I love Lee Childs books and this story was no exception. It's thrilling and smart and only 30 pages long. Wow!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read this eARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

This is the first time I’m reading a Lee Child book that isn’t from the Jack Reacher series. I have to say this quick soiree into espionage was fun. Eleven Numbers is written like a television show. Where events happen and you’re like, “huh? Hmmmm….” Then a flashback happens that explains how the character got there. Mind you this is a short story and Child does this brilliantly a few times.

I really liked the tense atmosphere. The sense of danger and waiting for the ball to drop on Nathan. I will say that I kind of guessed one part of it, but that’s because I watch to many shows like this 😆. The twists and turns are quick and good.

I’ll probably read another book not in the Reacher universe now. I loved this quick dip into another character. If you are looking for a quick read that is a good time, then Eleven Numbers is for you.

I enjoyed reading the thriller novella. Nathan Tyler is a mathematical professor recruited by the government to travel to Russia to retrieve a secret code. The book is a quick thrilling read with some twists and turns and an exciting ending. A perfect read for an afternoon. Enjoy.

In this short story, Nathan Tyler is a professor at an American university with an obscure specialty in mathematics. So why is the White House calling? Summoned to Washington, DC, for a top-secret briefing, Nathan discovers that he’s the key to a massive foreign intelligence breakthrough. He is reading between the lines of a cryptic series of equations and could open a door to change the global balance of power. All he has to do is get to a meeting with the renowned Russian mathematician. I feel that the story could have been developed better.

Eleven Numbers is a short story by Lee Childs and will entice any fans of the series. It's was a quick and enjoyable read.

Nathan Tyler is a mathematics professor with unique expertise. He’s a nobody living in a small town. Until one day he receives a mysterious summons to the White House. When he gets there, he discovers that the National Security Agency needs his expertise with Kadansky Numbers. A Russian number system, his knowledge of Kadansky could be the breakthrough the United States needs to infiltrate the Kremlin. Will he succeed?
The plot is action-packed, intriguing, and well developed. The characters are likable, well rounded, and believable. Readers who like action, adventure, spy novels, and thrillers will want to pick this one up. Recommended for most library collections

I can't imagine the difficulty writing a GOOD short story... They're pretty rare, but this was one of the rare finds for me. Loved it.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for my honest review

This is my first book by the author. I have seen books by Lee child a lot many times but never picked up but I have been reading Amazon original stories since quite sometime and I have almost never been disappointed. This book is no exception.

Smart, witty and perfectly simple prose makes eleven numbers an easy and interesting read. I read it twice back to back and enjoyed it thoroughly.

Love how it ends. Definitely will recommend to those who likes to read some short stories. In 50 pages, it was a banger.

Thank you Netgalley, Lee child and Amazon original stories for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

Eleven Numbers by Lee Child is a short thriller that takes you into the world of espionage and high-stakes intelligence. I received a copy from Amazon Original Stories via Netgalley.

The story follows Nathan Tyler, an American mathematician who is unexpectedly pulled into a top-secret mission involving cryptic equations that could shift global power dynamics. As he navigates the dangerous landscape of international intrigue, Tyler finds himself caught between shifting loyalties and life-threatening stakes.

Lee Child delivers a narrative that differs from his usual Jack Reacher-style action, so that was something to get used to. It was a fun read but all a bit rushed. It would have been great if it was a complete novel.

3,5/5⭐️

Unassuming mathematician Nathan gets a surprising call from the White House, asking him to help in a top secret mission by attending a conference in Moscow.

I love the Jack Reacher series but this was my first read of one of his books! This was a super short read at only 50 pages long but it still managed to deliver with action, twists and humour.

This was a great book to start with as i’ve never read Lee Child before and I really enjoyed it. Eleven Numbers is a short story about mathematics professor Nathan Tyler who gets involved with a top secret foreign intelligence mission. For it being a short story it was really succinct and the pacing was great.

All of the cleverness, none of the Reacher. Child is able to take an obscure math property and develop a short, sharp spy story. As is ioften the cse with Child, the reader is disappointed that the story ends so soon.

Eleven Numbers is a short story by Lee Child. What could the White House Chief of Staff possibly want with a mathematics professor from a middling American university? Turns out Professor Nathan Tyler’s special interest in certain numbers is just what is needed to crack a computer security algorithm, a matter of national security. The catch is that he’ll have to go to Russia to meet with their top maths guy.

