Jack Reacher: One Shot: A Novel

By Lee Child

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

“Pure, escapist gold . . . Mr. Child’s tough talk and thoughtful plotting make an ingenious combination.”—The New York Times

Six shots. Five dead. One heartland city thrown into a state of terror. But within hours the cops have it solved: a slam-dunk case. Except for one thing. The accused man says: You got the wrong guy. Then he says: Get Reacher for me.

And sure enough, ex—military investigator Jack Reacher is coming. He knows this shooter–a trained military sniper who never should have missed a shot. Reacher is certain something is not right–and soon the slam-dunk case explodes.

Now Reacher is teamed with a beautiful young defense lawyer, moving closer to the unseen enemy who is pulling the strings. Reacher knows that no two opponents are created equal. This one has come to the heartland from his own kind of hell. And Reacher knows that the only way to take him down is to match his ruthlessness and cunning–and then beat him shot for shot.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Jun 14, 2005
• ISBN: 9780440335474

Lee Child

Lee Child, previously a television director, union organizer, theater technician, and law student, was fired and on the dole when he hatched a harebrained scheme to write a bestselling novel, thus saving his family from ruin. Killing Floor went on to win worldwide acclaim. The Midnight Line, is his twenty-second Reacher novel. The hero of his series, Jack Reacher, besides being fictional, is a kindhearted soul who allows Lee lots of spare time for reading, listening to music, and watching Yankees and Aston Villa games. Lee was born in England but now lives in New York City and leaves the island of Manhattan only when required to by forces beyond his control. Visit Lee online at LeeChild.com for more information about the novels, short stories, and the movies Jack Reacher and Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, starring Tom Cruise. Lee can also be found on Facebook: LeeChildOfficial, Twitter: @LeeChildReacher, and YouTube: LeeChildJackReacher.

Reviews for Jack Reacher

[thoughtsofjoylibrary · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Jack Reacher, an ex-military policeman, is kidnapped while being an innocent bystander. Jack and the intended victim, Holly, begin to communicate to figure out the reason behind the kidnapping and how they are going to escape.This kidnapping scenario was very intriguing, and I enjoyed the book a lot for about a third of it, then it began to wane. My interest wasn't totally lost, but I was tired of the dragged-out plot.The best part was how Jack made general observations that lead him to discoveries. These observations were not at a rocket scientist's level, but interesting nonetheless. I hope his character deepens as the series moves along because I really don't know much about this guy and I want to.Originally posted on: Thoughts of Joy

[curlupandread · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book was a little slow and it seemed to drag on.

[hotcha-2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

OMG, I don't know how Lee Child will top this novel and I can't wait to see him try!! In Chicago, a dentist is abducted and thrown in his Lexus. Then Jack and an unknown woman are abducted too and thrown in the Lexus also. The book is a hold on to your seat and rapidly read as Jack and the woman join forces to try to outwit the men, unfortunately the FBI thinks than Jack is one of the men! Now, I need to read the next book! HMM, what was the title again?

[bookconcierge · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Digital Audio read by Johnathan McClain.3.5*** Book # 2 in the Jack Reacher series has Reacher inadvertently caught up in a kidnapping, when he stops to help a woman on crutches manage her dry cleaning. He notices that she is strangely calm and collected. Holly Johnson is an FBI agent … and also the daughter and god-daughter of two powerful men. Gosh but these books are addictive! Reacher is former military police, and now is roaming about taking odd jobs. He’s certainly got his hands full this time. With no advance warning or preparation, he’s thrust in the middle of a madman’s plan to MAKE A STATEMENT. He has the skill and opportunity to escape several times but refuses to leave Holly behind. Sometimes he uses brute force, other times psychological manipulation. I like that in this book, Holly Johnson is a strong female …. She may be on crutches, but she is far from helpless. Brava!Implausible though it may be, Child gives the reader a fast-paced thriller full of action and intrigue. Johnathan McClain does a fine job narrating the audio. He sets a brisk pace, has clear diction, and I loved the voice he used for the villain!

