A compelling quick read!

My first Lee Child book and I really enjoyed it. A look at modern day espionage, taking advantage of heightened tensions between nations, whilst using everyday citizens. Clever plot and I would recommend it.

Eleven Numbers was my first Lee Child book, but after this, I’ll definitely be reading more from him. An exciting short story which picks up right away and keeps up the pace all the way through to the end. As someone studying a STEM subject, the mathy-ness of the book was fun, if a bit unrealistic. The only real critique I have is that the book ends somewhat abruptly, but it does wrap up the plot in a conclusive way, so I can’t complain too much. Overall, it was a quick and enjoyable read!

A tidy short story, a bit outside of my usual genre of reading but I enjoyed the mathematician become spy plot and Child got a couple of twists in the plot even for such a quick read.

I will confess to googling to see if the math terms used were real and was a bit disappointed they weren't but what's an engineer to do.

Thank you NetGalley for the copy!

Lee Child, best known for his Jack Reacher series, takes a thrilling detour into the world of espionage and mathematical intrigue in The Equation. This short, fast-paced thriller follows Nathan Tyler, an unremarkable American mathematics professor, who finds himself at the center of a high-stakes intelligence operation.

Nathan’s life takes a dramatic turn when the White House calls him in for a classified briefing. A cryptic series of equations has surfaced—ones that could expose secrets buried deep within the Kremlin. The only person who can decipher them? Nathan. Tasked with meeting the Russian mathematician behind the code, he soon realizes he’s become a pawn in a much larger game—one where allegiances shift rapidly, and the wrong move could cost him everything.

Child’s trademark pacing and tension are on full display here. Though the novella format limits deep character development, Nathan’s transformation from a quiet academic to an unwitting spy feels believable and engaging. The plot is tight, the stakes feel real, and the action unfolds with relentless energy. Fans of Child’s writing will appreciate his ability to weave complex puzzles with pulse-pounding suspense.

While The Equation may not have the depth of a full-length thriller, it delivers a compelling blend of intellectual intrigue and spycraft. Readers looking for a quick, exhilarating read will find plenty to enjoy.

When Professor Nathan Tyler is summoned to the White House, he receives a request that is really not a request to take part in a meeting with a math genius in Moscow. As his White House contacts, all 5 of them, including the POTUS, lay out the plan, the one thing they didn't plan on was Nathan's intelligence extends past the field of mathematics. This is a short story that is not Lee Child's typical Reacher type thriller but it's satisfying to see the "good" guy come out on top. Easily a 5 stra read and I'd really love to see more like it from Child.

𝗔 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

For anyone who appreciates thrillers or wants to start reading them, Eleven Numbers is an excellent narrative.

Although I haven't read any of this author's novels before, I was intrigued because I had heard so much about him. I had to try this when it appeared on Netgalley. It's also a fairly quick read (50 pages). 

The narrative maintained the suspense till the very end, and the prose's simplicity struck me. The plot also had a lot of clever twists that kept me interested. However, the conclusion was a little underwhelming in spite of the increasing suspense and unexpected revelation. 

I find myself interested in reading more of this author's work after finishing this.

[Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Original Stories for providing an ARC of this book.]

3.5⭐

Eleven Numbers
A Short Story
by Lee Child

I tried a book by Lee Child several years ago. As I remember, I did not care for it and never read anything more by the author. When I saw this on NetGalley, I was a bit curious. After all Lee Child is a very popular author and this was a short story which sounded interesting. So I gave it a try and liked it.


This story is a quick read and definitely worth your time whether you are a fan of Lee Child or not. I think this short story would be enjoyed by readers who enjoy stories about espionage, mysteries or math.

Thanks, @netgalley, for the ARC.

This is the first short story I've read, and it definitely didn't disappoint! I couldn't put it down, even though it was only 50 pages, very cleverly written, but you expect that from Lee Child. Who would have thought that Moscow and Maths could elicit so much excitement?! Full of twists and turns, and if this was a full novel, I would still have devoured it!

It's definitely worth a (quick) read!

Eleven Number by Lee Child is is an excellent short story that delivers exactly what it needs to without overstaying its welcome.
The dialogue is sharp, the characters feel real, and the elements of espionage and spycraft are woven in seamlessly.
He strikes a great balance between intrigue and clarity—especially when touching on cryptography and mathematics, making them accessible without oversimplifying.

Despite its brevity, the story manages to build a compelling world, offering glimpses into a larger, complex network of espionage that feels rich and lived-in. It keeps you guessing with just the right amount of twists, and the pacing is spot on.
It was a satisfying read - highly recommended for fans of espionage fiction!

