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Jack Reacher
No Middle Name
No Middle Name: Jack Reacher, The Complete Collected Short Stories. Jack 'No Middle Name' Reacher, lone wolf, knight errant, ex military cop, lover of women, scourge of the wicked and righter of wrongs. No suitcase. No destination. No middle name. No matter how far Reacher travels off the beaten path, trouble always finds him. Feel bad for trouble. After leaving his job as a Military Police major, Reacher roams the United States taking odd jobs. He’ll arrive in town, come across someone who needs his help, solve a mystery and take out the bad guys, and then get on the next bus out of town. Reacher is never looking for trouble, but trouble always finds him.
Contents:
* Too Much Time / Novella by Lee Child: finds Reacher in a hollowed-out town in Maine, where he witnesses a random bag-snatching but sees much more than a simple crime.
* Small Wars / Short story by Lee Child: back to 1989, when Reacher is an MP assigned to solve the brutal murder of a young officer found along an isolated forest road in Georgia, and whose killer may be hiding in plain sight.
* Not a Drill / Short story by Lee Child: Reacher tries to take some downtime, but a pleasant hike in Maine turns into a walk on the wild side, and perhaps something far more sinister.
* High Heat / Novella by Lee Child: time-hops to 1977, when Reacher is a teenager in sweltering New York City during a sudden blackout that awakens the dark side of the city that never sleeps.
* Second Son / Short story by Lee Child: Okinawa is the setting, which reveals the pivotal moment when young Reacher’s sharp “lizard brain� becomes just as important as his muscle.
* Deep Down / Reacher tracks down a spy by matching wits with four formidable females, three of whom are clean, but the fourth may prove fatal.
* Guy Walks into a Bar / Short story by Lee Child
* James Penney’s New Identity (2019) / Short story by Lee Child
* Everyone Talks / Short story by Lee Child
* The Picture of the Lonely Diner / Short story by Lee Child
* Maybe They Have a Tradition / Short story by Lee Child
* No Room at the Motel / Short story by Lee Child
.
Contents:
* Too Much Time / Novella by Lee Child: finds Reacher in a hollowed-out town in Maine, where he witnesses a random bag-snatching but sees much more than a simple crime.
* Small Wars / Short story by Lee Child: back to 1989, when Reacher is an MP assigned to solve the brutal murder of a young officer found along an isolated forest road in Georgia, and whose killer may be hiding in plain sight.
* Not a Drill / Short story by Lee Child: Reacher tries to take some downtime, but a pleasant hike in Maine turns into a walk on the wild side, and perhaps something far more sinister.
* High Heat / Novella by Lee Child: time-hops to 1977, when Reacher is a teenager in sweltering New York City during a sudden blackout that awakens the dark side of the city that never sleeps.
* Second Son / Short story by Lee Child: Okinawa is the setting, which reveals the pivotal moment when young Reacher’s sharp “lizard brain� becomes just as important as his muscle.
* Deep Down / Reacher tracks down a spy by matching wits with four formidable females, three of whom are clean, but the fourth may prove fatal.
* Guy Walks into a Bar / Short story by Lee Child
* James Penney’s New Identity (2019) / Short story by Lee Child
* Everyone Talks / Short story by Lee Child
* The Picture of the Lonely Diner / Short story by Lee Child
* Maybe They Have a Tradition / Short story by Lee Child
* No Room at the Motel / Short story by Lee Child
.
418 pages, Hardcover
First published May 16, 2017
6,996 people are currently reading
10.8k 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,861 reviews
June 16, 2017
I always enjoy when something Reacher pops up on my radar, particularly when it has not been sullied by Tom Cruise. In this recently released collection, Lee Child has amassed a number of previously published short stories and compacted them between two covers. Some I have read and enjoyed, others I am discovering for the first time. I have decided not to review each individual piece, but to offer an overarching summary of general sentiments.
Child shows off Jack Reacher in an interesting light within this collection, tapping into some of his early years as a military brat through to his itinerant ways, best known to readers throughout much of the series. Reacher is depicted as a precocious and highly attentive youth, even when still under the watchful eye of his parents and begins his independent ways soon thereafter, ending up in New York during the Son of Sam killings in the late 1970s. From there, the reader sees Reacher in the middle of the career within the military, showing off his MP skills and honed interrogation techniques, which have served him well. Some of the latter stories depict Reacher as stumbling upon something of interest, a theme found in many of the series novels. It appears that no matter his age or where he is located, Reacher seems to have a way with the ladies. Baffling enough, he is always able to extract himself from their grasp as he continues his travels around the world. A wonderful collection of stories that show Reacher as he progressed through life. Ideal for the hardcore Reacher fan (though some may have read all these tales), though it also might be a decent piece for those who wish to discover the man with No Middle Name!
