Book Reviews and More: No Plan B - Lee Child and Andrew Child

Saturday 19 November 2022

No Plan B - Lee Child and Andrew Child - Jack Reacher Book 27

No Plan B
Jack Reacher Book 27
Lee Child

Andrew Child (Andrew Grant)

Delacorte Press
Penguin Random House Canada
ISBN 9781984818546

eISBN 9781984818553

ASIN B09PMZ93DT

This is the third novel in the series that is a collaborative effort from Lee and Andrew Child, a few years ago I read the first 24 Jack Reacher novels, and also the Jack Reacher short stories, novellas and crossovers. In fact, I had to make sure I read other books in between. After I read the second that they co-wrote I read the 9 previously written by Andrew. And now I eagerly await the fall release of a new novel written by the two of them to continue the saga of Jack Reacher. Like the Epic of Gilgamesh, the story if Reacher is an epic tale that now spans decades. And Reacher has more adventure in most of the stories than some people have in a lifetime. And this third offering by the brothers Child is one of the best yet!

It has been a long wait of almost a year for this volume to be released. When the previous one came out I was very busy with work and some other books on the go, and it too me a while to read Better off Dead, this time I took no chances. I started it the day it released and was done in less than 24 hours. I just could not put it down! This one is now one of my favourites! This story is a masterfully written suspense thriller! I read this the weekend after binge watching the new Amazon Prime Series, for my third viewing and my wife’s first. My wife asked why I had not got her to try it earlier. I Had. I could picture the action in this one in a whole new way. But let us get back to this specific story.

This story begins with Reacher witnessing a murder. A murder the chief does not want to investigate because other witnesses describe it as a suicide by motor vehicle. The officer is uneasy with this and feeds Reacher some information he likely should not have. And soon Reacher is on the road to figure out why the murder took place, and make it right. Reacher must use his strength of three men to right a wrong. And as he is putting the pieces together he soon finds out he is righting several wrongs!

The description of this offering in the Reacher series states:

“In Gerrardsville, Colorado, two witnesses to the same tragedy give two different accounts. One guy sees a woman throw herself in front of a bus in what authorities will call a suicide. The other witness is Jack Reacher. And he sees what actually happened: A man in a gray hoodie and jeans, moving like a shadow, pushed the victim to her death—before swiftly grabbing the dead woman’s purse and strolling away.

Reacher follows the killer on foot, not knowing that he is part of something much bigger and far-reaching . . . a secret conspiracy with many moving parts, with powerful people on the take, all involved in an undertaking that leaves no room for error. If any step is compromised, the threat will have to be quickly and quietly and permanently removed.

Because when the threat is Reacher, there is No Plan B.”

Plan B is mentioned three times in the volume. Reacher knows that plans often go sideways with the first engagement with an enemy. But when Reacher is that enemy things can go way off course. At one point we are informed:

““Bruno? I’ve been thinking. About tomorrow. I hate to say this. You know I’ve been against making any changes, right from the start. But maybe the others were right. With Reacher running around out there, maybe the full ceremony isn’t the smart way to go. Maybe it’s time we switched to Plan B.”

“We don’t have a Plan B. We’ve never needed one.”

“Maybe it’s time to think of one. We can’t postpone because of the court order but the ceremony isn’t important. Getting our guy released on time is all that matters. We could put out a statement. Say he was too traumatized to go through with the publicity.”

“The release is the top priority, for sure. But we don’t want to throw the baby out with the bathwater. The ceremony is very important. You can’t buy that kind of good press. And you’re forgetting the insurance. That will take care of Reacher. He’ll be miles away at 10:00 a.m. And if he comes back, it’ll be too late for him to do anything.””

Never underestimate Reacher. Once he has set his mind to something it will happen or he will die trying. And this time he has some help from a friend of the first victim.

This is another great volume from the Child brothers. And will leave readers desperate for the next instalment ‘The Secret’. That next instalment was not announced at the end of the book, but was via the Jack Reacher email list. If you are a fan of Reacher either from the books or TV show give it a read. And if you have never read a Reacher story it is as good a place to start as any. This is a very good book in an always entertaining series!