Engaging read with interesting characters. Inventive plotting. Suspenseful. Child uses a familiar setting and adds dark corners to it.

Another great Jack Reacher novel. Well-written and suspenseful. Lee Child does not disappoint. Will be in high demand for sure. Libraries must purchase multiple copies in anticipation of this.

I guess I am getting burned out on Jack Reacher. I did not find this book as good as previous ones except for the fact he was trying to learn more about his father. The plot was one I’ve read before but one of the characters you will end up rooting for throughout. That was this books saving grace.

All you Reacher fans out there will be happy to know that Lee Child has delivered again. In fact, I would say this year's offering is one of his best. The twist in Past Tense is that while following Reacher as he meets and overcomes obstacles, we are also presented a second story involving a young couple from Canada caught up in a situation they can't handle. Each story takes place in and around Laconia, NH where Reacher has stopped to explore his father's hometown and the couple from Canada have car trouble.
There are plenty of unanswered questions about Reacher's father who has left no traces in town records. Balance that with the mystery of what is in store for the other two travelers, and there is never a dull moment. I found it especially satisfying that the young woman is the savvy one in that couple. It was fun to have someone besides Reacher to root for. The action scenes are taut with danger and suspense, and Child kept the talky scenes that drag the story down to a minimum.
As with any good Reacher book, when I finished Past Tense, I was already eager to see where he is headed next.

Lee Child has seldom disappointed me over the course of the 23 books in the Jack Reacher series. Reacher is an iconic character. Six feet and five inches tall, two hundred and fifty pounds of bruising muscle. Beholden to neither person nor place. He travels the states with only the clothes on his back and a folding toothbrush. He doesn’t necessarily go looking for adventure and mayhem, but it always manages to find him. I’ve heard his popularity ascribed to the fact that women readers want him romantically, and male readers simply want to be him. That description holds all kinds of assumptions about gender and quite frankly doesn’t approach what makes him such an anchor point for populist fiction. Reacher is physically strong, astute. But most of all he is a conduit for what most of us aspire toward: principled, authentic, and dogged in his efforts to make sure right remains right, and wrong is ultimately righted. Walter Mosley once said of his Easy Rawlings character that Easy was meant to be “a black superhero.” Lee Child has created one of his own in Jack Reacher. The plot of PAST TENSE matters little when you consider the real depth of any Reacher story, but here it is in a nutshell: Reacher stops at the town in New Hampshire he’d always been told was his father’s birthplace, but the pieces don’t come together quite as he expected and before long he is fighting for his life and that of a young couple from Canada. This one starts slowly and then cascades in a million wild directions. You can’t go wrong with Lee Child or Jack Reacher. Highly recommended!

As a big fan of Lee Child, I was very interested in his latest novel. This one takes the Reacher character into new territory, where he is searching for his ancestors in a small New England town. It also takes the evil characters that are his foils into newer and darker territories. I would highly recommend the book, even for readers who aren't yet familiar with Child's work.

Jack Reacher fascinates me: his physical dominance, his emotional reticence, his unthinking defense of weaker, innocent creatures in peril, his Zen detachment. Oh, and I'm a fan of Lee Child as well.

I've read each of the previous 22 installments of Reacher's story and enjoyed some more than others. This was my favorite. Reacher is both more impulsive and more reflective than he has been in the past. As rootless as he seems, who would've expected him to be so dogged in pursuit of elusive clues to his family's history, after he finds himself in his father's hometown?

As always, Child has skillfully braided together the storylines -- in this case, delaying gratification a bit longer than usual. We fans know that he will deliver the hapless Canadian tourist couple we meet early on. The fact that it took so long for their paths to cross (Reacher was after all busy with his genealogy project, and the fallout from an earlier savage rescue) only increased the tension for me.

Sometimes Reacher gets the girl, briefly. Not here -- the only romance is one that he sparked between two other characters.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC.