Lee Child has spent two decades honing his Jack Reacher character, developing both an ongoing story of his random wanderings into small towns across America and significant pieces of the man's backstory. Reacher is a complex character, even if he prides himself for not having a large historical footprint. Child has created this collection to show off the fifty-seven years of Reacher's life through the stories that readers have come to love. Each story can and does stand on its own, but series fans will love noticing the development in the character over time. Seeing Reacher develop from teenager through to his current stage was best shown by placing the stories in chronological (age, not publication) order. Longtime series fans are used to Child's flashback novels and stories, some of whom create tension when reviews pile up. That said, this collection offers something for everyone while we wait for the next full-length novel.
Kudos, Mr. Child for this fabulous collection of stories that keep Reacher fans happy. I am excited to see what awaits us in the coming months.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
Child shows off Jack Reacher in an interesting light within this collection, tapping into some of his early years as a military brat through to his itinerant ways, best known to readers throughout much of the series. Reacher is depicted as a precocious and highly attentive youth, even when still under the watchful eye of his parents and begins his independent ways soon thereafter, ending up in New York during the Son of Sam killings in the late 1970s. From there, the reader sees Reacher in the middle of the career within the military, showing off his MP skills and honed interrogation techniques, which have served him well. Some of the latter stories depict Reacher as stumbling upon something of interest, a theme found in many of the series novels. It appears that no matter his age or where he is located, Reacher seems to have a way with the ladies. Baffling enough, he is always able to extract himself from their grasp as he continues his travels around the world. A wonderful collection of stories that show Reacher as he progressed through life. Ideal for the hardcore Reacher fan (though some may have read all these tales), though it also might be a decent piece for those who wish to discover the man with No Middle Name!
Lee Child has spent two decades honing his Jack Reacher character, developing both an ongoing story of his random wanderings into small towns across America and significant pieces of the man's backstory. Reacher is a complex character, even if he prides himself for not having a large historical footprint. Child has created this collection to show off the fifty-seven years of Reacher's life through the stories that readers have come to love. Each story can and does stand on its own, but series fans will love noticing the development in the character over time. Seeing Reacher develop from teenager through to his current stage was best shown by placing the stories in chronological (age, not publication) order. Longtime series fans are used to Child's flashback novels and stories, some of whom create tension when reviews pile up. That said, this collection offers something for everyone while we wait for the next full-length novel.
Kudos, Mr. Child for this fabulous collection of stories that keep Reacher fans happy. I am excited to see what awaits us in the coming months.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
June 27, 2017
Great compilation of Reacher stories
I have loved Jack Reacher since I found Lee Child years ago, and still get entertained by all stories of him. I have read several of these stories before, but great to read in order all over again!
I have loved Jack Reacher since I found Lee Child years ago, and still get entertained by all stories of him. I have read several of these stories before, but great to read in order all over again!
October 24, 2018
All the various eBook novellas and random short stories collected together in one nice volume.
I’d read most of the eBooks before, but it was nice to revisit them (and add reviews to them!)
Out of the 12 stories, I had previously only read 5 of them, so it was nice to read the others.
My favourites were Small Wars and Not A Drill.
I’d read most of the eBooks before, but it was nice to revisit them (and add reviews to them!)
Out of the 12 stories, I had previously only read 5 of them, so it was nice to read the others.
My favourites were Small Wars and Not A Drill.
August 12, 2021
Jack Reacher short story collection published 2017
3.5 stars for Jack this time.
What can you say about a collection of short stories? This is a collection of short stories and as with most collections they’re a bit of a mixed bag.
There is one novella, which is pretty good, it’s got enough meat on it’s bones to let you sink your teeth into it. The rest fill in some background into Jack’s earlier life, which I enjoyed. But there was one or two that just failed to engage me and that coming from a dedicated fan is saying something.
But that apart this is Jack Reacher and what you know is what you get, just in a shorter version.
If you’re a fan you want be disappointed.
3.5 stars for Jack this time.
What can you say about a collection of short stories? This is a collection of short stories and as with most collections they’re a bit of a mixed bag.
There is one novella, which is pretty good, it’s got enough meat on it’s bones to let you sink your teeth into it. The rest fill in some background into Jack’s earlier life, which I enjoyed. But there was one or two that just failed to engage me and that coming from a dedicated fan is saying something.
But that apart this is Jack Reacher and what you know is what you get, just in a shorter version.
