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Jack Reacher #18.5
Not a Drill
In this short story from Lee Child, Jack Reacher is again on the move. But even a pleasant hike on a beautiful summer day turns into a walk on the wild side . . . and perhaps something far more sinister.
Jack Reacher is on the road, hitching a ride with some earnest young Canadians who are planning a hike through some of the last unspoiled wilderness in North America in the dense forests of Maine. They part ways after sharing a hot meal, and Reacher checks out a quiet town surrounded by countryside serene enough to cool even his raging wanderlust. But not for long. First the trail is suddenly and inexplicably closed. Then the military police show up in force. Maybe it's a drill. Or maybe it's trouble—the kind of trouble that always finds Reacher, no matter how far he travels off the beaten path.
Jack Reacher is on the road, hitching a ride with some earnest young Canadians who are planning a hike through some of the last unspoiled wilderness in North America in the dense forests of Maine. They part ways after sharing a hot meal, and Reacher checks out a quiet town surrounded by countryside serene enough to cool even his raging wanderlust. But not for long. First the trail is suddenly and inexplicably closed. Then the military police show up in force. Maybe it's a drill. Or maybe it's trouble—the kind of trouble that always finds Reacher, no matter how far he travels off the beaten path.
52 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 20, 2014
757 people are currently reading
11.9k people want to read
About the author
Lee Child
394books32.9kfollowersLee 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.
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.
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July 11, 2021
Not a Drill (Jack Reacher, #18.5), Lee Child
Not a Drill Originally published: July 29, 2014.
In this Electronic short story from Lee Child, Jack Reacher is again on the move.
Jack Reacher is on the road, hitching a ride with some earnest young Canadians who are planning a hike through some of the last unspoiled wilderness in North America in the dense forests of Maine.
They part ways after sharing a hot meal, and Reacher checks out a quiet town surrounded by countryside serene enough to cool even his raging wanderlust. But not for long.
First the trail is suddenly and inexplicably closed.
Then the military police show up in force. Maybe it's a drill. Or maybe it's trouble—the kind of trouble that always finds Reacher, no matter how far he travels off the beaten path. An enjoyable little novella.
تاریخ نخستین خوانش: روز هفدهم ماه فوریه سال 2018میلادی
عنوان: یک مته نیست، از سری جک ریچر؛ نویسنده: لی چایلد؛ موضوع داستانهای نویسندگان بریتانیا - سده 21م
جک ریچر، در یک روز گرم و بیهدف ماه اوت، سوار کامیونی خالی به شرق در «ماین» شد، و ...؛
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 19/04/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی
Not a Drill Originally published: July 29, 2014.
In this Electronic short story from Lee Child, Jack Reacher is again on the move.
Jack Reacher is on the road, hitching a ride with some earnest young Canadians who are planning a hike through some of the last unspoiled wilderness in North America in the dense forests of Maine.
They part ways after sharing a hot meal, and Reacher checks out a quiet town surrounded by countryside serene enough to cool even his raging wanderlust. But not for long.
First the trail is suddenly and inexplicably closed.
Then the military police show up in force. Maybe it's a drill. Or maybe it's trouble—the kind of trouble that always finds Reacher, no matter how far he travels off the beaten path. An enjoyable little novella.
تاریخ نخستین خوانش: روز هفدهم ماه فوریه سال 2018میلادی
عنوان: یک مته نیست، از سری جک ریچر؛ نویسنده: لی چایلد؛ موضوع داستانهای نویسندگان بریتانیا - سده 21م
جک ریچر، در یک روز گرم و بیهدف ماه اوت، سوار کامیونی خالی به شرق در «ماین» شد، و ...؛
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 19/04/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی
May 26, 2022
4 Stars for Not a Drill: Jack Reacher, Book 18.5 (audiobook) by Lee Child read by Dick Hill.
Jack Reacher is hitching a ride with some young Canadians in Maine. Then all of a sudden the forest gets locked down by the military.
Jack Reacher is hitching a ride with some young Canadians in Maine. Then all of a sudden the forest gets locked down by the military.
February 19, 2025
A short, interesting, fun mystery. It’s a nice change to have Reacher resolving a situation with his head rather than through violence.
September 2, 2023
Book 18.5 in the Jack Reacher series, and I'm just not into these short stories at all.
They just don't add anything to the overall plot or the characters. It's hard to understand the point of them, which makes them feel like a money grab.
