James Penney

by Lee Child, Jan Pott (Translator)

In Lee Childs korte verhaal James Penney moet Jack Reacher supersnel beslissen: gaat hij James Penney helpen of niet?

James Penney is woest als hij wordt ontslagen. Uit wraak steekt hij zijn huis in brand en hij slaat op de vlucht. In het noorden van Californië komt hij iemand in een groene Chevrolet tegen – kan hij de chauffeur vertrouwen? Het blijkt Jack Reacher.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Short Stories, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Ebooks

36 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1999

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

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I completely enjoyed this book even though shortly into it I realized I read it before. It's so strange that I don't remember the story except for one little detail when the Firebird was stolen at a motel. Penney meets Reacher. This was a good short story.

[Gary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do enjoy the Jack Reacher series by author Lee Child but always struggle to really take to the short stories. This one is better than many of the others I have read but I found it far too short to fully appreciate it.
Jack Reacher features very briefly in this one as the main character is James Penney, who when laid off decides to set fire to his home and flee the area. James Penney becomes the focus of a manhunt due to the damage left behind, which is where he comes into contact with Jack Reacher.

[Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Jack Reacher Story

This is a short story apparently derived from an edit of the second Reacher novel (when they were really good). A short treat for Reacher fans.

[Pop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!

I love Lee Child’s Jack Reacher books. I thought I had read every one of them and along comes this short story. It was short but not without the fact that most all Reacher stories have - A good feeling when you finish it - the good guys/gals won.

[Quintin Zimmermann · Rating 1 out of 5]

A rather pointless short story with a brief Reacher cameo appearance.

[Jeanette (Ms. Feisty) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.4 stars

[John (Just bought an Oculus 2 VR, so less time to read these days!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good short story

Good short story that got left out of the first two Jack Reacher novels due to length of the novels.

[Joanne Farley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure you can count this as a Reacher novella as he is hardly in the book.

Still a great read or in my case listen

[Mike Lisanke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing... this story was great (1 of 2) and obviously sets up another tale (I'm told). And the 2nd, A guy walks into a bar, is a classic Reacher prelude segment... Reacher is observant and can handle most situations before they're executed... and he does. Enjoy this brief book with 2 great short stories. Pay attention to James Penney's new ID, maybe.

[Jenene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not enough Jack Reacher for me but I did enjoy the story.

[Murrel Lowry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Headline (Required)

A short read for author Lee Child, but still, for me a great read. Jack Reacher doing some of what he’s so good at. And add James Penney to the mix and I think you have a great story. Actually, Jack Reacher says it all. And Lee Child.

[Evan Stein · Rating 5 out of 5]

it’s worth 15 minutes

I think I’ve read it before but I find it amusing each time. It’s another spin on a guy we know very well.

[Mark Repesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read every Jack Reacher book at least one time and I'm always enthralled with them.

James Penney's new Identity is no exception, though a pity that it is a short story as there is less to enjoy!

Interesting story, as I didn't realize what Reacher had in his trunk, nor the reason that James Penney had a disturbed white face when he returned with the wallet with the ID.

[Frankie Winchester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Short Story

This was a quick read, only 25 pages. It was exactly the way I like short stories: fast moving with a beginning, middle and end. Jack Reacher doesn't appear until the last few pages but he is integral to the story. Actually the story is very spare: not a character or line of dialog that is unnecessary. It was a fun read.

[Debra Daniels-Zeller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great story that takes place in Jack Reacher's past and highlights what we love about Jack Reacher. At first, James Penney's story seems to have nothing to do with Jack Reacher until almost the end and then it's a total surprise. The ending made me go back and examine the first sentence of the story which was: "The process that turned James Penney into a completely different person began ten years ago at one in teh afternoon on a Monday in the middle of June, in Laney, California." Lee Child is an expert at raising story questions, that compel readers to turn pages. Not everything was totally wrapped up in the end of this novella but it was a fun read and everytime I read about Jack Reacher I find something else to like about him.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent novella

At first it was rather strange to read a Jack Reacher story without seeing him IN the story! But he showed up at a time which made sense for how the story was developing & he was definitely Reacher. In fact I kind of remember reading an event that was mentioned in passing during another novel that fits this particular story as a bit of back story to that book.

We meet James Penney as he’s getting a raw deal in several aspects of his life. First we see the events develop, then how he deals with his problems.

Jack Reacher meets Penney and offers both assistance and advice to Penney before they part ways as Reacher was already prone to do even earlier in his life.