If you’re a fan you want be disappointed.
October 13, 2017
Here's a book to keep your Reacher addiction at bay while waiting for the next installment. A series of Jack Reacher short stories-his life in random sketches. Stories from his childhood (was Reacher ever really a kid, though?) to active military role, to the lone wanderer we know and love so well. Some are written in the first person and some in second which is kind of disorienting. The stories at the back of the book are the shortest and weakest. Still it's JACK NONE REACHER! That makes this hard-core fan happy .
September 24, 2020
Ли Чайлд се оказа майстор и на по-късите литературни форми. Но не и на съвсем късите - последните четири разказа в сборника са доста кратки и значително отстъпват като качество на по-дългите преди тях.
Самият Ричър и животът му са толкова умело и удачно сътворени, че предлагат неизчерпаеми творчески възможности и се надявам да ни радва още дълги години.
Само не разбрах, как планината от мускули Ричър, в Холивуд се превърна в джуджето Том Круз. Пълна смехория! :)
Самият Ричър и животът му са толкова умело и удачно сътворени, че предлагат неизчерпаеми творчески възможности и се надявам да ни радва още дълги години.
Само не разбрах, как планината от мускули Ричър, в Холивуд се превърна в джуджето Том Круз. Пълна смехория! :)
July 14, 2017
I know that Jack Reacher is a fictional character, but I have had a serious crush on him for years. {sigh} And in my mind, he does NOT look like Tom Cruise! Maybe more like Liam Neeson :)
March 22, 2024
How many of you are Jack Reacher fans?
Readers will know him as a no-nonsense character created by author, Lee Child.
In this Complete Collected Jack Reacher Short Stories titled No Middle Name you meet Reacher throughout his history - child, young man, grown man - pre-military, military and post-military positions.
The short stories give readers insight into Reacher and his family...secrets hidden and now revealed....journeys through passages in time....page-turners always!
Readers will know him as a no-nonsense character created by author, Lee Child.
In this Complete Collected Jack Reacher Short Stories titled No Middle Name you meet Reacher throughout his history - child, young man, grown man - pre-military, military and post-military positions.
The short stories give readers insight into Reacher and his family...secrets hidden and now revealed....journeys through passages in time....page-turners always!
August 23, 2019
Another Jack Reacher short story by author Lee Child that at only 12 pages long was always going to fall short in entertainment.
On the plus side was a free ok read that was well written, not bad for 12 pages I suppose.
On the plus side was a free ok read that was well written, not bad for 12 pages I suppose.
July 2, 2021
I don't usually like short stories, and although I love Reacher a lot, I thought about it a bit before buying this book. But then the curiosity to see if Lee Child was able to convey all the sense of Reacher in a few pages instead of a whole story was greater. And I must say that I did well, because the 4 stories that make up this book are able to convey the salient characteristics of Reacher. A Reacher who we meet at his origins, when he is still fifteen and still turns the bases of the marines following the movements of his father, a marine officer who travels around the world following the course of wars. The first of the stories is set in 1974 in Okinawa, where Reacher's family has just moved and where Reacher and his brother Joe are once again facing a new school and new social relationships. Reacher is a teenager, but he already has all the characteristics we know, determined, planner, instinctive, always alert, adaptable, resistant, as well as already being an excellent investigator. In fact, in all the four stories, he uses his deductive abilities and his brute force, especially teased by his aversion to injustice. The descriptions of the action and the environments are very accurate, a little less the dialogues, because Reacher is one of few words and many facts. He is someone who almost never smiles, is never under pressure and loves solitude. In conclusion, I must say that the 4 stories are pleasant to read and even if they do not allow you to enter the stories in an immersive way as an entire book does, they allow you to find an old friend. Three stars.
October 23, 2017
Nothing exceptional here. Just some short stories that mostly provide minimal interest and intrigue. You may find one or two decent stories among the lot. 5 of 10 stars
December 13, 2019
This collection of short stories is a must-read for all lovers of Lee Child’s supersize superhero Jack Reacher. In many ways the format suits the character perfectly, even the shortest vignettes of little more than 10 pages. We still get to see Reacher’s thought processes at work as he analyses situations and assesses the dangers.
The stories cover a wide range of Reacher’s life: his childhood on marine bases with his father Stan, his mother Josephine and his older brother Joe; his early career with the U.S. Army police and his familiar later peripatetic life. Throughout, we get an idea of how he develops, what motivates him and why he made the life choices he did. After reading these stories, I have little doubt that Lee Child had a fully-developed picture of his character even before he began his first novel.
