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charlottedando's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
reading_goat's review against another edition
4.0
great collection of Jack Reacher shorts. a few I'd read before, but many new.
sophieamreacher's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A good collection of short stories about Reacher, some better than others but enjoyable read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Stalking, Car accident, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
r_lind's review against another edition
3.0
Okay. Already read some of these at the end of other books.
winglady's review against another edition
5.0
This is an excellent collection of short stories featuring Jack Reacher at various times in his fictional life, with plenty of variety to keep the reader entertained. A great escape!
coops456's review against another edition
4.0
Reacher distilled.
I enjoyed the short story format; the length of these tales range from a couple of pages to a novella. Includes a couple of interesting back-story pieces.
I enjoyed the short story format; the length of these tales range from a couple of pages to a novella. Includes a couple of interesting back-story pieces.
chrisjacobs2007's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
righteousridel's review against another edition
3.0
Tapas, Reacher-Style
The combination of all these stories actually results in an enjoyable read, but individually the stories are often too much setup, lacking substance, or so out-of-context that Reacher’s actions seem unwarranted.
Recommended with reservations... a bit of thought should have gone into ordering these stories in the anthology, because the quality definitely dropped as I neared the end.
Too Much Time ★★★☆☆
This is one of my favourite Reacher short stories, as he gets the screws turned on him after assisting law enforcement. The injustice of those in power railroading decent people for selfish gain hits me right in the feels - there’s something about it that gets my blood boiling. It’s also a surprising take from Lee Child, whose previous writings would have me believe him to be sympathetic towards law enforcement.
Like most Reacher short stories, the resolution is a bit too easy and there’s not enough page count for Lee Child’s signature small-details-leads-to-plot-twist style of writing. But it did better than most, and is definitely the best of all Reacher novella.
Recommended for short story lovers.
Small Wars ★★★☆☆
This novel surprised me as I enjoyed the character of Joe Reacher in his prime. While the actual storyline is a boring police procedural, inclusion of the Reachers adds spice to an otherwise bland plot. It’s also one of the best paced short stories, as it feels like you get into the weeds but doesn’t end too quickly.
Recommended for short story lovers.
It’s really too bad that Lee Child chose to kill Joe in the very first novel as he was (is?) a great character and one of the few things that Reacher is attached to. I was also very sad for the victim’s parents when it all clicked together for me.
This is the second (after Deep Down) novella that showcased a War Plans-related, fast-tracked female miiltary antagonist. Maybe I read them too close together, but I’m a bit unsettled that Lee Child did the same thing twice.
Second Son ★☆☆☆☆
I dislike Child Reacher novels almost on principle, and this one is no exception. His family was present but absent, ticking off boxes but giving us no real insight into their characters. The main mystery has an obvious solution, and Reacher’s solution was creative, but it didn’t feel very realistic. It’s a waste of time that kept me reading but I won’t recall anything of this story by the time tomorrow comes around.
Not a Drill ★★☆☆☆
An exceptionally mediocre Reacher short story, Not a Drill is ostensibly about a mystery surrounding the closure of a hiking trail. In reality, the back of the book is actually the entirety of the plot. Lee Child needs time to set up details that we miss, but Reacher doesn’t… and there’s just not enough room for that here. In the blink of an eye, all the revelations are done and you’re confused that the short story is at an end.
Maybe They Have a Tradition ★☆☆☆☆
As often in a Lee Child short story, too much time is spent on setup and not enough time is spent on substance. This feels like a few pages that were cut from 61 Hours.
Guy Walks Into a Bar ★★☆☆☆
For the word count, Guy Walks Into a Bar comes off as quintessentially Reacher: vigilantism, deep analysis and never a detail missed. There’s even a twist and a quick fight scene. Lee Child should be applauded for fitting so much of his distinct style into his short story.
Not recommended with reservations - it’s really more of a technical achievement than anything else.
