Straight Jack

Hunt for Reacher #13

by Diane Capri

A wanted man. Wanted...dead.

Four men in a van barrel toward Chicago on a crime spree fueled by greed and vengeance. One man driving, another preoccupied with the sophisticated plan. In the back, a new recruit worried and wary, another angry and hot-headed.

A day behind them, at a lonely motel in an out of the way New Mexico town, an unthinkable murder brings FBI Special Agent Kim Otto to a dead stop.

Soon, Otto realizes the murder is tied to a massive crime wave.

Otto and her new partner pursue Reacher’s prey to Chicago and reconnect with his old friend.

Frances Neagley fills in a few missing pieces and teams up with Otto in a race to stop the killers before a powerful unknown enemy can destroy them all.

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

303 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 2, 2021

About the author

Bestselling author Diane Capri is a recovering lawyer. She’s a snowbird who divides her time between Florida and Michigan. An active member of Mystery Writers of America, Author’s Guild, International Thriller Writers, and Sisters in Crime, she loves to hear from readers and is hard at work on her next novel.

Connect with her online:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/@DianeCapri
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Diane-...

Here’s the Long version, if you’re looking for more info:

#1 Amazon Bestselling Author Diane Capri’s work is what the #1 worldwide publishing phenomenon Lee Child calls “Full of thrills and tension, but smart and human, too.” Margaret Maron, Edgar, Anthony, Agatha and Macavity Award-winning MWA Past President, says: “Expertise shines on every page.” And Library Journal raves: “….offers tense legal drama with courtroom overtones, twisty plots, and loads of atmosphere. Recommended.”

Diane’s new Jess Kimball series kicked off with Fatal Distraction, opening as the #3 Bestselling Legal Thriller, behind John Grisham. Diane’s new Hunt for Jack Reacher series began with Don’t Know Jack, which garnered #1 Bestseller spots on Mystery, Hard-boiled Mystery, Police Procedural, Women Sleuths, and Legal Thriller lists both in the U.S. and U.K. Don’t Know Jack was followed by two bestselling short stories in the Hunt for Jack Reacher series, Jack in a Box and Jack and Kill. Diane’s Judge Wilhelmina Carson mysteries were praised by Romantic Times and garnered the coveted “Top Pick.” Diane’s savvy, spunky character, attorney Jennifer Lane, stars in her own romantic suspense series, which kicks off with Annabelle’s Attack.

Diane is the past Executive Vice President of International Thriller Writers, past member of the Board of the Florida Chapter of Mystery Writers of America, and active in Sisters in Crime and other writing organizations. She comes to writing after a successful legal career and is married to her college sweetheart. She loves her nomadic snowbird existence preferring perpetual summer migrating from Florida to Michigan each year.

Diane says she writes mystery and suspense for the same reason she reads: to find out what happens, why people do what they do, and how to bring justice to an unjust world.Her books are translated in twenty territories. Diane loves to hear from readers. Contact her at: DianeCapri.com/Contact to receive notice of new releases, subscribe to Diane’s blog, or simply connect with her.

Reviews

[Terence M [on a brief semi-hiatus] · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5-Stars >> 2.0-Stars - "It Was (Barely) OK"
"Straight Jack: Hunting Lee Child's Jack Reacher"
The Hunt for Jack Reacher Series #16, (of 18,) by Diane Capri
Audiobook 07:47 Hours - Narrated by Corey M. Snow

I have been curious about the "Hunting Jack Reacher" series for some time. Apparently the FBI thinks he is trouble, and probably a criminal, but while they have been pretty close a number of times, the FBI has never been able to catch him or detain him. In this episode, a top gun in the FBI thinks Reacher is the only person capable of undertaking a super-secret “mission” - for the FBI, we presume, but who knows? Can they get their hands on him? So far it seems that Jack has avoided capture for 16 books in a row! This is not a spoiler, not should it be unexpected; in fact Diane Capri has already published #17 and #18 so far in 2022!

Dreadful, over-clichéd writing; use of multiple-similes; plus long passages of bumf, made listening to this audiobook as exciting as (wait for it) watching grass grow, or paint dry, or even …

Endorsed, but not actually recommended, by a GR friend, I listened to it in fairly quick time, helped by increasing the narrator's reading speed to 1.2 times normal. I won't consider attempting another of this series. At least my curiosity has been satisfied, however unsatisfactorily!