The stories cover a wide range of Reacher’s life: his childhood on marine bases with his father Stan, his mother Josephine and his older brother Joe; his early career with the U.S. Army police and his familiar later peripatetic life. Throughout, we get an idea of how he develops, what motivates him and why he made the life choices he did. After reading these stories, I have little doubt that Lee Child had a fully-developed picture of his character even before he began his first novel.
May 25, 2017
Lee Child puts together a collection of short stories featuring his engaging hero & drifter Jack Reacher. Here you will find tales of Reacher as a child, a teenager & an adult which puts a new spin on the more formulaic stories we are used to reading.
Five of these stories have been previously published as e books, six in other publications & there is a new novella (Too Much Time) to get things started. All in all it is a decent collection to please Reacher fans like myself while we wait for the publication of the next full length novel, The Midnight Line, which is out in November 2017. If you cannot wait that long the first three chapters of The Midnight Line can be found at the end of this collection & what a good start to a story they are too.....roll on November.
Five of these stories have been previously published as e books, six in other publications & there is a new novella (Too Much Time) to get things started. All in all it is a decent collection to please Reacher fans like myself while we wait for the publication of the next full length novel, The Midnight Line, which is out in November 2017. If you cannot wait that long the first three chapters of The Midnight Line can be found at the end of this collection & what a good start to a story they are too.....roll on November.
June 19, 2017
Having read High Heat and Deep Down previously, I still enjoyed this one to a MORE than 4 star.
These Reacher, and especially the flashback, are like short story candy. Each has a different era core (the teenage ones are plain milk chocolate and then they get darker and richer with each decade added to Reacher's age) but the whole nougat has a crisp and crunchy perfect era outside- so the entire effect, whether reading them in hot, cold, rainy or beach perfect weather always seems like a perk and paid vacation from the mundane, dire or negative.
Honestly, no one ever said I was averse to big men- but really and truly Reacher is the ultimate. And his perceptions are perfect for the episodic and temporary.
Lee Child's short stories have some flaws, but I will not be the one to point them out to you. Because I enjoy them WAY too much to discourage for any reason.
Lastly, just an observation- but Reacher in any age, even as a teenage loose cannon, he tends to observe on a level with Sherlock. But the physical surpasses. BY FAR!
These Reacher, and especially the flashback, are like short story candy. Each has a different era core (the teenage ones are plain milk chocolate and then they get darker and richer with each decade added to Reacher's age) but the whole nougat has a crisp and crunchy perfect era outside- so the entire effect, whether reading them in hot, cold, rainy or beach perfect weather always seems like a perk and paid vacation from the mundane, dire or negative.
Honestly, no one ever said I was averse to big men- but really and truly Reacher is the ultimate. And his perceptions are perfect for the episodic and temporary.
Lee Child's short stories have some flaws, but I will not be the one to point them out to you. Because I enjoy them WAY too much to discourage for any reason.
Lastly, just an observation- but Reacher in any age, even as a teenage loose cannon, he tends to observe on a level with Sherlock. But the physical surpasses. BY FAR!
January 24, 2018
don't really go for short stories much but have to read everything about reacher
May 31, 2018
3-stars mixed bag of short stories, two of them pretty good: "Small Wars" and "Everybody Talks". The rest are mostly a waste of time.
Too Much Time, 3 star, excessive detail, not believable
Second Son, 3.5 star, adequate, young Reacher sounds just like old Reacher
High Heat, 3.5 star, adequate, 16 yr old Reacher sounds just like old Reacher
Small Wars, 4 star, 1989 Reacher and Neagley murder mystery, Best of the bunch
James Penney's New Identity, 3.5 star, adequate, not much Reacher, surprise ending
Everybody Talks, 4 star, short and sweet, first day female cop helped out by Reacher, unnecessary ending
Not a Drill, 3.5 star, strange tale, in the woods near Canada
Maybe They Have a Tradition, 3.5 star, snowy Christmas birth in England
Guy Walks into a Bar, 3 star, weak, bodyguards in a bar
No Room at the Motel, 3 star, predictable Xmas story
The Picture of the Lonely Diner, 2 star, dull, inadequate, pointless
-
from High Heat
Chevrolet Chevette 1977
I agree:
...all the time trying to imagine anything more splendid than the feel of a warm girl’s skin, and failing.
Son of Sam's Chartered Arms .44 Bulldog
.
