Better off Dead

Jack Reacher #26

by Lee Child

Digging graves had not been part of my plans when I woke up that morning.

Reacher goes where he wants, when he wants. That morning he was heading west, walking under the merciless desert sun—until he comes upon a curious scene. A Jeep has crashed into the only tree for miles around. A woman is slumped over the wheel.

Dead? No, nothing is what it seems.

The woman is Michaela Fenton, an army veteran turned FBI agent trying to find her twin brother, who might be mixed up with some dangerous people. Most of them would rather die than betray their terrifying leader, who has burrowed his influence deep into the nearby border town, a backwater that has seen better days. The mysterious Dendoncker rules from the shadows, out of sight and under the radar, keeping his dealings in the dark.

He would know the fate of Fenton’s brother.

Reacher is good at finding people who don’t want to be found, so he offers to help, despite feeling that Fenton is keeping secrets of her own. But a life hangs in the balance. Maybe more than one. But to bring Dendoncker down will be the riskiest job of Reacher's life. Failure is not an option, because in this kind of game, the loser is always better off dead.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Audiobook, Crime, Action, Suspense

557 pages, ebook

First published October 26, 2021

About the author

Lee 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.

Reviews

[Janine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve read every Reacher book and loved almost all of them but I’m sad to say I think the transition to Andrew Child as the author is not working for me. If Lee Child is out then I think I’m out too.

[James Hodge · Rating 1 out of 5]

End of the Road for Jack?

I am (was) a Reacher fan. But his latest “adventure” has stretched my loyalty beyond the breaking point. It is a first, though - my first encounter with a boring Reacher. Some of the ingredients are there. The staccato sentences, but far too many of them. The detailed descriptions of rooms, etc, but at far too great a length. The fights, but without the pseudo- scientific description of the mechanics involved. Word upon word, sentence upon sentence, scene upon scene. But to what end? The plot is ludicrous, even for Reacher. The denouement is particularly daft, and so complex as to be laughable. It’s as if a five star chef’s recipe has been attempted by a tyro. The ingredients are (almost all) there; the cooking style is ( apparently) similar; but the magic is not there. Jack Reacher has had a huge following; deservedly so. But more on the lines of this latest offering and the fans will be reduced to talking about the Good Old Days, when Jack was really Jack and not the boring caveman murderer he has become. (By the way, the toothbrush is still there - just. But where is the ATM card? And does Jack know how to use a smartphone or not? Sometimes he can scroll happily; sometimes he stabs helplessly.) What a falling off as a Great American Hero limps off into the sunset.

[Kaceey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've always been a huge Jack Reacher fan from the beginning, having read (nearly) this entire series. But for the first time, I just didn’t click with Jack. He seemed different, not his usual self.🤷‍♀️

Upon closer inspection at the book credits proved indeed there was a reason for that. This latest work was a team effort with Lee’s brother Andrew co-writing. There’s a significantly different feel from all previous novels in the series. For some it may work, for me it just didn’t.😞

For example, one small but notable quirk missing with Jack 2.0 were his coffee binges. Barely a fleeting reference to his passion for coffee here, though. It just felt strange, as coffee appears to be his drug of choice!

Also, Jack typically has a brief but heartfelt fling before he does his "love ‘em and leave ‘em” shtick. Again…lacking.

I remain committed to these long-running series for the characters just as much as the storylines. So if my Jack has changed this much, well…I may need to kindly part ways and only visit on Amazon originals.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐
YES! Good ol' Reacher's (sorta) back!

Jack Reacher is hitchhiking west towards the Pacific Ocean. He finds himself at Los Gemelos, a tiny Arizona town near the border. He came across a crashed Jeep and helps the driver, who turns out to be a fellow Army veteran, Michaela Fenton. Michaela is searching for her twin brother who may be involved with an atrocious gang led by Waad Dendoncker.

Better off Dead involves terrorist bomb-making and stashing. I loved how this book started, but I won't spoil it. A bit brow raising! Michaela is no ordinary damsel in distress. Her expertise in bomb forensics with Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center (TEDAC) comes into play in searching for her twin brother. Reacher's old self is back when he has to work around some minutiae phone technology. The pace is a bit off and I'm still getting used to Reacher's first-person narrative.