While this is one of the better written ones, I already know it's not going to be memorable.
Two stars.
They just don't add anything to the overall plot or the characters. It's hard to understand the point of them, which makes them feel like a money grab.
While this is one of the better written ones, I already know it's not going to be memorable.
Two stars.
August 10, 2014
Lee Child has been one of my favourite authors for seventeen years. I've read each and every one of his books - twice - , met the author himself, got a signed copy of A Wanted Man, shared a beer with Lee in the Savoy Hotel, London and Jack Reacher is one of my all-time favourite characters. I even enjoyed the film and was one of the minority who thought Tom Cruise did a decent job. Basically, I'm invested in this author and have been for some time. However, this was the first time I felt disappointed after reading a book by Child. It's because Not A Drill was...well, moderately decent.
Reacher books are generally addictive. Containing the right amount of mystery, intrigue, smarts, and humour for any fan of thrillers, I would consider these books essential reading. Harking back to the days of hard boiled noir and anti-heroes, Reacher is a leading man that everyone appreciates. However, when Child started doing short stories, the Reacher enigma, so to speak, lost some of its appeal. This isn't due to the story itself - Not A Drill is concise, smart, short and very slick - it just seems to be...too short. Reacher revels when he's unwound slowly and the short stories don't do it for me in that respect. Just as they get started, it's over.
The worrying thing is that the other shorts were great, so I concluded that Not A Drill was missing something. It hit me when I reached the 74% mark on my Kindle and the story ended. And there it was. This story was rushed, the conclusion ending on a cliffhanger/sudden ending that kind of come out of nowhere. Yes, Child has his next novel, Personal, coming out this month, and if this is the lead in, then fair enough. However, if that isn't the case, then this story was a blatant attempt to sell the new novel, the final 16% of my Kindle time taken to show us an excerpt of the new book. Good promotion, yes, but as a Child fan; I'm invested. I will buy the next book but I would also have liked another 16% of Not A Drill...I felt short changed and this is rare, but this left me with a sour taste in my mouth.
3* - Too short. Yes, Reacher is better as a longer tale, a novel you can sink into and spend several hours divulging with. It doesn't mean the shorts should suffer but they shouldn't end this quickly. This seems like a stopgap to the next novel - and I can't wait - but this story shouldn't suffer in the process. Worth a read - all Child stories are - but you may end up feeling rushed to a conclusion that doesn't make a lot of sense. Maybe that was the point...let's hope Personal explains this if that's the case.
Reacher books are generally addictive. Containing the right amount of mystery, intrigue, smarts, and humour for any fan of thrillers, I would consider these books essential reading. Harking back to the days of hard boiled noir and anti-heroes, Reacher is a leading man that everyone appreciates. However, when Child started doing short stories, the Reacher enigma, so to speak, lost some of its appeal. This isn't due to the story itself - Not A Drill is concise, smart, short and very slick - it just seems to be...too short. Reacher revels when he's unwound slowly and the short stories don't do it for me in that respect. Just as they get started, it's over.
The worrying thing is that the other shorts were great, so I concluded that Not A Drill was missing something. It hit me when I reached the 74% mark on my Kindle and the story ended. And there it was. This story was rushed, the conclusion ending on a cliffhanger/sudden ending that kind of come out of nowhere. Yes, Child has his next novel, Personal, coming out this month, and if this is the lead in, then fair enough. However, if that isn't the case, then this story was a blatant attempt to sell the new novel, the final 16% of my Kindle time taken to show us an excerpt of the new book. Good promotion, yes, but as a Child fan; I'm invested. I will buy the next book but I would also have liked another 16% of Not A Drill...I felt short changed and this is rare, but this left me with a sour taste in my mouth.
3* - Too short. Yes, Reacher is better as a longer tale, a novel you can sink into and spend several hours divulging with. It doesn't mean the shorts should suffer but they shouldn't end this quickly. This seems like a stopgap to the next novel - and I can't wait - but this story shouldn't suffer in the process. Worth a read - all Child stories are - but you may end up feeling rushed to a conclusion that doesn't make a lot of sense. Maybe that was the point...let's hope Personal explains this if that's the case.
December 3, 2023
Story 3 stars**
Audio 3.5 stars**
Narrator Dick Hill
Audio 3.5 stars**
Narrator Dick Hill
September 4, 2017
I think Lee Child wanted to write about virginal Canadian woodlands, so he penned this quickie. More on that later.