Every time I pick up a Lee Child novel, and I have read them all, I make sure I have some extra free time because I know I will want to finish the book without putting it down. Past Tense is no exception. In fact, this is one of the better Jack Reacher stories. Besides the usual mystery and suspense, Past Tense also has a touch of the Twilight Zone. (You can hear the musical intro, can’t you?). This story willl also be very satisfying for Jack Reacher fans as it fleshes out some of the character,s forebears. The different threads and the very compelling characters will keep even new fans riveted to this novel. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of the book. I loved it! #PastTense #LeeChild

THANK YOU for providing me with an ARC of the newest installment in the Jack Reacher series! I have been addicted to this man and his exploits for years now, and this newest addition to the series did not disappoint.

We've got the back and forth storylines of Jack Reacher and two Canadians, Shorty and Patty, coming to the US looking to start fresh with a new adventure. They all three end up in Laconia, New Hampshire, where things can be a little...odd. Reacher is looking for information on his father and grandparents. Shorty and Patty have car trouble and are trying to make sense of the four men who own the motel where they get stranded. How will these stories intersect?

This book is absolutely fantastic! I was still trying to figure out what was going on almost to the last page. I've been a Jack Reacher fan for years and this is one of the better installments in recent memory. It was fast paced, exciting and definitely kept me on my toes.

I loved this book! Lee Child you are one of the best suspense writers. It was an intense read and I couldn’t put it down. I liked everything about it.

I thought this was an excellent addition to the series. I am a bit biased as Lee Childs books got my son to finally read. He would never read, saw the Reacher movies and asked for the books. I know he will enjoy this book as much as I do.

Past Tense is another exciting Jack Reacher book by Lee Child. This story involved a personal search by Reacher that led to solving a crime. It was hard to put down because it was woven with mystery and a mesmerising story line.

Reacher looks into his own history in New Hampshire and also gets involved in a mysterious enterprise deep in the woods. I’m amazed at Reacher’s ability to find trouble- but I guess I’d want him on my side.

You’ve definitely discovered the secret to a successful book, Mr. Child/Grant. Once again, I loved Jack Reacher. He is the epitome of heroes, strong, analytical, easy on the eyes, fair, and judge and jury.

There are two main story lines that switch back and forth throughout along with several interesting tidbits about other characters. The main characters are well developed and interesting.

As usual, Reacher starts out on a long journey but is side-tracked, and that becomes the story. The anticipation builds as Jack looks for his father’s home in NH and a mysterious ‘kidnapping’ is happening at a local hotel. This was a comfortable, fast read for me and a definite page turner.

I especially enjoy that this book (and all the Reacher books) uses no F-bombs, and, yet, no emotions are left unfelt.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I am a Lee Child fan from forever, so this was a real pleasure.

Deceit,mystery and murders all wrapped up in two stories on the same course. Got this on my birthday and I couldn’t have been happier. Lee Child has written the Jack Reacher series and has done a phenomenal job. Each one just makes you want more. This starts out on a simple path where Reacher is traveling the country on the way to San Diego. Usually not sentimental, he finds himself going through his father ‘s childhood town but curiosity lures him into just “stopping for one day.” Also traveling but on their way to Florida are a Canadian couple Shorty and Pam who happen to have car trouble that forces them to stay at an isolated motel. Love their interaction and how they adjust and relegate the roles in their relationship. The couple also are transporting a mysterious “treasure” that holds the key to their future.
Past Tense is loaded with characters that will challenge and engage your reading sensibilities The book speaks of family; the biological along with the communal that forms and sometimes isolate the individual. We learn more about Reacher’s family, but I will leave that for you to discover. Recommend it to mystery and suspense lovers craving the next high octane adventure.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and give feedback on this novel

Fans of Jack Reacher get ready, another adventure coming your way. Who doesn't love Jack Reacher ? I have read each and every book and look forward to the next. Typical Reacher fashion this book shows his loner side but also how he steps up to help anyone in need. This time a former soldier. He could have just walked away but that's not what Reacher does, ever. This is a challenging one though and he actually has to rely on others for help. Does Reacher save the day ? What do you think ? Lee Child has created such an interesting character in Jack Reacher, one you always want on your side. Hopefully there are many more Reacher adventures in our future.

