In Too Deep: A Reacher Novel

Jack Reacher #29

by Lee Child, Andrew Child

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A gripping Jack Reacher thriller from the bestselling authors Lee Child and Andrew Child

Don’t miss the hit streaming series Reacher!

Reacher had no idea where he was. No idea how he had gotten there. But someone must have brought him. And shackled him. And whoever had done those things was going to rue the day. That was for damn sure.

Jack Reacher wakes up alone, in the dark, handcuffed to a makeshift bed. His right arm has suffered some major damage. His few possessions are gone. He has no memory of getting there.

The last thing Reacher can recall is the car he hitched a ride in getting run off the road. The driver was killed.

His captors assume Reacher was the driver’s accomplice and patch up his wounds as they plan to make him talk.

A plan that will backfire spectacularly . . .

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Crime, Audiobook, Action, Suspense

416 pages, Paperback

First published October 22, 2024

About the author

Lee Child was born October 29th, 1954 in Coventry, England, but spent his formative years in the nearby city of Birmingham. By coincidence he won a scholarship to the same high school that JRR Tolkien had attended. He went to law school in Sheffield, England, and after part-time work in the theater he joined Granada Television in Manchester for what turned out to be an eighteen-year career as a presentation director during British TV's "golden age." During his tenure his company made Brideshead Revisited, The Jewel in the Crown, Prime Suspect, and Cracker. But he was fired in 1995 at the age of 40 as a result of corporate restructuring. Always a voracious reader, he decided to see an opportunity where others might have seen a crisis and bought six dollars' worth of paper and pencils and sat down to write a book, Killing Floor, the first in the Jack Reacher series.

Killing Floor was an immediate success and launched the series which has grown in sales and impact with every new installment. The first Jack Reacher movie, based on the novel One Shot and starring Tom Cruise and Rosamund Pike, was released in December 2012.

Lee has three homes—an apartment in Manhattan, a country house in the south of France, and whatever airplane cabin he happens to be in while traveling between the two. In the US he drives a supercharged Jaguar, which was built in Jaguar's Browns Lane plant, thirty yards from the hospital in which he was born.

Lee spends his spare time reading, listening to music, and watching the Yankees, Aston Villa, or Marseilles soccer. He is married with a grown-up daughter. He is tall and slim, despite an appalling diet and a refusal to exercise.

Reviews

[Tim · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to rate this higher, but it took too long for Reacher to be Reacher.

[William de_Rham · Rating 1 out of 5]

A DNF for me 90 pages (or 27%) of the way through. The plot never grabbed me. Nor did the stakes. The Reacher character has become nothing more than a machine for violence. No charm. No humor. No heroism. Just a very big guy who goes from one "beat-down" to the next. I'm done with the series.

[PamG · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Too Deep by Lee Child and Andrew Child is another great addition to the Jack Reacher action thriller series. What a powerful start to the novel. Reacher wakes up in the dark and handcuffed to a bed with no memory of how he got there. He remembers hitching a ride, getting run off the road, and that the driver was killed. That’s it for his short-term memory. The people who staged the attack assume Reacher was the driver’s accomplice. They want to make his talk, but that is never a good idea with Reacher.

The main character is clever, questioning, and complex. He doesn’t take short-cuts. He likes to find patterns in situations and if they’re not there, alarm bells ring telling him something isn’t right. The memory loss aspect of the story added another dimension. The other characters aren’t quite as dynamic, but are adequate for their roles.

The well-written novel has a first sentence that grabbed me and got me rapidly turning the pages. Despite being descriptive, it doesn’t slow the pace of the story. While the book shifts points of view from protagonist Reacher to several of the antagonists, the transitions are smooth and flow well. The plot has several twists and turns resulting in a surprise or two along the way and some unpredictable moments.

Overall, the storyline gripped me and kept me engaged throughout the novel. If you enjoy thrillers with plenty of action, then I recommend that you check out this series. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine – Delacorte Press, Lee Child, and Andrew Child provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for October 22, 2024.
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My 4.07 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.

[Maggie Deaton · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have always enjoyed the Reacher novels and they are a "must have" as soon as published but this one was clearly NOT written by the same author. A choppy stilted story that had no character development and failed to ever capture my interest. Will be quite some time, if ever, before I buy this author again. Since, I own well over 20+ of his earlier books, guess I will read some of his earlier Reacher books when I get start missing him..... What a disappointment!

