Oof. This is a throwback in the worst way, and the audio edition makes it more painful.

I suppose it’s possible that the collection is an intentional attempt to capture the mid-century vibe of stories about the poor privileged white men who have to put up with the women in their lives daring to have their own thoughts. The references to the internet, mobile phones, and other modern technology are truly jarring, because these stories only make some level of sense in the context of a pre-digital era. The “punchlines” of the included stories include the new (in the 1940’s, maybe?) concepts of racial violence being a real thing, public officials using their offices to get away with the very behavior they are supposed to be preventing, the unnatural nature of women…existing?, and a variety of equally hot takes that your grandparents would have found dated in their younger days.

The author’s preface about how noble he is to publish these stories when short stories are notoriously unprofitable does not help.

To make it worse, the audio edition is narrated in a flat tone (aside from the final story, for which we suddenly get a British accent) with not so much as a breath drawn between stories, so it’s difficult to tell when one story ends and another begins - not a ringing endorsement of either the author or narrator.

There are sooooo many good mystery and thriller anthologies out there - and almost any of them are guaranteed to provide more enjoyment than this one.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I usually enjoy short stories but these seemed to be too brief and ended too soon. I didn't care for the narrators voice and though some of the stories were better than others, overall I would rank this book 'just ok'.

In Safe Enough, Lee Child brings together twenty gripping crime stories that showcase his renowned storytelling prowess, outside of his beloved Jack Reacher series. Known for his taut plots and heart-pounding suspense, Child delivers a collection filled with complex characters—from hit men and FBI agents to bodyguards and gangsters—all of whom are caught in situations where danger, tension, and moral ambiguity reign supreme.

Each story in this collection is meticulously crafted, with Child’s signature action and suspense standing front and center. In “Ten Keys,” a hit man’s struggle with his guilt and fears unfolds through a tense, almost confessional narrative. Meanwhile, “Normal in Every Way” introduces a rookie cop whose routine assignment in the department’s file room takes a dark turn as he makes connections between historic dates and unsolved crimes.

Whether it’s a methodical bodyguard who faces defeat in “Safe Enough,” or a calculated FBI agent surveilling a potential worker for the Manhattan Project, every tale offers a unique exploration of crime, tension, and psychological depth. Child’s mastery of pacing and character development is on full display, making each story feel complete in its own right while leaving readers eagerly anticipating the next.

This collection is a must-read for fans of Lee Child, especially those who appreciate his broader range beyond Reacher. Safe Enough offers a deep dive into his talent for short-form storytelling—each story is a small but intense journey filled with unpredictable twists and taut, thrilling action. A fitting addition to the works of one of the best in crime fiction.

This was a great collection of short stories by Lee Child, who never disappoints! He has been on my always-read list for quite awhile now and this book just reminded me why that is! I can't wait to read what he puts out next!

As a fan of audiobooks and of Lee Child, I decided to request Safe Enough from NetGalley and the publisher. The following review was given freely and entirely my own.

Edoardo Ballerini is the narrator, a voice actor who has presented many novels for which I have listened. He has a commanding voice and never fails to bring the character to life. Ballerini does the same for Safe Enough, though this book of short stories did not hold my interest.

Overall, the stories were really not enough. They either ended too quickly or never really got started, in my opinion. I found myself not really paying attention or not being interested in the outcome. For these reasons, I would tell other readers to give Safe Enough a pass.

Lee Child's Safe Enough is a compelling short story that delves into the life of Wolfe, an electrician whose affair with a wealthy suburban wife leads to unforeseen consequences. Child masterfully builds tension as Wolfe navigates the complexities of his risky relationship, highlighting the stark contrasts between his urban roots and the suburban world he becomes entangled in. The narrative's suspenseful progression and unexpected twists make it a gripping read from start to finish. If you're a fan of concise, impactful storytelling with a

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

Decent collection of short stories. Not all of them caught my attention fully but they were still interesting. The narrator did a good job.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

A collection of short stories is always hard to review, because some are better than others. Unfortunately, even the good ones are forgettable.

Excellent short stories by Lee Child. Each one showcasing how skillfully he weaves a tale. Love the bite size stories with a creepy edge!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This collection of short stories were fun. I do wish some of them were longer and developed into longer stories as some of them really captured my attention. Body guard was one such story that grabbed my attention.

These short stories are so different than Lee’s longer novels (Reacher series), but I really enjoyed them. It’s so hard to do much character development in a short story, which is one thing I love about Lee’s novels. Yet some of the stories took me by surprise how powerful they could be with such little content. I loved the surprise endings of some of the stories. This was great to listen to on my commute to and from work since I could finish a couple stories on each drive and not forget where the story last ended when I got back in the car after a long day of work. This may not draw you in the same way a Reacher story would, but it’s still good entertainment and often thought-provoking. It was well worth my time listening to it.

Having been a Reacher fan and subsequently a Lee Child fan (or is it the other way around?) for several years, it was fun and refreshing to enjoy some of Child’s short stories. I could definitely see the author’s style in the works, but they didn’t scream Reacher as one might have thought they would, being that the names Reacher and Child are so nearly interchangeable. Great collection of shorts. I highly recommend.

This set of short stories does not include Child’s most famous character, Jack Reacher but if you enjoy reading about that world.. about investigating about the seedy global crime world , about shady individuals with nefarious intent, you’ll enjoy these bite size stories. Perfect if you’ve never read the novels.

There is a great introduction to the role of short stories in an authors portfolio and the storyteller does an excellent job conveying gravitas and creating intrigue. Each one is just the perfect length to peak and hold interest with enough details to really paint the picture and likely you’ll wish some were longer.

Just like All Lee Childs work this was fantastic. I would listen again and definitely recommend to fellow book lovers

The stories were quiet interesting even though some were predictable. It was a good audiobook and the narrator was great.

I thought this book was okay but not entirely captivating. It was my first audiobook so maybe that is why but I did think that the story where the woman being guarded saved the bodyguard could have made for a fantastic story.

I always enjoy stories by Lee Child. These were fantastic short stories. I liked them all but Safe Enough was probably my favorite. Highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.

Twenty thrilling crime short stories. Quick and easy read filled with tons of action and suspense. The narrator was expressive, easy to follow, and brought the characters to life. Every story is well crafted and each was better than the last.
Many thanks to NetGally, HighBridge Audio, Lee Child, and Edoardo Ballerini for sharing the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I had not read anything by this author but knew he wrote the Jack Reacher series that people seem to love. This was a book of short stories and while it entertained me I confess I wanted more -the narrator did a good job!

3 stars

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reader copy!

Publish date: 09/03/2024

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC in audiobook format.

I also reviewed this novel in written format. I enjoyed the audio version of this book slightly more than the written version, skilled narration would have bumped up my review 1/2 a star if half star ratings were possible, to 4.5 out of 5 stars . The excellent narration added depth to this story.

It is interesting when bestselling authors stretch their already highly recognized talent in new arenas. Short stories are not Lee Childs' standard fare, however it wasn't his divergence regarding format that keeps this book from being great. The initial stories in this collection are stellar, but then Childs veers from his tried and true more familiar storylines into different territory and those stories fell slightly short of the mark for me.

However the early stories were great. If you are a Lee Childs fan, this book is a must read ,(and I suggest you give this audio format a listen).