I'm bumping it to four stars since it's a strong improvement from the previous tech heavy book.✌️

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read and loved every Jack Reacher novel, but I was disappointed in this one. I found the plot thin and strained. There was really no character development. It was just Jack on a quest at the Mexican border fighting and killing bad guys. As a female reader, I missed the attention to hygiene and the little romance that humanized Reacher and didn’t just make him a killing machine.

Yes, the killing and chases are thrilling, but I found something missing. I’m looking forward to reading a more evolved Reacher adventure, as I loved in the past.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

[Tim · Rating 1 out of 5]

Better off Unread. 2 of 10 stars!

[Ron S · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's ironic that the title of the latest Reacher so perfectly describes the series itself at this point.

[SassafrasfromAmazon · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.0 UNREMARKABLE ⭐️ The short “blurb” touting this book indicates that it is a “page-turning thriller.” No, no it is not. In all probability, the blurb coupled with the book’s synopsis is more exciting than the book itself. In fact, for me, this book is nothing short of unmitigated drudgery and finishing it necessitated a herculean effort on my part.

Indeed, simply put, something is just off. Certain aspects of the book are repetitive. In addition, a significant amount of the story is cryptic and wholly incomprehensible without being anchored to something consequential at that point in the book. Um, what is the actual plot again?

For those readers who are acquainted with the indomitable Reacher character, we know that he is highly intelligent, and he has keen observational skills. Typically, before any attack, Reacher is extremely adept at quickly sizing up his opponent(s), and he then takes complete control of the situation. Further, before Reacher makes a single move in an attack situation, he has already mapped out his moves and countermoves as well as those likely to be taken by his adversaries. Following what I’ve termed his mental gymnastics, Reacher then executes whatever actions are required to satisfactorily handle the situation with utmost precision. It’s a thing of beauty. But, unfortunately, that’s not the case in this book.

Moreover, in my opinion, this Reacher is markedly different—he certainly is not the Reacher of the past. If Reacher has incapacitated an opponent by breaking his nose or ribs, etc., but subsequently that adversary comes back to launch another attack (though unlikely), Reacher certainly would never say, “Really? Again?” Can you imagine Reacher uttering such a thing if confronted under these circumstances? Nope. It is unfortunate that the previously written Reacher character suddenly has morphed into a character I do not recognize and can’t fathom. And, I don’t like it.

Similarly, I also noticed a fundamental change in the writing style. Here is an excerpt from the book:

“I waited until Sonia’s tail lights had disappeared around the corner then went back into the house. I paused at the top of the ladder. Felt a prickle spread between my shoulder blades. Ignored it. Climbed down. Went through the concealed door. And looked into the tunnel. It seemed like the rails were pointing into the distance.

What is this staccato, step-by-step account of every action Reacher takes? This change is disconcerting, and I definitely don’t like it. Further, there are long meandering paragraphs in this book that make little sense. The book also introduces some of the most implausible scenarios imaginable. More importantly, the ending has me scratching my head and asking myself what the hell just happened? That’s because the conclusion of this story makes absolutely zero sense, and the big revelation at the end makes the entire story stupidly pointless.

In the final analysis, I was extremely underwhelmed and more than a little disappointed. I wonder whether I’ll read another Reacher book. What I do know, however, is that I can’t endure reading another Reacher book such as this one. I do not recommend this book, especially for die hard readers like me who have been with Jack Reacher since the very first book. I just may have to be content with rereading the previous Reacher books, over and over again. And, I’m OK with that.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Jack Reacher met Michaela Fenton, it was on the outskirts of a border town between Mexico and the US, in Arizona. The dusty, dry conditions, the heat in the sun, none of it bothered him. Even the four guys didn’t bother him. Michaela was looking for her twin brother who’d sent her a message. Michael had become mixed up with a dangerous criminal called Dendoncker and she’d heard Michael was dead. But Reacher was determined to help Michaela after what she’d told him. Bombs, vicious guards, hidden tunnels and vast empty spaces – what had Reacher got himself into this time?

Better Off Dead is the 26th in the Jack Reacher series, written by Lee Child and his brother Andrew. There’s a different feel to this book and while I can’t completely nail what it is, it’s there. I enjoyed the story mainly, but there were times when it rambled, and I skimmed. I would never do that with a Reacher normally. Over the top it is, and that’s the same, but whatever it is, I’ll be reading #27 in the series and hopefully this one is just a glitch. Recommended to fans.

