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.

Eleven Numbers is a short espionage thriller (about 50 pages) that blends high-stakes spy intrigue with complex mathematics​. It follows Nathan Tyler, an unassuming American math professor, who is unexpectedly swept up in an international gambit involving a secret algorithm and escalating U.S.–Russia tensions. Unlike Lee Child’s action-packed Jack Reacher novels, this story centers on brainpower over brawn – proving that sometimes numbers and equations can be as dangerous as guns and bombs​ and elbows to the face.

Eleven Numbers by Lee Child is a suspenseful mystery short story which was both easy to read and captivating. The main character Nathan Tyler is a Math Professor who is taken out of his comfort zone into the world of espionage. Well written and the plot was excellently executed. The ending was totally unexpected.

Highly y recommended read.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from Amazon Original Stories via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#ElevenNumbers #NetGalley

Mathematician Conference In Moscow, What Can Go Wrong

Nathan Tyler is about to leave to go to the airport. His first warning comes from the State Department. The second two warnings are from the airlines, who informed him that he could reschedule or cancel at no cost. The fourth from his university’s boss and mentor tells him it is too dangerous to go to Moscow for a conference. Tyler says it will be the only chance he will have to talk to some Russian mathematicians who do not travel outside of Russia. Besides, he is a nobody. The Russians probably will not even bug his hotel room. Nothing will happen. His boss tells him that it sounds like he is trying to convince himself. With this, an international espionage thriller starts.

As is typical with short stories, there is only one thread. Tyler narrates all but one small section, so the events are almost entirely seen through his eyes. He is being recruited because a famous Russian mathematician would only talk with another mathematician with a specific background. The problem is that he has zero experience in espionage. A crash course in achieving his goal is being given by people, of whom maybe only one could have some espionage experience. There is one twist that didn’t occur until way into the short story. But then, my understanding of what was happening changed completely when it occurred. Only after this twist was my interest captured.

Again, as is typical in short stories, the background is a little thin. It is adequate to know that he is a complete novice. In the gulag, he makes a strong friendship with a fellow prisoner. He proves to be quite loyal, much to that man’s benefit. It is in the gulag that the reader will see him interact with others. I found the gulag part of the novel a rewarding read.

This novel does not present any aspects that can cause some readers to stop reading. There are no intimate scenes. I could only find three rude words and one mildly impious word. There is very little violence. This is a standalone short story, so there is no previous work about which to worry. All readers can read this novel without any objections to these issues.

My only issue with this novel was the one twist that occurred deep into the short story. I started worrying that I would not engage at all with this story. My advice is to keep reading as it will get more enjoyable. What I found interesting is that I usually trash any novel with a significant loose end. There is one end at this short story’s end. I do not like it when readers cannot learn its resolution, as there is no chance after the book ends. In this case, I thought back and believed there were adequate clues that the answer was apparent.

This is the first work I have read by this author, so I have placed him in my Rating Pending category. I need at least two novels before assigning an author a four-tier rating. If the teaser interests you, I recommend reading this short story. I enjoyed reading it and rated it four stars.

I received this novel's free prepublication e-book version through NetGalley from Amazon Original Stories. My review is based solely on my own reading experience. Thank you, Amazon Original Stories, for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Lee Child, a name synonymous with the visceral, bone-crunching action of Jack Reacher, takes a surprising, and remarkably effective, detour with "Eleven Numbers." This isn't the familiar territory of back-alley brawls and implacable justice. Instead, Child delves into the cool, precise world of mathematics and espionage, proving his versatility as a master storyteller.

"Eleven Numbers" centers on Nathan Tyler, a seemingly ordinary mathematics professor, whose obscure expertise suddenly becomes a critical national asset. Child skillfully crafts a narrative where the tension isn't derived from physical confrontations, but from the intricate dance of calculated risks and hidden agendas. The numbers themselves become characters, holding the potential for both salvation and destruction.

What sets this novella apart is its ability to make the abstract realm of mathematics feel palpably real. Child manages to convey the weight of complex equations, transforming them from dry academic concepts into tools of immense power. The reader is drawn into a world where intellectual prowess is the ultimate weapon, and where the slightest miscalculation can have catastrophic consequences.

This novel is a study in the quiet power of knowledge, a testament to the fact that sometimes, the most dangerous weapons are the ones you can't see. Child has constructed a tightly wound narrative that keeps you guessing until the final, elegantly calculated move.

"Eleven Numbers" demonstrates that Lee Child's mastery extends beyond the realm of physical action. He has proven that he can generate just as much suspense and intrigue with the subtle language of numbers as he can with the blunt force of a well-placed punch. This novella is a testament to his versatility and a compelling reminder that sometimes, battles are fought in the quiet corners of the mind.

Published by Amazon Original Stories on February 1, 2025

Reacher novels have become predictable. Some seem like parodies of the first novels in the series. I was happy to see Lee Child write something that wasn’t about a tough guy whose violent adventures are narrated in clipped sentences.

The premise of “Eleven Numbers” is simple. Nathan Tyler is a math professor. Tyler is among a handful of respected academics who have given intense thought to Kindansky numbers, a special subset of prime numbers that Child appears to have conjured from his imagination. At least, a quick Google search returned only this story and some references to Wassily Kindansky, a Russian artist whose abstract drawings were based on geometric patterns. My apologies to Kindansky and to Child if Kindansky numbers are real.

Tyler is invited to attend a math conference in Moscow at a time when Americans are being urged not to travel to Russia. He accepts the invitation at the urging of the president, who — with the help of a more renowned mathematician — explains that certain nine-digit Kindansky numbers were used by Russian mathematician Arkady Suslov when he designed a computer security algorithm. Enter the wrong password — a nine-digit Kindansky number — and the system will lock out the user and trigger a password reset. The algorithm is protecting Russia’s nuclear arsenal. America would love to get inside and monkey around with it.

The problem is that Suslov is the only person who knows which of the eleven potential numbers is the correct password. The president wants Tyler to travel to Russia, meet with Suslov, and get a sense of which number he used.

Things go south for Tyler when he rents a car at the airport in Moscow, drives toward his hotel, and gets T-boned by a police car. He’s arrested and tossed into jail, making his mission look like a failure. In fact, his mission has only started.

The story is simple but interesting and at least modestly suspenseful. I liked it because Tyler isn’t a tough guy. He relies on his intelligence to perform his mission and on his instincts to smell a double-cross that the American government has probably planned for him.

I also liked Child’s resort to a conventional writing style. The short sentences and “Maybe this. Maybe that.” style of the Reacher novels has become iconic, but it doesn’t work well outside of the Reacher universe. It’s nice to know that Child can tell an engaging story that doesn’t rely on fistfights, shootouts, and two-word sentences that have grown a bit tired in the Reacher series.

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