The Sentinel

Jack Reacher, Book 25

By: Lee Child, Andrew Child

Narrated by: Scott Brick

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Don’t miss the hit streaming series Reacher!

Jack Reacher is back! The “utterly addictive” (The New York Times) series continues as acclaimed author Lee Child teams up with his brother, Andrew Child, fellow thriller writer extraordinaire.

“One of the many great things about Jack Reacher is that he’s larger than life while remaining relatable and believable. The Sentinel shows that two Childs are even better than one.”—James Patterson

As always, Reacher has no particular place to go, and all the time in the world to get there. One morning he ends up in a town near Pleasantville, Tennessee.

But there’s nothing pleasant about the place.

In broad daylight Reacher spots a hapless soul walking into an ambush. “It was four against one” . . . so Reacher intervenes, with his own trademark brand of conflict resolution.

The man he saves is Rusty Rutherford, an unassuming IT manager, recently fired after a cyberattack locked up the town’s data, records, information . . . and secrets. Rutherford wants to stay put, look innocent, and clear his name.

Reacher is intrigued. There’s more to the story. The bad guys who jumped Rutherford are part of something serious and deadly, involving a conspiracy, a cover-up, and murder—all centered on a mousy little guy in a coffee-stained shirt who has no idea what he’s up against.

Rule one: if you don’t know the trouble you’re in, keep Reacher by your side.

Critic reviews

“I loved The Sentinel! Classic Reacher, great story. Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. I do love the spare writing style, the descriptions, Reacher’s responses to threats. Joyous stuff. I hope there will be many more Reachers to come.”—Conn Iggulden

“It’s great to be back in [Reacher’s] company in a world where the bad guys get what’s coming to them. . . . A smooth transition for a much-loved character.”—The Observer

“As always, the bad guys—this time, Russian spies and American-Nazi thugs—discover too late that they are no match for Reacher. Despite the change in authors, the writing remains tight and the non-stop action is as propulsive as ever.”—Associated Press

“As ever, [Reacher is] the sole, unrivalled champion of the average man.”—Daily Mail

“Fresh, perfectly plotted, and packed with action, The Sentinel is one of the year’s best, must-read thrillers.”—The Real Book Spy

“It’s terrific. . . . The story is just as powerful. . . . Brutal action mixes with keen-eyed detective work as Reacher metes out his own brand of justice. . . . If this novel is a harbinger of what’s to come, then Jack is in good hands.”—Booklist (starred review)

“Much of The Sentinel is humorous as Reacher patiently teaches bad guys about the flaws in their tactics. While there’s lots of action, the novel also feels like a procedural as Reacher interviews suspects and delves deeper toward the truth. . . . [The Sentinel has] one of the most inventive action sequences in recent memory. . . . It continues the series without any sense that there’s now a coauthor. In a year of drastic change, fans will welcome the consistency.”—Publishers Weekly

Praise for the Jack Reacher series

“The truth about Reacher gets better and better. . . . This series [is] utterly addictive.”—Janet Maslin, The New York Times

“Jack Reacher is today’s James Bond, a thriller hero we can’t get enough of. I read every one as soon as it appears.”—Ken Follett

“Reacher is the stuff of myth. . . . One of this century’s most original, tantalizing pop-fiction heroes.”—The Washington Post

“The Reacher novels are easily the best thriller series going.”—NPR

“Reacher is a man for whom the phrase moral compass was invented: His code determines his direction. . . . You need Jack Reacher.”—The Atlantic

“I pick up Jack Reacher when I’m in the mood for someone big to solve my problems.”—Patricia Cornwell

“[A] feverishly thrilling series . . . You can always count on furious action.”—Miami Herald

Good old Reacher, predictable but ...

I've looked forward to new Reacher books, both to read and listen to - especially during COVID times. I love Scott Brick's narrations, but as Jack Reacher, he seems to bring the character and story to life.

The story is good, but kind of predictable. (IF YOU HAVEN'T READ ANY REACHER STORIES - SPOILERS kinda) It's the same story, different settings - different town, Russians (this time) = bad guys, an innocent in trouble, Reacher's travels bring him in, he even gets the girl - and then moves on with his travels; but if it works, I guess don't change the formula. However, the writing is still good, and kept me riveted - even though I know that Jack Reacher will win the fight.

