I admit I haven't read ALL of the Reacher books but I have read quite a few and I do believe this is one of the best.

In this outing, ex-MP Reacher decides to travel from Maine to San Diego and starts hitching a ride. When he reaches New Hampshire, he sees a sign for Laconia which triggers a memory and an interest in digging up some family history.

As only Reacher can, he makes friends and enemies quickly and is soon embroiled in some nasty business (which makes for some very exciting reading.)

In a side story, a young couple traveling from Canada have car trouble and end up spending the night in a remote motel. No, it's not the Bates Motel but I swear you can hear the scary music....

Both threads come together nicely at the suspenseful and satisfying conclusion. If you enjoy an action-packed thriller, this one is for you. I believe it can be read as a standalone if you haven't been reading the series. But I can also highly recommend the series, not only for the great action but for its strong, intelligent, well-fleshed-out characters. Reacher lives by his own rules, it's true, but he has a strong sense of right and wrong, justice and fairness. You'd definitely want him by your side in any fight!

I received an arc from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review. Many thanks!

This is my first experience reading a book written by Lee Childs. I will start by admitting that I am not a fan of action thrillers. That said I will say that keeping that in mind, for an action thriller, this book was really really good! I personally feel Reacher is a bit too much untouchable to be realistic, but I have to admit it was fun reading the fighting scenes even for me. I love psychological thrillers where the reader gets messed with there heads and I feel there was a bit of that as well with the hotel visitors, I kept wondering, what is the game plan there? So although I don't usually read this genre of book, I will say I do think I have found a new author I will be reading again. Thumbs up for Past Tense!

I really enjoyed this story. There is mystery surrounding Jack's family. As he is traveling, he comes across a town in New Hampshire. He realizes it is the town where his father was born. Or is it? Now Jack isn't sure. There is a couple traveling through New Hampshire from Canada and they have car trouble. There is an out of the way motel, so they stop to get help. Everything seems normal, but it isn't. Why are they being detained? And the big suitcase they are toting around, what is in it? So many things going on. Good story.

This is book 23 in the Jack Reacher series, but don’t let that scare you away. This book works well as a standalone, and you won’t feel as if you were left in the dark at any point. I can honestly say that because I have not read the other 22 books.

The author pulled me into this story from the first page. The characters are well described, and the author even adds those little touches that truly bring them to life. In this story, Jack leaves Maine to travel to California for the winter. Along the way, he notices that he can easily take a trip through Laconia, where his father grew up and find out more about his dad’s past. In the process, he gets involved in more than he bargained for, and at times it looked like he would not make it out of the area alive. There is also a secondary story in the book that has quite a hook: a young couple, with car trouble, ends up being held captive in a motel they stopped at with no way of knowing why. I was reading every opportunity I had, wondering how it would all turn out.

The author, Lee Child, has an intriguing way of detailing the fight scenes: he gives a moment-by-moment look at what Jack is thinking as he comes up with a strategy of how to deal with the other person’s moves. Throughout the book, these thought processes come into play on other occasions.

One thing I really appreciated about this book is that the author wrote this book for an already popular series and didn’t feel the need to weigh it down with curse words. We need more books like this!

More edge-of-your seat action from Lee Child. Jack Reacher once again finds himself in the middle of a strange situation. True to form, Reacher once again manages to find trouble when he sets out to help others.

A young couple, having car issues, finds themselves stranded at a rather strange motel in the middle of nowhere and there are some suspicious things happening. In the meantime Jack Reacher is walking/hitch-hiking his way across the country from Maine to California when he becomes side-tracked in Laconia, New Hampshire where his father was born. Reacher decides to spend some time researching his roots. During his stay his antenna perks up and he starts tracking some suspicious occurrences.

This is a gripping, fast-paced book and if you like Jack Reacher you will certainly enjoy the story. You can, of course, read it as a stand-alone even if you haven't read any others in the series. It will be quite easy to follow. The writing is direct without a lot of unnecessary embellishment - kind of rugged like the character (and this is not a criticism; it really enhances the story). I look forward to another Jack Reacher adventure soon.

Thanks to Lee Child and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine through Netgalley for an advance copy.

The book was ok. I am a huge fan of Jack Reacher but this book left me just bored. There were a few plots going on and one of them was Jacks father and trying to find his heritage. The book made me loose my attention on most of the pages as there was no connection between any of the characters. It felt like a cross between the mafia, the movie jeepers creepers and the find my family thing they do on discovery. It was a ok book and I look forward to the next book.

Received this book as an ARC for my honest review.

I’m not an avid Jack Reacher reader, having only read the first in the entire series, but I knew I would enjoy this one anyway. I love that I can pick up a novel anywhere in the series and still feel like I know what’s going on.

In this novel, there are two stories going on that eet up in the end: Reacher is researching his father, and Patty and Shorty are locked up in a hotel, waiting to see what will happen to them.

