Eleven Numbers is short story thriller about American mathematician, Nathan Tyler, who is discreetly hired to solve a numeric puzzle that holds highly sensitive foreign intelligence.

I do not typically read thrillers but I enjoyed this one. The writing remained consistent and engaging. The moments all come together to create an exciting story. My favorite part was definitely how everything tied in well—no small detail was missed and it all painted a clear picture. Nathan Tyler was smart and had great self-preservation skills. I enjoyed his interactions with the other mathematician, Suslov—the whistling scene was creative and awesome. I was curious how the MC would figure out the missing number, so that was cool.

Overall, this was super interesting and kept me guessing!

—Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories, for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.—

Thank you Amazon Publishing and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

This is great if you’re looking for a quick read. Not a lot happens in the story, but it’s easy to follow. This is the first book I’ve read by Lee Child, but I would consider reading more.

I am a fan of Lee Child from his Jack Reacher series. So I happily read this short story. A mathematician is sent to a mathematics conference in Moscow when it is believed that a Russian wants to pass along a pass code for the nuclear arsenal. The pace is quick and to the point. If you’ve never read Child this is a good way to experience his writing style and enjoy a good story at the same time..

Math and Music
Lee Child’s short story without Reacher was perfectly complete and engaging. An American mathematician is sent on an undercover mission to Russia. Anyone could choose to do this; there were fifty like him, maybe even a hundred—Don't work for the government, that's what I am saying.

Lee Child's books often center on government corruption, and this short story is no exception. It ventures into the realms of mathematics, Russian intrigue, and hidden government secrets. Nathan Tyler’s sharp wit and no-nonsense style are reminiscent of Jack Reacher—he cuts straight to the point and delivers a powerful message. My only complaint? I wish it were longer.

I am a big lover of the short story form and this short story had everything it was supposed to have - a unique main character, a little bit of action, an interesting plot-line and a plotwist that was not so easy to guess. This is the first book by Lee Child that I have read, and I can say it motivated me to read some other of his novels. I think that the story about professor Nathan could become just a first part of a collection of short stories or even a longer novel with him as a main character.

Thank you NetGalley, publisher and author for sending me this book for review consideration.
#NetGalley #ElevenNumbers

Interesting and a short thriller kinda interesting as I m already a great fan of author Lee child but still it's not binge me that much

Eleven Numbers is a loosely government political/espionage themed thriller involving mathematics and system passwords. Mathematics professor Nathan Tyler is recruited by the US Government to gain access to Russia’s weaponry system protected by encryption designed by a famed (and fictional for the story) Russian mathematician. Consisting of two layers of passcodes, one that has eleven possible numerical options, Tyler is tasked with determining which is the key.

Best known for his long-running Jack Reacher series, Lee Child is a veteran of crime thrillers and this short story has good pacing and is engaging to read. As a mathematician and an unorthodox character for a crime thriller, Eleven Numbers obviously lacks the action compared to Child’s other works but makes up for it with unexpected twists and more dialogue-focused “action”. One prominent plot twist flips the whole story on its head and made me want to go back and re-read the 2nd half of the short story to check for earlier signs of the surprise.

While the the mathematics angle is unique, I personally felt like the overall premise was a bit contrived due to its focus on a fictional numerical pattern; thought it was a real pattern related to the artist Kandinsky but there’s no relation besides having closely spelled names. I was a bit disappointed as I was expecting the story would narrow down those eleven possibilities using some kind of mathematic theory or utilizing Tyler’s academic background, but the math is mostly just for narrative flavor rather than a major plot element (partly expected unless Child researched or consulted with mathematicians). The story also dragged a bit in the first half where the systems and fictional math patterns were being discussed, mainly because Kandinsky’s Numbers didn’t have a clear explanation or system (though understandably skirted due to this being a short story). After the more intense second half of the story, I also found the ending to be rather anticlimactic despite it perfectly suiting the Tyler characterizations.

