Verleden tijd

Jack Reacher #23

by Lee Child, Jan Pott (Translator)

In Verleden tijd gaat Jack Reacher op een avontuurlijke zoektocht naar zijn verleden.

Jack Reacher, de eeuwige zwerver, bevindt zich toevallig in een kleine stad in New Hampshire en herinnert zich dat zijn vader daarvandaan komt. Maar als hij op zoek gaat naar diens vroegere huis, blijkt er helemaal nooit een Reacher in New Hampshire te hebben gewoond. Familiegeheimen komen terug en achtervolgen Jack Reacher in deze opwindende thriller – zijn persoonlijkste avontuur tot nu toe.

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

392 pages, Paperback

First published November 5, 2018

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

[Kaceey · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5*
Jack Reacher is back and tougher than ever! And as anticipated, big trouble seems to be hot on his trail…

Once again, Jack Reacher is traveling along the back roads of America. His way of avoiding unwanted attention. Hitch-hiking is a roll of the dice at best, and now he’s found himself unexpectedly dropped–off in New Hampshire. He finds himself drifting back in time to his childhood, his father fondly telling him all about his hometown of Laconia.
It wasn’t in Jacks’ game plan, but at the crossroads he now found himself at, has a choice to make. It looks like all roads lead to Laconia, New Hampshire. Home. And that’s the direction he’s chosen. Who says you can never go home...? Maybe it’s high time to get in touch with his family roots.

Shorty and Patty have concocted a fool-proof plan. They’ll drive from Canada straight through to New York to make a quick sale for some easy money. Only they didn’t plan on getting stranded at what appears to be the Bates Motel! There is definitely something strange going on in this odd-ball place. Are the motel owners trying to help them? Or...what exactly do they want from them?

As the two seemingly separate stories converge, the tension builds to an explosive crescendo.
This is one of the darker Jack Reacher novels I’ve read. The story-line of Patty and Shorty will have your heart pounding and your blood running cold.

If you’re a Jack Reacher fan then this is a must read for you! One of my favorites from the series so far!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Lee Childs for an ARC to read in exchange for an honest review

[Paula K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been reading the Jack Reacher series since Lee Child wrote his first. How wonderful it is after finishing #23 in the series to say it’s definitely one of my favorites!

Jack Reacher, our 6’5” ex-military hero is on a journey from Maine to California and decides to take a pit stop in Laconia, New Hampshire to check out his father’s birthplace. Scanning through records at town hall and researching census from long ago bring him in contact with a lot of different characters - some nice and some not-so-nice. I always like to see the not-so-nice come into play as this means some action is to be expected. I’ve got to tell you I love his hand-to-hand fighting skills that emerge and the surprise of his foes. Bring on all the details! My father had us watching every war movie and John Wayne film since I was a kid. I love, love, seeing Reacher beat up the bullies. Bring it on!

What I really liked about this book is the duel storyline. Two young Canadians, Shory, and his smarter girlfriend, Patty, break down at an isolated, creepy motel not far off from Laconia. Unbeknownst to them, they are about to enter hell. They are in desperate need of Reacher’s help. The two stories converge with a lot of action and excitement. Meanwhile, there are some other nasty folks around that our hero gives a mighty fine lesson.

A definite stand out for me is the female ex-MP, now Laconia cop, Reacher interacts with throughout the book.

If you have never met Jack Reacher yet, but would like to meet a man that likes intelligent women, doesn’t take any crap from anyone, and will protect those that are in despair, read this book. It doesn’t matter that you haven’t read the others in the series. Start here!

5 out of 5 exciting stars

Thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and the fabulous Lee Child for the ARC.

[Dorie - Cats&Books :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

***NOW AVAILABLE***

This is the second book by Lee Child that I have read and I definitely enjoyed this one more than the other which was “The Midnight Line”. I liked the dual storyline which converges later on in the story. However I did feel that the one with Reacher in it, looking into his “family tree” to be quite slow moving and a bit dry. The second story line with the two young people stranded finally at a more than creepy motel was the most interesting in the book.

I like my characters well drawn and I think Mr. Child did a great job in helping me get to know Patty and Shorty and how they are hoping to set up a shop in Florida with the help of whatever is in that extremely heavy suitcase which they are unwilling to part with even when their lives are at stake. They have stopped at a motel during their cross country travels and this ends up to be the most incredibly wrong decision they have ever made.

The motel in question is being run by one of the most depraved and money hungry bunch of goons I’ve ever come across, headed by a man with the last name of Reacher, go figure??? We aren’t really sure what they are up to until the ¾ mark in the book but I had a pretty good hunch once the other “guests” started arriving and let’s just say that Patty and Shorty didn’t have much say in the process. Their clever thinking and love for each other help them through their ordeals.