You're probably familiar with Jack Reacher the character by now, if not via the books, then probably through Tom Cruise's movie version. My wife would watch an in-house tech-vid on widget production if it starred Cruise, so I've seen the 2012 Jack Reacher movie a few times by proxy. It just plays in the background as part of an all-disaster-and/or-zombie-flick marathon looped forever while she sits on the couch -her command center- getting the editing done and admin work caught up on her wedding photography business. Brain candy movies are the best background noise for the work environment! And, as far as I can tell, that's what this Reacher stuff is, brain candy. That ain't a bad thing!
Having heard all about these books and skimmed a few, I thought I'd test the waters by dipping my big toe in the shallow section. So far, not bad! I didn't expect much, after all, Not A Drill is essentially a long short story and there's not much time to get a time to get much done in a mere 50 pages.
As mentioned before, in this one Child spends much of his time describing a primeval Canadian forest. The descriptions are so lush you can almost smell the clean, verdant air. I love a good hike in the forest, so I was all right with the very little action that takes place in Not A Drill. Almost nothing happens. There's a mysterious lock-down on the woods as the military moves in and tries to move everyone else out. Reacher can't help himself. He just has to stick his nose in there and find out what's up.
This was a nice baby step into the series. I'll gladly take another.
You're probably familiar with Jack Reacher the character by now, if not via the books, then probably through Tom Cruise's movie version. My wife would watch an in-house tech-vid on widget production if it starred Cruise, so I've seen the 2012 Jack Reacher movie a few times by proxy. It just plays in the background as part of an all-disaster-and/or-zombie-flick marathon looped forever while she sits on the couch -her command center- getting the editing done and admin work caught up on her wedding photography business. Brain candy movies are the best background noise for the work environment! And, as far as I can tell, that's what this Reacher stuff is, brain candy. That ain't a bad thing!
Having heard all about these books and skimmed a few, I thought I'd test the waters by dipping my big toe in the shallow section. So far, not bad! I didn't expect much, after all, Not A Drill is essentially a long short story and there's not much time to get a time to get much done in a mere 50 pages.
As mentioned before, in this one Child spends much of his time describing a primeval Canadian forest. The descriptions are so lush you can almost smell the clean, verdant air. I love a good hike in the forest, so I was all right with the very little action that takes place in Not A Drill. Almost nothing happens. There's a mysterious lock-down on the woods as the military moves in and tries to move everyone else out. Reacher can't help himself. He just has to stick his nose in there and find out what's up.
This was a nice baby step into the series. I'll gladly take another.
October 21, 2018
An enjoyable little novella, as Reacher is planning on hitchhiking through Maine’s ancient forest - but he finds the trail blocked off an is immediately curious to know what has happened.
It’s a quick breezy read, I liked how Reacher uses logical explanations to try and work out the mystery.
It’s an ideal sampler for someone who is curious to read this series, you get a real sense of Child’s writing style and how Reacher’s characteristics has made this such a popular series.
It’s a quick breezy read, I liked how Reacher uses logical explanations to try and work out the mystery.
It’s an ideal sampler for someone who is curious to read this series, you get a real sense of Child’s writing style and how Reacher’s characteristics has made this such a popular series.
August 1, 2014
Let's send Reacher to find the well-known author who is taking advantage of the devotion of his readers by making a buck tricking them into buying mediocre, over-priced short stories. This evil author is just the kind of cynical, duplicitous SOB Reacher is so often compelled to run to ground. Would make a good story ... unlike this one.
November 8, 2023
Jack Reacher short story, 18.5.
The tiny town of Naismith has nothing going for it.
- except the start of a wilderness trail through Maine's ancient forests. But one day the trail is suddenly closed by county police.
No reason is given. Rumours start - is there something in the woods that no one must see? That no one must even know about?
Then Jack Reacher drifts into town. What does he make of the Do Not Enter tape strung between the trees?
Knowing Reacher's former work he can guess somethings going on, but what, only one way to find out.
Three stars
The tiny town of Naismith has nothing going for it.
- except the start of a wilderness trail through Maine's ancient forests. But one day the trail is suddenly closed by county police.
No reason is given. Rumours start - is there something in the woods that no one must see? That no one must even know about?
Then Jack Reacher drifts into town. What does he make of the Do Not Enter tape strung between the trees?
Knowing Reacher's former work he can guess somethings going on, but what, only one way to find out.