Overall Eleven Numbers is a quick read that’s decently written and entertaining enough. The narrative content and mathematic theme isn’t particularly developed given the short story format and the ending almost leaves things hanging similar to a tv-show pilot episode. However if you are already familiar with Lee Child’s work, this will likely be great popcorn-style entertainment. Or for readers new to his work, it’s a preview for fully developed novels.

Quick short story about a mathemation who goes to Russia on a mission that goes wrong. He ends up in a prison and having issues getting out

This was a very short book and a little repetitive, but it worked well as a spy story. Nathan Tyler is a mathematician, so he doesn't know why the US government wants him to get information from a Soviet mathematician when traveling to Russia is dangerous. He ends up agreeing, only to end up sentenced to years in custody and wondering if he can fulfill his mission. Most of the book is talking, and there were always underlying currents. Overall, it was fun. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this.

Lee Childs brings a great cold war rivalry storyline and mixes in suspense and great narrative to create a fast paced and engrossing story from start to end.

Mathematics can be dangerous...who knew?

Nathan Wade could not be further from an international spy; he's a professor of mathematics at an average university, the quintessential nobody, No one is more surprised than he is when he gets a phone call one day summoning him to an off-the-record meeting with the US President, Turns out that Nathan's professional specialty could help the US government obtain important information they can use to mitigate the Russian nuclear threat. He is asked to travel to Russia for a mathematics conference and while there meet and chat with a Russian counterpart....easy, right? Nothing is ever easy as others would have you believe, though even when powerful people swear that they will have your back. Is Nathan getting involved in something from which he will never get out?
Most people know author Lee Child from his Jack Reacher series. In this short story Nathan Wade may be no Jack Reacher, but he's smart and logical, And that just might be enough for him to match wits with people who lie for a living. A fun and twisty read for those who love a well-crafted story about ordinary people dropped into the world of espionage. My thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for allowing me an early peek at this engaging read in exchange for my honest review.

The book was engaging from the start. The main character was interesting. The ending was not as expected. I enjoyed the short story. I would have enjoyed a longer version more. I felt it was so short and could have been made into a better version. Lee Childs is one of my favorite authors. If you only have time for a book snack… you will enjoy this. A good read for busy person, while waiting in the car rider line or if you are waiting in line for an appointment. Do yourself a favor and read Lee Childs books, they will not disappoint.

Excellent short story with a very interesting plot and smart characters. The storytelling is no-nonsense, like the Reacher series, and it's highly entertaining.

Thankyou Netgalley for this quick read!
First book of Lee Child, wasn't that captivating as i thought but great for a quick read! if you're in slump or behind your goal, give this one a try.
Felt bit confusing while recalling all the names though but you'll get the idea.

A mathematician finds himself in a bit of a mess, when traveling to a math conference in Russia. The story moves swiftly, plotted well and ends satisfactorily.
The story is a nice think piece that allows the reader to ponder who and maybe what it means to be good/bad and important/unimportant. Sometimes even a “nobody” can become somebody to someone important.

Definitely would recommend the read. I enjoyed this little journey while sipping overpriced Espresso. Something to get the blood flowing, the mind going and maybe even a decent palate cleanser between my usual fantasy adventures.

I’ve actually read this as an ebook sponsored by #NetGalley

A good 40-minute read by an Author I wait for new publications. The story is about an obscure mathematical concept and its use in a political arena. The ending does not quite live up to the buildup but after thought seems inevitable. I look forward to the next publication.

It was a fine short thriller.
For me, it was a bit too fast-paced and all worked out too well in the end, I think it would have benefitted from being longer and keeping the reader on their toes for a while.
My main draw to the story initially was that it was about a mathematician, but as a mathematician myself I could tell that it wasn't written by someone familiar with higher mathematics, which was disappointing.

Loved it. It's short and a quick read. As usual, Mr. Child's concise use of language conveys layers of meaning. This one leaves you thinking. I highly recommend it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity.

I wish this book was written as a full novel because it’s that good. There are so many topics and scenes that can be explored and extended in here but even as a short story, it hit all the right notes and it’s addictive, twisted and a must read one.