Meanwhile we are still following Reacher and his quest for family knowledge as he searches libraries and town halls for records of his father and grandfather. I felt this was more than a bit boring and was anxious to get back to Patty and Shorty. His extreme detail in parts still drives me crazy example “Reacher hit him in the face, with a straight right, maximum force, crashing and twisting. Like a freight train. The kid’s lights went out immediately. He went slack and gravity took over. Reacher kept his left hand rock solid. All the kid’s weight fell on his own locked elbow. Reacher waited . . . .. . . The kid’s elbow broke and his arm turned inside out. Reacher let him fall, etc. etc. etc.” Too much detail already.

In what I have come to know as true Reacher style his path converges with those in trouble just when he is most needed. I have to admit that I’m a little surprised at how many people are so enthralled with this character as he doesn’t grow or change in his books, at least in what I’ve read. He is also endowed with super-human strength and smarts but I was willing to suspend belief for entertainment.

All in all I still had fun reading this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading series books with a character that they can count on to “come to the aid of those in need”.

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley.

[James Thane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm beginning to feel sorry for Jack Reacher. The poor guy can't even begin to take a trip somewhere without immediately running into a problem that demands his attention and derails his travel plans. The opening of this book finds Jack in Maine. With colder weather coming on, he decides to travel cross country, diagonally, from Maine to San Diego, California.

As is his usual practice, once the spirit moves him, he sticks out his thumb and catches a ride, but it lasts only a few miles before Jack gets let out in the middle of the woods in New Hampshire. As he's contemplating which road to take next, he sees a road sign for Laconia, New Hampshire, the small town where he believes his father was born. Curious, and having never been there, he decides to delay his trip by a day and check out the town. Once there, the situation will immediately become complicated--big surprise!

At virtually the same time, a young Canadian couple sets out on a long road trip to Florida. They're carrying very valuable cargo in the trunk of their ancient car, which they hope will set them up in a new life in Florida. However, just as they're passing near Laconia, the car overheats; the engine begins to clank, and things are not looking good. They see a sign for a motel out in the middle of nowhere and decide that they'd better get a room while they figure out what's wrong with the car.

The motel is brand new, and not quite finished. It's run by four fairly creepy guys and it turns out that the young couple are the only guests. But once stopped, their car won't start again, and so the couple has no choice but to check in. Their situation too will immediately become complicated.

The two stories run on parallel tracks until they very end, when Reacher's story intersects with that of the young couple. The book moves along swiftly and readers familiar with the series will know exactly what to expect. It's a fun read--perfect for a day at the beach or at the lake with Jack Reacher and a cold six-pack of Trout Slayer Ale or some other suitable beverage.

[kartik narayanan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Past Tense is an okayish Jack Reacher. I never felt drawn into it unlike the earlier ones in the series. This could be due to Jack Reacher outstaying his welcome - there are only so many plots available given the context or it could be that with every story, Jack Reacher becomes more and more like a Superman-Ninja combination.

And that is a nice segue into one of the indications that Lee Child is himself aware of it. There were two separate threads in the story which meet only towards the end. And the meeting felt like a contrivance rather than two plot points seamlessly merging into each other. So, my take is that Lee Child had to bring in a non Jack Reacher story line to bring back the tension into the series again.

Welp, I am not hopeful that this series is going to be back on an upward swing anytime soon.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only for the already-devoted Reacher fans and then.... The challenge for Child on book #23 is that he's already written several books in which the bad guys do unspeakable things to children, are holding one or more entire towns or communities hostage by threats of violence to anyone who steps out of line. He's also written several books in which Reacher hooks up with the FBI agent investigating either related crimes or the targets of Reacher's interest. In order to avoid duplicating these plot points and being accused of simply re-hashing the same old same old, Child here just phoned it in minus those features. The page-turning aspect remains, but there's no heart to Past Tense. Reacher plays superhero to random strangers he encounters in a situation where they could be harmed, and kills a half-dozen bad guys who connected on reddit or 4chan to pursue an unlawful and immoral impulse. We aren't invested in the people he saves and his reason for lingering in this rural New Hampshire setting is flimsy, at best.

No one should encounter Jack Reacher for the first time via Past Tense. If I hadn't gotten to like him in the 7 - 10 Reacher novels I've read before this one, I'd not pick up another based on this experience. This series appeals to that unseemly side of most of us that finds satisfaction in Reacher's vigilante justice, or at least we don't feel terribly badly about the absence of the justice system prior to an execution or two committed by our favorite civilian. But there has to be more to these novels than reading about killing bad guys with impunity, or the thin veneer that we're here for more than that begins to disappear.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lee Child returns with another Reacher adventure that takes things down some untraversed pathways, particularly interesting for series fans. When Jack Reacher sets out for California, he has high hopes about this journey. However, early during the trek, he ends up having to get out along the road in New Hampshire, where a road sign rattles in the wind. The town of Laconia triggers a memory for Reacher, which he soon recollects is Stan Reacher’s place of birth, a father who taught him the steely ways of Marine life. Armed with a great deal of curiosity and all the time in the world, Reacher ventures towards the outskirts of Laconia. Liaising with some of the locals, Reacher begins piecing together some of his family history, at least until his father fled to join the Marines at the age of seventeen. However, there are some who want nothing more than to chase him out of town, possibly because of his name, but surely also due to the fact that Reacher is never one to hold is tongue...or a punch to the face. Meanwhile, in another part of town, two Canadians arrive in their beat-up vehicle and hope to only pass through, though a group of men who run the local motel may have other ideas. As they soon learn, Laconia, New Hampshire is more than just a dot on the map, but how do they play into the larger narrative? With Reacher discovering a great deal about his ancestors and being part of a larger dust-up, he could be the only hope for those looking to forget all about this community. What Reacher secrets have been buried for over seventy years and how will this opportune visit change the dynamic for the decades to come? Child does a wonderful job in creating a strong story and keeping the reader enthralled. Recommended to series fans who want to see yet another unique angle to this ever-evolving collection.

