Wow what a great short story!

Lee Child shows he can do Cold War spy thrillers.

Don’t be put off by the use of a mathematician professor recruited to work for his government, to coincide with a planned trip to Moscow to attend an international mathematics conference.

Great craft, expanding and opening up the plot; no page of the 50 pages is wasted, as the story goes back and forth to reveal multiple layers in this narrative. I was enthralled throughout. Lee Child is so reader friendly, an expert storyteller and master of his art.

Nathan Tyler is a terrific character to follow in this story. He is immediately likeable and we warm to him taken up by events beyond his control. Despite being intelligent, he is humble and values his life’s work. He is a reluctant agent of his government’s desire to get one over their old enemy. You feel Tyler gets involved as a patriot but also because of his love of mathematics and the chance to meet one of his heroes. You get the feeling it may not end well.

Well, read it for yourselves and let me know!
It is a one sitting, quick read and you’ll love it!!

Eleven Numbers: A Short Story by Lee Child is something far different than one would expect from the author of the legendary Jack Reacher series. Instead, this quick read is all about math and mathematician Nathan Tyler. But, as the publisher synopsis makes clear, spy stuff is also at work here.

Despite the advice from the airline, the State Department, and his boss, Nathan Tyler is headed to Russia for a mathematics conference. Tyler is sure that the Russians value and respect math. He is sure that the conference will an island of calm in a sea of chaos and noise. Besides, he is a man on a mission and operating on a need-to-know basis and other folks do not need to know everything that is in his head.

Of course, things go sideways. The questions are twofold. How did they go sideways? Is he going to get home, alive and in one piece?

A pleasant change of pace, Eleven Numbers: A Short Story by Lee Child is a fast moving and fun read. Even if you hated math in school and can’t balance a checkbook to save yourself, like me, you will learn a thing or two about numbers. Especially, eleven very important ones.

Recommended.

My reading copy came by way of a digital ARC, made available by the publisher, Amazon Original Stories, through NetGalley, after the publication date earlier this month. Good thing to for this reader as the Dallas Public Library System does not carry it.


Kevin R. Tipple ©2025

I am not a fan of short stories but enjoyed this one. The main character is very different from Jack Reacher. No violence but lots of smart thinking. I’d like to see this character developed into a full novel.

Too much traveling, too many warnings, and yet I didn't know what was happening. It was more confusing than intriguing. Not for me.

If you are looking for quick read, this is one to consider. There's not a lot of action in the book, but it is an easy one to follow. The writing is solid, and everything ties together quite nicely by the end. It was fun to try and figure out the missing number along with the characters.

Thank you to Lee Child, Amazon and NetGalley for an ARC of this short story in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was my first book/short story by Lee Child and I can see why he is such a well loved and successful author! While this isn't my usual or preferred genre, I am a mum of 5 boys who are always struggling to find authors that write on topics they can connect with. This short story was the perfect snippet for me to enjoy while exploring new topics and writing styles to share with my sons.

I can definitely see why his "Reacher" series is so popular!

Child without Reacher doesn’t seem possible, but this novella really works. We meet a mathematician called by the president to learn an important number code-a code linked to nuclear weapons. To do so, he must travel to Russia. The plot gets interesting quickly in the very fast-paced story.

I am not a fan of short stories and this one did nothing to change my mind. The story gave us an insight into the workings of government and I thought it was a trifle unrealistic. The amount of time devoted to mathematics and numbers can very easily become boring. However, I felt compelled to continue reading to see how the story ended. I thank NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.

Loved this short story from the master of suspense, Lee Child, known for his gripping Jack Reacher series. In "Eleven Numbers," a brilliant math professor is unexpectedly summoned to a high stakes meeting with the President and top advisors. Tasked with deciphering a mysterious algorithm, his rapid success thrusts him into a perilous mission, one so dangerous that neither foe nor friend may wish him to return. The professor's unique blend of intellectual prowess and vulnerability make him a compelling protagonist. This short story is a testament to Child's ability to weave captivating narratives, and I highly recommend it to fans of the genre.

“Eleven Numbers” is a short story by Lee Child, and no, it does not feature Jack Reacher. But that doesn’t mean that it’s not riveting and suspenseful in its own way. Actually, this is one of the better short stories that Mr. Child has published.

Nathan Tyler is a mathematics professor at an American university, just a basic everyday academic. Out of the blue, he decides to attend a mathematics conference, which is no big deal, other then this conference is taking place in Moscow, not a very welcoming place for an American nowadays. His colleagues urge him to reconsider. The State Department sends out warnings to reconsider. But the Russians respect mathematicians, and Nathan is a quiet nobody, what could possibly go wrong?

Quite a bit, actually. Nathan’s specialty is Kindansky Numbers, a very special type of prime number. And the US government is very interested in these numbers, so much so that Nathan is asked by the President to do a little information gathering at this conference from a world renown Russian mathematician. But things go wrong immediately after arriving. Now Nathan is in prison for assaulting a police officer. Will Nathan be able to complete his mission and return to his humdrum life?

