Lee Child's new book, Night School

Jack Reacher, still in the Army, becomes involved in an investigation with elite agents from the F.B.I. and C.I.A.

I’ve read all 20 Jack Reacher books, created by Lee Child. I leaped at the opportunity to review copy of his most recent book. You don’t read 20 books by same author unless of course you genuinely like the characters, and “Night School” is no different. Taking place back in the mid-90’s Military Police Major Jack Reacher is reassigned to go back to school – but it isn’t what everyone thinks. It’s really just a cover to investigate a feasible act of treason and terrorism. Reacher teams up with his old friend Sgt. Frances Neagley and a group of new people comprising the FBI, CIA and the national Security Council to find out what is transpiring and how to stop it. The best part of a thriller is finding out what takes place, so I won’t spoil anything, but Jack Reacher does his typical thing and in the end prevails in the usual Reacher fashion. The interaction between Neagley and Reacher, along with the other team members is enjoyable.

That’s the good part, now the part that isn’t quite as good. I like Reacher novels because over the years he has been constant - Jack Reacher is a really interesting character – keeps a clock in his head – always know specifically what time it is. Calculates the physics of a punch before he throws it, etc. In this book, Reacher is a bit more superficial. There is a lot less of Reacher’s thought process in this book and I felt it made the book a bit less fun to read. In fact, I can only give it “4 Stars” because it’s good – very good, in fact… but it lacks a bit of what makes Reacher novels so enjoyable.

Reacher fans will love it. Folks new to the series will enjoy it, as well. I enjoyed it. I just wish Lee Child done a bit more to keep Reacher’s character as exclusive and entertaining as he has done in the past.