Name Not Given

Jack Widow #6

by Scott Blade

Former undercover Navy cop, Jack Widow lived it rough and now he's living it up. Or so he thinks.

Starting out on a beach in Miami, strolling up the coast of Florida, Widow is watching the sea, getting tan from the hot sun, and surfing the greenish waves. Life doesn't get much better in his opinion.

One day on Cocoa Beach, Widow is waiting for his set on a morning that is overcast with storm clouds. Which is good news to him because the tourist have gone away and the beach is far from crowded. More ocean for him.

While waiting, a metal object sticking up in the sand, washed in by the waves, catches his eye.

Widow picks it up. It's a pair of military dog tags. Immediately, he sees something very, very wrong.

All the normal dog tag information is there. He sees the Social Security Number, the blood type, and the religion of the owner of the dog tags.

The thing that disturbs him isn't what's there. It's what's not there. There is no name. No first name. No last name.

Someone scratched off both.

Curiosity plants itself down deep, making Widow want to find out who's name is missing? And why would someone scratch it off?

But what starts out as seemingly inconsequential, takes Jack Widow into a web of murders that someone in the military wants to be gone and buried.

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

309 pages, Paperback

First published August 13, 2017

About the author

USA TODAY and AMAZON BESTSELLER - Scott Blade is a Nomadvelist, a drifter and author. He writes the bestselling Jack Widow book series, two of which reached the Top 100 list on Amazon, knocking Harry Potter & Jack Reacher off the top spots, which angered one of the big publishers. Scott wears that fact as a badge of honor.

Scott Blade isn't a traditional novelist who spends his time stuck behind a computer desk in some dreary office. He truly walks the walk. He drifts around like the nomad he writes about, touring the world, writing mysteries and searching for the perfect coffee.

Reviews

[Terence M [Quot libros, quam breve tempus!] · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Inadvertently Deleted🙄! - 04:00 pm 20/05/2026
Restored to Goodreads - 04:40 pm 20/05/2026
Scott Blade - Jack Widow 06 - Name Not Given 2017
[Audible Direct+File✔] 2026 - Narrator: Alan Philip Ormond, 06.37 hrs
Heard on 14/05/2026 - Rating: 3-Stars
I remember that this book started quite badly and finished quite well!

[Alan (the Lone Librarian) Teder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Widow on the Beach
A review of the Black Lion LLC eBook (August 13, 2017).

I also had my passport, bank card, and a toothbrush. Carrying a toothbrush was the only lesson that I had learned from my father, although I never even met him. He was supposedly a drifter and former Army officer.

Jack Widow is surfing on a deserted Cocoa Beach in Florida and finds a pair of military dog tags where the owner's name has been viciously scratched out. When the owner's body is found it bears all the signs of being the latest victim of a known serial killer. The catch is that same killer was already arrested and sentenced and is awaiting execution on death row. Could the convicted convict be innocent?

Widow is pulled into the reopened investigation which unveils a conspiracy at a high level in the military. The reveal leads to a shocking conclusion.

This was a fairly standard Widow outing with the usual initial misunderstanding with the authorities, followed by the unrealistic involvement of the now civilian drifter becoming involved in an official investigation. The ending stepped over into a complete fantasy with the usual enactment of retribution on the villains.

If Jack Widow is new to you, you might want to read my review of Gone Forever (Jack Widow #1 - 2016) at Son of a Reacher Man for an introduction to the character.

Trivia and Links
Author Scott Blade first introduced the character as Jack Cameron and presumably those books had many more Jack Reacher references and were likely subject to a copyright claim (This is my assumption, I did not research any of the legal history). Those books in the Jack Cameron series are now out of print and the character was revised as Jack Widow in a series which has now reached 22 novels (as of 2026). Unlike books #1 and #2 which were the same titles & plots in both series, all of the books from #3 onwards have completely different plots in the Jack Widow series.

[2shay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review by 2shay..........🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟.....

Here I am, days later and still immersed in Scott Blade’s fascinating character, Jack Widow. I reviewed book one in the series a few days ago and have never looked back. Just kept going!

Nearly everyone will love this series. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good who-done-it story. I think men will really like Widow. He solves the problem, sometimes brutally, spends a few days...and nights...with the pretty woman, and moves on. He’s is a true bada$$, and enjoys the freedom to keep moving.

The author has done a brilliant job, so far, in placing Widow in situations that are new and exciting. It’s funny, really, how inadequate the 5 star rating system is. Every one of these books is pure goodness, but I do have a few favorites, including this one. In this story, the author had me guessing to the very end.

I’m keeping this very short. I’m moving on to the next book. I’ll let you know if the stories get boring or repetitive. For now, just start this series and...

Enjoy!

[Stefan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Name Not Given is the sixth book in Scott Blade’s Jack Widow series and I quite enjoyed it. It was a quick read as I really did not want to put it down.