Too Much Time, 3 star, excessive detail, not believable
Second Son, 3.5 star, adequate, young Reacher sounds just like old Reacher
High Heat, 3.5 star, adequate, 16 yr old Reacher sounds just like old Reacher
Small Wars, 4 star, 1989 Reacher and Neagley murder mystery, Best of the bunch
James Penney's New Identity, 3.5 star, adequate, not much Reacher, surprise ending
Everybody Talks, 4 star, short and sweet, first day female cop helped out by Reacher, unnecessary ending
Not a Drill, 3.5 star, strange tale, in the woods near Canada
Maybe They Have a Tradition, 3.5 star, snowy Christmas birth in England
Guy Walks into a Bar, 3 star, weak, bodyguards in a bar
No Room at the Motel, 3 star, predictable Xmas story
The Picture of the Lonely Diner, 2 star, dull, inadequate, pointless
-
from High Heat
Chevrolet Chevette 1977
I agree:
...all the time trying to imagine anything more splendid than the feel of a warm girl’s skin, and failing.
Son of Sam's Chartered Arms .44 Bulldog
.
May 3, 2019
I don’t believe I’m saying this, but this might be the best Jack Reacher book. As a regular fan of novels over short stories, it would be a sacrilege in other circumstances. But Lee Child’s Jack Reacher short stories are so good I’m left stupefied and wondering.
July 30, 2020
Ez a novellás kötet elég jó volt, erős négy csillag.*
Lee Child teremtett egy különc, néha furfangos, néha pedig síkegyszerű-ám kedvelhető modern amerikai hőst, aki katonai nyomozó múltját hátrahagyván lazán utazgat az Államokban, néha a világ más részein is. Gyökértelen, megállapodni nem tud.
Reacher figuráját és kalandjait megszerették az olvasók, az írótól várják folyamatosan az új regényeket, sajnos ezért akadnak gyengébbek is-legalábbis ahogy én látom az életművet eddig. Ez a könyv kicsit korábbi, vegyes sztorikkal, nekem többségük tetszett, néhány hozta az első pár regény hangulatát.
Hősünk a keményöklű igazságosztók méltó utóda, ugyanakkor a középkori, magányosan vándorló lovagokra is emlékeztet.
Két korábbi regényből film is készült, szórakoztató és nézhető munkák, csak sokan kifogásoltuk, miért kapta egy olyan színész a főszerepet, aki messze nem hasonlít az eredetire.**
*Nemrégiben gyengébbeket olvastam.
**Tom Cruise
Lee Child teremtett egy különc, néha furfangos, néha pedig síkegyszerű-ám kedvelhető modern amerikai hőst, aki katonai nyomozó múltját hátrahagyván lazán utazgat az Államokban, néha a világ más részein is. Gyökértelen, megállapodni nem tud.
Reacher figuráját és kalandjait megszerették az olvasók, az írótól várják folyamatosan az új regényeket, sajnos ezért akadnak gyengébbek is-legalábbis ahogy én látom az életművet eddig. Ez a könyv kicsit korábbi, vegyes sztorikkal, nekem többségük tetszett, néhány hozta az első pár regény hangulatát.
Hősünk a keményöklű igazságosztók méltó utóda, ugyanakkor a középkori, magányosan vándorló lovagokra is emlékeztet.
Két korábbi regényből film is készült, szórakoztató és nézhető munkák, csak sokan kifogásoltuk, miért kapta egy olyan színész a főszerepet, aki messze nem hasonlít az eredetire.**
*Nemrégiben gyengébbeket olvastam.
**Tom Cruise
April 16, 2017
Who wouldn't love a collection of short stories about Jack Reacher. An insight into the boy who became Reacher, his brother, his parents, incidental stories and finished off with a sneak peak into The Midnight Line, the new Reacher novel coming out at the end of this year. If you have read all the other Reacher novels then this is a must, but even if you are new to the character I think you would find this collection highly enjoyable.
May 26, 2017
Nice selection of Reacher stories to tide us over until the next full sized novel comes out. Some were from Reacher's childhood or young manhood. A few were when he was in the military and a couple were normal hobo Reacher stories. I really enjoyed seeing him as a teenager. Some were better than others for me at least but they were all good if you love Reacher.
June 29, 2017
2.5* Its weird, I'm slowly losing interest in Jack Reacher. This had some Ok short stories, some even on his childhood. I think it will be massive hit to diehard Reacher fans but unfortunately just barely got a passmark for me.
August 13, 2019
Nice collection...Enjoyed that. The novella named as Too Much Time was very excellent to read. All of the tales were gripping reads. All of the stories take place at various points in Reacher’s life. It's interesting. It’s really a entertaining compilation.