Both parts of the story were well written and very intriguing, and I enjoyed reading each as they developed. The situation at the hotel was especially interesting to me, and Reacher is such a badass in everything he does.

I definitely enjoyed this one!

A good mystery to escape the everyday life. We all the movie about Jack Reacher this was a good change of pace. when Jack decide to stop at the town where his father was born how much can happen during one day? If you are Reacher a lot.

Wow, another awesome Jack Reacher book and it's a good one! It's past and it's tense. These are two separate and parallel stories, and you wonder, when or will they connect? They do! Great book, I will definitely recommend, can't wait for the next Jack Reacher ride! #pasttense #leechild #netgalley

Huge fan of the “Reacher” series. I enjoyed this particular story. It was personal, thrilling, historical a great read all around.

Reacher is planning his next route and decides to take a turn, bringing him to the hometown where his father had once lived. There, much is revealed about his family’s past. And, the side story taking place is also rather intense.

This story kept me intrigued, never wanting to put it down. I suggest you add this one to your TBR pile!

Another day in the life of Jack Reacher. He stumbles into dark practices as he finds himself in a place to explore some of his family history. Reacher fans will enjoy it--no surprises here. Jack has to bring his game to beat the bad guys. Secondary characters step up and do their part. Lots of bodies on the ground as the bad guys get what's coming to them. Jack prevails, then goes on his way with his tooth brush in his pocket.

I'm a bit prejudiced in favor of Lee Child's books, having read and liked them all to varying degrees. This one is near the top of the heap. There are two distinct story lines, and you'll have no idea how they connect until more than halfway through the book. I love a plot that keeps me guessing and this one did. In the end, the answers weren't all that startling, but I didn't figure it out and that's what matters.

We also get a little more background on Reacher's family, of which there's been precious little in all the books Child has written. Those answers aren't revealed until late in the novel. And even when we have all the answers, or as many as we're going to get, a hint is dropped that we might find out still more in a future book.

All in all, a terrific read. Well worth your money AND your time. Get it.

*ARC via netgalley.com*

Intriguing story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Unusual characters that will be intriguing to figure out. Reacher always comes to the rescue.

Every word Lee Childs wrote in this book, Past Tense, was chosen to create tension. And, boy did it! I had to put this book down several times because the tension was creating anxiety in my life. I finally bit the bullet and finished the book. So glad I did. If all the Jack Reacher books are like this, I will have to take a breather for a spell.

If you're a Jack Reacher fan this latest installment will not disappoint. If you aren't already a fan it's worth your time to check it out. This wasn't my favorite of the series but is a solid continuation of the story with some insights into his past. The characters (that aren't Jack Reacher) have a more central role in this tale. Reacher becomes more of a connecting thread than central focus. I definitely recommend the book for a cozy weekend read by the fire.

Reacher's plan is to leave Maine and make a trek south west to San Diego. He gets a ride that is cut short in a town that is familiar to him. Laconia, NH is where his father lived a a child. He decides to see what he can find out. Meanwhile a young couple is traveling from Canada to Florida to start a new life. Car trouble strands them overnight in an out of the way motel in Ryantown. Reacher's inquiries get him embroiled in what is happening around town and soon connects him to the couple being held at the motel. Another great installment in the Jack Reacher series.

Past Tense was an enjoyable read. Jack Reacher, former MP, wanders the country taking odd jobs here and there and trouble always seems to find him. He is calm under pressure, likeable, and he is always a step ahead of the bad guys. This book was no exception. The setting is rural New Hampshire, and the cast of characters range from helpful to downright creepy. Jack decides to stop in Laconia, NH on his way across country. His father, long since deceased, grew up in the city. The mystery deepens as discovering his father's origins are not as easy as it should have been. Along the way, Jack, of course, stumbles on the bad guys and becomes friendly with the good guys, and two separate drama's play out around the rural setting.

It was a welcome sidetrack to me to read this book in exchange for a review. I don't have a particular genre that I read 100% of the time, although action/mysteries are not often on my list. Several people do lose their lives, and yet it was touched on without a lot of blood, guts and gore. I found myself really ok with how it all played out. It is one I will recommend for my book group when it is published.

Trademark Jack Reacher story! Young couple on their way from Canada to Florida to seek a new, better life, but their car breaks down as they reach an isolated motel, where things are not entirely as they should be. Reacher takes a swing north to look up his family roots, specifically from his father and grandparents. His search turns some interesting stones. How do these storylines intersect? Well, you will have to read that for your self.
I enjoyed this book a lot. Possibly, not the strongest book in the series, but still a fabulous read.

Lee Child never disappoints me!
Jack Reacher always has a phenomenal story to tell and always tugs at your heart just a little.
Past Tense does the same, with Jack swooping in to save the day during a "people hunt" and finding out his fathers early childhood secrets.
Solid 5 stars.

I found this book didn't hang together well. The two distinct plot lines did not seemed linked and the book was nearly over before they came together and then not with good reason.