This short story was filled with everything I love about Lee Child. We had mystery, intrigue and twists I didn't see coming!

This was a great short story. I wish it was full length and gave Child the ability to expand on the story and the universe more.

🔹 My take: 4.75/5

💖 Wows - simply mind blowing. I am amazed that even in a short novel like this under pages 50; so many twists and turns can be included. The plot, the setting and the witty characters - all were bang on. The anxiety factor was high when the protagonist got arrested and I went like shit shit shit; how will he come out of this trouble in a foreign country. Happily surprised with this action packed thriller novella.

If you have a couple of hours to spare and are a thriller fan, you should definitely pick this up.

An entertaining short story. Lee Child is a master storyteller and this book was up to his usual standard.

This is a very entertaining and engaging, fully formed 50 page short story about an American mathematician attending a conference in Russia. He's warned not to go by his university and the State Department, but doesn't want to miss the opportunity of meeting Russian mathematics superstar Arkady Suslov. And he might just have an ulterior motive for risking heading into trouble, but rest assured he has it all well in hand!

Thanks to Amazon and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of Eleven Numbers in exchange for my honest review.

Neat story for something so short with an unexpected turn. Now I need to check out more of Lee Child's books.

Honestly, I don’t know what to say about what I just read. I wouldn’t recommend it. There didn’t appear to be a story associated with it.

Another great short read from Lee Child. This story had everything, great characters, great plot, great pacing. Will always read anything from Lee Child. #ElevenNumbers #NetGalley

Eleven Numbers is a short thriller. The book is a bit twisty which is hard for a short book. Once again Lee Child proves he can write a good thriller.

Predictable plot & storylines but it was really well written. I was engaged throughout & never bored.

I really enjoyed this, however it is not my favourite of his. I felt the characters were a tad rushed and ending a little fast, but I felt the plot was really unique and fun.

Fast moving and engaging story. The beginning was a little confusing at first but it all came together in the end.

This is a Lee Child short story and is not part of the Reacher series instead focusing on a mathematician sent on a high stakes' assignment in Russia. Dealing with foreign intelligence and a cryptic series of equations. A quick read that was fun and had a surprise twist I just didn't see coming.
Those mathematically inclined may be interested in this though it does get into the security aspect of things as well. Fast paced and now my husband needs to read this as this is one of his favorite authors.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Lee Child (http://www.leechild.com) is the author of more than 30 novels. Eleven Numbers was published earlier this month. It is the 11th book I completed reading in 2025.

Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own! I categorize this short story as G.

Unlike most of Lee Child’s publications, this one does not involve Jack Reacher. In this short story, the main character is math professor Nathan Tyler at a small US university. He is approached by the President of the US and a select group of US Intelligence officials and asked to take on a special mission.

US intelligence has obtained the authentication algorithm for the Russian nuclear arsenal. It was created by famed Russian Mathematician Arkady Suslov. The algorithm uses a Kindansky number as the password, a field of mathematics familiar to Tyler.

Tyler is asked to travel to Russia, meet Suslov, and hopefully get a handle on which of 11 nine-digit Kindansky numbers is the key. This is made more difficult at the last minute when it is learned that Suslov has been imprisoned for speaking out against the regime. Tyler is naive to the machinations of the government, but learns quickly, there are few he can trust.

How will Tyler be able to meet with Suslov? Will Tyler be able to learn the algorithm key from Suslov? Will he make it back to the US? Can he trust his own government?

I enjoyed the hour spent reading this 30-page thriller short story. I have had the opportunity to read several other novels by Lee Child. Among them are: Night School, Past Tense, No Plan B, and In Too Deep. I have enjoyed them all. I give this story a rating of 3.8 (rounded to 4) out of 5.

You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

Wow.

What a ride.

Eleven Numbers is a short story packing one heck of a punch. It plays like a fast paced movie or full novel.

I think Eleven Numbers has changed my thoughts around short stories. I don't tend to invest time in short stories as the experience I've had up until now haven't compelled me to read more of them.

There is skill in being able to deliver an intriguing story that feels complete in a limited amount of space and this is what Lee Child has accomplished with Eleven Numbers.

The storyline is easy to follow and builds mystery and suspense- with some great reveal moments.

What really surprised me is how a story about a mathematician in Moscow could be so entertaining.

Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Side Note:
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Eleven Numbers.

Being a fan of Child's Reacher series, I was excited to try this new short story with a new character. In Eleven Numbers, Child introduces us to Nathan Tyler, a mathematician who will tell you that he's a nobody. Turns out, he has a pretty big math brain and wrote his thesis on a specific type of algorithm that both the US and Russia are interested in. I enjoyed this story and really enjoyed Tyler, though it was a tad unbelievable as a nobody that he caught on so quickly to the nefariousness of the government to outwit them. I both read and listened to this title to get a feel for the writing and the narration and think that the narrator did a good job with the mellowness of Tyler though the switch at the end made me rethink that a bit. I very much look forward to Child continuing this character if he can because I'd like to see what trouble Nathan can get into next! Thank you to Brilliance Audio, Amazon Original, and NetGalley for the early access in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a classic Lee Child story, with the elements that make him such a wonderful thriller writer evident even in this tighter, shorter form. There was even a well-laid twist I hadn't seen coming. If I had to pick something I wanted more of, that would be the lead up to the end because I didn't quite want to leave the story, but I understood why it unfolded the way it did.

This short story suggests that fans of the Jack Reacher series are going to enjoy seeing where Childs goes now that he has moved away from that long running character.

This is a sharp and spiky story of a math professor who gets caught up in – well, it’s not espionage exactly, but it’s definitely secretive double dealing between countries. The plot is original and absorbing, the action is to the point, and characterisation quite strong. There’s a nice little kicker at the end that will stay with you.

I thoroughly enjoyed this, and it definitely whetted my appetite for Childs’ next non-Reacher novel.

I received this short story as an ARC from NetGalley.

This is an excellent story from a master story teller. The main character, a mathematician from a small university, finds himself in a unique and potentially dangerous situation. The story includes intrigue, adventure, espionage, and a few surprises, all wrapped up in a small bundle.

This was my first Lee Child book, and it definitely won’t be my last! I picked it up expecting a quick, light read, but wow—this novella packed a serious punch. Despite its short length, it had everything I love in a thriller: action, intrigue, and a tightly woven plot that didn’t waste a single word. The pacing was just right, moving at breakneck speed without feeling rushed.
What really impressed me was how much depth was packed into such a small space. The tension was palpable, the stakes were high, and every moment felt intentional. I kept thinking, Okay, I know where this is going, and then—bam!—a twist would throw me off course. It had that classic, sharp storytelling where every detail mattered, making it impossible to put down.
If this is just a taste of what Lee Child has to offer, I’m already excited to dive into more of his books. I can see why he has such a loyal fan base, and I have a feeling I’m about to become one of them!