Better Off Dead, by Lee Child and Andrew Child, is the 26th installment in the Jack Reacher series. Its anticipated publication date is October 26, 2021.

In Better Off Dead, Reacher is heading west and entering a small border town in Arizona. He meets another army veteran, Michaela Fenton. She is looking for her twin brother, Michael, who has gone missing. Naturally, Reacher offers to help.

I am a longtime fan of Jack Reacher, having followed each of his adventures, wherever his wondering has taken him. But after I began reading Better Off Dead, I was taken aback; this was not the Jack Reacher whom I know and love. For example, Reacher is described as scruffy and unkempt, like a hobo. Although the quirky Reacher buys, wears, and tosses cheap clothes, he is rarely scruffy and unkempt. It is mentioned about Reacher being a civilian. Reacher might be "separated" from the army, but I do not think that he sees himself as a civilian; his entire life has been the military, and his entire being is military. There does not appear to be a military presence in this Reacher, not in his demeanor or in his thinking. And, although Reacher has no qualms about using force, he does so only if needed, only if there is no other way, and even then, only to the level required; much of the violence I was reading about in Better Off Dead felt gratuitous.

Both the character and the writing were unsettling. They seemed flat, lacking the usual depth found in Reacher books. Facts about Reacher seemed to be thrown out there, almost as a second thought rather than incorporated within the plot. And, the plot of Better Off Dead also felt linear and flat, lacking the usual robustness and complexity I recall from prior Reacher adventures.Yet the conclusion to this book felt overly complicated; I still do not understand the resolution, and it does not seem to fit nicely together like prior Reacher books.

Near the end of my reading Better Off Dead, I read that Andrew Child has taken over writing the Reacher books. I don't know whether this is true or, if so, whether it is the reason for my discomfort with this book, but I do not like this incarnation of Reacher. Better Off Dead was a nice experience with a new character, but as another adventure with Reacher, I was disappointed.

Have read about half of the titles in the Jack Reacher series and have always enjoyed them - a "go to" character with thrilling adventures. Not so much this time around. Better off dead just didn’t get me involved and have me turning pages as quickly as the others. My interest lagged as the pages went by instead of heightening. Was it a thinner than usual plot or character development? Perhaps. Jack Reacher has been an interesting character that brought me back time and again. Will look forward to the next before saying goodbye.


FYI - I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 ☆ rounded up

Continuing his westward trek to the Pacific Ocean, Jack Reacher approaches a dusty little town in Arizona, close to the border with Mexico. As usual, trouble finds him in Better Off Dead. There's an appealing variant of a "damsel in distress," as Michaela Fenton is ex-Army and more than capable with firearms. Michaela is facing something, however, that is more secretive, deadly, and numerous than one lone person can hope to tackle. Empathetic to another veteran, Reacher interrupts his journey to provide assistance.

But I'm sure what loyal Reacher fans want to know is whether this second collaboration between Lee Child and his brother Andrew is better than their first -The Sentinel #25. Overall, yes, which is why I'm rounding my 3.5 star rating up. I haven't given 4 stars to a Reacher novel since Night School #21.

A little suspension of disbelief is still a prerequisite because middle age and a diet from diners have not impaired Reacher's impressive 250-pound physique. There are still fight scenes depicted in careful detail, long enough for me to question the plausibility. There's a body count, but the authors know not to repeat the cartoon-ish arcade scenes from the finale of Blue Moon #24.

Better Off Dead begins with a great hook and it easily makes the first third a page-turner. The middle third settles into a slower but still interesting pace. The last third doesn't quite match the page-turner status of the beginning as the plot becomes a bit convoluted. The conclusion leaves me with a couple of questions.

I like Michaela as a character. Reacher remains, of course, a loner; it's part of his mystique. But, I really do miss Frances Neagley as Reacher's loyal and highly capable Sargeant and adjutant. My one minor gripe with Michaela is her speech pattern in the beginning of the book. Staccato, fragmentary style. Phrases posing as sentences. Just like Reacher's. (It reminds me of the woman who morphed into G.I. Jane in Blue Moon #24, one of the many mis-steps in that installment).