April 29, 2018
Excellent fast read. Great short stories. Read quickly after finding in library at Cliff Bay hotel on holiday in Madeira. Need to find some more I have not read....which narrows it down a bit
May 20, 2017
Lee Child's new novella and a collection of tightly constructed short stories about the life and times of Jack Reacher, the man who" has no particular place to go and no hurry to get there" jump off the pages. Like the series, some short stories are better than others but overall this highly entertaining collection provides additional insight into a character that has evolved over the last 20 years or so into a truly iconic fictional protagonist. If you like Jack Reacher, this book is a must read.
April 29, 2019
Twelve short stories in the Jack Reacher thriller series, revolving around an ex-MP with super-human deductive skills, a love for a good brawl, and a crusading spirit.
No matter how far Reacher travels off the beaten path, trouble always finds him. Feel bad for trouble.
The Series
"Second Son", 0.1
"High Heat", 0.25
"Deep Down", 0.5
"Small Wars", 0.8
"James Penney's New Identity", 0.xx (Reacher's a captain)
"Everyone Talks"*
"Not a Drill", (after he leaves the service)
"Maybe They Have a Tradition"*
"Guy Walks into a Bar"*
"No Room at the Motel"*
"The Picture of the Lonely Diner"*
"Too Much Time"*
* Takes place after Reacher leaves the service.
The Stories
"Too Much Time" may find Reacher in trouble in Maine where he figures, "hey, it can't take too much time to provide a witness statement". Thank god for Reacher's deductive powers...whew...
"Second Son" is literal as Reacher is the second son of Captain Reacher, a Marine recently posted to Okinawa with his family. A tale that finds Reacher senior facing charges as a traitor and Joe charged with theft until Reacher saves the day in his typical style. Yep, that Reacher, he's an early butt-kicker supreme, lol.
"High Heat" takes place during the '77 blackout in New York City when Reacher saves the fair damsel from a mobster.
Phew, the tension. It's the bad guy's territory, and Reacher is a cocky teenager in a strange city. And the Son of Sam is lurking...
That Reacher, he's a multitasker and open to the ladies, young and old(er). And yet it ends on such a sad note.
"Deep Down" is just that, a deep down undercover operation that is quite shallow for Reacher, lol. He's just not a subtle guy and he's quickly made. Unluckily for the traitor, Reacher is brighter than they think.
"Small Wars" finds Reacher in charge of a new unit in Georgia when a young officer is murdered. In cold blood. It's a tricky case...and the killer may be closer to Reacher than he suspects.
It's a quick adventure without Reacher doing a whole lot other than giving us a peek in at his resolve to do things properly. He brings in Frances to show the current sergeant the ropes and to get things done the way he likes 'em � with Frances taking out a jerk of a local deputy, lol.
"James Penney's New Identity" starts and goes on without Reacher appearing until the end. A sad tale as a man goes on the run from his life, lashing out at his fate, unleashing tragedy on more than he expected. Part of me is so annoyed at Penney and a larger part of me feels his pain, especially as it continues to deepen, poor guy. It's a very unexpected save with an even more unexpected � and creepy! � Reacher. There is a macabre payback involved as well!
"Everyone Talks" is split between Reacher and a newbie detective trying to prove herself. Reacher does what he does best, saving the day.
"Not a Drill" is definitely not the usual with Reacher stuck at the start of a wilderness trail that suddenly has yellow caution tape strung across the entrance. It's a mystery, and it took me a few reads before I could figure out what was really happening. I understand it, but geez...
"Maybe They Have a Tradition" is Reacher's hope when he's stuck in the English countryside at Christmas during a blizzard. Well, childbirth is a tradition, just not the one Reacher was hoping for, lol.
"Guy Walks into a Bar" and Reacher almost screws it up in this bit of misdirection.
"No Room at the Motel" finds Reacher trapped in a small southern town at the start of a blizzard. Always practical, he ensures he has a room for the night. Always the good samaritan, he comes to the rescue.
A sweet story with an unexpected ending.
"The Picture of the Lonely Diner" creates a bond between Reacher and the obstructive special-agent-in-charge when Reacher crashes a federal operation outside the Flatiron Building in New York City.
It's another short story with an unexpected ending. So very Reacher-like.
The Cover and Title
Ya gotta love the cover with its gigantic white cup of to-go coffee, filling the gradated red background. All the text is on a slant (all in red but for the author's name in white) reaching up from left to right. It starts at the top with an info blurb. A band of red on the cup is the background for the author's name. Below that, the title is framed top and bottom with a line and three stars on the outside of those lines. Below that more lines frame the series information.
The title is a fact, Jack Reacher has No Middle Name.