I know some people have read and reviewed this book, feeling that it is missing an essential piece of the Reacher puzzle. I, on the other hand, constantly marvel at how Lee Child has been able to take a nomadic protagonist and always find new ways to inject life and excitement into his life. Jack Reacher has seen it all in his years, but there has always been that missing gap in his past. Born abroad and having traveled as part of a Marine family, Jack Reacher never knew his grandparents and did not hear speak of them. His father, Stan, left as soon as he could get out and never came back. Now, Jack is able to peel back the mystery and learn a little more about young Stan, as well as the people he would call grandparents. As he delves a little deeper, Reacher finds more family members, who tell an interesting tale that will surely help shape this nomadic man as he continues his treks across America. The secondary story offers some interesting characters as well, two young twenty somethings who are unknowingly trapped in town by a group of young men. They become guinea pigs to a plan that they could not have foreseen. Child offers some interesting storylines related to these two, helping to shed the ‘Canadian passivity’ as soon as things get hellish. The story was quite well supported, using the typical ‘moseying Reacher’ before adding the element of personal connection for the man and helping the series fan to learn a great deal while also noticing Reacher’s typical rough-cut personality. There may be some wonderful nuggets on which Child can build in novels to come, which I hope continue. This is one series that I have found does not lose its momentum as it continues, as Child mixes ‘past’ and ‘present’ storylines in novels to better understand Reacher. While it may seem trivial, as a long-time audiobook listener of the series, I have come to discover that Child seems overly connected to the word ‘said’ when tying off dialogue. While it seems minor, to hear ‘he said.... she said....he said’ repeatedly during a dialogue makes for some mundane verbal tennis that can grate on the listener’s nerves after a time. As I said before, this seems to be a constant in books. On the note of audiobooks, I was so pleased to see Scott Brick at the helm and hope that he might be the new voice of Reacher, who suits it as well as Dick Hill did in novels past. What’s next for Lee Child and Jack Reacher? I suppose we will have to wait, but hopefully not too long.

Kudos, Mr. Child, for more wonderful story writing. I know you have many ideas brewing and I cannot wait to see what twists you will toss into your novels and short stories.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, how I love this Jack Reacher series!

I’ve always felt the thinking of timing, speed, movement, sequences, and assessments was Reacher’s. From previous books, I know Reacher has that internal clock and he just knows what time it is. And he pictures how things work out before taking action. In this book, I began to think that those types of thoughts were being applied to some of the other characters. I found myself wondering if it was because there were spoilery things (that I won’t mention) going on with the characters. Then it occurred to me that maybe this was really Lee Child’s thinking and it was leaking out to other characters’ thoughts and behaviors. I was a bit dismayed to think Reacher wasn’t the only one thinking like this, and I don’t know how I feel about that.

Reacher is in Laconia, New Hampshire, his father’s home town, or so he always said. He decides to see the old homestead, and visits some local agencies asking for help in finding it. A second plot line involves two Canadians, Patty and Shorty, getting caught up in a situation that I really hope doesn’t occur in real life. It took most of the book to bring these two plot lines together, but all hell breaks loose after that.

I eventually became very fond of Patty and Shorty after initially thinking they were being pretty stupid. I really liked the search for Reacher’s father’s history. It got me thinking about his family.

I think it was in the very first book that we met Reacher’s brother, Joe. Didn’t he work for the federal government in some capacity? We know his mother was a French woman and her name was Josephine. I remember a previous book where Reacher visited her in France, but I don’t remember why he went and I don’t remember the title of the book. There was also a *.5 short story when Reacher was a kid and they lived on a base in Okinawa where his father was stationed. We really have not had much information about Reacher’s father until now. Are there any other mentions of his family history that I’ve missed?

[Phrynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Jack Reacher's latest foray into the world. So much so that I could not stop reading and knocked off most of it in one afternoon. One of the best in the series to date!

There are a number of story lines going on in this one and a lot of characters, some good and some really bad - as usual! Also as usual Jack manages to get caught up in several different issues and has to fight his way out. He also discovers some amazing details about his own genealogy which he takes much more calmly than I think I would.

All the usual action, plenty of dead bodies, some very nasty baddies and a great story. What more can we ask for? Thank you Mr Child and keep up the good work please!