[Woman Reading (is away exploring) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ☆ rounded up

In Better Off Dead, Jack Reacher is continuing his westward trek to the Pacific Ocean (presumably the itinerary he kicked off with Past Tense #23). As Reacher approaches a dusty little town in Arizona, close to the border with Mexico, trouble quickly finds the former Military Police officer. There's an appealing variant of a "damsel in distress," as Michaela Fenton is also ex-Army and more than capable with firearms. Michaela is facing something, however, that is more secretive, deadly, and numerous than one lone person can hope to tackle. Empathetic to another veteran, Reacher interrupts his journey to provide assistance.

But I'm sure what loyal Reacher fans want to know is whether this second collaboration between Lee Child and his brother Andrew is better than their first - The Sentinel #25. Overall, yes, which is why I'm rounding my 3.5 star rating up. I haven't given an unqualified 4 stars to a Reacher novel since Night School #21.

A little suspension of disbelief is still a prerequisite because middle age and a diet from diners have not impaired Reacher's impressive 250-pound physique. There are still fight scenes depicted in careful detail, long enough for me to question the plausibility. There's a body count, but the authors know not to repeat the cartoon-ish arcade scenes from the finale of Blue Moon #24.

Better Off Dead begins with an irresistible hook (which would be spoiler-y if I provided more information). It easily makes the first third a page-turner. The middle third settles into a slower but still interesting pace. The last third doesn't quite match the page-turner status of the beginning as the plot becomes a bit convoluted. The conclusion leaves me with a couple of questions.

I feel that the Reacher stories which involve other military personnel have tended to be among the stronger novels. I like Michaela. Reacher remains, of course, a loner; it's part of his mystique. But Michaela's presence reminds me that I really do miss Frances Neagley as Reacher's loyal and highly capable Sargeant and adjutant. My one minor gripe with Michaela is her speech pattern in the beginning of the book. Staccato, fragmentary style. Phrases posing as sentences. Just like Reacher's. (It reminds me of the woman who morphed into G.I. Jane in Blue Moon #24, one of the many mis-steps in that installment).

Overall though, I'm happier with Better Off Dead than with The Sentinel. In hindsight, Andrew was too intent on proving his familiarity with Reacher, and that made his bona fides seem like clunky information dumps in The Sentinel. That's not a problem here, so Better Off Dead is an easy recommendation for fans of both Jack Reacher and thrillers. It can be read as a standalone because it gives sufficient detail about Reacher while not mentioning his other escapades.

Thank you to the authors, Random House Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. As the ARC is an uncorrected ebook, the publisher requests that no parts of it should be cited in a review. Publication date is October 26, 2021.

[Steve · Rating 1 out of 5]

Better off Dead. A novel. By Lee Child. And Andrew Child. Or someone in grade four. Or a four year old. Or both.

Staccato sentences. Maybe it's a style choice. Maybe it's a lack of caring. Maybe it's both. Apparently Andrew Child's keyboard was broken and he has no comma key.

This book was hard to read. A weak plot, poor sentence structure and one dimensional characters show how far this series has fallen from the books written by Lee Child 10-20 years ago. Rather than Lee Child passing the series off to his brother Andrew Child, the Reacher series would have been better off dead.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Call it 3.75 stars!

The new collaborative effort of Lee and Andrew Child has taken the Jack Reacher series into some interesting domains. Long the work of Lee Child, Reacher has developed quite a following, perhaps most of all because one never knows where he will go or who is around to meet. While walking west, Reacher comes upon a woman in her Jeep, unconscious after striking a tree. It’s Michaela Fenton, whose past is impressive to Reacher, as well as her story. Fenton is looking for her brother, a man who may have locked horns with a terribly troublesome weapons dealer. Reacher agrees to help locate him, as long as it does not interfere with his nomadic march across the country, pacing himself as best he can. The Child brothers do a wonderful job yet again and keep the action flowing throughout this novel.

Jack Reacher is a man free from commitment, just the way he likes it. As he walks across the open desert, he comes across a woman who’s ploughed herself into the only tree for miles. Michaela Fenton is grateful to have Reacher’s help, but also wants him to hear about what’s she’s been doing. A former veteran, Fenton has joined the FBI and is looking for her twin brother, Michael. It would seem he’s got himself involved with a local weapons dealer, a ruthless man with little in the world he fears. Yet, this guy has never met Reacher, which is sure to be an adventure unto itself.