[Ridel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lee Child breaks the mold of his short stories with James Penney's New Identity. I honestly thought this novel had nothing to do with Reacher, as it tells the tale of a down-on-his-luck veteran using Child's unique storytelling-style. Police procedural mystery, random details, amusing coincidences, it adds up to a surprisingly entertaining mix.

I wish it wasn't advertised as a Jack Reacher story, as most readers will be wondering where he is for the majority of the novel. If you can get past that, it's an excellent novella that adds a dash of Reacher to really spice things up.

Recommended with reservations: pretend it's Lee Child having fun.

[Tara Scherner de la fuente · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is probably my lowest rating of a Reacher story or book because Reacher says too much for him, or rather, he volunteers more information than he normally would. He lets someone in on his business and a bad-ish thing he did when it could have easily backfired. Especially since he was in the army and findable. But also, he takes some serious chances on a guy whose motivation isn't solid. Maybe Reacher becomes more Reacher later, but he... was already the Reacher we know in High Heat at age 16, so... Admittedly, we're not as in Reacher's head as we normally are, BUT STILL.

[Neal Mayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little story. Wished there was more. I'd like to find out what happens to James Penney. He seemed kind of boring, but having read most of Lee Child's books I figure he wouldn't be for long.

Great little story. Just wished there was more. I'd like to find out what happens to James Penney. He seemed kind of boring, but having read most of Lee Child's books I figure he wouldn't be for long.

[Ken Finlay · Rating 3 out of 5]

“James Penney's New Identity” is a short novella which was edited out from Jack Reacher's second novel (“Die Trying”).
James gets fired after 17 years, burns down his house and hits the road.
Unfortunately several other homes went up in flames and he's now a wanted man.
He's got limited funds and no real idea of what to do until he takes a lift from Jack Reacher.
As a stand-alone it is no great shakes but it has an appeal for those who like to everything related to a series.
3 Stars.

[Jean Kolinofsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

When James Penney is laid off he looks at his dream car that he recently purchased and decides to take off rather than have it repossessed. He sets his home on fire before leaving, but this act of arson causes damage to nearby homes and leads to a manhunt. On the run, he encounters Jack Reacher and things get very interesting. As a Lee Child fan, any story that has Jack Reacher is a good story.

[Russ Skinner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had this been the first Jack Reacher title I read, I suspect it would have been the last. The actions Reacher takes in this book (conscientiously avoiding spoilers) are not consistent with the character, and calls for some exposition (which is absent). (Read as part of collected short stories, of which this is one of the lesser entries.)

[Penny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my third Lee Child short story; I much prefer his novels. I can understand wanting to do something more with a character you liked but who got cut from a previous novel. However, the story doesn't give a satisfying ending for James Penney, mostly because it shifts from following Penney to following Jack Reacher, who enters the story toward the end.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Swapped cor Dead

I didn't realize this is such a short story or I would not have bought it. Interesting that Jack Reacher is introduced in the short story. I understand the fear anguish and angst of the guy losing his job, it is a nightmare to live through. Through few words the author is able to fully Express the anger.

[Terry Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

LC new identity

Lee Child should have published this under a differs identify. There’s no substance to Reacher or James Penney, can't tell if either one are good or bad but I know I’m indifferent. As a huge fan of Lee Child’s books I was so very disappointed. I want my money back.

[Emilija · Rating 1 out of 5]

Was there actually a point to this incredibly short story? Reacher was barely in it, and the rest of it was depressing. It didn't make me want to read anything more about James Penney, and Reacher sounded nothing like himself, offering information about himself and letting people into his business. It was just a little odd.

[Richard Guerrero · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess I’m on a short story binge today. I have read all of the Jack Reacher books except for the short stories. Just got my hands on all the short stories so I have nothing else to do today so I’m binge reading them. I was not really filling this one, crazy ending. One good thing about it is it mentions my hometown of Stockton in this short story.

[Rick Farlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kindle Customer
Sometimes Life Gives You Lemons...

Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2021
Good short story about how to go off the grid and start a new identity... (Hint: You need to bump into a guy like Jack Reacher.) There are times when life just pushes you to the point where something has to give... The breaking point. An excellent short story

[Lisa L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lee Child never disappoints me

5 Stars for this short novella that leaves you wondering, who is Jack Reacher, really?
Don't miss out if you're a Jack fan and haven't read thus one yet. And even if you haven't read any Reacher novels, this one will definitely spark you on to more.

[Darryle B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

While it was an intriguing story about a Vietnam vet down on his luck who became a fugitive resulting from an impulsive act, I would've liked to see Jack Reacher to appear sooner in the story. I understand James Penney was the focus, but I still would've liked more Jack Reacher in it. Overall, good story especially the unexpected ending.