Cover Image: The Secret

The Secret

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Member Reviews

Another great book in the Jack Reacher series by the Child's. Have always loved the characters and this one was no exception. Plus the story and pacing were also great. Can't wait for the next book in the series. #TheSecret #NetGalley

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Another great Reacher story.
Someone is killing the participants of a secret US military project which took place years ago .and the Sec of defense wants to know
why and who is behind the sudden deaths made to look like suicides and accidents.
Reacher is called in, knowing once again, that if he gets caught or found out, he will be entirely on his own in facing the consequences,
Simultaneously, he is looking into a cache of stolen military weapons that are an inside job.
Reacher is an intriguing blend of straight forward thinking and planning and being able to get to the heart of the issue, bypassing all the
unneeded and unwanted hoopla that surrounds a mission. He is relentless and single minded in hunting down the adversary while at the same time, shows his human side, just often enough to make him likeable.
The story moves along as all Reacher tales do and it is not easy to put down once started.
Keep them coming please.

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This was a great book. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I read it in 12 hours, which is a lot for me to do! It had everything and more laid out in the novel! I sure hope There is more to come from this author! I am totally hooked!

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This is a marvelous book bringing back the Jack Reacher that we have loved for a long time. He is back in full mode searching out the villains. I am so thrilled that both Lee and Andrew Child have returned to the older version of book and really was engaged with this story from the first paragraph. I love the characters and all the clever interactions and the action scenes. This one had me on the edge of my seat and I did not want to put it down. If you are a Jack Reacher fan you do not want to miss this one.

This story is set in 1992 when Jack is still in the military. I have to admit that I found it more believable with all the actions as a younger man with all the fighting and always winning against such brutal foes. I highly recommend this one and look forward to more of the same in the future. Thank you for listening to your fans and returning Reacher to us.

I wish to thank NetGalley and Penguin Random House Publishing Group - Delacorte Press for allowing me to read a copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Another Jack Reacher book. How could it be anything but a 5 star read. This is one of those series of books that you just know you will really enjoy. If you are a Jack Reacher fan you already know the main character so it feels like you are catching up with an old friend.

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Flashback to 1992 as active-duty Jack Reacher is “drafted” to a task force to try and find out who is targeting and killing scientist from a project from 1969. It got off to a bit of a slow start but picked up in typical Jack Reacher fashion.

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Another great Jack Reacher story. This one seems almost impossible to solve but with a couple cohorts, they set about it. A vendetta for a long ago injustice goes to the highest levels.

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“The Secret” is the latest Reacher story by Lee Child and Andrew Child. Thanks to NetGalley I had the chance to taste a Reacher story after enjoying the first two seasons of Reacher on Amazon Prime. So I don’t know if this latest installment of the book series reflects the previous twenty or thirty books but I found this thriller to be a solid story which makes me want to read more of the series.
There are so many reviews of this book that detail the plot that I shan’t be redundant. A couple of thoughts: (1) The opening story set in Illinois felt as if it was bolted onto the overall book; (2) The majority of the action in the middle of the story was driven by other characters rather than by Reacher; and (3) the bad guys seemingly had superpowers! So a few minor complaints but still a fun read overall.
Thanks again NetGalley for giving me the chance to enter into the book world of the Reacherverse.

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Hooray! The first of the Andrew Child books that feels like a Reacher novel. Or close enough to at least be entertaining. Maybe it helps that it's a flashback to Reacher's MP days, or maybe he's finding his footing.

That's not to say this is flawless -- it definitely feels like one of Lee's lesser efforts (with a "twist" that's decidedly weak and telegraphed), but there's some good stuff here, and it's well-written and a quick read.

The sitch: Two well-trained women are killing off former members of a covert intelligence operation. The Secretary of Defense is certain that he's the final target, and attempts to both protect the other targets and hunt down the killers. Reacher gets dragged in as the Army rep on the joint task force looking into it (like his peers, this is at least partially because he's on the outs with the higher ups).

The Reacher parts of this book work really well. His approach to hunting down the killers (and their motives) is methodical, his interactions with his colleagues is entertaining, and he feels like Reacher again. The other stuff is less interesting -- the two killers are fine, but there's one extended scene of top FBI agents going so over-the-top sexist in their underestimation of them when they try to apprehend them that simply doesn't seem realistic (given that they know how dangerous they are by this point), and the stuff around the Secretary of Defense and his wife is just all completely predictable and flat.

That said, it's entertaining enough, and Reacher during his MP days is always fun (we even get a brief phone cameo from his brother). If we can't get Lee writing the books, at least this feels like something that can scratch the itch a bit.