It would seem the ruthless Dendoncker has taken over the local town and turned it into his head of operations, which Reacher cannot let continue. There’s nothing like a confrontation to get Reacher’s blood boiling, so off he goes to investigate. Fuelled by a desire to know the whereabouts of Michael Fenton, Reacher heads to town and locks horns with a man few would dare cross, but that’s the charm Jack seems to have.

To snare Dendoncker, Reacher will have to play his cards right. However, with the knowledge that Michael could still be alive, Reacher has all the impetus he needs to move forward. As he pries things open a little more, Reacher discovers a deadly weapon that Dendoncker plans to use, which could have significant blowback. Reacher’s invested and ready to do all in his power to ensure Dendoncker is stopped before it’s too late. A brilliant addition to the Reacher collection, though there’s something different about this one, as the series continues to expand.

When a series has been around for so long, it risks getting stale or overly repetitive. Lee Child keeps that from happening by using Reacher’s nomadic nature to always provide new locales. The situations follow suit and are usually unique and yet on point. Working alongside his brother, Andrew (who has somehow decided to take the ‘Child’ surname, after years writing under ‘Gross’), Lee Child pens this new and equally intriguing novel that places his protagonist in new dangers. With a strong plot and some different writing styles, the series keeps moving along and impressing readers.

Jack Reacher is an anomaly from many of the protagonists I have met over the years. His lack of stability and need for a nomadic life help shape him, providing little character development. Reacher is just Reacher and no one can contain him or fit him into any specific type. He lives life in the moment and is always looking for danger to add to his daily goings-on. This was nothing different, as he finds ways to impress and draw blood in the same breath. Less a romantic entanglement than eagerness to hell a fellow soldier, Reacher does all he can to be a hero once again.

Since the series turned into a collaboration, there has been a shift, though some may see it as minute. While the narrative flows well, there was something off when comparing it to other novels. It was when I clued in to the first person direction of the novel, rather than the usual third person recounting, that things clicked. Reacher allowed the reader into his head, which has always been closed off. The plot worked well and those Reacher met on his adventure surely added to the story as well. I enjoyed how things evolved and can see the Child brothers work well as collaborators, even though I was thrown off by some of the writing. I will keep reading the series as long as Jack Reacher has somewhere to go and people to see. Which, based on the series to date, could be a long and detailed list!

Kudos, Messrs. Child, for another winner. I can only guess where things are headed, but the surprise is part of the allure.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

[Phrynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This the second Reacher novel written by Andrew Child rather than Lee. The first one, The Sentinel, I found to be very much like the original Jack Reacher, this one not so much.

I always say when reading these books that you need to suspend belief for a while and just go with the flow, but this one was way over the top. It begins with a crazy scene in a mortuary and never really recovers.

However even a less than good Jack Reacher story is better than many other books out there and it is quite readable. I will still read the next one!

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book written by Lee Child and his brother Andrew, as Lee continues the process of transferring the Jack Reacher series to Andrew. I’ve read a lot of the series and I couldn’t detect any difference in the writing, so if you enjoy the series you don’t have to worry about this book.

Reacher is still leading a nomadic life. This time he finds himself in a nondescript Arizona town. He meets Michaela Fenton, a tough army vet who is trying to extract her twin brother from the clutches of a very bad man and a parade of his thugs. As usual, the book is super violent from beginning to end. The actual motive for all the mayhem didn’t actually make sense to me, but I guess very bad men just have outsized solutions to their problems. The book is fast paced, short and enjoyable if you like Reacher. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Scott Brick. He made no attempt to differentiate the voices of Reacher and Fenton. It was often difficult to tell them apart since the authors made Fenton talk just like Reacher. I know some people like Brick, but I have no idea why.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

[Sang · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better off unread :(

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

First Reacher book I've given 3 stars to,because there's little of the Reacher we know and love here.Plus,not a good plot either.Pity the transition to Andrew Child is not working.

[Metodi Markov · Rating 2 out of 5]

Най-слабата книга за приключенията на Ричър до тук, поне според мен. :(

Неминуемо бе това да се случи един ден - да не ми хареса достатъчно поредния екшън излязъл из под перото на Лий Чайлд.