[Paddy Hirsch · Rating 1 out of 5]

A waste of time. It's like they asked AI to write a Reacher novel with a really lame payoff. These books have been sliding in quality since Andrew Child came on board. This is a solo effort by AC, apparently, and it shows: it's by far the worst of the series. The dialogue is strained and mechanical; the timelines don't work; the twists are heavy handed and obvious; the action is plodding and derivative. I'd be mad if I'd bought this book: thankfully I got it from the library. But still, it's several hours of my life I'm not going to get back.

[Howard Davis · Rating 1 out of 5]

As a fan of the Reacher series, I always look forward to each new endeavor of the Child’s. This installment I found to be rather insipid, shallow and unrealistic. The characters, for the most part, are not likable and it strains the imagination that Reacher, with a broken wrist, could do the things he does throughout the novel. The story is mildly interesting but, as a whole, somewhat disappointing. I thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to its publication.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

This feels like the standard for latter day Reacher. Gone is any of the character’s original charm as he now more closely resembles one of Grant’s soulless protagonists. While they course-corrected from the sociopathic vibes of the initial handover books, this is not the same Reacher. The plot is lifeless as well—it could have been written by AI. Not much action and a lot of wearisome wheel-spinning. If I didn’t get these free from the library, I’d have stopped reading this series altogether. Though my reading list would be a lot better and a lot shorter if I had to pay for everything.

[John (JC) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good read authored by Lee Child. If you want action, this is your book. No dry spots, no parts too wordy, a good plot and believable characters. There is even a dash of romance to spice things up. My fellow GR friends will not be disappointed if Jack Reacher is their cup of tea. Enjoy.

[Tracy Swindale · Rating 2 out of 5]

Flat plot. Dire characters. Disappointing.

My 29th Reacher and what a let down. I count the days in October for launch day, and this is only one of a handful of authors that I'll pay for instant access. Definitely feel like asking for a refund. This book is not the Reacher we've come to expect. The plot is wafer thin, with zero personality for the characters. Normally I'll sit down and devour a Reacher book in a day. This took 3 days because I had too many "so what?" moments. I simply didn't care what happened next. One word to sum it all up: MEH! 😬

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating 4.5
This is my first read in this series. This is book 29.. I read a lot of crime books, so this is a new genre for me.my father in law enjoys reading their books.i enjoy watching the films.Reacher was in a car crash he doesnt remember how he got there an agent dies...Will his memory return? he ends up being involved in catching the criminals... a great thriller. I enjoyed this read.

[Nigel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh dear what has happened? Andrew Child I presume. Very poor and confusing start to the story and very shallow characters, a lot of pointless narrative. The plot its self was barely explained and quite frustrating.
It felt like this book had been written by a child and a bored one at that.
Why people are saying things like best Reacher yet or Reachers back better than ever, perhaps they should read a couple of the early books and then they would understand the real Reacher not this half cocked version.
Please Lee take back the reigns, Andrew just isn’t up to the task sorry.

[Metodi Markov · Rating 0.25 out of 5]

От този боклук научаваме, че Ричър може да утрепа половината свят само с една здрава ръка, и то с лявата…

Мисля, че е време той да се пенсионира кротко някъде и да не ни занимават повече с тия простотии, които опитват да минават за нови негови приключения! 🤮

Дочетох на инат, но нямаше нужда.

[iain jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m giving this book 4.5 🌟 I really enjoyed it, I know the jack Reacher series is a long one I’ve not out grown him yet.
This book was a collaboration between Lee child and his son Andrew Child.
Jack Reacher is back in his fighting best. I mean why would these people want to fight this Sh*t house is beyond me 😂. He does like to get into these scrapes, but always comes out Roses. 🌹
The Newest of the Reacher books and for me so far the best. I do have a lot more to go through.. 🤗.
Always my thoughts. 🤗.

[Casey Reads 🌸 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Reacher book, but I have seen the show. I pictured the Reacher from the show in my mind the whole time while reading it.