Overall though, I'm happier with Better Off Dead than with The Sentinel, and it's an easy recommendation to give for fans of both Jack Reacher and thrillers.

Thank you to Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. As the ARC is an uncorrected ebook, the publisher requests that no parts of it should be cited in a review. Tentative publication date is October 26, 2021.

It seems that Jack Reacher gets more violent with each novel. He used to hit bad guys and they stayed down temporarily but now he hits and the bad guys never get up again. It does, however, fit into the story and if you're ok with good guys winning and bad guys losing with whatever it takes, then you will enjoy this novel. I happen to really like Jack Reacher and am always amazed at how he figures out solutions and manages to extricate himself and his companions from sticky situations. This story includes multiple violent bad guys, a border town, some FBI agents that help Reacher along the way, and a family reunion. This is a tightly written, fast paced, thriller of a story and if you can see your way over the bodies, it is a good, entertaining read.

Lee Child – Better Off Dead
Jack Reacher has been a larger-than-life character for years that almost any reader has heard of. From the pages written by Lee Child to the big screen starring A-list actors, the Reacher storyline has been filled with amazing detail and controlled chaos. Reacher has always been an unstoppable force for good that everyone can appreciate, besides the criminals and bad guys. Picking up after The Sentinel, written with his brother Andrew Child, Lee Child delivers another flawless Jack Reacher mission in Better Off Dead.
Reacher is on the road again, like a classic drifter, heading out west for something grander and greater. And you can bet your bottom dollar that he’s going to run into trouble and some point because of his free-spirited lifestyle. Reacher finds himself stumbling upon a creepy and uneasy situation with a damaged vehicle with an injured woman. Looks can be deceiving. As he starts to assess the situation, she immediately draws a gun, immediately putting him in a bind. This is where we meet Michaela Fenton, the determined and concerned sister of her criminally involved brother. As the story takes shape and major players are introduced, the pair of Reacher and Fenton are searching for the end of the monumental task at hand.
Child Bro’s & Company do everything right in continuing the legend of Jack Reacher in this epic battle of good versus evil. Showing the strengths and weaknesses (if there is one) of Jack Reacher and how he’s able to slow things down, delivering righteousness, shows how violent this former Army officer is. Better Off Dead has the slow and deliberate vibes that show how analytical and determined Reacher is. This is another stellar Reacher adventure that anyone who is in need would love to have him on their side.

2.5 stars

I haven't read all the books in the series, but I've read enough to have a general idea of things, though this could be read as a standalone novel.

I did find the pace a bit slower and some of the characters more superficial than I expected. That made it a bit hard to connect to some characters and stay fully engaged. Additionally, some scenes and plot points were a bit formulaic. The ending was somewhat disappointing. I figured there'd be a big reveal based on the build-up, but that wasn't really the case.

As Jack saunters toward San Francisco, he chances upon a damsel in distress seeking a brother, and bomb maker, gone missing and so begins another chapter in teh Jack Reacher saga. This is typical Jack Reacher - he kicks butt, takes names, saves the lady and the world, and then continues his solitary journey down the road. Jack Reacher fans will enjoy the read.

Is this the end of Jack Reacher? As always, Reacher goes on an adventure and finds trouble he wasn't looking for! I love the series and Lee Child but have to admit, I can see a difference in the writing styles of Lee and Andrew. Still worth reading though! Andrew Grant has written some great books too but to me Jack Reacher is Lee Child!

Fans of Jack Reacher will find a lot to love in the latest addition to the series. Great characters, lots of action, and enough twists to keep the reader intrigued. A quick, enjoyable read. Highly recommended.

I was issued this book by NetGalley for my honest review.

You can never go wrong with a Reacher novel. Reacher is a big man (sorry Tom Cruise) with a lot of experience helping others. He has strong moral fiber. He will bend some laws from time to time, but always with justice as his end game. You have the idea that Reacher is going to come out triumphant, but it doesn't take anything away from your reading experience. The path he takes is the story!

This book starts with an uh oh moment! and goes from there. The author(s) are craftsmen in telling the tale. Always enjoyable. Always can't wait for the next installment.