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

A better effort than many of Child's recent stories. 6 of 10 stars

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack Reacher has apparently been thrilling readers for twenty years. No one told me. Although this is only my second Reacher novel (and its number 23 with a bullet), count me in as a fan. Reacher is an ex-MP who has taken to wandering the country, heading here and there for the barest of reasons. Well, he likes a puzzle and is curiouser than any ten cats. Along the way, Reacher always seems to stumble into trouble. Here, he returns to his father's hometown and decides to see his dad's old haunts. Meanwhile, a couple of Canadians head south on an adventure of their own, one perhaps that could have been better planned and in a car that certainly could have been better maintained. Their adventures could not have put them in a more bizarre and offbeat predicament. Of course, eventually their paths will cross.

I found this to be an enjoyable and compelling read, although don't open it up expecting a lightning paced thriller. It's pace is more thoughtful and confident, if not laconic. What makes it work is the even pace, the narrative voice,and natural curiosity.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack Reacher always let himself get side tracked – the journey across America ended quite quickly when he saw the sign to the town where his father had been born and he’d never been. The quick visit would only take a day – right? Wrong!

Shorty and Patty’s car was on its last legs and they were running behind. They had expected to make New York in the one day – no stops, no costs. But with the day drawing to a close and the car struggling, the sign on a side road which said “Motel” had them turning toward it. Unbeknown to them, that was the wrong decision…

Past Tense by Lee Child is another fast paced, adrenalin filled thriller which I loved! Gritty, intense, nerve wracking – it had everything that makes a great thriller. #23 in the Jack Reacher series, I’m already eagerly awaiting his next. Highly recommended.

[Terence M [on a brief old bloke's hiatus] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook - 12:29 hours - Narrator: Jeff Harding, after six chapters, replaced with new copy narrated by Scott Brick.

NB: This review re-written Monday 12 November, 2018. See below.

It is almost 1:00 am in Melbourne, 10 November, 2018. I have just finished "Past Tense" and my rating initial rating is 3.5 stars rounded to 4.0 Stars out of 5.0. I have some review comments to make about this Jack Reacher novel, but I will need to have some sleep before I commit them to paper. :-)

Addendum - 9:30 am, Melbourne, 12 November: I've given this book more thought and "Past Tense" indicates to me that Lee Child may have been reacting to the comments of an increasing (in my opinion) number of malcontents in the vast army of Jack Reacher fans.

Like millions of other dyed-in-the-wool Reacher fans, until this week I had read and/or listened to every one of #1 to #22 in the Reacher novels. A number of them I have read and/or listened to more than once, and a few of that group more than twice.

I am not a particularly high marker and 3.0 ('I liked it') is a good mark for me. So for what it's worth, my awards for Reacher novels #1 to #22 were as follows: 0 Five-Stars, 3 Four-Stars, 13 Three-Stars, 3 Two-Stars and 3 One-Star (Did Not Finish). The One-Star's were #19, #20 and #21. "The Midnight Line", #22, really was a big improvement over the previous three and received 3.5 Stars. If you want to know why, read my review.

Directly after listening to #23, "Past Tense" I was 'twixt and tween' 3.5 Stars or 4.0 Stars. After thinking about whether I 'liked it' or 'really liked it', I am confirming a full four Stars for this book. By the way, Scott Brick did an excellent job narrating the book and his reading of it will surprise those "can't stand Scott Brick" commenters. I have a number of Reacher books narrated by Jeff Harding and I thought he was far easier on the ear than the aging Dick Hill. I am surprised that Harding's reading was such a disappointment this time around.

I have enjoyed growing older with Jack Reacher and if Lee Child is over his 'Reacher credibility hump', as it seems to me he is, I can expect more Reacher gems over the coming years.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Reacher turned and shot [villain's name redacted] in the head. Twice. A fast tight double-tap, low in the back of the skull. What the army schools called 'the assassination shot' . . . not that they would ever admit it." -- Jack Reacher, coolly but severely taking care of business, on pages 458-459

One of the things I admire about author Child is his skill in drumming up original plots for his Jack Reacher protagonist in the series of 20+ books. Perhaps it was inevitable, then, that there would be a point in which a narrative would be 'influenced by' a known quantity and/or take inspiration from an existing story. In the case of Past Tense, it is apparent that Richard Connell's now-100 year-old (!) The Most Dangerous Game - plus its early 90's cinematic offspring Hard Target (surely Jean Claude Van Damme's best film, as he was paired with director John Woo) and the forgotten Surviving the Game (starring that unforgettable trio of Ice-T, Gary Busy, and Rutger Hauer) - were springboards for this Reacher novel. However, I think Child also tries something different with having approximately half of this tale centered on the young adult Patty Sundstrom, a Canadian tourist of sorts who is being held against her will at a rural New Hampshire 'motel' because she will be used as prey for hunters. It takes 400 pages, but her thread eventually intertwines with Reacher's - true to his usual modus operandi, he coincidentally happens to wander into said region while in search of his late father's hometown - and Child ratchets up the tension in the violent finale, along with pleasingly depicting Patty as someone who digs deep to find a previously untapped shrewdness and strength to outwit / outplay / outlast her better-equipped pursuers before Reacher arrives to offer assistance.