Jack is talking too much

He gives elaborated speech before a huge punch, why?
To meny lasts, last door, last call, last clue it makes it almost predictable.
Overall a good jack story maybe not the best

Scott Brick IS Jack Reacher.

Scott Brick IS Jack Reacher. He is the single best performer on the audible roster. Thank you to both Lee And Andrew Child for this latest installment of one of fiction’s most fascinating and enduring characters. Loved the Sentinel, love Jack Reacher!

A typical Jack Reacher story in a different town.

SUMMARY
Rusty Rutherford is an unassuming IT manager, recently fired after a cyber attack locked up the data and records in Pleasantville, Tennessee. Jack Reacher is just getting into town when he notices that Rutherford is blindly walking into an ambush. It’s four against one, so Reacher can’t help but intervene in typical Reacher fashion. After the intervention he soon learns that the bad guys who attempted to jump Rutherford are part of something serious, involving a conspiracy, a cover-up and murder all centered on what this mousy little IT manager knows. Reacher is intrigued.

“He found people respond to crises in two ways. Some get to work fixing the problem. Others, proving the problem wasn’t their fault. Reacher liked the first kind. Rutherford seemed like the first kind. It was nice to see someone not dumping on him for a change.”


REVIEW
The Sentinel is typical Jack Reacher story in a different town. Reacher at six-foot-five is his own man. He is smart, strategic, strong and empathetic. He has the ability to find trouble everywhere he goes. And he will never turn a blind eye to a good guy, like Rusty Rutherford who needs help.

This is Jack Reacher #25 and I am happy to say, up to now I have loved every single one of Lee Child’s books in this series which started in 1997. Each book is a comfortable and fast read. But now I think it’s time for me to move on.

If you have not read Reacher before I recommend the series, each book can be read independently but it’s always fun to start at the beginning to see how rReacher became who he is.

For those of us that have read them all...you may want to pass. reading about the same character 25 times is enough. The formula is getting old and way to predictable. This one just didn’t hold my attention as much as others in the series have.

LEE CHILD had been joined by his brother Andrew Child in writing The Sentinel. The writing continues to be descriptive and intense. They makes it easy to visualize the mousy Rusty Rutherford walking into an ambush.

sorry scott not a great narrator

narrator not so good could not differentiate characters. what happens to the previous reader of all the other Jack reacher books?

Not the same feel

The story was timely but I just couldn’t get the right Reacher feel. With Scott Brick narrating, it was as though Reacher was 20 years younger. Brick is great, but something was missing. Still a fan.

Love this series!

I love all the Jack Reacher books. This one is not in my top favorites but it was still good and worth the credit if your a Reacher fan. You should read it but it shouldn’t be your first in the series. To get the most enjoyment out of it, you need to know Reacher and his ways.

Great book, another winner

Great book, outstanding story
Always was a Thrilling story with a lot of twists and turns

Reacher is back. Again

I am probably not the only Jack Reacher fan who anticipates hearing, "Reacher said nothing," for the first time in each book. I thought it a positive sign when the narrator uttered these words in chapter one. It's a good "tell" for what is to follow. The Jack Reacher we have grown to love was back at it in The Sentinel. This title had it all. Reacher defending the weak. Reacher defeating Russians and Nazis. Reacher drinking coffee and looking for inexpensive places to eat and sleep. Reacher with his quartz accuracy sense of time. And most important, Reacher kicking butt and taking no prisoners. I am not sure why Lee Child felt the need to author some pretty terrible additions to this series. This was not one of them. And if Andrew Child continues this series, i am now more hopeful that he's capable of delivering the Jack Reacher we love in each installment. In truth this book was probably deserving of four stars but I gave it an extra one for instilling in me the optimism Reacher could be back to stay. The plot of this story was also somewhat timely if that is important to some listeners. It wasn't to me. Reacher fans, enjoy.

Can't wait for the next book!!

I have to give Scott brick kudos for keeping Jack my literary hero!! I wasn't sure he would be able to do that, but well done.