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Thank you, Netgalley, the author, and Random House Publishing for the gifted e-book ❤️

I enjoyed it but I liked the previous book more. This one was a bit hard for me to follow. I didn't love that it was in the past. It probably isn't helping me that I haven't read more of the previous books.

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"The Secret" is a gripping addition to the Jack Reacher series, written by Lee Child and Andrew Child. In this novel, Jack Reacher finds himself on a quest to uncover the truth behind a mysterious conspiracy. As he delves deeper into the investigation, he becomes entangled in a web of danger and deception.
Amidst the fast-paced action and suspense, the authors skillfully weave together a complex storyline that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The character development is impeccable, and the intricate plot twists add an extra layer of excitement to the narrative. Fans of the Jack Reacher series will undoubtedly find "The Secret" to be a thrilling and satisfying read.

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I'm a HUGE Jack Reacher fan. I have been for almost 2 decades now. But this was...disappointing. The pace dragged and the action was almost nonexistent. I forced myself to keep going because - Jack Reacher (duh). I really hope Lee Child picks up the pace on his next one.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

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Another great Jack Reacher story. One from back when he was still in the military but already creating problems but solving crimes. A different type of story; less about his physical prowess and more about how good of an investigator he is. Surprisingly, the ending started without him leading the charge but being in the right place at the right time. A story from the 60s that was more in the 90s but fast paced and an enjoyable read.

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Jack Reacher is back!

I completely enjoyed the newest Jack Reacher thriller, that sends us back to his military days. It is leaps and bounds above the last Reacher novel that just didn't feel like 'Jack.'

Lee and Andrew Child got things back in sink because this was the Reacher I know and love to follow on his journeys. I did not want to stop reading as Reacher moved from one city to the next, putting out fires and stopping others before they begin.

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own, and I can't wait for the next one!

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Good Reacher story. Lots of twist and turns and an unexpected ending. Lots of fights and Reacher just being Reacher - which of course is why we read.

All in all, enjoyable story

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I am a sucker for any Jack Reacher book and this is no exception. I actually enjoyed Reacher being back in his MP days as a change from his wandering the US. After being demoted from Major, he is an expendable part of a task force aimed at finding why scientists are being killed. It takes a few twists and turns I did not expect but stays close to the Reacher formula which is a great thing in my opinion. The pace keeps the pages turning and if you enjoy Jack Reacher, this book is a welcome addition.

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Not really the best Reacher novel. Our hero shines brightest when saving the little guy. Here he is uncovering a corporate scandal and investigating a series of killings.

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The Secret is the 28th book in the Jack Reacher series by Lee Child and Andrew Child. Eight upstanding people have been found dead across the United States. It is not until a victim takes a fatal fall from a hospital window that a connection is loosely made. The Secretary of Defense organizes a task force and enlists the help of Jack Reacher.

We all know Jack Reacher is an exceptional soldier. He is strong, dominating, intuitive, a sharp shooter and skilled. He races to find the killer and link between the deaths before moving into the dangerous line of sight. The best part of The Secret is knowing that Reacher will get the mission done like no one else can.

It's not uncommon for a long-standing series to drift off. The Jack Reacher series has almost 30 books so my expectations are not as high as the first few books in the series. But I still expect some type of plot to hold my interest. Where is the suspense? Where is the character development? Where is the originality?

I am disappointed but not enough to stop reading the Jack Reacher series. I will continue reading the earlier books that are more compelling. Loyal Reacher readers and those watching the TV adaptation may be interested in The Secret.

The Secret is available now.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

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The Secret (First published October 24, 2023) is the latest novel in the long-running Jack Reacher series. Opening it up though, a fan of the series might find it a little confusing because chronologically it takes place many years earlier in 1992 while Reacher was still working as an MP investigator and before he takes to wandering the world. It is, of course, well-written and engaging. The theme here is someone is going after government scientists who worked on a project in India some thirty years earlier and going after them in a professional way that confounds the best and the brightest. Reacher is pulled from duty investigating missing rifle parts to work with two others from other agencies and figure out what is going on an stop the killer before all the scientists are murdered in various ways. Little does he realize where the trail will lead.

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Jack Reacher is back and beset by mysteries in every direction. Not sure of who or what he can trust, Reacher must unravel several murders to find the cause or causes. And at the same time, he must work with individuals who he also has trouble trusting. I'm not quite sure where this book falls in the Reacher story arc - it seemed out of order - as well it was lacking the usual military focus.

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