This was an exciting book. An undercover fed is possibly dead that was infiltrating a crime ring. Reacher is just simply in the wrong place at the wrong time and gets caught up in the mess. Or I guess you could call it the right place, since he ends up saving the day.

Reacher is a badass, but he is also weird. He doesn’t know anything about how to work phones or computers, but somehow he is always one step ahead of everyone. I find his character very interesting. Now that I have read one of the books I can say that the show captures his character very well.

I think if you enjoy the show or other Reacher books, you will like this, as well. Action packed with a little sprinkle of romance too.

Thank you to netgalley for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Audra Grenz · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is like if Jack Reacher was a Jack Reacher wannabe and watched the tv show and went out and tried to do it himself. And failed.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5★s

Jack Reacher, drifter, loner, woke alone and unable to move. He was shackled, both feet and both hands. But there was pain in his right wrist - he had no idea where he was, how he'd arrived in the situation he was in; but he knew what to do about it. Although his head was a little fuzzy, he knew he had to escape. And so began the next adventure for Reacher, somehow - but not strangely - involved in violence, secrets, sabotage and espionage.

In Too Deep is #29 in the Jack Reacher series by Lee Child and his brother, Andrew Child, and once again it was a solid addition to the series. I enjoyed it very much, but maybe not quite as much as usual. There were a few little things I noticed that were different, but that said, I'll definitely be reading the next in the series. Recommended.

[Paulette Solinski · Rating 1 out of 5]

I haven’t liked any of the recent Reacher books and I couldn’t be more disappointed. Reacher used to be charming, witty and very well written. He was complex and fascinating. There’s nothing of him since Andrew Child joined. It’s been one of my favorite series for years but I think it needs to stop. So sad

[Louis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing entry in the series. Andrew Child takes a very simple McGuffin story and painfully seeks to complicate it by multiplying double and triple crosses between more or less interchangeable characters. And Reacher - of all the cheap ploys - suffers from amnesia that is magically cured at the exact point the story needs it. It gets convoluted without getting particularly thrilling. The amount of expository dialogue is staggering, and prevents the action from getting momentum.
To be clear, I'm a Reacher fan. But not this one.

[Alan (The Lone Librarian) Teder · Rating 4 out of 5]

A One-Handed Reacher
A review of the Random House Audio audiobook (October 22, 2024) narrated by Scott Brick and released simultaneously with the Delacorte Press hardcover/ebook.

You don't usually look for symbolism in Reacher stories, but I couldn't help but notice that in this first solo* outing by Andrew Child that Jack Reacher begins the book with a broken hand. This is soon secured in a plaster/plastic cast, which remains on for the duration. So Reacher is forced to pummel the bad guys with literally one-hand throughout. Is that Andrew Child winking at the reader as if to say that he now has to write the books alone?

The book begins in medias res with an injured and concussed Reacher handcuffed to a bed. He has no memory of what happened. He still manages to make an escape but is then confronted by a supposed ally who insists on helping him. Reacher plays along and hopes to discover how he ended up in this situation. The story soon opens up into an apparent gang of heist thieves with few loyalties to each other. A policewoman and the FBI also enter the picture and suddenly the case turns into an espionage escapade with defense secrets on the market.

Although the reader is as confused as Reacher is for the longest time (my eyes started to glaze over at the mention of NFTs) this did eventually settle down into a satisfying Reacher saga. There was the requisite amount of banter with policewoman Knight being baffled at Reacher's vagabond lifestyle of no possessions. There was the delight of Reacher managing an international flight even though his only ID is an expired passport. My now regular Reacher statistics (see below) were at a more than satisfactory level. The narration by veteran Scott Brick was excellent as always.

Reacher fans are in good hands with this continuation series by Andrew Child.

Reacher Statistics
Toothbrush mentions = 1. A disappointingly low count, from a list following a search of Reacher's belongings.
"Reacher said nothing" count = 9. This seems very low at first, but is redeemed by the following:
"Reacher didn't reply" + "Reacher didn't respond" + "Reacher didn't answer" count = 9.
"___ didn't reply" count = 7. Representing other characters who don't reply.
Coffee mentions = at least 11. The exact number of coffees drunk was difficult to count, as several times Reacher has an unknown number of refills at restaurants and on an airplane. So let's say that coffee is mentioned at least 11 times.