[Maureen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was so happy to receive this as an advance review copy from NetGalley and the publisher as I had never read a Jack Reacher book until now.

Let me just say - it was awful! I was so disappointed. The story line I found very far-fetched on both sides. I honestly kept thinking and hoping it would get better, but so sorry to say it did not. I was not shocked to see many one star reviews when I went to Amazon.

I am not giving up on Lee Child's writing though, and I have a couple of his previous books I plan on reading. I know he can write! I just seem to have chosen the wrong book to start out with.

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 23rd Jack Reacher novel continues the recent trend of strong thrilling entries in the series.
I'd been recently questioning my enjoyment of these, so I'm really glad that I've become hooked on the lone wanders misadventures again.

This has all the hallmarks of a great Reacher story as Jack decides to take a detour to Laconia the hometown of his father Stan.
But he soon discovers that there's no records of any Reacher having ever lived in the area.

In the mean time Shorty and Patty are planning on selling a priceless comic book breakdown in the town and take refuge in a local motel - though they can't leave...

As Jack starts searching for the truth it soon becomes apparent that both plotlines are going to crash into each other.

Typical and readable punchy dialogue from Child that makes this series so great, as soon as Reacher arrived in Laconia I was completely hooked!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A skillfully descriptive and masterfully intense story with Jack Reacher and a perfect cast of characters.

SUMMARY
Jack Reacher is just starting an epic road trip, heading from Maine to San Diego. He only gets as far as New Hampshire, when he comes to a fork in the road. Left or right? He should go left to Portsmith, but the road to the right heads to a town he has never seen, Laconia, New Hampshire. It’s the town where his father grew up. He decides to take the detour to see the place his father talked about. Upon arriving he is mystified when he checks out city records, but can’t find any information about this dad. Was this the right town? Maybe his dad was really never there.

At the same time, a couple traveling from Canada to New York in a worn out Honda are experiencing car trouble thirty miles outside Laconia. Patty and Shorty have a suitcase weighted down with something to sell in New York and they want to maximize their profit, so a hotel stay was not in the plans. But the car was overheating. They see a unusual motel sign pointing down a tiny canopy road. They nurse the Honda several miles down the pot-holed tunnel of a road where they find a long and low hotel with twelve rooms and zero occupancy. It seems a little strange to be out in the middle of nowhere like this, but the car will go no further. The owner is welcoming, but everything seems a little off. Something just doesn’t feel right. And then the other rooms begin to fill, and a nightmare begins.

REVIEW
This is Jack Reacher #23, and I am happy to say I have loved every single one of Lee Child’s books. It’s just comfortable and fast reading. You know what your going to get when you open the cover. The story is going to be gripping and intense and Reacher is going to make things right. He always does. You may not like how he goes about it, but his rationale makes total sense.

LEE CHILD’s writing is skillfully descriptive and masterfully intense. He makes it easy to visualize the red painted motel with the white trim or the knocking of the engine of the old battered Honda. He takes us on a breathless ride of action and suspense, and easily juggles multiple plot lines before merging them together.

Jack Reacher at six-foot-five is his own man. He smart, strategic and strong and has the ability to find trouble even when he is asleep. And he will never turn a blind eye to someone who needs help. Unbeknownst to Reacher, Patty and Shorty need his help. Patty and Shorty’s characters are perfect for the story, and I particularly loved how Patti’s character showed strength and intelligence in a difficult situation.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Publisher Delacorte Press
Published November 5, 2018
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a thriller, and this is the 23rd book in the Jack Reacher series. I have not read the other books in this series before picking up this book. I like this book, but by the middle of the book I had guessed what was going on.

[PamG · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won a copy of Past Tense by Lee Child in a Goodreads Giveaway. Thanks to Goodreads, the publisher and the author for this opportunity to read and post an honest review.

Despite the number of books that I have read, this is my first one by Lee Child. While it is the 23rd book in the Jack Reacher series it worked for as a standalone. There are two story lines that eventually merge together. Jack is hitchhiking from Maine to California when he sees a sign for a town in New Hampshire where his father lived as a child. He decides to check it out and see if he can find his father's previous home. The second story line deals with a couple going from Canada to New York. They are having car trouble and end up in an out-of-the-way independent motel.

The book is very well written and the main characters are clever, questioning and complex. The antagonists in this book are organized, self-confident and manipulative. The first part of the book is the set-up, then the action starts and builds to culmination that has some surprises in it.

There are a lot of different topics covered in the novel including family history, environmental contamination, birdwatching, murder, assault, census records, romance and much more. It is difficult to say much more without spoilers.

The story lines were fascinating and eventually became riveting. I finished the last 50% of the novel in one sitting. I do recommend this to others that enjoy the genre. I look forward to reading other books in this series.

[Monnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars, actually.