Three stars
August 24, 2021
3 1/2 stars, I think. It was a quick, enjoyable read, if you like Jack Reacher. No fights in this one, but just the typical common sense and clear thinking that we've come to expect most of the time. Nothing great, but not bad for a short story.
May 26, 2021
The insurmountable & unstoppable Jack Reacher, the “x-military� officer & drifter has a new project in his life.
Jack Reacher on the road again, enters the quiet Naismith, Maine town.
He meets Army Soldiers who don’t let him pass hanging yellow “Do Not Pass � tape & he becomes curious. He & 3 Canadians find a dead Canadian that looks like he fell out a airplane. They investigate secrets until they can determine if he was pushed -or- jumped -> to cover up military secrets?
Simple & Short.
Jack Reacher on the road again, enters the quiet Naismith, Maine town.
He meets Army Soldiers who don’t let him pass hanging yellow “Do Not Pass � tape & he becomes curious. He & 3 Canadians find a dead Canadian that looks like he fell out a airplane. They investigate secrets until they can determine if he was pushed -or- jumped -> to cover up military secrets?
Simple & Short.
August 7, 2014
This is the first Lee Child offering featuring Jack Reacher that I felt was truly awful. I gave it 2 stars only out of homage to the author and one of the best of fiction action heroes ever. Otherwise it would have merited zero stars. I'll be tempted to shoplift my next Jack a Reacher novel just to recoup my investment!
July 30, 2014
Fun short story
I confess I've not met a Jack Reacher story I didn't like, so I'm not the most credible reviewer on this one. But for what it's worth, I like this story because it's not the usual Reacher fare, yet it carries enough of the usual ambiance to fulfill a fan's expectations. Missing are any of Reacher's always entertaining fight scenes, as well as any definable bad guy or guys. But Reacher's powers of observation and deduction are on full display here and it's an enjoyable ride. Child usually provides a clear answer to the puzzles he sets for Reacher, so the ambiguity of the ending is unusual, too, but it works. Great fun and a well chosen appetizer for the upcoming novel. Poor Lee Child; it would be impossible for him to write fast enough to satisfy his fans' hunger for Reacher stories.
I confess I've not met a Jack Reacher story I didn't like, so I'm not the most credible reviewer on this one. But for what it's worth, I like this story because it's not the usual Reacher fare, yet it carries enough of the usual ambiance to fulfill a fan's expectations. Missing are any of Reacher's always entertaining fight scenes, as well as any definable bad guy or guys. But Reacher's powers of observation and deduction are on full display here and it's an enjoyable ride. Child usually provides a clear answer to the puzzles he sets for Reacher, so the ambiguity of the ending is unusual, too, but it works. Great fun and a well chosen appetizer for the upcoming novel. Poor Lee Child; it would be impossible for him to write fast enough to satisfy his fans' hunger for Reacher stories.
September 20, 2018
Gotta love an easy before-bedtime read in one setting novella! I actually enjoyed this one more than the other Reacher novellas, in large part due to the Maine northwoods setting. Child did a masterful job of making me feel like I was in the still, silent woods on a mysterious hiking trail in the middle of nowhere. I appreciated that Reacher didn't have to shoot anyone or even beat anyone senseless in this short tale. What I didn't love was that I wanted more -- more about the characters who picked up Reacher as he was hitch-hiking, and more about what was actually happening out there. The build-up was much more satisfying than the very quick conclusion, and I wanted more pages to flesh things out. This would have been a great start to a full-length novel, because it left me wanting more, but I'll be surprised if these provocative folks show up again. Too bad.
April 19, 2018
I'm not really sure that this was worth the time (although, to be fair, it didn't consume much time), or for that matter, what the point of it was - although I guess it's a little more of a place-in-time Maine woods travelogue than many of the books (even though the series is basically a wanderer on the road journey) - but it was worth every penny I paid for it, since it was a bonus included with one of the books in the series.
June 23, 2021
Read as part of No Middle Name. Reacher hitched a ride with teens through Maine.
May 27, 2022
This is one of Lee Child’s stand-alone short stories published in 2014 and available as an e-book. I find the Jack Reacher short stories of variable quality and did not find this offering one of the better ones.