Footnote
* It was publicly revealed in interviews about the previous novel The Secret (Reacher #28 -2023) that after 4 co-written novels during the handover between Lee and Andrew Child (actually the pennames of brothers James and Andrew Grant), that the 4 future novels were contracted to Andrew Child alone. For marketing and cataloging purposes, the books are still filed under "Lee Child."

Trivia and Links
There is a short book trailer for In Too Deep at the Random House YouTube channel which you can see here. Note: the publicist who wrote the script for this promo is obviously not familiar with the Reacher motto: "Get your retaliation in first."

Andrew Child is interviewed about the writing of In Too Deep at The Thriller Zone and at the Poisoned Pen Bookstore [Note: In the latter, the sound begins to work at 2'01").

[Alec's Always Bored · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jack Reacher goes through a standard mystery in “In Too Deep”. In fact, one can say, once again, Jack Reacher is in too deep. Reacher wakes up chained to a makeshift bed, not knowing how he got there. It’s a standard start to a Jack Reacher novel. Reacher is always stuck somewhere, sometimes knowing how he got there and sometimes not. This time, a guy named Vidic is standing there, and tells him to stay there, and that he’ll help. Right away Reacher doesn’t trust him. Vidic has a small group of sketchy people with him, in an abandoned house, who seem to have millions of dollars worth of random antiques. Of course, this all seems fishy to Jack Reacher. Add into the fact that the FBI seems to be onto him, and an agent seems to want to want revenge on one of the members of Vidic’s crew for killing her father. Of course, this is a female agent, and she automatically takes an attraction to Reacher. Pretty standard stuff for a Reacher novel. Reacher decides to help her out, while pretending to be also on this sketchy crew’s side to crack their operation wide open.

The novel is pretty normal for a Reacher novel, while in usual Lee Child style, a step above the usual writing of a thriller novel proses wise. There’s a lot of description, if a bit too much showing instead of telling. However, Lee Child (or in this case, his brother, Andrew Child who has taken over the series), seems to write his usual descriptive and wordy writing, that moves the story along but doesn’t skim on the details. Reacher chapters are proper length, unlike the two-page chapters of James Patterson, and aren’t bogged down by tons of dialogue, like the later novels of Robert B. Parker.

However, Reacher is still Reacher, even with a new author. He still has creative ways to set up bad guys, and play both sides, and get both sides to trust him until the bad side doesn’t anymore. Ever since I started watching the Jack Reacher TV series on Amazon, the voice of Reacher on the page sounds like Alan Ritcher, the actor who plays him. That straight to the point voice.

The story takes an international crisis turns as Reacher puts together the pieces, which include a report that could pose danger to the United States as a whole. These turn out to not be the small-time crooks they appear to be at the beginning of the novel. It’s a solid Reacher thriller, and a page turning mystery. Sometimes the characters put together the pieces to the reader and sometimes the reader turns to put it together with the character. Jack Reacher is so good at putting together the pieces that the reader tends to follow Reacher as he puts it all together. This isn’t the best Jack Reacher novel ever, but it’s a solid read. I look forward to the next adventure.

[SusanTalksBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** 8/31/24 *** Finished! This is another solid entry in the Reacher series, which is in the process of being taken over by "Lee Child's" (pseudonym) younger brother, Andrew Child (another pseudonym). I was curious and did some googling to find out that in 2020 Lee Child said he couldn't keep up with the public's demand for Reacher books, so he brought on his younger brother to take over the series - first as partners, and eventually on his own. Reacher #25, The Sentinel, was published in 2020, and was the first the pair published together, and apparently they are still co-authoring, as this is book #29 in the Reacher series.

I have read a majority of Lee Child's Reacher books, and would have to go back and re-read some to really see how the tone of the writing, or the plot progression changed with the co-authors. What I can say now is that although I love the Reacher series, I feel the plots have become almost too formulaic and less personal about Reacher - always involving a major global situation, with Reacher maintaining his one outfit and toothbrush lifestyle despite his approximate age.