The destination makes him wary, but Nathan is somewhat reassured by his cover: attending a maths conference. Russians respect maths, he believes, creating a little island of common sense even in these crazy times. While his maths is impeccable, certain people might be counting on his naivete in other areas. And naïve, Nathan may be, but he’s not stupid. Short but cleverly plotted.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories.

I received this book free from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Written by Lee Child and published by Amazon Original Stories in 2025, This is an interesting short story about the spying business, and especially about the National Security Agency (NSA), America’s premier passive intelligence-gathering organization.

In the story, it seems that the Russians have secured their nuclear stockpile with a password that is based on one of a group of eleven prime numbers known as Kindansky Numbers. This number system was developed by a Russian mathematician named Akady Suslov.

In a meeting that included the President of the United States and other bigwigs, Nathan Tyler, a Mathematics professor at a major West Coast university became the center of attention. Nathan was familiar with Kindansky Numbers and had written a published paper about them. He had been flown to Washington, D.C. in a private jet to attend this meeting. There, he was asked to attend a Mathematics conference in Moscow, Russia, and to meet with Professor Suslov with the goal of determining which of the eleven Kindansky numbers was the password to the Russian nuclear arsenal.

Nathan agrees to the mission and travels to Moscow. Unfortunately, he gets arrested before he can attend the conference. How can he accomplish his mission, now?

It turns out that he can, but you will need to read this very well-written story to find out. In a former life, I worked for the NSA, so I found the story to be credible. I highly recommend this short story and award all five of the available five stars. Read it! I think you will enjoy it. 5 Stars

This was my first time reading anything from Lee Child, mainly because genre fiction isn't normally my first reading choice. I wanted something that was short and low-stakes, and it was happenstance that I discovered the short story when I did. It's a highly engaging premise that feels surprisingly topical. One man could hold the fate of another country's nuclear arsenal capabilities with the power of one of eleven nine-figure digits. Given the current tensions (or not) between the United States and Russia, along with recent headlines of famous prisoner exchanges, I was riveted by a narrative that seemed alarmingly prescient and dynamic. All of the numerical discourse here, called Kindansky numbers, felt like gibberish to me, and I don't know if that's all make-believe or based in some amount of fact. (I won't do the research to find out either way.) Beyond being all prime numbers (not all prime numbers are Kindanskys), I couldn't rattle off anything more about the subject. The page length was perfect for the limited story told. I never felt wanting for more details from a plot or narrative perspective. I'll most likely not pursue any full-length Child novels, because the Jack Reacher series is too long and cumbersome, and I'm unsure what else he's written. Nice introduction, all the same.

Thank you to NetGalley & Amazon Original Stories for eARC access.

I enjoyed the story, but I think short stories might not be for me. This one had so much promise, but it felt like it ended too soon. That said, I’ll definitely be checking out more of Lee Child’s longer works!

This book was my introduction to Lee Child one author I have seen around a bit lately & I have been wanting to read his books. Reading this has made me want to go onto to read even more.

It kept me interested & wanting to know more about book I would highly recommend reading.

Thank you Netgalley & the publisher for allowing me to an E - Arc copy of this book.

Thank you Amazon Original Stories for the ARC!

I love Lee Child’s books- they always grab my attention and hold it all the way through. Eleven Numbers was no different, it was the perfect treat to tide me over until the next Child book comes out. This was fast paced from beginning to end and makes for a great quick binge sesh!

As previous Lee Child books go this one is up there and definitely didn't disappoint. Another fast paced read that I found hard to put down.

4★
“ ‘Are you sure you’re talking to the right guy?’

‘Yes, sir, we’re sure.’

‘So what is this about?’

The voice said a black car would arrive at his door in thirty minutes, and he was to get in the back.”

Cloak and dagger stuff, not the sort of thing your everyday mathematics professor is used to dealing with, but Nathan Tyler has decided when his country calls, (because that is who has called), he should answer.

He’s off to a mathematics conference, in Moscow. Others have attended conferences in Moscow, but they tell him it was safe back then, and these are different times. Even his airline texts him.

“ ‘The State Department has determined that due to escalating international tensions, travel to your destination may not be safe and is not advised.’ Then, as if concerned, or pretending to be, the airline had added: ‘Passengers wishing to change, delay or cancel their plans may do so at no additional cost.’ ”

He’s determined, and off he goes – alone – no travel companions, no security, no group to hide in. Just a lonely maths prof off to compare notes with others who love the field as much as he does.

It’s a great short story without a sign of Reacher or anyone similar, and I enjoyed it enough that I hope he writes some more.

Thanks to #NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for a copy of #ElevenNumbers for review.