"По-добре мъртви" се чете бързо, но някак много насилено и объркано вървеше действието, за героите въобще не ми пукаше, както и дали ще успеят да се оправят в забърканата каша...

За първи път имаше повторения, ситуации включени като пълнеж и такива, неумело описани през гледната точка на самия Ричър - не ми се струва всичко това ок. Дано не пропадне, тази иначе така успешна серия.

P.S. Изгледах сериала на Амазон по "Място за убиване" и съм доволен. Алън Ричсън се справя добре в ролята на Ричър, останалите артисти също са подбрани cполучливо и очаквам втори сезон. ;)

[Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The early Reacher books were really ‘gritty’. Not so much now.

How old is Reacher anyway since we met him in 1997?

This plot has so many holes it leaks. Anyway, it’s fiction and I read for fun so it’s no skin off my teeth to read to the end. It’s a quick read. Not much to shout about as far as plot goes.

What I find annoying is the minute blow by blow detail of each and every fight Reacher gets in to (and he gets into a lot!!)

BTW: The character of Michaela Fenton as described in this book would never in a million years be wearing perfume!

This may be the end of the road for me and Reacher.

3* for old time’s sake.

[Pat Arnold · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Good Old Days Are Gone

The only thing missing in this book was a chapter of cryptic sentences describing the path of the fly as it flew around. Every other mundane aspect of Jack Reacher’s latest episode, having nothing to do with the storyline, was covered in exhaustive, cryptic detail….almost to the extent that the goal of the book was word count more than the storyline itself.

Sorry to say but Jack Reacher has suffered an untimely death. Finally just closed the book and removed the download.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

"It was close to five a.m. I'd been up for twenty-two hours. I was exhausted, but I was feeling quietly satisfied. The bomb was defused and on its way to be studied by the experts. I figured that things were basically good in the world. It's funny how wrong a person can be." -- on page 315

Marginally better than its immediate predecessor The Sentinel (which was the first to feature co-author Andrew Child partnering with series creator Lee Child), the 26th Jack Reacher adventure Better Off Dead was still a bit of a letdown compared to some of the earlier entries. This effort has a San Francisco-bound Reacher wandering into an Arizona border town and helping a maimed woman who is attempting to locate her missing brother. The plot's villain - named Dendoncker, which makes him sound like he should've been an evil Omega fraternity brother from Animal House - was bland, the other supporting characters did not make much of an impression, and the murky middle of the book became sort of dull for a sustained stretch. And yet . . . when the climatic section kicked in during the final 70 or so pages - just after that quote above, naturally - the suspense increased and kept up my interest level til the end. While one of the plot twists recalled the now-forgotten 1999 thriller Arlington Road (remember THAT one, Jeff Bridges or Tim Robbins fans?), it was still a great moment when Reacher realized the situation required immediate action and literally ran with it.

[Tracy P. · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Better Off Dead' is much different from the Jack Reacher I have come to know. This book was not as exciting and did not hold my interest as easily as most of the previous episodes. The ending picked up somewhat but just never elevated to the level I have come to love and expect from Jack Reacher. Scott Brick did a fabulous job narrating and is the main reason I stayed the course.

[Nick Brett · Rating 2 out of 5]

I should have given up after the last effort written by brother Andrew, but gave the series one last chance. Shouldn’t have.
Reacher (in yet another repeat of 2000 previous stories) ends up in a small town, helping out a woman and mixing it with bad guys who are up to something. “sigh”.
There have been previous books that have been lazy or repetitive but this is the first one that I have also found dull. Normally I would read through them in a day or two, but about 140 pages in I put this down and didn’t pick it up again for a week, that that was forced in order to finish it.
It’s first person (Lee Child has done this before) but there was one fight scene told twice from different perspectives, the second perspective added nothing. The story again took place in a town that seems to have no people in it and the ending was average at best.
A weak entry in a series that has obviously expired.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always look forward to this series. I've read every one of them...but his might just be my last one. The one before this I forgave since it was Lee Child's brother, Andrew Grant, joining in. I've read his books also and always liked them, but he just doesn't have the "voice" of Jack Reacher...actually we hardly recognized Jack. It's not a horrible book by any means, but this is just not the Jack Reacher we knew and loved. His lack of concern about crossing lines to get the job done, his violence without hesitation or remorse, his unapologetic appreciation of women; that's what made him stand out and endure through so many books. I love the books and the character enough that I'll give the new author another chance, but if he doesn't get Jack back like he was soon, I give up. I gave it 3 stars for "old-time's sake". The rating was closer to 2.5

[Ken · Rating 3 out of 5]

The current collaboration between brothers as Lee Child plans to pass on the popular Jack Reacher series continues to feel unsatisfying, rather than trying to breathe new life into the franchise - it's making it feel tired and repetitive.