It might be sacrilege to Reacher fans, but I feel he should be evolving with the times a bit: getting a cellphone, understanding commonly used apps like Uber or even email, maybe even buying at least one new pair of underwear per book!? Plot-wise, I feel they are really stretching the concept of Reacher being a smart former MP who is physically intimidating. For example, in this book, his "partner in crime" was a woman who is a law enforcement officer, but her actions seem like a special ops person IMO. I also think Reacher's reliance on his FBI contact for critical information felt like a bit of a stretch. The books should instead be trying to see Reacher evolve as an aging human in some way, instead of just randomly getting mixed up in global crises.

So, I'm not going to summarize the plot except to say yes, read it, but keep in mind the book is really not too focused on Reacher as a person, and I hope the Child brothers will try to do that more in the future. 4-stars.

*** 8/29/24 *** Thank you to NetGalley and Random House/Delacorte Press for an Advanced Reader Copy of the latest Jack Reacher, #29, due for publication October 22, 2024. I love all of the Reacher books - despite the formula of his size, power, moral outrage about bad guys doing bad things, traveling with just a toothbrush, hooking up with interesting, smart and beautiful women, eating pie, drinking coffee, hitchhiking - it is comforting to me to read how he gets himself into and out of the mix.

This one starts out with Jack tied to a bed with one of his arms hurt, with no memory of how he got there. Hmmmmm........ Do we think he'll overtake and outsmart his captors? Review coming soon.

[kathleen Schneider · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was soooo disappointing! It had none of the characterization of Reacher that have been his trademark. The plot was excruciatingly obscure, pointless and difficult to follow. Clearly Lee child had little or nothing to to do with this book. Andrew should stop hanging from his daddy’s coattails and develop his own voice and writing style.

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story begins with Jack Reacher waking up, handcuffed to a bed, and with no memory of how he came to be there. You would think he was in deep trouble but this is Reacher we are talking about!

I enjoyed this the way I usually do a Jack Reacher novel - do not worry about facts, and totally believe that a person his age, with an injured arm and concussion, can still easily take someone in a physical fight. I just go with the flow which is always fast paced and exciting.

However in this book there is something missing and I cannot quite put my finger on it. I read one review which suggested it is Reacher's sense of humour which has disappeared. Maybe. I will watch out for that in the next book.

[Vasilis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure why I put myself through reading the last 5-6 Jack Reacher books. Each time, they end up being a disappointment. Every time a new one comes out, I think perhaps there's a chance that they'll revert back to how good the first ones were. But, well, no. Shallow, underdeveloped characters and plot, and is here and there and nowhere as gripping as the first 20ish books of this series. Occasionally, you get the tiniest of glimpses of the old Reacher, but these are brief and far apart.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

It used to be that time of year when Lee Child would publish his annual outing with one of my favorite fictional heroes, Jack Reacher. Those days are gone and the transition from big brother to younger brother has completed with the last year’s book, their fourth together. It is my understanding, based on separate interviews with Lee and Andrew Child, that Andrew wrote this one on his own and will be flying solo from here on out. At least that is, unless Lee gets an itch to write another Reacher novel down the road, which seems unlikely for now.

With Andrew taking over writing duties, some things have remained the same while other things have changed. Andrew was definitely not Lee, and his changes weren’t always subtle to the millions of Reacher fans. In my personal opinion, it’s taken Andrew several books to develop his own rhythm with the character and his behaviors. The result is that Andrew’s version of Reacher is not necessarily Lee’s Reacher. As a reader, you can choose to like that or not. It’s just the reality of the situation. Just like the authors who continued popular series by Tom Clancy, Robert B. Parker, Vince Flynn, and Stieg Larsson, there are always tradeoffs involved. It is no different with Reacher.

This year, Andrew has delivered his fifth and solo Reacher novel - “In Too Deep”, which continues much of the same approach, style, and plotting as his previous two Reacher adventures. For me personally, there continues to be some more incremental improvement. Reacher’s intelligence from earlier books has returned, as well as his sarcastic banter. In addition, Andrew’s plotting has gotten stronger and more complex, providing a better overall story. That isn’t to say that there aren’t some trade-offs in style and a few problems, but I will save that for later.