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great fan of all things Jack Reacher, I was pleased to stumble upon Diane Capri’s series that explores a race to find this elusive nomad. Capri explores the chase to find Reacher through the eyes of two dedicated FBI agents and adds a curious case to help them bide their time. Special Agent Kim Otto has been on the hunt for Jack Reacher for the past number of months, but she’s been delayed by her current partner, who is nursing his injuries. Meanwhile, Reacher is said to have been spending time with a recent prison escapee who has taken to being a part of a gang robbing ATMs. Now, the hunt is on to find Reacher, locate the criminal, and stop the heists before things get any worse. Capri does well to stir up all the excitement in this wonderful instalment of the series.

A group of criminals have banded together to use their respective skills to target numerous ATMs across the country. Hoping to hit a big payday, each criminal must rely on the others, but one is still new and fairly green when it comes to this type of crime. While the crimes occur with moderate success, they leave a trail of breadcrumbs for the authorities.

All the while, Special Agent Kim Otto waits in a Nevada hospital, where her partner, William Burke, is recuperating after a clash with the elusive Jack Reacher. Once he is ready to go, Otto and Burke resume their hunt for Reacher, which is sure to take many odd turns. The first stop is in New Mexico, where Reacher is said to have been in touch with a recent prison escapee, who might hold the key to finding the nomadic traveller. However, things go south when a body is discovered in a hotel, leaving Otto feeling that the hunt has taken on a new importance.

Following the bank heists that have shocked various communities, Otto and Burke seek answers and hope to find a man responsible for a murder, but who could also point them towards their ultimate prize. With some assistance from Otto’s former partner, Carlos Gaspar, the pair try to synthesise all they know about Reacher. It is only when the FBI pair make it to Chicago that they are able to make significant headway, in the form of an old acquaintance from Reacher’s past military experience. Might this finally be the moment Jack Reacher meets his match with Special Agent Kim Otto? Capri offers up perhaps her best in the series to date with this novel, proving that Reacher and all those around him still have what it takes.

While I have long loved all that is Reacher, I found new joy and excitement when I discovered the work of Diane Capri. She offers up some great writing to parallel the creations of Lee Child, offering insightful stories that complement the original work. With a great narrative and some well-developed characters, Capri shows how this series can serve to work with the Reacher collection, or stand on its own. I cannot wait to see what else Capri does while keeping things a step behind the great Lee Child’s roadmap.

Special Agent Kim Otto remains in the protagonist’s seat throughout this series. She has had two primary partners, but always seems keen to run things in her own manner. She takes the lead in the investigation and makes it her own, trying to finally crack the chase open and finally bring Jack Reacher in for questioning. Always a step behind, this is Otto’s time to prove herself to others and make the difference in this game of cat and mouse.

Diane Capri has done well for herself, though this is the only of her series that I have tried reading to date. Her ability to keep things fresh as the characters race to stay close behind Reacher’s nomadic wanderings makes for great reading, no matter how much is known about the primary series. A great narrative keeps the reader on their toes, with many characters to entertain throughout the journey. Capri tries to find ties to Lee Child’s work, while keeping it from being too repetitive, which is sure to impress those who know the Reacher series well. There’s something for everyone, it would seem, with some great story arcs that have lasted for a handful of novels, as well as others that have yet to be resolved from the series debut. Bring on the next Hunt for Reacher novel. I cannot wait!

Kudos, Madam Capri, for a series that never seems to get stale. I am eager to see what;s next and how things will evolve.

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

[Abibliofob · Rating 4 out of 5]

FBI agent Otto has never been so close to Reacher as in these last two books by Diane Capri. Straight Jack is another great fun read in The Hunt for Reacher series. The last sentence made me chuckle out loud. Otto is getting more and more concerned with agent Burke and what his problems really are. In this book our hunt takes us down to New Mexico and then all the way to Chicago trailing a car thief and a crew of robbers. Will they find Reacher and can Neagley help? Read this great book and find out.