Readers find Jack in the usual place, out on the road, hitch-hiking and waiting for a ride. It is August and he is traveling through Maine, exploring the northern stretch of the interstate highway. He is picked up by a couple in a battered mini-van, backpackers on their way for a hike in an old forest. Henry and Suzanne run a bicycle shop in Moncton New Brunswick while their friend Helen sitting in the back seat, is not the outdoorsy type and is no fan of either the woods or the bugs. The couple plan to spend a few days walking the trail and Helen is to drop them off, take the mini-van, head to an adjacent town and pick them up later.
Henry heads off road through the dense bush to a small place called Naismith, located by a lake out in the middle of nowhere. It is a small community with cabins, a kayak rental stand and a small diner. Reacher rents a cabin for a night and spends his time enjoying the peace and quiet. In the morning he heads to the small diner for breakfast and learns the trail has been closed by the police. The waitress tells him the trail has never been closed before and everyone is wondering what is going on. The owner of the kayak stand says it was closed by soldiers and there is a rumour there is something in the woods, but no one knows what it is.
When Reacher checks out the trial, he finds police tape across the entrance warning people not to enter. He sees military vehicles blocking the road with men in army combat uniforms armed with M16s. Henry and Suzanne have checked out and Helen has already left in the van.
What is happening? Is there a criminal or a wild animal lose?
Is this a state affair or a national security threat?
The problem with the story is pacing. Child usually skillfully handles this aspect of his writing, but this time he has a slow buildup to the story which is followed with what feels like a narrative dump. All of a sudden, the mystery is solved before readers have even finished guessing what is happening. It’s a very rushed conclusion, as if suddenly Child had to finish the story because a hot supper was waiting!
Child has used his short stories to tell readers more about Reacher’s past, but this story adds little to what we already know. It’s just an opportunity for him to show off his sleuthing skills.
This is the weakest of the short stories I have read so far, all in the order in which they were published. Yes, it was disappointing, but the plot had promise and may have served better as the plot for a fully-fledged Reacher novel.
Readers find Jack in the usual place, out on the road, hitch-hiking and waiting for a ride. It is August and he is traveling through Maine, exploring the northern stretch of the interstate highway. He is picked up by a couple in a battered mini-van, backpackers on their way for a hike in an old forest. Henry and Suzanne run a bicycle shop in Moncton New Brunswick while their friend Helen sitting in the back seat, is not the outdoorsy type and is no fan of either the woods or the bugs. The couple plan to spend a few days walking the trail and Helen is to drop them off, take the mini-van, head to an adjacent town and pick them up later.
Henry heads off road through the dense bush to a small place called Naismith, located by a lake out in the middle of nowhere. It is a small community with cabins, a kayak rental stand and a small diner. Reacher rents a cabin for a night and spends his time enjoying the peace and quiet. In the morning he heads to the small diner for breakfast and learns the trail has been closed by the police. The waitress tells him the trail has never been closed before and everyone is wondering what is going on. The owner of the kayak stand says it was closed by soldiers and there is a rumour there is something in the woods, but no one knows what it is.
When Reacher checks out the trial, he finds police tape across the entrance warning people not to enter. He sees military vehicles blocking the road with men in army combat uniforms armed with M16s. Henry and Suzanne have checked out and Helen has already left in the van.
What is happening? Is there a criminal or a wild animal lose?
Is this a state affair or a national security threat?
The problem with the story is pacing. Child usually skillfully handles this aspect of his writing, but this time he has a slow buildup to the story which is followed with what feels like a narrative dump. All of a sudden, the mystery is solved before readers have even finished guessing what is happening. It’s a very rushed conclusion, as if suddenly Child had to finish the story because a hot supper was waiting!
Child has used his short stories to tell readers more about Reacher’s past, but this story adds little to what we already know. It’s just an opportunity for him to show off his sleuthing skills.
This is the weakest of the short stories I have read so far, all in the order in which they were published. Yes, it was disappointing, but the plot had promise and may have served better as the plot for a fully-fledged Reacher novel.
August 19, 2014
A little taste of Jack Reacher goes a long way - liked this short story on a few levels. It's based in the State of Maine and it mentions my home town of Fredericton, New Brunswick.
Who really knows what's going on when the military comes to town and restricts access to a popular/tourist site?
I'm not going to tell you - read the book and find out! :)
2 thumbs up and 4 stars (not a big fan of novellas is why this only gets 4 stars).
Who really knows what's going on when the military comes to town and restricts access to a popular/tourist site?
I'm not going to tell you - read the book and find out! :)
2 thumbs up and 4 stars (not a big fan of novellas is why this only gets 4 stars).