“In Too Deep” starts off in the middle of a very bad situation for Reacher. Jack wakes up by himself in a dark place, with his hands and feet handcuffed to a table. His right arm is in extreme pain, having suffered serious damage of some kind. His head hurts with what appears to be a likely concussion. The worst part is that he has cannot remember how he got where he is. The last thing he remembers is hitching a ride with someone and then they were run off the road. Otherwise, he has no memory of what happened…

This was a good place to start off a Reacher novel. Have Reacher in a captive situation by an unknown enemy. Put him in a weakened position in which two of his biggest physical strengths – the use of his right fist and ability to head butt – are limited or non-existent. And to top things off, give Reacher short term memory loss to amplify the mystery elements. Talk about a perfect challenge for our hero, Reacher.

For purposes of enjoying this novel, I will hold back from revealing anymore and not risk giving any of the twists and surprises away.

Like the last two books, this was an easy and fast read. In some ways too fast. Most of that is because this book is only 324 pages in length. I’ve noticed that Andrew’s novels are definitely shorter in length, his writing style more focused with shorter sentences and fewer words, and less time spent on transition moments and setting descriptions.

For me, the plotting and pacing were good, most of the time. Andrew captures much of the same plot development style and flow as his brother, Lee. Andrew’s plots have become more complex and intricate five books in. He ties thing together well, peeling the onion in layers, and every time you think that you have things figured out, he’s usually one or two steps ahead of you. Although, I still feel that Andrew comes across as a bit too clinical at moments, making Reacher feel like a caricature of himself.

I am also more comfortable with the fact that Andrew writes Reacher differently than Lee. That is reality and it isn’t going to change anytime soon. Andrew’s Reacher is focused more on his physical skills and instinctual strengths. I especially appreciated in this book how Reacher used his analytical skills more, which reminded me more of Lee Child’s writing, and I really enjoyed getting the “smart” Reacher back.

There were a couple of elements that were not as strong as I wished they had been. The bad guy, in this case bad guys, felt weak and didn’t really serve as compelling adversaries. Because of that, it felt like the ending did not fully deliver on the buildup as well as it could have. It wasn’t a bad ending, but it seems like Andrew struggles some with putting it all together at the end. Mechanically he got all of the pieces connected, but emotionally, it still felt a little bit lacking when it came to experiencing closure. By the time you got to the climax, the villains end up turning on themselves, robbing Reacher of a full showdown and the reader of emotional closure. Creating persuasive and worthy adversaries for Reacher is still a work in progress for Andrew.

That being said, we, as readers, must come to terms with understanding that Andrew is not Lee and cannot be Lee. He is his own writer. I fully understand that some Reacher fans will learn to enjoy Andrew’s version of Reacher and others will never be satisfied with Andrew, choosing rather to pick it apart. Although it probably doesn’t feel that way after reading my review, I am probably somewhere in the middle. Lee was certainly burning out on writing Reacher. That was clear in his later interviews, so it was time to move on.

In the same way, it isn’t fair to judge Andrew Child with the expectation of being a Lee Child clone or copycat. We owe him the right to deliver Reacher using his own style, which means that we may have to accept his version of Reacher with different nuances than that which his creator instilled. At that point, we can choose to stick with him or leave, and that’s a personal choice readers can make on their own.

For me, here’s the bigger problem that I perceive we face with Reacher. It’s not so much a change from Lee to Andrew as authors, as much as it is the aging and saturation of Reacher. “In Too Deep” is the 29th Reacher novel. Let me repeat that. The 29th Reacher novel. That’s a lot of books, folks. My problem is really less about Andrew’s style and more about trying to keep Reacher fresh, finding worthy adversaries, and conflict that challenges him both physically and mentally. That’s a lot harder to do after 29 books. Lee Child himself decided he was done after 24 books because he quite honestly ran out of ideas. When readers complain the series has lost something, I tend to think the truth actually lies less with Andrew and more with the fact that having 29 books already published makes it awful hard to maintain momentum and quality.

If that is the case, in addition to taking over a well-loved literary character, the task of coming up with new ideas becomes a tougher task than an easier one for Andrew. To me, that is the real challenge. Keeping Reacher fresh and exciting while not deviating too far from his well-established mythos is a really hard thing to do. It is the same problems that writers face when carrying on the works of authors who have passed away, like Spenser, Jack Ryan, Mitch Rapp, and Lisbeth Salander. Talk about an impossible challenge.