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! This is another great book in the Hunt for Jack Reacher Series. Over the last few years I have read all of the Jack Reacher stories and all of the Hunt for Jack Reacher stories as well. This will be the 46th. And it truly is one of the best. And the next in this series have already been announced. This is the sixth I have read since that initial binge read. First I read the 29 Jack Reacher Novels and short stories by Lee Child, and now Lee and Andrew Child. And then I read all the books in this series. This is the thirteenth novel in the Hunt for Reacher Series, and the sixteenth story featuring Otto. In this one she finds out still more about her new back up, William Burke. And that does not make her feel any better at all. Otto still has Gaspar in the wings helping out as much as he can, and this time he makes a brief appearance in person. The source book for this volume was Lee Child’s A Wanted Man. That story is a great source one, and like it this one starts slow and the pace and tension just keeps building. This is a great story about Otto, and we learn a lot about Burke, and it was wonderful to have Neagley make an appearance and play a key role. Frances is one of my favorite characters across both series.

The cast of characters in this story is:

Kim Otto
William Burke
Carlos Gaspar
Charles Cooper
Lamont Finlay
Frances Neagley
Marion Morrison (“Morrie”)
Petey Burns
Doug Jerzekowski (“Doug XYZ”)
Moe Smith
Ray Vance
Andrew Mitchell
Hugh Sullivan

and of course

Jack Reacher

In some ways this story reminds me a lot of Die Hard I and III, a lot of misdirection. A very detailed plan, even planned redundancies, but ultimately the main plot is just a heist. A heist over a few days, several locations both physically and electronically, but still basically a heist. It involves an old nemesis of Reacher’s, but it is unclear if he is aware of that or just set on righting a wrong and ends up on this collision course. Neagley and Otto work well together, and both seem to respect and appreciate the other. Burke appears to be heading for a wash out at best and possibly a far worse fate. He is ether lying about having encountered Reacher before, or was mistaken about whom he assumed was Reacher.

I should not this and the latest in the Reacher child from the Child brothers released about a week apart, I chose to read this one first, that is how much I enjoy this series! This story has a lot of action and a pretty high body count. But because of the source book it is not as dark and heavy as the previous offering. It is another excellent story in a great series. It leaves you desperate for the next instalment in the series. Capri has done another excellent job in leading us on the hunt for Jack Reacher.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always this is intriguing to the end. Anything to do with Kim Otto & Jack Reacher makes for perfect reading. Fast paced action and twists and turns on each page. Ready for the next.

[Mike Bull · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read for sure.

[John page · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unknown

Absolutely the best one yet it was a change in the format that keeps you reading a pleasure to read more than once I feel

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Straight Jack - a review by Rosemary Kenny.

The Hunt for Jack Reacher series continues with Book 13, Straight Jack, by the outstanding Diane Capri.

Special FBI Agent Kim Otto is still on the hunt for her elusive erstwhile consort and this time she's flying solo, (at first) due to her new partner Burke being hospitalised.
Whom can Otto rely on for information?

Told in dual time-lines with Otto's tribulations on one hand and on the other, Petey Burns' ill-considered liaison with criminal mercenaries, 'Doug XYZ', Ray and Moe.
Will Otto get her man, (or men in this instance) and finally reconnect with Jack Reacher, aided by Frances Neagley's input?
To find out, grab your copy of Queen of the Action-Thriller Diane Capri's Straight Jack right now!

[Joe Clontz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diane Capri has continued her series of adventures with this new novel, STRAIGHT JACK. FBI Special Agent Kim Otto is awaiting her new partner, FBI
Special Agent William Burk’s release from a Las Vegas hospital. He’s recovering from an encounter with Jack Reacher, the person they are supposed to seek information on at the direction of their FBI boss. It has been a dangerous assignment since she’s working with NO FBI backup should trouble develop.

With her former partner, Carlos Gaspar’s technical assistance, she knows that Reacher is traveling with a car thief and fugitive, Petey Burns and they are in a motel in Gaucho, NM. What follows is a fast paced chase to find the two which ultimately leads them to Chicago where a major heist is being planned by Hugh Sullivan who is the Special Assistant to the Director of National Intelligence. Sullivan somehow operates anonymously and clandestinely by finding his own financial resources.

