Turns out even the U.S. Army loses track of inventory. Who knew?
I'm making my way through Lee Child's Jack Reacher series and realized I missed Night School. I don't know how I did that, but it may be one of my favorites so far. It had me doing that thing readers know they shouldn't do: "Just one more chapter." A few hours later, I was asleep with the book in my hands and had to finish it this morning.
This time, Reacher is still in the Army. After receiving a medal, he's sent to attend a special course on cooperation between government agencies. Except...it isn't really a course. And it definitely isn't really school. Somebody in high places needs his whereabouts to be ... undisclosed ... for a while.
So Reacher finds himself working with the National Security Council, the FBI, and other agencies to investigate a fragment of intelligence suggesting someone is willing to pay millions of dollars for...something.
The problem is nobody knows:
- Who is selling.
- What is being sold.
- Who is buying.
- Why it's worth millions.
That simple premise makes for an incredibly compelling mystery. Every answer uncovers another question, and the deeper Reacher digs, the higher the stakes become.
As always, Lee Child's pacing is outstanding. Even when Reacher is waiting for the next lead or traveling between locations, the story never feels like it's standing still. Something is always happening somewhere, and each chapter reveals another piece of the puzzle. Before long, you're telling yourself you'll stop after the next chapter. And then you realize you're kidding yourself.
I also enjoyed seeing Reacher back in uniform. Having the resources of the military, along with the cooperation of multiple agencies, changes the dynamic in an interesting way. When he's told he can have anything he needs to complete the mission, he doesn't ask for much. He simply points out that the investigation is unfolding in Germany, so that's where he needs to be. Sitting in a room with a few suits isn't going to solve anything.
One detail that made me laugh was discovering that even the U.S. Army isn't immune to inventory errors. Apparently, missing equipment and paperwork headaches are universal. Who knew?
And then there are the moments that remind you exactly who Jack Reacher is. He has a habit of giving people a choice before things get ugly. They can walk away, take a nice stroll, have a conversation...or they can wake up in the hospital. Their decision. They almost always choose poorly.
I also loved seeing Frances Neagley working alongside Reacher again. They're one of my favorite partnerships in the series. Neither wastes words, both are exceptionally competent, and they trust each other completely. Watching them work together is one of the highlights of the book.
If you enjoy intelligent thrillers, military intrigue, and international settings, Night School delivers all of that with Lee Child's trademark pacing. I couldn't put it down, and it's another easy five-star read for me.