Lots of action, with direct sparse prose that we have come to expect from Mr. Child, with a few surprises along the way. A great quick read.

I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from Amazon Original Stories via NetGalley. Thank you!

Eleven Numbers is an absolutely gripping thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The story follows Nathan Tyler, a mathematician sent to Moscow during a tense political climate, where Americans are on high alert. But things take a turn when Nathan receives an unexpected call from the White House, setting in motion a high-stakes mission. His goal? To meet a brilliant Russian mathematician and extract crucial information. However, as events unfold, the situation becomes increasingly complex, and Nathan must navigate trust, uncertainty, and shifting allegiances.

The book is a rollercoaster of suspense, with masterfully executed plot twists and rising tension that kept me hooked. Lee Child once again delivers a fast-paced, high-energy story that fans of thrillers will absolutely devour. If you're a fan of spy fiction and love a story that keeps you guessing, Eleven Numbers is a must-read!

I chose this novella to get an idea of this writer's writing style. He is well known for his spy books. And this is not going to be my last book by him.

He probably wasn't his intention. But this story takes on a different dimension for me because of the current political world situation.

Loved it. Really cool to see Lee Child branch out and write a story without his star character Jack Reacher. This was paced perfectly for a short story, and I thought the stakes were well presented upfront and then subverted in an interesting way. Plus it was about math and I love math.

This was an interesting short story that actually had a twist that I wasn't expecting. It wasn't a jaw dropping twist, but it DID change the path that the storyline had been going. Actually, change that....there was a twist, then there was ANOTHER twist shortly after that. Interesting, right?

The plot centers around an obscure but brilliant Math professor who is scheduled to attend an annual math conference/seminar. Unfortunately, the conference is in Moscow and there are suddenly alerts from the US State Department that advise against Americans traveling there.

Add on to that the fact that he, suddenly and out of the blue, is contacted by some extremely important people high up in the government who have a task that they would like him to accomplish - and the story takes off from there.

This was, again, a very short story, but I did enjoy it. The twist(s), and then the way that the story ended left me feeling content and satisfied. It is always good when our protagonist finds a way to come out on top in the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone. This short story will be out for publication on Feb 01, 2025.

A short story from one of my favourite authors but this time not about Jack Reacher.

Nathan Tyler, a U.S. mathematician, is sent to Russia, supposedly to attend a math conference but actually to carry out a spot of espionage. Of course he gets in to major difficulties but is smart enough to turn the tables on everyone.

The story is short but very entertaining, written in this author's usual style, but with a different setting. Nathan Tyler makes a very intriguing character. An enjoyable read.

Eleven Numbers is a non-Reacher short story from Lee Child.

"A mathematician is recruited to go to Russia to find a password the US needs to break into the Russian nuclear program. But once in Russia fate intervenes and he's sent to an isolated prison. Now what?"

Child introduces us to the little-known world of Kindansky numbers. It's little known because he made it up. It sounds real though. (The name is similar to the paint-by-number guy - Kadinsky.) The story seems straightforward until Child sends his MC to a Russian prison. Things happen from there (and you'll guess some of them)

I'm glad that Child has continued writing after stepping away from Reacher. Excellent short story.

I don't normally like short stories, but this one was pretty good. Felt very Reacher-like and actually had some twists I didn't see coming. Highly recommend for any Lee Child/Jack Reacher fan. VERY quick read.

Thanks to NetGalley for this copy. #ElevenNumbers #NetGalley

Eleven Numbers by Lee Child is a fast-paced, high-stakes thriller that blends intellectual intrigue with pulse-pounding action. Nathan Tyler, a seemingly average professor with a niche expertise in mathematics, is thrust into a life-or-death situation when the White House urgently calls upon him. What begins as a routine meeting quickly escalates into an international espionage mission when Nathan learns that his ability to decode a cryptic series of equations could shift the global balance of power. The key lies in finding the elusive Russian mathematician behind the formula—a task that quickly spirals into a dangerous game of cat and mouse.

Child’s trademark suspense is on full display as Nathan, an everyman protagonist, navigates the perilous world of intelligence, rival spies, and a ticking clock. The tension builds steadily as Nathan grapples with both the intellectual puzzle and the growing threat to his life. The story excels in combining high-level mathematics with edge-of-your-seat action, delivering a unique narrative that is as intellectually stimulating as it is thrilling.

Eleven Numbers is a must-read for fans of espionage and those who enjoy a protagonist thrown into a world of intrigue, where every move could mean life or death. With a blend of smart writing and relentless suspense, Lee Child delivers another exciting chapter in his repertoire of gripping thrillers.

Wonderful short story (only 32 pages but really good). Lee Child's Reacher stories are the best but glad to see him going completely off.

Lee Child has proven he is more than just a one trick pony with this clever story. While it lacks the characterisation Reacher fans have loved, the plot is an absolute winner. Clever, fast paced and credible, it will keep you flying through the pages.