August 9, 2014
It all began with a bit of hitchhiking near the Canadian border, eh. Reacher stumbles upon a group of hikers who are keen to trek through a forested area of northern Maine. He agrees to their hospitality all the way to town, though makes no plans to join them on their four-day jaunt. When he learns from the townspeople that the hiking trail has been closed, at both ends, his interest is raised. When he sees the Humvees heading into town and the MPs exerting their presence, he has to get a little more involved. What could be on that path that has the US Military so intrigued as to scramble up into the middle of nowhere? And where have his two hiking acquaintances gone, with the trail closed and their ride no due for a few more days? All is revealed, though the answers may leave readers with more questions to pose. Child does a great job with this short story, giving Reacher fans a little more to enjoy as they wait for the next full-length novel.
While little character development came from this brief glimpse into a Reacher adventure, some of his well-known sleuthing skills came to the forefront. He always remains so calm as he lays out his keen arguments and hypotheses, which can make the stories all the more enjoyable. While I know some authors have used their short stories as bridges or teasers for the upcoming novels, Child tends to stick to the belief that each book should be readable as though it is the first one a potential fan might read and enjoy enough to devour the entire series. Stand-alone novels (and short stories) are good ways to show an author's ability to compartmentalise, though I have often found myself scouring the story to see if some minor character, mentioned in passing, does make a larger contribution in later tales.
Kudos, Mr. Child for this interesting an Canadian-filled short story. Bring on your next major work, if you please.
While little character development came from this brief glimpse into a Reacher adventure, some of his well-known sleuthing skills came to the forefront. He always remains so calm as he lays out his keen arguments and hypotheses, which can make the stories all the more enjoyable. While I know some authors have used their short stories as bridges or teasers for the upcoming novels, Child tends to stick to the belief that each book should be readable as though it is the first one a potential fan might read and enjoy enough to devour the entire series. Stand-alone novels (and short stories) are good ways to show an author's ability to compartmentalise, though I have often found myself scouring the story to see if some minor character, mentioned in passing, does make a larger contribution in later tales.
Kudos, Mr. Child for this interesting an Canadian-filled short story. Bring on your next major work, if you please.
August 11, 2014
Have I mentioned how much I hate this trend of publishing, and charging for, short "stories" as prequels to upcoming novels? This is the third such effort I've read from three different top-selling authors. And while it's a reasonably well-written story, charging $1.99 for 44 pages of nothing terribly exciting (unless you count a couple of free chapters of the new novel, Personal, comes way too close to a rip-off for my comfort.
If it matters, Lee Child's popular hero Jack Reacher is traveling alone and unencumbered in rural Maine (why that is we never learn), hitching rides here and there until he reaches a remote wilderness trail that for some unknown reason has been closed and is being closely guarded by military police. Of course, Jack gets drawn into finding out why. He does - sort of - and readers learn it too - sort of.
The story wasn't bad, especially considering that it took only half an hour to read. But $1.99? Fuhgettaboutit. Save your bucks and buy the real thing.
If it matters, Lee Child's popular hero Jack Reacher is traveling alone and unencumbered in rural Maine (why that is we never learn), hitching rides here and there until he reaches a remote wilderness trail that for some unknown reason has been closed and is being closely guarded by military police. Of course, Jack gets drawn into finding out why. He does - sort of - and readers learn it too - sort of.
The story wasn't bad, especially considering that it took only half an hour to read. But $1.99? Fuhgettaboutit. Save your bucks and buy the real thing.
August 26, 2016
This started out well and I enjoyed most of it. But I found the ending and circumstances (governmental especially) absolutely absurd. There simply isn't the competence available and working to stretch this to any portion to association of current reality in those spheres. Also the girl who wasn't "woodsy" who ended up helping Reacher? That didn't fly either. She couldn't and wouldn't have trudged into that scenario.
The first half was decent in its Reacher mindset details and interest drawing formations.
After that decision of his to stay it was all "lost in the woods". 2.5 stars rounded up for Reacher being Reacher and not leaving the scene.
This trend toward single incredulous stories toward purchase? Not a fan. I'm disappointed in Child.
The first half was decent in its Reacher mindset details and interest drawing formations.
After that decision of his to stay it was all "lost in the woods". 2.5 stars rounded up for Reacher being Reacher and not leaving the scene.
This trend toward single incredulous stories toward purchase? Not a fan. I'm disappointed in Child.
