Safe Enough

July 29, 2024
Child (the Jack Reacher series) compiles 20 previously published short stories in this brooding collection. Featuring mobsters, con men, assassins, and corrupt cops, Child’s self-described “very, very, very short novels” mostly focus on the worst of humanity. In “The .50 Solution,” a hit man is hired to kill a racehorse; in “My First Drug Trial,” an addict gets high before their moment of judgment; in “Me and Mr. Rafferty,” a serial killer leaves behind grisly clues in hopes of forging a connection with a detective. Throughout, Child gleefully toys with readers’ expectations, mirroring his duplicitous characters as he performs a series of satisfying bait-and-switches, most memorably in “Ten Keys,” which initially appears to center on two men in a bar waiting for an assassin. His dialogue, too, has the grit and punch of top-shelf crime fiction, though it’s easy to spot that many of Child’s characters sound alike when reading the stories back-to-back. These stories prove that Child has more to offer than the head-splitting exploits of his most popular action hero. Agent: Rebekah Finch, Darley Anderson Agency.

December 6, 2024

Prolific thriller writer, Child (Jack Reacher series) shares in the foreword to his riveting short story collection that writing short stories has always been something of a guilty pleasure. Short stories don't usually bring in much money, but they give authors a chance to try something new and have a little fun. Though listeners may be mourning Child's departure from the Reacher series (having left the remaining books in his brother Andrew's hands), they can rest easy, as Child's clear delight in writing comes through in this excellent collection. Accompanied by Edoardo Ballerini's pitch-perfect narration, Child offers 20 non-Reacher stories that are thought-provoking, intriguing, and just plain fun. There's a cop who does everything by the numbers, a bodyguard who is rescued by his client, an organizational meeting for an espionage mission, a police file-room clerk with a hidden talent, and a serial killer who only kills people deemed to be "bad." Ballerini's accents are believable, and his tone complements Child's writing, creating a conversational, inviting atmosphere. VERDICT This gritty, surprising, well-paced collection from a powerhouse author will garner many holds. Child's fans will snap it up, but it is also highly recommended for crime fiction fans seeking something new.--Scott DiMarco

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