lee Child and Andrew Child

November 7, 2022 4:00 PM

In Gerrardsville, Colorado, a woman dies under the wheels of a moving bus. The death is ruled a suicide. But Jack Reacher saw what really happened: A man in a gray hoodie and jeans, moving stealthily, pushed the victim to her demise—before swiftly grabbing the dead woman’s purse and strolling away.

Reacher, as always, stumbles into something bigger and darker than it seems. This time, though, there are two other people making their way separately toward the inevitable final confrontation.

posted by Etrigan (4 comments total)

This is, yes, the 27th virtually indistinguishable action-fest in the Reacher chronology. No time jumps back to his Army past, no reunions with former teammates, just a straightforward story about Jack Reacher finding a mystery and punching it until it dies.

The subplots (a teenager tries to find his father, an arsonist for hire wants revenge on... someone, for... something) don't really add much to it, but you have to give the Childs credit for at least trying to do something kind of novel.

All in all, a solid second-tier Reacher book. Andrew has definitely re-energized Lee.
posted by Etrigan at 4:03 PM on November 7, 2022

just a straightforward story about Jack Reacher finding a mystery and punching it until it dies.

hah! That's a perfect description of Reacher books.

I have not read this but I'll give it a whirl.
I have not been impressed by the last couple of books written (it seems) mostly by his kid.
They seem to be missing something.
posted by madajb at 12:37 AM on November 8, 2022 [1 favorite]

Andrew Child is his younger brother. Competence Porn. I much prefer his Army exploits or when Reacher reunites with his old buddies. Unfortunately there was that one book where most of them were killed off.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 5:46 AM on November 8, 2022 [1 favorite]

I like the Reacher series a lot and have read 90% of them and I REALLY HATED this book. It had such a different tone, too many characters, I don't know. The dialogue felt off. Apologies if you liked it! It was the first Lee/Andrew one I have read. I hope they aren't all like this.
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 4:44 PM on April 6