No matter how far Reacher travels off the beaten path, trouble always finds him. Feel bad for trouble.
The Series
"Second Son", 0.1
"High Heat", 0.25
"Deep Down", 0.5
"Small Wars", 0.8
"James Penney's New Identity", 0.xx (Reacher's a captain)
"Everyone Talks"*
"Not a Drill", (after he leaves the service)
"Maybe They Have a Tradition"*
"Guy Walks into a Bar"*
"No Room at the Motel"*
"The Picture of the Lonely Diner"*
"Too Much Time"*
* Takes place after Reacher leaves the service.
The Stories
"Too Much Time" may find Reacher in trouble in Maine where he figures, "hey, it can't take too much time to provide a witness statement". Thank god for Reacher's deductive powers...whew...
"Second Son" is literal as Reacher is the second son of Captain Reacher, a Marine recently posted to Okinawa with his family. A tale that finds Reacher senior facing charges as a traitor and Joe charged with theft until Reacher saves the day in his typical style. Yep, that Reacher, he's an early butt-kicker supreme, lol.
"High Heat" takes place during the '77 blackout in New York City when Reacher saves the fair damsel from a mobster.
Phew, the tension. It's the bad guy's territory, and Reacher is a cocky teenager in a strange city. And the Son of Sam is lurking...
That Reacher, he's a multitasker and open to the ladies, young and old(er). And yet it ends on such a sad note.
"Deep Down" is just that, a deep down undercover operation that is quite shallow for Reacher, lol. He's just not a subtle guy and he's quickly made. Unluckily for the traitor, Reacher is brighter than they think.
"Small Wars" finds Reacher in charge of a new unit in Georgia when a young officer is murdered. In cold blood. It's a tricky case...and the killer may be closer to Reacher than he suspects.
It's a quick adventure without Reacher doing a whole lot other than giving us a peek in at his resolve to do things properly. He brings in Frances to show the current sergeant the ropes and to get things done the way he likes 'em � with Frances taking out a jerk of a local deputy, lol.
"James Penney's New Identity" starts and goes on without Reacher appearing until the end. A sad tale as a man goes on the run from his life, lashing out at his fate, unleashing tragedy on more than he expected. Part of me is so annoyed at Penney and a larger part of me feels his pain, especially as it continues to deepen, poor guy. It's a very unexpected save with an even more unexpected � and creepy! � Reacher. There is a macabre payback involved as well!
"Everyone Talks" is split between Reacher and a newbie detective trying to prove herself. Reacher does what he does best, saving the day.
"Not a Drill" is definitely not the usual with Reacher stuck at the start of a wilderness trail that suddenly has yellow caution tape strung across the entrance. It's a mystery, and it took me a few reads before I could figure out what was really happening. I understand it, but geez...
"Maybe They Have a Tradition" is Reacher's hope when he's stuck in the English countryside at Christmas during a blizzard. Well, childbirth is a tradition, just not the one Reacher was hoping for, lol.
"Guy Walks into a Bar" and Reacher almost screws it up in this bit of misdirection.
"No Room at the Motel" finds Reacher trapped in a small southern town at the start of a blizzard. Always practical, he ensures he has a room for the night. Always the good samaritan, he comes to the rescue.
A sweet story with an unexpected ending.
"The Picture of the Lonely Diner" creates a bond between Reacher and the obstructive special-agent-in-charge when Reacher crashes a federal operation outside the Flatiron Building in New York City.
It's another short story with an unexpected ending. So very Reacher-like.
The Cover and Title
Ya gotta love the cover with its gigantic white cup of to-go coffee, filling the gradated red background. All the text is on a slant (all in red but for the author's name in white) reaching up from left to right. It starts at the top with an info blurb. A band of red on the cup is the background for the author's name. Below that, the title is framed top and bottom with a line and three stars on the outside of those lines. Below that more lines frame the series information.
The title is a fact, Jack Reacher has No Middle Name.
August 12, 2020
Now I'm not a fan of short stories (though I keep persevering!) but these are JACK REACHER tales & after all he's my hero, so I'm bound to find them good right?
Hmmm....well on the whole yes they were but.....& I really... REALLY... can't believe I'm going to admit this in print....one or two were just naff. Yes naff. Sorry but that's the way it is.
With a short story collection I usually find that they divide into 3 categories in my mind, these being: liked, disliked & didn't understand. These stories only differ in that these probably fell into loved, liked &....what the hell was that?!!