July 30, 2015
A jack Reacher novella by Lee Child. I am a big fan of the Jack Reacher series but I have to admit that I don't think the shorter stories work and can't believe that I am going to give one of my favourite authors a two star rating. I read the except from his new book which follows this short story and you can tell the difference straight away. I understand that there is a demand for novellas but really I think this book is not worth the purchase, a 20 minute read.
April 8, 2016
Two-haiku review:
Reacher is in Maine
Meets hikers, then trail is closed
By military
So-so short story
Usually love Reacher
But not enough here
Reacher is in Maine
Meets hikers, then trail is closed
By military
So-so short story
Usually love Reacher
But not enough here
Read
March 28, 2023Another short story with Reacher doing what Reacher does.
A really short novel and well worth reading or listening to.
A really short novel and well worth reading or listening to.
November 9, 2014
Jack Reacher is on the road, hitching a ride, per usual. He gets a ride from some young Canadians, who are planning a hike through some the last unspoiled wilderness in North America in the dense forests of Maine. Reacher parts ways after sharing a hot meal. Reacher decides to check out a quiet town. First the trail is closed, and then the military police show up in force. Maybe it’s a drill, or maybe it’s� trouble. Child provides us with some suspense, action and Reacher’s usual “I said nothing�.
This is a quick read and I loved the descriptions of upper Maine. When I lived in Nova Scotia we would go on hiking trips in Maine or sail the off shore Island. Maine is a beautiful state. I usually enjoy a short story as a break from reading some very long books. But this book was a bit too short. I felt as if the author just abruptly ended the story and left me dangling. I read this as an audio book downloaded from Audible. Dick Hill did he usual great job narrating the book.
This is a quick read and I loved the descriptions of upper Maine. When I lived in Nova Scotia we would go on hiking trips in Maine or sail the off shore Island. Maine is a beautiful state. I usually enjoy a short story as a break from reading some very long books. But this book was a bit too short. I felt as if the author just abruptly ended the story and left me dangling. I read this as an audio book downloaded from Audible. Dick Hill did he usual great job narrating the book.
April 20, 2015
Hitchhiking his way across the country, Reacher ends up in Maine near the Canadian border. Picked up by tourists from Canada, Reacher shares a ride and a meal with them (in a diner, because where else would Jack Reacher have a meal?!?), he parts ways with them. Only to find a few hours later that the trails are closed and the military police are out in force.
Reacher is drawn into the mystery of what happened to the hikers and what the military police are so intent on hiding from the world at large.
As far as Reacher stories go, this one is a perfectly entertaining enough one. Honestly, it felt a lot more complete and enjoyable that the last longer Reacher novel in the series. It doesn't overstay its welcome and it tells an effective little mystery.
One of the better Reacher novellas that Lee Child has published in the last few years.
Reacher is drawn into the mystery of what happened to the hikers and what the military police are so intent on hiding from the world at large.
As far as Reacher stories go, this one is a perfectly entertaining enough one. Honestly, it felt a lot more complete and enjoyable that the last longer Reacher novel in the series. It doesn't overstay its welcome and it tells an effective little mystery.
One of the better Reacher novellas that Lee Child has published in the last few years.
September 4, 2014
A great Reacher short story meant to whet our appetites for the main course, 'Personal.' This was a new setting for Reacher, deep in the woods of northern Maine. A tight, interesting tale, this is exactly what you want in a short story. I'm frankly appalled at how negatively received these short stories are among the Reacher fan community. I think people have lost the appreciation for short stories. I actually saw a review of a book of Vonnegut short stories that accused all of the stories of being unfinished, the reviewer honestly thinking that the stories hadn't been completed. Short stories are an important form of literature, and this is a great, exhilarating example of what a short story should be. Highly recommended.
April 23, 2020
This is a Child short story. Some how the plots and narratives he develops do not lead themselves to be effective short stories. Because his writing style is short short sentence in a short story he is unable to develop character and although I got some feeling of Maine it was only brief. It does sound like a beautiful place.
Little tension develops in the story and the resolution is fairly predictable.
I noticed that Child uses many similes but few metaphors. I would like to use this short story to teach writing to students who are usually tentative about committing to the writing process.
Another Reacher story to tick off on my list.
Little tension develops in the story and the resolution is fairly predictable.
I noticed that Child uses many similes but few metaphors. I would like to use this short story to teach writing to students who are usually tentative about committing to the writing process.
Another Reacher story to tick off on my list.
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