It's a very convoluted story that unfolds remarkedly quickly. With Gaspar’s help and Burke’s reluctance to follow the leads, Otto becomes increasingly frustrated. Ultimately she and Burke hook up with Frances Neagley. She’s a former associate of Reacher’s when they served together in the Army MP corps. She’s a very resourceful and heavily involved in corporate security and well funded by her clients.

The chaos that occurs in Chicago is described masterfully by Capri and kept me on the edge of my chair. I strongly recommend this latest edition of her Search for Jack Reacher series. You won’t be disappointed.

This latest adventure is full of dramatic turns and twists which will leave the reader unable to put the book down for either food, drink (except for a strong cup of coffee) or sleep. You will love it.

[John Kuvakas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diane Capri continues an eminently engaging and immersive story arc with this, her 17th book in the Hunt for Reacher series.

Otto’s new partner is in the hospital, seemingly brutalized (brutalized? maybe more like spared) in the huge hands of Jack Reacher. Petey Burns, a slick character we met in the last installment, is traveling with Reacher. Petey’s expertise at heisting high-end, mostly German cars is at play and becomes more even significant as we learn who he’s really working with. There’s a murder…and apparently, the corpse is none other than Reacher himself. Or is it? Otto and Burns team up to find out what’s going and, as usual, the details explode into a more far-reaching plot than anything we could have imagined. Meanwhile, the action gets intense and more characters from Reacher's life get involved, some who want to help him and others who have no such good intentions for neither Reacher...nor Otto.

Some of the plot elements may sound cliché but the way Diane handles them is what brings incredible suspense to the storyline. We know Jack isn’t dead…right? But watching the whole thing unfold, it becomes not only plausible but most incredibly entertaining. It’s the fuel that keeps this series burning brightly in the Reacherverse.

Pick it up! It stands well on its own. But I guarantee you, you’ll want to read the rest of the series. Then you can join me in biting my nails until the next installment.

[Robin Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was completely captivated by this new addition to the Hunt for Jack Reacher series. Kim Otto is such a fascinating character who is now saddled with what seems to be an incompetent partner. I’m so glad that Ms. Capri has kept her former (retired) partner Gaspar working in the background. While searching for Reacher, Kim finds that there is much more going on that just her hunt. While following the direction she thinks Reacher is going in, Kim and her partner stumble upon a crime wave that leads them in another direction. How this is involved with Reacher is to be determined. There are so many twists and turns that I couldn’t put it down!

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

As expected, another fast read with some twists and unexpected turns.

What I am not liking, in the accelerated pace of action, is the jumbled nature of the engagements.

We got a very detailed walk-through of Charlie Team's action in both OK and MO, however, next to nothing in IL. We did get to see if from Sullivan's perspective, however, it was unclear what unfolded.

The assumptions of Reacher's involvement are omnipresent, however, Reacher does not normally resort to firearms. What Sullivan 'saw', what Otto 'saw' doesn't align with Reacher's MO.

Burke is a wild-card, and it's gonna end badly for him.

[Gale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding plot!

This very well might be the best one Diane has written in her hunt for Reacher Series. I love the different approach, the watching from outside, the returning characters, the new twist with her 'partner' and the building suspense! I needed something just like this to read right now and was thrilled with the invitation to pre-read it. It is the best book I have read in several weeks. Diane just continues to amaze me with each new offering. Thanks for adding this one !! It was amazing!

[dennis barron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Straight Jack. Diane Capri

Reacher, as usual is hitchhiking and eventually gets a ride. The driver is an escaped felon. Not the dangerous type but a skilled getaway driver. Albeit an unlucky one. He's on the road driving to meet up with an acquaintance and his crew for the heist of the century. Reacher gets in the middle when someone tries to kill him but instead shoots and kills someone he befriended. What unfolds is bigger fish eating the smaller fish. All part of the white sharks plan.....An excellent and extremely fast paced action thriller!!! Enjoyed immensely!!

[Ted · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I liked most about this book was the realization that FBI Special Agent Kim Otto will continue hunting Jack Reacher far into the future. If he dies, there is no purpose for the series, because it dies with him. That doesn't mean that he won't experience some additional close calls, because those only add to the tension! It doesn't mean that Carlos Gaspar won't continue driving up to rescue Suzy Wong in a black Crown Vic super charger. FBI Agent William Burke, however, may be out of the picture! Stay tuned. This book opened up so many possibilities for him!