The reality is there’s already a lot of Reacher novels and stories. The good news is that Andrew has been there with Lee since day one of the creation and birth of Reacher. If anyone has a chance of keeping Reacher relevant and worth reading, he’s our best chance. For me, I am going to appreciate the ride as long as I can, because like Reacher, I am aging too. I’m in my 60’s now and reflection has become a bigger part of my life. My thought is, let’s enjoy it while we can.

For me, Andrew is getting better. “In Too Deep” was a solid 3.5 stars read for me (and please don’t get me started on Goodreads not having half-stars).

[Mike Mason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Madeira holiday book #4.

For many years the only books I purchased were the John Connolly ‘Charlie Parker’ series and the Lee Child ‘Jack Reacher’ books. So it was good to find a Reacher book in the Apartments library that I must have forgotten to order. Having met Lee Child at a book signing I have a bit of an affinity with the suave looking gentleman.

Whilst the series has never really matched the first book ‘Killing Floor’ in quality. I do not find the addition of his younger brother as co-author a handicap.

This story has Reacher being ‘rescued’ from a car crash. The FBI, Russians, large villains, female interest and nuclear secrets tick off most of the other stories usual points. And Reacher manages to break the requisite number of baddies bones (including surprisingly his own).

Managed to read in a few hours. The short addition of an extract from his next adventure - ‘Exit Strategy’ I enjoyed. But hasn’t prompted me to pre-order on Amazon.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though not the best in the series, it is still worth reading. Long live Jack Reacher!

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lee Child works with his brother and collaborator, Andrew Child, to pen the latest Reacher novel. The nomadic finds himself in yet another unpredictable situation that has Reacher wondering about his luck. After waking up handcuffed to a hospital bed, Reacher must begin putting his memories together into a cohesive narrative, which opens up added questions and an investigation into some criminal activity. A great addition to the series, with Andrew Child complementing his brother’s long-running collection.

After waking up alone in a hospital room, Jack Reacher tries to piece things together. With a handcuff affixed to his wrist and connected to the bed, Reacher can only presume that he is in a little trouble. Slowly, as the fog lifts, he begins piecing it all together.

After hitching a ride, Reacher began making small talk with the driver. It was soon thereafter that the driver was targeted, leaving him dead and Reacher injured. It can only be presumed that whomever it was that attacked the vehicle thought Reacher was involved. How little can this mysterious individual know by putting Jack Reacher into the crosshairs?

Shaking off the hospital situation, Reacher begins his journey to put things together and exacts some revenge for the attack. This sees him caught in a web of lies and a Russian with an agenda all his own. Reacher teams up with a local who has some connections of her own. All of this could help solve the mystery and yet create more collateral damage if things go south. The Child brothers do well spinning yet another great story in a series that never seems to lose its momentum.

I have long enjoyed the work of Lee Child and his creation of Jack Reacher. The stories work well as a series, but can mostly be read on their own, as each location proves to be a new mystery. The narrative progresses well and at a swift speed. Things find their momentum with great storytelling and keen attention to plot points. The characters, usually one-offs aside from Reacher, help add some excitement to the piece and left me eager to see how they would all connect. Plot points prove to be at the centre of the story and provide the reader something to use as a guide to the larger storytelling experience. The nomadic ways of Jack Reacher prove to be key to the surprises at the core of this book. While Lee Child has moved into collaborating on his novels, they remain of high calibre and keep series fans pleased with the end result.

Kudos, Messrs. Child, for another great Reacher conundrum!

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[Michael Dorsher · Rating 1 out of 5]

Struggle to make it through. Reacher here is written by Andrew Childs, who doesn’t seem to understand Reacher as a character.

In this novel he is:
indecisive
indifferent
incomplete with the bad guys
incompetent with conversation
injurred and handicapped in (1) short term memory loss [comes back randomly with no real ‘ah-ha’ moment], (2) concussion protocols, and (3) one injured hand from the beginning

Even the title and titular line reveal are uninspired:
“He wasn’t under too long. He was in too deep. He couldn’t get back to the light. It’s kind of tragic, honestly.”

The whole book is kind of tragic, honestly.

The biggest problem Reacher faces is in his opening scene. Everything else is a big “meh”

As with all Andrew Child co-authored stories: skip

[Charisse · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF.. I tried. I couldn’t get into the plot.