This outstanding new addition to the Jack Reacher series finds Reacher in yet another random small town, just minding his business and going about his life as a drifter, when he stumbles across a woman in acute distress and a nefarious smuggling operation at work. This is the second outing of Lee Child writing alongside his younger brother Andrew, and as a team they churn out exceptional thrills and chills that will have you reading late into the night. Even if you have not read the extensive Reacher series (confession: I have!), you can jump right in.

Reacher’s a decorated former military police officer who always been a brilliant maverick. He won’t pause to break the rules to get to the truth and who post-military service has become a bit of a vagabond who continually comes up against small town evil. There’s also usually a compelling, smart woman in distress and a deep corruption for financial gain that the town’s law enforcement has either been bribed or threatened to leave alone. Ultimately, upon witnessing just how deep this corruption or evil runs and how vulnerable the woman is against it, Reacher against his better judgement gets involved. Then his involvement gets personal. Then things get violent and over-the-top, often involving multiple deaths, and Reacher turns vigilante. Reacher brings to his table his towering physical prowess, fight-know how, keen investigative experience, weapon knowledge, gut instincts, and all out bravery. Reacher often ends up calling on his old military and federal contacts for an informational or tactical lifeline. And Reacher always wins after intense, all-out warfare. Always with some physical and psychic damage, but he sets things right. Justice gets served. Then Reacher puts his toothbrush in his back pocket (this is all he travels with: money from his savings can be wired, new second-hand clothes can be bought, diners abound) and grabs a bus or a ride back to his meanderings.

So welcome to Better Off Dead, in which Reacher arrives in a small town on the U.S.-Mexico border. The book opens with a jaw-dropping bang: a man fitting Jack Reacher’s exact description is shot dead by four men in a deal exchanging money for knowing where to find a guy named Michael goes off the rails. Reacher beats the men fighting them only to get shot dead by a woman who steps out of the shadow. The victim’s body, identified as Reacher, gets transported to the morgue and put into the cooler.

What, could Reacher actually be dead? Cue the shock and horror to ardent fans. But we haven’t yet got through the reliable and always thrilling formula of a Jack Reacher novel!

To give away more would just deny you the thrill of another masterful Reacher book, with exceptional sparse and lean writing, edge of your seat twists, and vivid image that stays with you after your pounding heart has stopped hammering.

As per usual, Jack Reacher never fails. This book as the previous 10 relies on a pretty well established formula at this point. However even though I know the formula is coming, I still love it. Andrew Child has also managed to put his own spin on the Reacher story, I cant quite explain but the book feels different than the Lee Childs ones, but not in a bad way. Like I have previously mentioned, the were nothing surprising in this book, but honestly at this point, I dont know if I would like it, if there was a change. I equate these novels to James Bond Films, if all of sudden, James Bond quit being a spy and decided to be a corporate businessman, we would be understandably upset, therefore all the movies are concurrently different and the same. This is the perfect way to describe the Reacher series at this point. To sum it all up, if you like Jack Reacher novels, you will rate this 5 stars and love it. If you dont know if you like Reacher, go to the beginning of the series and start there, as jumping into book 18 will leave you somewhat at a disadvantage. To be fair, you can read this book with no previous knowledge of Reacher and be fine storyline wise, but I'd recommend starting at the beginning. I will also say if you dont already know and love Reacher, this book could be slow and meandering if you dont already have that relationship.

So all in all, this book will be a hit with Reacher fans, if your not a Reacher fan, you probably weren't reading this one anyway.

Another Jack Reacher novel! I have read them all so that pretty much says that I am a fan. This one may not be the best ... I missed the parts where he just hangs out in a diner, pondering the best style cup for drinking coffee, or heads into the local farm store to get a new set of clothes.

There is, though, plenty of action; an arch villain (this time a terrorist); a huge guy who can almost put out Reacher’s lights; and a damsel in distress.

If you are already a fan of Jack Reacher, you will enjoy this. And if you have not yet had the experience, I would recommend starting with either The Killing Floor (the first in the series) or The Enemy (the first chronologically), but it also fine to just grab whatever one happens to be available.