It's certainly true that this was a marked improvement from the first attempt where many fans criticised the now chatty version of Reacher.
I'd suggest that it was then a bold move to write this installment in the first person narrative.
I guess it must be hard to keep an air of mystery to the main character which series now boasts 26 titles, maybe a spin off series from Andrew would have been a better way to continue?

In fairness this did feel like typical Reacher as our hero meets a fellow army veteran who is searching for her twin brother.
The plot felt too similar to previous stories as Jack gets more involved, but a back to basics approach seems an ideal way to help Andrew capture the character better.

I'll always have a soft spot for this series and it does seem like an impossible task to try and capture the magic of the earlier books.
I hope for Andrews sake that he's got some exciting ideas once he takes sole charge and the series remains popular, but it's hard to see on the current evidence.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the current book of Jack Reacher, there is lots of excitement and nail-biting suspense. There are lots of fights, both fists and guns, also a few weapons of mass destruction tossed in. This is all taking place in a small Arizona border town. I noticed that Reacher is getting further west than in the prior books.

Scott Brick is one of my favorite narrators. But I am having trouble adjusting from Dick Hill. Dick Hill was Reacher to me for so many years.

I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is nine hours and eleven minutes. Scott Brick does a good job narrating the book.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better Off Dead is the 26th thriller in Lee Child’s long-running Jack Reacher series, now cowritten with his younger brother who will eventually take over the franchise. Reacher is a Six foot five trained ex military police officer who has never exactly settled into civilian life. He has no home, no car, no regular job. Instead, he’s on permanent walkabout wherever whim takes him. Reacher never finds trouble is too far distant and he has a penchant for helping others.

This one finds Reacher in the border zone of Arizona where he comes upon a Jerome smashed into a tree and ends up in a plot which puts him on the slab in a morgue.

Reacher finds a villain Bond could be proud of and his loyal crew in a plot with far-reaching international implications. He shouldn’t be involved. He had every opportunity to walk away. But he keeps poking around in the hot dry desert, looking for things that don’t make sense.

of course, there’s lot of action and the pace is rather deadly. The plot though is at times a bit confusing, particularly who is working for who and why and, as a reader, you may not be fully invested at all times.

[Graham “Smell the Ink” · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best of the series, not too fond of the plot just seems so far fetched at times.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still very readable but the plot was ridiculous. There was way to many descriptions of rooms. The villain was bizarre and the need to see all the dead bodies himself was ridiculous. Reacher was still Reacher. Coffee addict, smart phone phobia, saving the damsel in distress and lots of fights where no guesses he comes out on top.

I would have thought with a tunnel from the US to Mexico then drugs would be the merchandise being smuggled. Instead we never really find out what Dendoncker was smuggling. The convoluted responder and watch detonators was ridiculous. Why did the terrorists just use a drone to detonate the Trojan bomb?

The short chapters and short sentences still work. However, Fenton the female in distress trying to save her brother Michael was standard Reacher. A strong woman character who shared Reacher’s homicidal tendencies with absolutely no grey areas. I will stick with the series as the formula appeals to me and they are entertaining even when ridiculous.

[Paula K · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful addition to the Jack Reacher series. You cannot beat reading one of the Child books every year.

4 out of 5 stars

Published October, 2021
Review posted to Goodreads 11/17/21
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read the ARC of BETTER OFF DEAD in exchange for an honest review.

[Mallory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again I haven’t read even close to all of the Jack Reacher books, but it didn’t prevent me from enjoying this one. While the voice of the book did feel different, I appreciated that the author chose to co-write this one with his brother. I loved the opener to this book, although I can’t talk about it without spoilers. I thought the adventure Jack was on in this one was good and while there is a body count it was much more realistic than the last Jack reacher book I read (Blue Moon). I really liked Michaela’s character (although twins named Michael and Michaela seemed super dumb to me). I know Jack is a loner, but I wouldn’t mind seeing Michaela again.