Lee Childs never fails to write a suspenseful novel! I was engaged throughout the whole story. The characters were well developed and were a continuation from previous books. A special note to readers you do not have to read a previous book to understand and love this book. The action parts were well though out and kept me in suspense the entire time. I would recommend this book to anyone as it didn't have any foul language however there were some graphic parts of the book.

Some mystery writers fill in the backstory of their series protagonist in successive titles, especially as both age. The good ones use it to illuminate both the plot and the character, especially when the hero is the taciturn type not goven to a great deal of self reflection. The good news is that Lee child's new outing for Jack Racher does it very well in Past Tense, introducing his devoted fans and somewhat cynical creation to a big piece of Teacher's family history as he traces his roots to a distant relative in the Rocky soil of new Hampshire and finds more as well as less than he expected. A terrific read!

Ever had one of those days where a simple choice seems to change the course of your day…possibly your life? That is exactly what Jack Reacher faces as he decides to take a quick detour to see Laconia, the town that his father grew up in. One of the things I really like about this novel is the way two separate stories wind up connecting… Author Lee Child is not in a rush to connect the stories… instead he prefers to keep building the reader’s interest and the intensity of each story until they intersect skillfully right where they need to be.
I believe this is book #23 in a series, but reads as a standalone as well. It reads a bit different from most of the Jack Reacher novels, but I really enjoyed the chance to get to know Reacher and his family better. There is quite a bit of action in this one, with several side stories that keep the story moving.
Hitchhiking across the country, Jack Reacher spontaneously takes a detour on his way to California. He starts out at the courthouse looking for records on his dad or grandparents. Not the kind of person to give up, Reacher tries harder and finds a clue. As he heads out of town to chase down the smallest clue on his family, Reacher winds up stirring up family secrets. Is he in over his head? He really should come with a warning label to all the thugs and dead beats out there.
The other major story within Past Tense features Patty and Shorty, two broke characters who wind up getting stuck in an out of the way hotel. Their car is giving them problems so the hotel owners invite them to stay the night and have them over for dinner. What I like is that Patty is really smart. She is observant and a thinker… I am still not sure if I like her boyfriend, Shorty… but the mystery of what was in their really heavy suitcase kept me interested until the very end!!! (I do not think you will guess correctly, as I sure didn’t!) The people at the hotel are not what they seem and soon, Patty and Shorty are definitely in over their heads. Patty starts to wonder if they are guests or captives of the hotel owner.
I want to sit down over coffee and tell you all the reasons why the ending surprised me. Since that would involve too many spoilers, I will just say that it kept my attention and I could not put it down. The writing was great! Lee Child is a master at switching from a slow country pace to fast action in a heartbeat!

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for an advanced reader copy for me to review. As always, my opinions are my own.

Full disclosure: I like Jack Reacher. A lot. BUT, I do find the series uneven. This was one of the better ones.

I immediately got sucked into the story. Setting: Jack Reacher hitchiking--not unusual. "On a country road deep in the New England woods, he sees a sign to a place he has never been: the town where his father was born. He thinks, What’s one extra day? He takes the detour." And so it begins. More than a day, and not so simple.

Primary characters, a young couple from Canada--Patty and Shorty--en route to Florida, but who end up in a motel when their car breaks down. What do they have in that suitcase they keep lugging around? Not disclosed til the end and I never would have guessed. The motel itself and it's owners. A cop/detective. City bureaucrats. Librarian. An old coot/former clergyman. Many colorful. Ryantown.

What I liked the most. Lee Child wove the two storylines together quite well. It started out miles apart and the pieces gradually converged. Great appreciation for that as it kept my interest and kept me going. First, why Reacher stopped in Laconia, New Hampshire--that's where his father was born. Second, what happened to Patty and Shorty.

Much of it was solid entertainment; but there were a few slow patches. One disconnect for me--Patty always seemed too smart for a millworker--though she did have two years of college. And Shorty not her [intellectual?!] match.

If you like Jack Reacher, I'd certainly recommend this book.