I wish to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine Books for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have always been a fan of Lee Child’s books and I love the character of Jack Reacher. That being said, I was so was thrilled when I was granted the opportunity to review this one. Reacher is back again and you get caught up with his usual style of problem solving. He definitely thinks outside the box. I will admit there was a bit too much given to the sameness in the fighting of one character over and over. A little less of that would have been better.
The descriptions of the lay of the land put the reader right in there with them as the action was unfolding. I like that. But in the past the reader learned more about Reacher’s cunning and in this book less was needed about the physical fighting. One blow would win the fight and this time there was more fighting and less thinking. His incredible sense of time is such a part of him and I missed that in this. The way he hitchhikes with no baggage is only mentioned but is a big part of who he is. I miss following his thought processes. Please bring that back in the next book.
I remain a huge fan and look forward to the next book. I will encourage his fans to read this one. But urge both authors to not lose sight of the Jack Reacher we all love. Everyone knows who Reacher is!!!
All that being said, I still give it a solid 5 stars.

Lee Child grabs you from the first word, and maintains control throughout the story. Each step ups the tension until you have to set the book down for a while to relax. The attention to detail is astounding. If you close your eyes, you can visualize whatever he is describing. Of course, the most impressive thing about the novel is Reacher himself. He embodies the true heroic image. He is not a superhero, but the next best thing. He gets it done. In Better Off Dead, Reacher finds himself in difficult circumstances over and over. While searching for a missing man, he stumbles on a terrorist attempt. Will he prevail? Step in and find out!

I was disappointed by THE SENTINEL, the brothers first effort at writing together. It read less like the Reacher series of old than it did a parody of the Reacher series. All series have a natural life span, and I began to wonder if the Reacher series had simply played itself out and reached its natural end.

It hasn't.

In BETTER OFF DEAD, Reacher is almost back to form. 'Almost' being the important word there. Too much irrelevant description (there's the parody factor again) and an ending that was way too talky weighed the book down, but Reacher is alive on the page once again and that's what really matters most. Jack Reacher is one of the great characters of popular fiction and he deserves to stay around for a while yet.

BETTER OFF DEAD restores my hope that he will.

Jack Reacher continues to entertain. I finished Better Off Dead in two days. The writing, however, was not quite the tempo and style of the books written by Lee Child alone. This 26th Reacher adventure was co-authored and focused too much on Reacher’s physical prowess instead of his critical reasoning. And, he encountered one particular thug just a little too often!

The premise felt forced. As usual, Reacher is walking into quagmire with only the clothes on his back, his expired passport, a toothbrush and some cash. This time he ends up in a declining town on the border with Mexico. The bad guys seem almost cartoonish. I did like the female characters, Michaela and Sonia, both searching for the missing Michael Curtis, who likes puzzles and sent a coded SOS message to his sister that included a postcard and a condom.

Despite the convoluted storyline, I totally enjoyed reading Better Off Dead and am grateful to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the opportunity to read this book before publication in exchange for an honest review.

Excellent Jack Reacher novel. You just can’t beat this guy for leading you along until BANG another series of events that make him seem heroic.

I always look forward to the next Reacher installment. But it seems like as time goes by their is more focus on body count rather than plot.

This has Jack at the Arizona/Mexico border helping a woman find her missing brother, who is suspected to be involved in a bomb making scheme. Reacher repeatedly beats up, many to the point of death, three large people at a time. The clever deductions Reacher makes to determine what is actually happening and to catch the bad guy are there, but there are few deductions and lots of bodies.

This was good and I would read it again, but I would like it if Reacher got back to his roots and used more of his brains and less of his brawn.

I really enjoyed "Better Off Dead," it was a very action-oriented book. The main character Jack Reacher was a phenomenal action hero, who against great odds, prevailed over many adversaries. It was a great book in that the good guys win, which is always wonderful to see.

I figured out some of the plot twists in the book before I got to the end, which I commonly do. I think readers that like action and mysteries would enjoy this book. This book draws the reader in immediately, and keeps readers interested throughout the course of the book to the conclusion.