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A review by saareman
In Too Deep by Lee Child, Andrew Child
4.0
A One-Handed Reacher
A review of the Random House Audio audiobook (October 22, 2024) narrated by [a:Scott Brick|44554|Scott Brick|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1377113754p2/44554.jpg] and released simultaneously with the Delacorte Press hardcover/ebook.
You don't usually look for symbolism in Reacher stories, but I couldn't help but notice that in this first solo* outing by Andrew Child that Jack Reacher begins the book with a broken hand. This is soon secured in a plaster/plastic cast, which remains on for the duration. So Reacher is forced to pummel the bad guys with literally one-hand throughout. Is that Andrew Child winking at the reader as if to say that he now has to write the books alone?
The book begins in medias res with an injured and concussed Reacher handcuffed to a bed. He has no memory of what happened. He still manages to make an escape but is then confronted by a supposed ally who insists on helping him. Reacher plays along and hopes to discover how he ended up in this situation. The story soon opens up into an apparent gang of heist thieves with few loyalties to each other. A policewoman and the FBI also enter the picture and suddenly the case turns into an espionage escapade with defense secrets on the market.
Although the reader is as confused as Reacher is for the longest time (my eyes started to glaze over at the mention of NFTs) this did eventually settle down into a satisfying Reacher saga. There was the requisite amount of banter with policewoman Knight being baffled at Reacher's vagabond lifestyle of no possessions. There was the delight of Reacher managing an international flight even though his only ID is an expired passport. My now regular Reacher statistics (see below) were at a more than satisfactory level. The narration by veteran Scott Brick was excellent as always.
Reacher fans are in good hands with this continuation series by Andrew Child.
Reacher Statistics
Toothbrush mentions = 1. A disappointingly low count, from a list following a search of Reacher's belongings.
"Reacher said nothing" count = 9. This seems very low at first, but is redeemed by the following:
"Reacher didn't reply" + "Reacher didn't respond" + "Reacher didn't answer" count = 9.
"___ didn't reply" count = 7. Representing other characters who don't reply.
Coffee mentions = at least 11. The exact number of coffees drunk was difficult to count, as several times Reacher has an unknown number of refills at restaurants and on an airplane. So let's say that coffee is mentioned at least 11 times.
Footnote
* It was publicly revealed in interviews about the previous novel [b:The Secret|62983544|The Secret (Jack Reacher #28)|Lee Child|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1677346162l/62983544._SY75_.jpg|98804121] (Reacher #28 -2023) that after 4 co-written novels during the handover between Lee and Andrew Child (actually the pennames of brothers James and Andrew Grant), that the 4 future novels were contracted to Andrew Child alone. For marketing and cataloging purposes, the books are still filed under "Lee Child."
Trivia and Links
There is a short book trailer for In Too Deep at the Random House YouTube channel which you can see here. Note: the publicist who wrote the script for this promo is obviously not familiar with the Reacher motto: "Get your retaliation in first."
Andrew Child is interviewed about the writing of In Too Deep at The Thriller Zone and at the Poisoned Pen Bookstore [Note: In the latter, the sound begins to work at 2'01").
A review of the Random House Audio audiobook (October 22, 2024) narrated by [a:Scott Brick|44554|Scott Brick|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1377113754p2/44554.jpg] and released simultaneously with the Delacorte Press hardcover/ebook.
You don't usually look for symbolism in Reacher stories, but I couldn't help but notice that in this first solo* outing by Andrew Child that Jack Reacher begins the book with a broken hand. This is soon secured in a plaster/plastic cast, which remains on for the duration. So Reacher is forced to pummel the bad guys with literally one-hand throughout. Is that Andrew Child winking at the reader as if to say that he now has to write the books alone?
The book begins in medias res with an injured and concussed Reacher handcuffed to a bed. He has no memory of what happened. He still manages to make an escape but is then confronted by a supposed ally who insists on helping him. Reacher plays along and hopes to discover how he ended up in this situation. The story soon opens up into an apparent gang of heist thieves with few loyalties to each other. A policewoman and the FBI also enter the picture and suddenly the case turns into an espionage escapade with defense secrets on the market.
Although the reader is as confused as Reacher is for the longest time (my eyes started to glaze over at the mention of NFTs) this did eventually settle down into a satisfying Reacher saga. There was the requisite amount of banter with policewoman Knight being baffled at Reacher's vagabond lifestyle of no possessions. There was the delight of Reacher managing an international flight even though his only ID is an expired passport. My now regular Reacher statistics (see below) were at a more than satisfactory level. The narration by veteran Scott Brick was excellent as always.
Reacher fans are in good hands with this continuation series by Andrew Child.
Reacher Statistics
Toothbrush mentions = 1. A disappointingly low count, from a list following a search of Reacher's belongings.
"Reacher said nothing" count = 9. This seems very low at first, but is redeemed by the following:
"Reacher didn't reply" + "Reacher didn't respond" + "Reacher didn't answer" count = 9.
"___ didn't reply" count = 7. Representing other characters who don't reply.
Coffee mentions = at least 11. The exact number of coffees drunk was difficult to count, as several times Reacher has an unknown number of refills at restaurants and on an airplane. So let's say that coffee is mentioned at least 11 times.
Footnote
* It was publicly revealed in interviews about the previous novel [b:The Secret|62983544|The Secret (Jack Reacher #28)|Lee Child|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1677346162l/62983544._SY75_.jpg|98804121] (Reacher #28 -2023) that after 4 co-written novels during the handover between Lee and Andrew Child (actually the pennames of brothers James and Andrew Grant), that the 4 future novels were contracted to Andrew Child alone. For marketing and cataloging purposes, the books are still filed under "Lee Child."
Trivia and Links
There is a short book trailer for In Too Deep at the Random House YouTube channel which you can see here. Note: the publicist who wrote the script for this promo is obviously not familiar with the Reacher motto: "Get your retaliation in first."
Andrew Child is interviewed about the writing of In Too Deep at The Thriller Zone and at the Poisoned Pen Bookstore [Note: In the latter, the sound begins to work at 2'01").