[libgirl69 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Starts off chained in a dark van, kidnapped with a woman who claims to be FBI

[delphimo_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I am not a fan of the Jack Reacher series, but I had to read for a book club. The violence and constant talk of guns ruins the story, for me. In this rambling tale of Jack Reacher, he happens upon a kidnapping and ends up as one of the captives. The story revolves around a crazy, Hitler-like man that hopes to withdraw from the government and form his own community. The community shows dictatorship in the extreme, and the fear of the “inmates”. As in all the Reacher novels, Jack must “fall” for the female involved, but as always Jack heads out alone to his next adventure as the story concludes. The language falls short of being eloquent, and I feel that I am reading an elementary primer with all the he said, or she said on the pages. This is not a cozy mystery nor a thriller, but somewhere in the middle.

[utbw42 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Jack Reacher finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time as he gets swept up in the kidnapping of Holly Johnson, FBI agent and daughter of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. A radical faction hell-bent on seceding from the US and creating their own country is using Holly as ransom, and it becomes Reacher's responsibility to not only escape, but to stop the inevitable. Lee Child writes a fast-paced, well-penned story with a lot of impressive technical detail and well-developed characters. This one was a joy to read.

[bjkelley · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I've read two other Lee Child/Jack Reacher books and enjoyed both of them. However, I can't say the same for this one. I became bored with this one about half way through and just started skimming. It was the same plot (basically) as the first two books of his I had read. I guess this will be the last book I will read in the series.

[spbooks_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Very fast-paced, exciting beginning. However, about halfway through, got bogged down in detail and seemed to go nowhere for awhile. I finished the book but, overall, it felt pretty average. This is the third book I've read in this series and will probably leave it and move on to other things.

[angelzinhamia · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Lee Child didn't disappoint on this second installment of Jack Reacher series. I'm waiting anxiously for my library book. ( bitting nails, bouncing leg).

[reading_fox · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Still one of my favourites. Jack at his best being courteous, skilled and when necessary violent. Scared of no-one, running free. But not quite in accordance with the milita unit that stumbles across him. They have a very different idea about being free.

[plunkinberry · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Fast paced and action packed. I enjoy this series and will continue.

[debbiemccauley-2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Second in the Jack Reacher series. Woman on crutches - sports injury - kidnapping - handcuffed together - back of a truck - FBI - Montana Militia - presidential connection - missiles...

[liz3211-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is one of my favorite Reacher stories. The vulnerablitiy he showed, his passion and compassion, and his strenght of character were wonderful.

[quibee · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Helping a young woman on a Chicago street, Reacher gets picked up in a kidnap of that young woman and taken across country with her, to a destination where they are both tested.
The FBI and the law are after them, but way behind.
A fast moving book, but the villain is so out there, it was difficult to suspend disbelief.

[abhidd1687-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

not one of the best books of reacher series.. in most part of the book xcpt towards the end, he dosnt hav control of ny situation n seems as a regular guy, a far outcry from his aggressive n in contol personna that appears in the later series.
too mch description mars the flow of reading and sometimes one jst wants to skips through it and want to come to the story instead of reading bot the construction of Chinooks or the physics of a sniper bullet...

an Average read

[dham340 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A bit of a let down from the first jack reacher book. Very claustrophobic in comparison.

Still a fun read.

[blush48 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Really good story about Reacher getting kidnapped along with the primary target, and then fighting against a super-cult / militia which is determined to overthrow the government.

A few times in this book, I was reminded of Tom Clancy - - - you get pages and pages of data of how a bullet or rifle works. WAY too much info for me. It's good to know that the author has a good grasp on the weapons he's writing about, but that doesn't mean that I want to know each of those details.

Love Jack Reacher and his lifestyle!

[tina1969_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Jack Reacher is walking along minding his own business when a young woman tumbles out of a dry cleaners with an arm full of clothes and a crutch in the other. Reacher just being friendly, helping the young women when they are both held at gun point and made to get into a car. This is the second Jack Reacher novel and I don't particularly read these in order. I think the books being what they are there isn't any need.For me this isn't one of the good books featuring Jack Reacher. The books for me can be fun to read but I felt heavily bogged down with this one. There was a lot of technical detail and military what nots that I felt I was joining up and going o patrol myself. I like Jack Reacher snd lets face it who wouldn't, but this book was the best but it is what it is. With twenty of them out there, this one could be skipped.

[nickhowes · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Jack Reacher, the off-the-grid adventurer, is swept up by kidnappers targeting a young woman on the streets of Chicago and finds himself deep in a major conspiracy. Tension-filled action, smooth reading, appealing plot, and a denouement worth the trip make this Reacher novel a winner.

