The Secret, Lee Child

The Secret opening lines: Keith Bridgeman was alone in his room when he closed his eyes. The morning medical rounds were over.

My blurb:

It is 1992 and Jack Reacher is on active duty in the Military Police. He is called to form part of a task force put together to figure out who is killing a seemingly random group of people. But Reacher knows that there is never anything random when it comes to murder. And something has to tie them all together. Something they are not being told. Reacher will not stop until he uncovers the truth, no matter who he upsets along the way.

The Secret

1992. Two strangers bring a hospital patient a list of names. They ask him for one more, but it’s a question the patient can’t answer. Minutes later he is dispatched through the 12th floor window.

His death generates some unexpected attention. That attention comes from the Secretary of Defence, who brings in an inter-agency task force to investigate. Jack Reacher, recently demoted from Major to Captain, is assigned as the Army’s representative.

Reacher may be an exceptional soldier, but sweeping other people’s secrets under the carpet isn’t part of his skill set. As he races to find the killer, he must navigate around the ulterior motives of his new ‘partners’. And all while moving into the sight line of some of the most dangerous people he has ever encountered.

His mission is to uncover the truth. Fast. The question is: will Reacher bring the bad guys to justice the official way . . . or his way?

My verdict:

I am a huge Reacher fan, having read every one of Lee Child’s books. This one is brilliantly written in collaboration with his brother, Andrew Child. Don’t miss out on this newest book in the series. And set aside a day to read it. I did not want to put the book down I was so hooked.

Read an extract:

Keith Bridgeman was alone in his room when he closed his eyes. The morning medical rounds were over. Lunch had been delivered and eaten and cleared away. Other people’s visitors had clattered along the corridor in search of relatives and friends. A janitor had swept and mopped and hauled off the day’s trash. And finally a little peace had descended on the ward.

Bridgeman had been in the hospital for a month. Long enough to grow used to its rhythms and routines. He knew it was time for the afternoon lull. A break from getting poked and prodded and being made to get up and move around and stretch. No one was going to bother him for another three hours, minimum. So he could read. Watch TV. Listen to music. Gaze out of the window at the sliver of lake that was visible between the next pair of skyscrapers.

continue reading

Publishing information:

Penguin Random House South Africa sent me this novel to review.

View the previous posts on November 26:

• • 2021: Chocolate Fudge Sauce
  • 2018: Zabaglione
  • 2017: The Choice
  • 2015: Olive Oil Chocolate Mousse
  • 2014: Chicken Cous Cous Salad
  • 2012: Apple And Almond Bread
  • 2011: Berry Bars

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