Eleven Numbers was my first book by Lee Child and it certainly won’t be my last!

This short story was the perfect introduction I needed to Child’s writing and I can’t wait to get stuck into more! Usually I don’t lean towards books that focus on investigations but this story has changed my perspective…

I found the writing style easy to read and loved the pace of the story… there was no unnecessary waffle and the story itself was packed full of action! I loved how so much was able to happen in such a short story. There were even some unexpected and clever reveals tucked in there! However, the rapid pacing was also where the story lost a star in my rating. Due to the speed of events unfolding (especially towards the end), I was left with a couple of unanswered questions…

Therefore, I rated this story 4⭐️ and would recommend it to everyone! It’s the perfect bite size story for any lovers of crime novels and anyone looking to dip their toes into a new genre!

I've read the entire Jack Reacher series, stopping only when Lee Child started collaborating with his brother (at which point the books dropped in quality). This is the first story of his I've read without Reacher, and it is very good. The plot is imaginative, complex, but easy to follow, with nice inventive touches. A very able but minor American academic mathematician is recruited to help the government with an operation directly involving the US president. His mission is a success, but he also succeeds in solving another very tricky problem unexpectedly set him at the very end. Child's language is crisp and spare - a delight. I hope that now Lee Child has handed Reacher over to his brother he will pursue new writing projects along the lines suggested by this short story. He is so much better at this kind of thing, both in terms of plotting and writing, than the vast majority of thriller-merchants out there.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC.

I honestly didn’t know what to expect going into this book. I did know I love the authors others books and was lucky enough to receive an ARC from Net Galley.

I found the main character engaging and relatable, even though I am far from being a math nerd.

I loved the peek into how intelligence missions may work, the pacing of the book was consistent and the author kept true to the main character until the end of the story.

I think this book can be an enjoyable read for fans of the author, mysteries or math.

#NetGalley #ARC #LeeChild #emmiebookwormdragon #tome #bluesky

Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Original Stories for the ARC copy.

This was not what I was expecting. I was thinking it would be more of a thriller or at least suspenseful. I felt like this story didn't offer much.

In the end, it just wasn't for me.

I received an ARC through "NetGalley" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This is a different type of story that I have read by Lee Child. Of the over 20 Jack Reacher stories I have read which have a lot of action, this one is done in a different vein. Taylor is a mathematics professor at a small cottage. He is preparing to attend a conference in Russia and will be leaving shortly. Ge suddenly gets a call and his plans now are cganged suddenly. He is still to attend the conference in Russia, but ge now has another objective/

To discover who is responsible for his new mission, what role he is to play and what events he encounters, then you need to read this book. The way the story ends is well worth it!

Great short story by a master of suspense. Lee Child keeps you guessing. Characters are believable 4 stars

This was a great that was full of intrigue. I loved the ending and thought that this was the plot lent perfectly for a short story.

This was exactly as basic as I expect popular best-selling fiction to me. And sure enough, it has a ton of great ratings and reviews.
The general audience doesn't seem to need or even particularly want to be intellectually challenged.
Child understands it and leans into simple in both concept and language. So here you have a simple story of some math-themed espionage.
I wonder if every character in Child's fiction has a sort of built-in Reacher levels of stoic heroism or if that's just all he can write. Because here you have a mild-mannered mathematician who suddenly turns into a superspy able to withstand a brutal political prison system. Um, yeah, sure.
And here are some more examples of basic, this time when it comes to the actual writing / editing:
a commander-in-chief who "radiated charm and charisma" - um, someone grab a dictionary and saying something was a mirror image but otherwise the same - yeah, that's what it means, again, a dictionary wouldn't go amiss.
At any rate, this was a quick mindless read that despite its various shortcomings will surely continue to dazzle the undemanding. Thanks Netgalley.

If you're looking to dive into a gripping short story, "Eleven Numbers" by Lee Child is definitely worth your time. The narrative is sharp and engaging, showcasing Child's signature style that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Child's ability to create tension and develop characters in such a compact format is impressive, making this story a perfect example of his storytelling prowess. Whether you're a long-time fan or new to his work, this short story is a fantastic read that leaves you pondering its implications long after you've turned the last page.

Eleven Numbers is an intriguing short story, especially for a math nerd like me—the setup immediately caught my attention. However, the pacing felt off for such a short piece. A significant portion of the story is spent on exposition, which, while interesting, leaves the main plot and especially the ending feeling rushed. It had a strong premise, but I wish the execution had been more balanced.

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to netgalley for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review. I quite liked this, it was different from the books I normally read but I found it really interesting. 3.5 stars 🌟