Honestly, I'm not at all sure how much I'd like Jack Reacher if I met him in person because he doesn't pull any punches, but I'm certain I'd want him on my side in a fight for the same reason. And in this, the 23rd book in the series, he gets plenty of opportunity to practice his considerable skill.

The story begins as Reacher walks and hitchhikes near a remote and tiny town in New Hampshire on his way to wherever else the wind (or more accurately, any driver who gives him a lift) takes him. When he recalls his late father Stan saying he grew up in the town, though, Reacher decides to pay a visit to the family homestead - if he can find it, that is.

Concurrently, Shorty and Patty, a pair of grifters from Canada - on their way to New York with a get-rich-quick plan in tow - have car trouble. Just as the old jalopy is ready to blow, they spot a sign pointing to a motel in a heavily wooded area of (you guessed it), New Hampshire. Yep, there's a halfway decent room available - but very soon, it becomes obvious that this isn't your average Motel 6. In fact, they may have happened upon their very worst nightmare.

Chapters follow the progress as Reacher tries to find what appears to be nonexistent evidence of his father's old home and the couple try to find their way out of the mess they're in. As expected, the two storylines end up converging - but not before plenty of action takes place in both. Early on, Reacher gets on the bad side of a bad seed and his wealthy father; although the local police are for the most part on Reacher's side - after all, he's been both an Army guy and a fellow cop - they don't want Trouble with a capital T that rhymes with P that stands for Problem. Just go on your way, they tell Reacher, hoping he'll heed their advice.

He'd love to, but he's got problems of his own (not the least of which is getting on the bad side of the folks he runs into when he finally locates the family town). Besides that, other local and otherwise innocent folks are finding themselves in potential danger simply because they helped Reacher; how can he possibly turn his back on them and hike away?

And so it goes, with excitement and action building all the way from town to the woods and back to an explosive end. If I have an issue, it's that I have a hard time believing in coincidences - meaning things that happen at precisely the time they should to make the story work. Life usually doesn't follow that kind of pattern - but then again, it's Reacher's life, not mine. In the end I'm happy, and I'll be looking forward to the next installment as usual. Meantime, I'm thanking the publisher (via NetGalley) for the opportunity to read an advance review copy of this one.

[Andrew Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perennial traveller Jack Reacher is journeying down to San Diego for some warm weather, his thumb is his ticket. Early on he spots the name of a New England town he recognises as the place his father grew up. Well, he’s got to take a look at this hasn’t he.

In a parallel plot line a young Canadian couple are planning to drive beyond the same town but their old clunker of a car looks like it’s not going to make it much further. They pull to a stop at a motel and decide to get the car fixed and then move on as soon as possible. They are, we’re told, carrying a heavy suitcase – it’s contents is not divulged.

From this point very little of any consequence occurs for some time. The couple rattle around at the motel and Reacher searches for information regarding his grandparents and father. It’s slow going and rather dull, but the rhythm entrapped me. This Reacher novel, like all the others, has a cadence all of its own.

- We meet a few people in a small, friendly town with a hick police force
- Reacher finds a place to eat and drink coffee and somewhere to sleep
- Lots of people say nothing and do nothing and and at least one person stares at nothing
- Reacher speaks in short sentences, is methodical in his thoughts and actions and his inner clock keeps perfect time
- We see and learn the obvious... and then the concealed

I’m half way through the book now and my only real thought is what’s in the suitcase?

Then things speed up a bit. Reacher is a big, strong guy and he’s not averse to some violence. A situation arises and he deals with it. Then things start to look and feel strange. With this tale it’s not so much about whodunnit as what the hell is going on here? It’s a puzzle we can’t yet resolve as a number of pieces are hidden. Then they’re not, at least not all of them, and a scenario is presented. It's an interesting one.

All in all, it’s turns out to be a reasonably satisfying story. It’s not the best Reacher I’ve read but it’s not the worst either. Three and a half stars rounded up to four. I know I’ll come back for more – it’s just a habit I can’t break.

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

They are all so good but this one is straight out spectacular.

Telling you about the tension I felt reading this one!! I had to stop at some point after about page 100 to relax with some physical work exertions to get "unwound" and to distract myself enough to be able to swallow my own spit. It was creepy, evil terrifying- the premise AND the execution of it.

The premise is one that I've read in maybe 10 novels in my life, mostly sci. fic. but in some YA reads too, like Hunger Games.

That tells you enough. And I won the paperback copy here and want to thank you for the gift. Several other people will be reading my copy quite soon too.

All of you who know Reacher for so many years of reading and knowing each nuance of his unique and quirky lifestyle- can you tell me if Child ever let us know how he shaves? Somewhere in Book #4 or #6 perhaps? He can't be bearded with the techniques he uses, IMHO. One day I was driving along and that thought popped into my head. He's light haired- but still.