Most of the tales fell into, if not loved at least really liked. Starting with"Too Much Time", which was typical Reacher fare...him & his fists against a bunch of thugs *smack* just how I like him ;o)
"Second Son", was a dip into Reacher's past, back to '74 which, quote "reveals the pivotal moment when young Reacher’s sharp “lizard brain� becomes just as important as his muscle."
The rest mainly followed suit with "Everyone Talks" having a twist I particularly liked.
Now onto the downside:
I just didn't get "Not a Drill","No Room at the Motel" was a non-event & as to "Maybe They Have a Tradition"...meh...quite frankly disappointingly poor doesn't cover it - Mr Child, I'm embarrassed for you....
Overall entertaining & the good tales more than make up for the couple of poorer ones.
Hmmm....well on the whole yes they were but.....& I really... REALLY... can't believe I'm going to admit this in print....one or two were just naff. Yes naff. Sorry but that's the way it is.
With a short story collection I usually find that they divide into 3 categories in my mind, these being: liked, disliked & didn't understand. These stories only differ in that these probably fell into loved, liked &....what the hell was that?!!
Most of the tales fell into, if not loved at least really liked. Starting with"Too Much Time", which was typical Reacher fare...him & his fists against a bunch of thugs *smack* just how I like him ;o)
"Second Son", was a dip into Reacher's past, back to '74 which, quote "reveals the pivotal moment when young Reacher’s sharp “lizard brain� becomes just as important as his muscle."
The rest mainly followed suit with "Everyone Talks" having a twist I particularly liked.
Now onto the downside:
I just didn't get "Not a Drill","No Room at the Motel" was a non-event & as to "Maybe They Have a Tradition"...meh...quite frankly disappointingly poor doesn't cover it - Mr Child, I'm embarrassed for you....
Overall entertaining & the good tales more than make up for the couple of poorer ones.
October 15, 2018
No Middle Name is a great collection of Jack Reacher stories offering insight into Reacher's life when he was young, during his time in the military, and during his wandering years.
Of the twelve stories in this collection, six were new to me and six I had read previously. I like that the book offers stories that cover a wide range of Reacher's years. I think this collection is great if you're new to Reacher as you really get an idea of who the character is plus with the stories from early in his life, you understand how he became who he is.
My favorite story in the collection was Too Much Time, the brand new story released for the first time with the collection. This story contained all of the things I love about Reacher and had an exciting story to go along with it. The only stories I didn't completely love were the ones that cover Reacher's early life. Unfortunately in those stories I feel like despite not having the time to learn them, Reacher has all of the skills that he would have developed over time.
Overall No Middle Name is great if you're in need of a fix for Jack Reacher while waiting for the next full-length book in the series and I definitely recommend it for fans new and old.
Of the twelve stories in this collection, six were new to me and six I had read previously. I like that the book offers stories that cover a wide range of Reacher's years. I think this collection is great if you're new to Reacher as you really get an idea of who the character is plus with the stories from early in his life, you understand how he became who he is.
My favorite story in the collection was Too Much Time, the brand new story released for the first time with the collection. This story contained all of the things I love about Reacher and had an exciting story to go along with it. The only stories I didn't completely love were the ones that cover Reacher's early life. Unfortunately in those stories I feel like despite not having the time to learn them, Reacher has all of the skills that he would have developed over time.
Overall No Middle Name is great if you're in need of a fix for Jack Reacher while waiting for the next full-length book in the series and I definitely recommend it for fans new and old.
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July 8, 2017
I suppose you could call me a Jack Reacher fan. I have read and/or listened to all of the Jack Reacher full-length novels, many of them more then once, some more than twice. I have been disappointed with the last four or so titles, including having to send the latest two, "Make Me" and "Night School", to the DNF shelf.
For reasons I cannot elucidate, I do not normally read short stories, although I do have quite a few collections in my eBook library, including the previously published, but unread, Reacher works. While I did not have any high expectations when I started listening to the twelve short works of "No Middle Name", I found the collection interesting enough to finish the lot within twenty-four hours during a period of enforced bed rest.
For reasons I cannot elucidate, I do not normally read short stories, although I do have quite a few collections in my eBook library, including the previously published, but unread, Reacher works. While I did not have any high expectations when I started listening to the twelve short works of "No Middle Name", I found the collection interesting enough to finish the lot within twenty-four hours during a period of enforced bed rest.
December 13, 2017
Book of short stories featuring Jack Reacher. Several had been previously available. This was all new to me. A couple of the stories are really great. I prefer the ones set before the military. Quick read. If you are not already a fan, start from the beginning of the series.
June 14, 2018
A nice collection of short stories, some more cerebral than others. Recommended.
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