[carmenmilligan · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Normally I love a good Jack Reacher novel, but this one was slow-moving and more ... emotional than the others I have read. While it's true that I have read them out of order, this is a very different Jack Reacher than in later novels. But I am getting ahead of myself.

The story revolves around the kidnapping of one woman on purpose, and Jack by accident. The woman is an FBI employee, who constantly whines about being the daughter of a high-ranking government official. The militants who capture them are seriously crazy, and at least one has a very dark streak.

Like other Reacher novels, it is full of fighting, figuring, weapons, and pretty straightforward. What I didn't like about this one was it was a bit long in the tooth. I felt that it could have been edited down to be more succinct. Also, the FBI Agent's whining got thin quickly. And Jack was so much more emotional. His line of questioning on whether or not his fellow captive had a boyfriend was shockingly out of character.

All-in-all, while this was a fast read, I can't recommend it as one of the better Reacher novels.

[tjsjohanna_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Going in I knew Jack was going to accomplish the impossible so I was a bit impatient as I waited for him to make his move. The plot is rather loose in places, but there's something rather attractive about a hero that is so amazingly capable. I liked how in the end all the grandiose plans of the bad guy were foiled with a well placed bullet.

[maureencean · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I am reading these out of order and I think this is the earliest one for me so far. All I can say is I am very happy they eventually went with a different narrator. This fellow was not up to the task - no offense to him. An interesting tale as usual.

[theoclarke · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Engrossing sequel to KIlling Floor that could stand alone. It is ingenious that Reacher gets involved in a crime as an innocent bystander but is mistaken for a perp by law enforcement. The depiction of the independent militia and their conspiracy theories manages to be alarming and funny without making them ridiculous.

[reacherfan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the follow up to Killing Floor staring Jack Reacher. Man, this is such a great read!!Jack Reacher is just walking down the street, and he gets mixed up in a kidnapping of an FBI agent, as a result, he's taken hostage. That's a big mistake by the kidnappers. They have no idea what they are in for. They pushed the wrong man to far. Reacher had to figure out why they kidnapped Holly Johnson, the FBI agent, and how can he keep her alive. Also he has to figure out who had kidnapped them, and why? Who are these people? Reacher will get to the bottom of everything and get to the truth, or die trying.This is such a wonderful read. What I liked is how Reacher was involved in the story. He's just waking down the road, and is in the wrong place at the wrong time. If he just waked two or three seconds faster, he'd have missed the entire thing. I also liked the mega plot twist on who these guys really areThis is a great installment to the Reacher series, If you start it, I know you won't be sorry, I sure wasn't.

[piyushc_34 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Die Trying, was almost like a back-to-back read for me, after reading Killing Floor, towards the end of January. Worried as I was, about a Jack Reacher overdose, it was just alright this one time. This was another fast paced thriller, this time about a bunch of delusional revolutionaries. Jack Reacher, once again continues to be at the wrong place at the right time, which I believe will be the theme of the series, something I don't seem to mind at all!Long story short, the hero beats the hell out of the bad guys, etc.I like the way Lee Child's endings differ from your typical James Bond novels when it comes to the female leads.I think I will wait a couple of months before I read the next installment.

[ecw0647 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I'm not quite sure why I keep listening to these types of novels. I guess they are kind of mindless mind candy and good while mowing the lawn, shoveling snow, picking up trash; the kinds of activities that don't require much thinking. The hero is always smarter, shoots straighter, more macho (but in a sensitive way), and manages to wipe out half an army, pausing just ever-so-briefly to mull over and then discard any moral qualms. Because, after all, it's all for the greater good. Dick Hill just a great job narrating the Reacher series and I guess I'll listen to more of them next time I need to clean the garage. For all that they do entertain.

[devenish_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I shall not attempt a detailed description of the plot as 60 others have already done this. I will just say that 'Die Trying' is the second in the Jack Reacher series. Jack is in the wrong place at the wrong time (or for the purpose of the book,the right place at the right time) and become involved with the kidnapping of a female FBI agent and with a strange cult and even stranger leader. Very exciting and page-turning of course,but it will not come as any surprise that despite overwhelming odds,our Jack wins through in the end.

[piersanti-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another good one in the series.

[dickmanikowski · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This one felt like a very early Jack Reacher novel. Unlike the other ones that I recall, the retired Army officer actually has a job when it begins. He'd only had it for a few days when he accidentally gets kidnapped along with the criminals' intended target.As always, the story's plot is wonderfully crafted.