Lee Child. I am a fan. Can Child write a thriller! It almost makes you believe that the super hero is not only a true possibility but certain to be "johnny on the spot" with his radar for the horrendous, evil and violent perpetrator, even those as despicable as these. And ultimately solving the problem without undue regret! This one (#23) and the one that was in the plains of Kansas or Nebraska within a similar evil cabal as locale operating- they were the best. And he also gets two different unforgettable couples in there too this time. And Reacher isn't even half of either.

2 MP's and a priest. It sounds like the beginning of a joke. It sure isn't.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 23 in the Jack Reacher series published 2018.

5 stars for an intense read.

Jack’s plan was to go from the East coast to the West coast, Why? Because he can.

As luck would have it along the route Jack chose was a small town by the name Laconia. The very place that Jack’s father was born. A place Jack had heard lots of but never visited so now was as good a time as any to catch up on his family history.

It will come as no surprise that all didn’t go well in Laconia. There were a few people who needed a lesson on good manners and who better to teach them than Jack Reacher.

This might all sound a bit familiar to you so you would think here we go again. But I have to say that to date I have read all of the previous 22 books and most of them have been decent read but this one is a cut above the rest, by a mile.

There are various story lines going on all at the same time each with it’s own story to unravel.
But the one that generates most of the tension is the story of a young Canadian couple who find themselves being held prisoners in a motel a few miles out of Laconia. Why they are being held prisoners is anybodies guess. They are commonplace nobodies, no money, and it seems, no future.
It soon becomes obvious that this young couples lives are hanging by a thread.
As the tension surrounding the young couple cranks up Jack’s hunt for his families history is bring him inexorably closer to their situation. The tension generated by the young couples situation and the agonisingly slow arrival of Jack is almost unbearable. But I have to say I was mesmerised by every moment of it.
A great read with a bit more of Jack’s history explained.
A highly recommended 5 star read.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had been getting tired of Lee Child's Jack Reacher character. When the series first started it was an interesting concept. Guy's career in the Army comes to an end and he hitchhikes around the country. No roots. Nothing but the clothes on his back and a traveling toothbrush. He doesn't look for trouble but it somehow seems to find him wherever he winds up. And he always saves the day. Saves the damsel in distress or some little guy. A hero. Which is pretty nice to fantasize about in this day an age. But this is the twenty third book in the series and it was getting a little hard to accept.

This story seemed to be a little fresher. Slightly different. No more fighting six guys at one time with one hand in his back pocket and coming out with no more damage than scraped knuckles. No climbing out of a window, flying to a different state to do something, flying back and climbing back in the window, all the while a person in the next room doesn't have a clue.

Here we have two different stories that come together in the end. Both start out a little slow. The reader is not sure how they connect. But at the end they merge into a tense and action packed drama that makes me want to avoid staying in a motel in New Hampshire any time soon. At least if it is remote and in the woods.

Jack Reacher decides he wants to crisscross the country. From Maine to San Diego. He doesn't get too far. In New Hampshire he sees a sign for the town of Laconia. He recognizes the name. He remembers his father telling him that was where he was born and grew up. Reacher is not one who is ever in a hurry. He decides to take a detour and check out Laconia. See the home where his father lived. He starts with the city clerk only to learn no one name Reacher ever lived in Laconia and there is no deed for any property. He starts checking census records for when his father was a boy. He knows what his father told him. Looks like this is going to take more than a day.

Shorty and Patty are a couple of Canadians with a plan. They are going to drive from Canada to New York to sell something. Something valuable. The reader is not told what it is that they plan to sell. All you know is that it is in a very large and heavy suitcase. Unfortunately for Shorty and Patty their plan does not include a reliable car. Shorty's car is a jalopy. As I was reading this story I was reminded of Chet Morton's car in the Hardy Boy's series. They get as far as New Hampshire when they decide they better find a place to stay and let the car rest before it breaks down completely. They see a sign for a motel that takes them deep into the remote woods of New Hampshire. The men who run the motel seem very helpful and friendly. Too friendly. Too willing to help. Creepy. The next day Shorty's car won't start. The helpful and friendly motel guys explain to Shorty and Patty why a mechanic can't come to the motel, why they can't go a mechanic, the problems with the phones. They are stuck. They are prisoners. The nightmare is just getting started.

In previous novels we have met Reacher's brother and mother. In this novel we get to learn about his father and how he came to join the Marines. Reacher and Shorty and Patty's stories merge together in an intense night deep in the New Hampshire woods that will keep the reader turning the pages.

[Skip · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two mostly unrelated stories, based in Laconia, NH, that converge about three quarters of the way through to me in a seemingly forced manner. One is slightly interesting, the other an overused and completely predictable trope. Jack Reacher is hitchhiking from Maine to San Diego, and decides to go through Laconia, his father’s birthplace to examine his roots. Very little can be found in the public records, except that it seems that Stan's predilection for justice was passed on to son, Jack. Jack's traipsing around the public records office and the oldest members of the local community is a bore. He visits various public records offices, and gets a lot of help from the locals when dad Stan Reacher doesn't show up right away in the town’s 80-year-old census records. At the same time, a young Canadian couple on its way to NYC has car trouble, and ends up at a remote motel. They are marooned, because the weird motel owners are not helpful, using a litany of excuses. Eventually, the couple finds themselves imprisoned, because the motel owners have secret, nefarious plans for them. (The couple was about the interesting part of the book.) In the final quarter, the pace finally accelerates from a crawl, making the book okay.

