In the 28th installment of the series, Lee Child’s uncomprimising protagonist, Jack Reacher, revisits an old adventure. The year is 1992, and Reacher, recently demoted to captain, finds himself assigned—almost as a punishment—to a special investigative unit probing a decades-old CIA operation. Someone is systematically eliminating the scientists who were once part of this ultra-secret mission. Behind it all lies a deeply buried, grave secret. But with Jack Reacher on the case, it won’t remain hidden for long…
Andrew Child Finds His Groove
We all know what it means when co-authors start appearing in a series. Usually, nothing good. “The Secret” is the fourth installment in the long-standing Jack Reacher series where Andrew Child has lent a hand. Or, to be more precise: he likely wrote it entirely by himself. The previous three books were noticeably weaker than their predecessors.
Andrew Child, of course, tried his best. In fact, he tried quite skillfully. However, long-time fans of the series could instantly sense that something was off. The little details didn’t quite click. Reacher wasn’t putting as much effort into analyzing the clues. The tactical finesse in the confrontations was missing. Sometimes, the major developed incredible, almost superhero-like abilities. And even his sense of humor seemed to have dulled.
Yet, when reading The Secret, if you didn’t know beforehand, you might not even notice the co-author’s involvement. The Secret almost feels like a classic Reacher tale.
Jack Reacher on the Hunt for The Secret
That’s just how Jack Reacher is. He doesn’t care about the consequences or who he angers; he’ll stop at nothing to deliver justice.
Is the Secretary of Defense among the suspects? Who cares?!
This could very well be one of the reasons for Reacher’s appeal and popularity: he’s willing to take on powerful figures who deserve to be punished but seem untouchable to everyone else.
Investigation from a Dark Cave
A military policeman, a CIA agent, an FBI agent, and a Treasury Department official walk into an office. It sounds like the beginning of a joke. And it is!
If you were the Secretary of Defense and wanted to cover up some dirty old business as discreetly as possible, would you involve other agencies? Of course not! You’d handle it quietly, under the radar.
And you definitely wouldn’t tell Jack Reacher, unless you were completely out of your mind!!!
So, the foundation of The Secret is already on shaky ground. Adding to this, the investigative team is stuck in a barren office, cut off from all information, armed with nothing but a single phone, trying to solve a series of murders. They don’t have it easy, that’s for sure!
Reacher Will Beat the Truth Out of You!
Do you believe that a former KGB agent, who defected, would be fully aware of every secret overseas operation the CIA carried out decades ago?
I don’t.
But Jack Reacher does. So, he gets it out of him. And if he has to rough up a squad of former Special Forces soldiers along the way, that’s no obstacle.
At this point, it’s worth noting that – as mentioned earlier – the recent books have painfully lacked the tactical descriptions of confrontations. But “The Secret” shows improvement in this area too! As a long-time fan, it’s a real pleasure to read scenes like the one where Reacher is surrounded on four sides by ex-Spetsnaz members. The fools! They don’t know they shouldn’t get too close!!!
Of course, it’s easy to imagine that Andrew Child received significant help from someone while writing this scene. An expert. Probably from Lee Child himself…
Revenge, Done Like a Pro
The thriller The Secret unfolds along two parallel plotlines. Alongside Reacher’s makeshift investigation team, the book follows two avengers on their own path. Parallel storylines in Reacher books usually don’t work out well, as the major’s presence tends to overshadow everything else. But The Secret is an exception.
Jack Reacher faces adversaries who are his equals in many ways. The siblings’ quest for revenge is far more thrilling than than the research into the old CIA operation. Traps, conspiracies, and exciting action sequences keep alternating (meanwhile, the former scientist group’s seven, or eight, or, uh, nine members are steadily being eliminated), and you can’t help but think how much better the book could have been if Reacher had confronted the two of them earlier to prevent them from carrying out their plan.
But even so, you won’t feel disappointed. In fact, if you’ve been racking your brain for a while on how to get rid of your old enemies without drawing suspicion, Lee Child’s The Secret offers plenty of great tips.
Summary
The 28th book in the Jack Reacher series, despite being co-authored, barely shows any signs of it. Jack Reacher is back in top form: smart, strong, and unwavering. The entertainment is guaranteed.
Rating: 8.2/10
The Secret (Jack Reacher #28) by Lee Child and Andrew Child
320 pages, Paperback
Published in 2024 by Bantam
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Reviews of the series:
Die Trying (#2)
Tripwire (#3)
One Shot (#9)
Past Tense (#23)