This time around, we find Widow down on Cocoa Beach in Florida looking to relax, unwind, get some sun, and surf some waves. But, as things tend to go in Jack Widow’s life, plans have gone off the rails once again. Not only is there a nasty thunderstorm that has rolled in, the local Beach Cops are riding his butt for being on a closed beach. Once he finally gets things settled with them, he continues his walk along the beach when a piece of metal catches his eye in the sand… a set of military dog tags with the names scratched off of them. That is not only suspicious, but against military rules. Widow’s gut feeling tells him something just is not right.

Being ex-miliary, Widow is determined to figure out who the dog tags belong to and find out why the names has been scratched off. He asks around for the nearest Army base, and heads that way. Upon arriving at the base, things go from bad to worse for Widow (of course they do), and he finds himself up to his neck in a murder investigation that was supposed to be wrapped up. Just could not have a Jack Widow book without him getting himself into a hot mess now could we?

Plenty of action in the book as always. The flow of the book is great.

Once again, if you enjoyed any of the previous books in the series, I am sure you will also enjoy this one. I look forward to reading more from this series in the near future.

[Jo-Ann Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 6th book in the series.

Our hero is spending some time by the ocean…and he gets caught in a storm which almost takes what little he does have. Thankfully he finds most of his stuff. Then he finds dog tags washed up.

Our hero does what always thinks is right and this time he ends up in handcuffs and behind bars - again. However, before long he’s helping the FBI out with a case they thought was solved but wasn’t…or is it?

Between flying all over the US, meeting up with Secretary of State, secret service and getting his bell well and truly rung… our hero has a busy time of it.

Will he and the FBI find out who’s the bad guy in the case? What the Secretary of State and secret service have to do with everything? Does he survive his bell being rung for the last time?

It took some with keeping up with who was were and when in this one. Some of the excuses and theories were a bit out there. Although the ending was more unexpected which is always a great thing. In this one we start to feel our hero is starting to feel his age…could he be wanting to slow down and thinking of having a family more? Will he get there though?

[Susan Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite in this series, so far!

I liked how this began with what the story was based on, followed by Widow fighting to get air while surfing in Cocoa Beach. The method the killer used in this book was a totally new one to me. There was so much action I had a hard time putting it down to do chores. The crooked politician in this reminded me of what's happening with our current administration. However, maybe not quite as brutal as methods used in this book. But, hey, who knows. Anyway, excellent read! I'm a Reacher, and Harvath fan, along with all other popular current and ex-military characters, and Jack Widow is right there at the top! The only thing I didn't like was the FBI agent who was kept on the case after her husband was killed by the supposed killer. I don't believe that's SOP at the FBI. Ttyl peeps, and keep reading!

[Arthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Name Not Given (Jack Widow #6) by Scott Blade

Jack is surfing on Cocoa Beach on a rented board, when he's swept under the waves, fighting to get back to the surface and a breath of needed air. From there, things go worse. He's arrested by beach patrol cops, put in jail, turned over to the FBI, gets involved in trying to save an individual who is on death row, claiming that he was innocent, but convicted anyway. All this because Jack found a set of Army dog tags that has the name eradicated by filing or scraping to leave their owner unknown. This is one time Jack's investigation into the incident puts him and the FBI agents in harm's way. Hang on, this is a wild ride. Thanks for a great read.

[Mbsuther · Rating 5 out of 5]

Name not given, huh?

I do enjoy books about loner who used to be good guys and still are. After 20 Reacher books, they started to become monotonous. I do not like monotonous or the same old, same old. What I like about the Jack Widow series ( and Orphan X, Victor the Assassin, etc.) is that they are still fresh. The action is very good and the secondary characters are integral to the story, not in the periphery. This story was well paced, and even though I somewhat figured out the killer, the twist at the end was well conceived. I will continue to enjoy the series. A 4.6 out of 5.

[Anon O. Mous · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book started out really good, but I didn't care for the ending. I had trouble with some plausibility of how Widow was able to sneak by trained enemies, hired to prevent what he did with little effort. I also have trouble with characters who appoint themselves judge, jury, and executioner. I understand killing in self defense. But when the "hero" of the story decides to shoot unarmed enemies at point blank range, I have a problem with that. Like father, like son, I suppose. True, the baddies couldn't continue as they were going, but really?

[john alder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read. I am really enjoying following Jack Widow on his various adventures. Each book has a completely different story and tomorrow I will be making a start on his seventh book, ‘Midnight Caller’. The author Scott Blade has a wonderful detailed imagination and ensures that the reader becomes fully immersed in each book. They are very difficult to put down once you start to read them. Again, a very well deserved set of 5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack Widow trying to be a good citizen yet the FEDS go off half cocked, I wouldn’t doubt there is truth to this. Boy is this sad to be a VETERAN and be treated like shit. Oh well, an insight into the real world. Was a pretty mixed up story with a twisted ending. I found Blades first chapter a little weird but later on I got it. Think he didn’t need to do it that way but who am I. It another opinion. 5

[Mike Marsbergen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably the best Jack Widow yet. NAME NOT GIVEN is written in the first-person perspective, which means Scott Blade is a bit more focused on the plot. There are fewer typos and grammatical issues in this book, though they do still exist. I didn't see any reason for Chapter 1 to essentially work as a prologue—just starting with Widow finding the dog tags would have been sufficient. Polish up the typos, and I would actually recommend this to fans of Reacher and thriller fans in general.

[Reggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Widow in a jam…

Widow is enjoying a lil surf time in Cocoa Beach, FL when he finds a set of dogtags. He does the right thing and turns them in to the nearest Army base…only to find himself entangled in murders of a serial killer. This one involves the FBI and a former Sec of DOD..Widow finds himself working to prove the innocence of the convicted killer! A bit slower than prior books, with most of the action occurring in the last few chapters. Still worth the read.

[Paul Schifferli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of action, Widow keeps up the tradition of his fathers endless roaming. Just like Reacher he always finds a way to get in and out of trouble..He seems to have a harder time of finding women who will fall in bed with him than his dad did. It's an enjoyable read, and I'd like to think that as time go's on the stories will get deeper.

[Richard Cowart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great reading

Even on a beach relaxing Widow still finds trouble with the law. After extracting himself from the local boys he finds something in the sand that he feels he must turn in to the military which in turn gets him arrested by the feds. A many twists and turns story that makes for enjoyable reading.

[Ramona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good timing

Widow seems to attract trouble, but it's never anything he can't fix. He's got a reputation in high places from his former military career, and they pounce on him for help. This story gets hot and heavy pretty quickly. He manages to save the day by going AWOL from his hospital bed. Great read!

[Ollie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have enjoyed the previous books in this series. This one seemed kind of like two stories pasted together. It has a really weird family dynamic. It also showed the under belly of the FBI, the army and our politicians. This book was made up of liars and those who were accessories. So many killings.

[Lynne Clayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hero.

I can't call Widow anything less than a hero, he's the man you want on your side, always.
He doesn't look for trouble yet it seems to find him wherever he goes, then.....well, just look out. I'm on my second time round reading these great books, and there will probably be a third time too. Try them, you will love them I'm sure.

[William Viergever · Rating 5 out of 5]

Six Down, More to Go

OK Book 6 was a little dark, scary even. I love how Blade comes up with the variety of ways that Widow gets sucked in to start the story and how the plot develops from there. At some point I thought I had it figured out, but then was thrown a curve, but then it turns out I was right . Now, my binge reading continues with Book 7.

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another entertaining read with Widow’s dry and somewhat cynical outlook providing a platform for some wry social, political and military commentary. When a gruesome death mirrors a series of past murders, it appears that the condemned killer, about to be executed, may be innocent. Widow is firstly under suspicion, and then brought on board to get to the truth. A story with a twist in the tail.

[Marco Morissette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scott Blade just wrote the best of his books so far! #6 of the Jack Widow série is by far the best! The plot and how the author used all the characters keep you on the edge until the last! I was having hard time putting it down!

[P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kept me guessing

This was a book that kept me guessing and wondering until the end. It meant that I found it difficult to step away from. There are very gruesome killings, pressure from both the FBI and an old man who may be near to death.

[Jeffrey H. Bryden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another adventure that's hard to put down

Widow continues to get himself into, and then out of, sticky situations. And wooing an attractive FBI agent along the way doesn't seem to slow his crime-solving, kill-the-bad guys capabilities! I'm ready for Book 7!

[Mary Rowe · Rating 3 out of 5]

vigilante justice in the person of Jack Widow

Jack Widow once again extracts revenge and retribution at the highest level against a powerful, respected family. Gruesome deaths are involved .

You have been warned!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow

Such deceit. You never know who you can trust. Widow finds trouble no matter where he goes. Can not wait to start the next book. As always keep writing and I will keep reading. Thank you.

[Johnnie Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Following in Reacher’s footsteps

A lot of books will claim to be like Reacher. Widow is the closest next thing. Never a dull moment. I’m reading them in order, and I’ve read each one in one sitting. I’d want Widow on my side if I were in trouble.

[Robert Lake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to put down. You have to read this one.

It started slow but am glad I got past the first few pages. Great story. This author has a special talent that keeps you wanting to find out what is on the next page.

[Lee Wilkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

fast paced wild lol great read but so unbelievable to normal actions ,

It’s like all blade books the bad guys lose thank goodness! Thanks for the bad guys not wining! More books please soon!

[Kay Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Widow

Again, Jack Widow is presented as a man with no destiny, but shows how resilient and wise he can be. Plus, I love any stories that include ex-NavySEALS. Thought I had read the entire series, but somehow had missed this one. I look forward to more of Jack Widow.

[Shawn W · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another great book in the Jack Widow series. Although this book took me 3 days to read (compared to 36 hours like the previous Widow novel) this one was just as good. Widow is one bad SOB! This book is a fast paced thrill ride you don’t want to miss. Don’t hesitate to grab this one.