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was about the 10th Reacher book that I’ve read, so I certainly know what to expect from him. The books are quite formulaic and you either buy into the formula or you don’t. He’s the loner who arrives at a new town and happens upon some trouble, resulting in his brutally beating a few people and crushing some bones. There was a pretty high body count in this book, which alternated between the Reacher story, as he researched his father’s background, and a second story about Shorty and Patty, a young Canadian couple who become trapped in a creepy motel. I found it slightly off putting that Patty’s internal voice and the manner in which she analyzed situations sounded exactly like Reacher’s, but no one reads these books for the great character development. The two storylines don’t come together until the end of the book. The motel plot was definitely more suspenseful and interesting. The book entertained me and I’ll continue to read the series selectively. There is absolutely no reason to read all of the books or to read them in order. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

[Suz · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5–4⭐

I always reach for Reacher (not trying to be cheeky, promise) when I’m reading heavier titles or just need something straight forward and satisfying. I know it’ll be easy, warm, and reliable. This one wasn’t quite as exciting or propulsive as others in the series. The plot was a bit unusual—those in trouble had to fend for themselves more than usual.

There’s a couple at the centre of the story, caught in a life-or-death situation. The guy starts off a bit dopey, while the woman is much more switched on. As things unfold, he grows more capable which didn’t entirely fit for me.

The situation they find themselves in is definitely strange, and Reacher isn’t around as much as I expected. But the exploration of his family history was a standout—fans will definitely appreciate that deeper look into his past.

I don’t often rate this series under 4 stars, but even so, I still love listening to every story. I listened to this one via the BorrowBox app through my public library, and I’ll be diving into book 24 very soon.

[Marialyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Jack Reacher is at it once again stars
My reviews can be seen here: http://yayareadslotsofbooks.wordpress...

On the road again
Just can't wait to get on the road again
The life I love is making music with my friends

And I can't wait to get on the road again
On the road again

Goin' places that I've never been
Seein' things that I may never see again (Willie Nelson)

Jack Reacher is once again a traveling man. His goal is to walk from Maine to California (yikes) and so when he travels onto a road in New England, he randomly comes upon a sign which he recognizes. It seems to be he has stumbled onto a town which just so happened to be the birthplace of his father. Of course he needs to check this place out. What's a slight detour and one more day!

Arriving at the town and bumping up against the fact that no one seems to recognize the Reacher name, Jack embarks on another adventure sure to involve lots of mysterious and dangerous factors. Meanwhile a Canadian couple, traveling to New York, have their dilapidated car stop, and amble to a hotel where things turn creepy fast. (a bit of the Psycho vibe happening here)

Through the bulk of the story, we wonder how or if these two things are connected. What does Jack's family and this young couple have in common? How do they meet and come together and have their lives intertwine with each other. For Jack the danger is real. For the couple their fate is perilous and threatening.

Tough and resilient as we who know Jack Reacher to be, this book will not disappoint those who have been with Lee Child for many of his adventures with Jack. Recommended to those who like a tough, what you see is what you get type protagonist. He is the epitome of a tenacious and resilient character who you would certainly want in your corner in a bar fight or any other precarious exploit.

Thank you to Lee Child, Delacourt Press, and NetGalley for a copy of this latest Reacher exploit.

[Bam cooks the books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admit I haven't read ALL of the Reacher books but I have read quite a few and I do believe this is one of the best.

In this outing, ex-MP Reacher decides to travel from Maine to San Diego and starts hitching a ride. When he reaches New Hampshire, he sees a sign for Laconia which triggers a memory and an interest in digging up some family history.

As only Reacher can, he makes friends and enemies quickly and is soon embroiled in some nasty business (which makes for some very exciting reading.)

In a side story, a young couple traveling from Canada have car trouble and end up spending the night in a remote motel. No, it's not the Bates Motel but I swear you can hear the scary music....

Both threads come together nicely at the suspenseful and satisfying conclusion. If you enjoy an action-packed thriller, this one is for you. I believe it can be read as a standalone if you haven't been reading the series. But I can also highly recommend the series, not only for the great action but for its strong, intelligent, well-fleshed-out characters. Reacher lives by his own rules, it's true, but he has a strong sense of right and wrong, justice and fairness. You'd definitely want him by your side in any fight!

I received an arc from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review. Many thanks!

[Metodi Markov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Мнозинството истории за Ричър просто не ми омръзват!

Може би, защото тайно в себе си всеки мъж би желал да е на неговото място - перфектно обучена бойна машина, любимец на дамите и морален стожер. Всичко това, че и с бонус - никой не може да му каже, какво по дяволите да прави с живота си!!! :)

Новите му преживелици са интересни, макар и малко да е попретупан края на книгата.