No Room at the Motel ★☆☆☆☆
This short story really feels like it was edited out of a regular Reacher novel, and Lee Child decided to just publish it on its own. It’s a random scene of Reacher being himself; something that happens hundreds of times in any long-form novel.
Picture of the Lonely Diner ★☆☆☆☆
Reacher talks a lot, and because there’s so little context, he comes across as a bully and tone-deaf.
The combination of all these stories actually results in an enjoyable read, but individually the stories are often too much setup, lacking substance, or so out-of-context that Reacher’s actions seem unwarranted.
Recommended with reservations... a bit of thought should have gone into ordering these stories in the anthology, because the quality definitely dropped as I neared the end.
Too Much Time ★★★☆☆
This is one of my favourite Reacher short stories, as he gets the screws turned on him after assisting law enforcement. The injustice of those in power railroading decent people for selfish gain hits me right in the feels - there’s something about it that gets my blood boiling. It’s also a surprising take from Lee Child, whose previous writings would have me believe him to be sympathetic towards law enforcement.
Like most Reacher short stories, the resolution is a bit too easy and there’s not enough page count for Lee Child’s signature small-details-leads-to-plot-twist style of writing. But it did better than most, and is definitely the best of all Reacher novella.
Recommended for short story lovers.
Small Wars ★★★☆☆
This novel surprised me as I enjoyed the character of Joe Reacher in his prime. While the actual storyline is a boring police procedural, inclusion of the Reachers adds spice to an otherwise bland plot. It’s also one of the best paced short stories, as it feels like you get into the weeds but doesn’t end too quickly.
Recommended for short story lovers.
Spoiler
The following is in spoiler tags, and I say so since some Goodreads clients may not respect it. You’ve been warned:It’s really too bad that Lee Child chose to kill Joe in the very first novel as he was (is?) a great character and one of the few things that Reacher is attached to. I was also very sad for the victim’s parents when it all clicked together for me.
This is the second (after Deep Down) novella that showcased a War Plans-related, fast-tracked female miiltary antagonist. Maybe I read them too close together, but I’m a bit unsettled that Lee Child did the same thing twice.
Second Son ★☆☆☆☆
I dislike Child Reacher novels almost on principle, and this one is no exception. His family was present but absent, ticking off boxes but giving us no real insight into their characters. The main mystery has an obvious solution, and Reacher’s solution was creative, but it didn’t feel very realistic. It’s a waste of time that kept me reading but I won’t recall anything of this story by the time tomorrow comes around.
Not a Drill ★★☆☆☆
An exceptionally mediocre Reacher short story, Not a Drill is ostensibly about a mystery surrounding the closure of a hiking trail. In reality, the back of the book is actually the entirety of the plot. Lee Child needs time to set up details that we miss, but Reacher doesn’t… and there’s just not enough room for that here. In the blink of an eye, all the revelations are done and you’re confused that the short story is at an end.
Maybe They Have a Tradition ★☆☆☆☆
As often in a Lee Child short story, too much time is spent on setup and not enough time is spent on substance. This feels like a few pages that were cut from 61 Hours.
Guy Walks Into a Bar ★★☆☆☆
For the word count, Guy Walks Into a Bar comes off as quintessentially Reacher: vigilantism, deep analysis and never a detail missed. There’s even a twist and a quick fight scene. Lee Child should be applauded for fitting so much of his distinct style into his short story.
Not recommended with reservations - it’s really more of a technical achievement than anything else.
No Room at the Motel ★☆☆☆☆
This short story really feels like it was edited out of a regular Reacher novel, and Lee Child decided to just publish it on its own. It’s a random scene of Reacher being himself; something that happens hundreds of times in any long-form novel.
Picture of the Lonely Diner ★☆☆☆☆
Reacher talks a lot, and because there’s so little context, he comes across as a bully and tone-deaf.
bookhawk's review against another edition
3.0
Some good new stories and many good stories previously available. A better book if you have not read the short stories previously published. Child has a quick mind that creates concise and logical dialogue.