[Matt Lorenzen · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are fun, quick reads, which still pull no punches. I enjoy this series while waiting for the next Jack Reacher novel, and the change in perspective is a great, inventive twist. Like others in the series, there are some notable errors (e.g., a dead body being discovered naked in the shower, only to be wheeled off on the gurney in his work boots), but that’s part of the fun! Another thing I enjoy is that the author feels authentic, like she knows these small midwestern towns, and has traveled through them, which she probably has.

[Karla Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant and entertaining as always!


I love it! Always fun to have Neagley and Morrie back in for another adventure. Petey is a rotten soul but will most likely show up again one day down the road. This book's ending begs for a future bank heist with many of the same players. Also....Burke. What the heck?? I am looking forward to that continuing. I have lots of questions unanswered.
I love the these books! Keep 'em coming.

[carl clause · Rating 5 out of 5]

CC1

Diane this is the best Otto book ever. Not only was it all about Reacher but Gasper came back to put his 2 cents in. Then Burke goes off the handle about the whole Reacher affair. Cooper never chimes in. Finley is absent. But who is this person Sullivan. Many unanswered questions. But what a follow up! Diane 10 stars plus. Excellent story and plot. Thanks, Carl Clause

m e back

[Red · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, Straight Jack is another exciting Hunt for Reacher book. Thank goodness that Gaspar is still helping her. I hope Burke disappears from Otto's life after this one...but I really do want to know what she finds out from Neagley about him. As always, one thing that I really like about the whole series (so far anyway) is that we know that Reacher is still alive, or else there wouldn't be a book to read. LOL Long live Reacher.

[Maryellen Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never a dull moment!

The saga continues, as gripping as ever. I've come to really appreciate Kim Otto as our protagonist, with all her strengths and oddities. And I always like to see Gaspar's cameos - such a loveable character. Great character development, even of the baddies. Can't wait for the next one!

[Carianne Carleo-Evangelist · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better than the last couple, but still not as good as the early ones. Glad we got Gaspar in person, but I feel like the hunt for Reacher is getting lost, as is the character development. An OK, quick read if you want to finish the series, but not a must read. Enjoyed the mix of high and low tech crimes, but you know Reacher isn't dead. She's not killing off her protagonist.

[Lana Mccall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where is Jack

FBI Special Agent Otto is working with a new partner, William Burke. He is quite a character, not a devoted partner, a hair trigger, and it appears he has a vendetta against Reacher. Why? Hopefully we’ll find out soon. Before he is released from the hospital after Neagley stomped him into the ground.

[Pat Welte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Diane Capri has written a fast-paced story. It started out fast and continued to hold my interest until the very end.
The characters are well written and compelling, I almost feel like I am right there with them.
I loved this book and can hardly wait for the next book in this series.

[Larry]

I really enjoy these Diane Capri novels. Each one is better than the last. Once again Agent Otto is seeking Reacher all across the country. I highly suggest that people read this series and as a plus no order is needed. Each story is self-standing with a reference to a Lee Child book.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

good but too many loose ends at end

I really enjoyed Otto connecting with Reacher associate again (and of course Gaspar). They all make a good team. Happy to see she may be wising up about Burke. About time!

[Joe Chmiola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Great Hunt for Reacher.

If you are a fan of Jack Reacher, Kim Otto, Lee Child, Diane Capri then this is another fantastic book to read. Diane’s books keep me going until Lee releases another Reacher book.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Straight Jack immediately follows Jack of Hearts. This ends with an elaborate bank heist in Chicago. By the end Otto doesn’t know who to trust except Reacher’s friends & Gaspar. She suspects Burke has his own agenda.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mastermind plans a multibank, multimillion dollar heist. Reacher is riding along with an escaped convict who joins the bank crew. One of the crew attempts to murder Reacher but kills an innocent veteran by mistake. Reacher is determined to set things straight and get revenge.

[Sharon Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

I really liked this book! I like Frances and her involvement. Recommend to all. Really looking forward to the next book.

[Connie Hamby · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read

If you like Jack Reacher this is a must read you can't put it down you want to see what is going to happen next!