Never Go Back (with bonus novella High Heat): A Jack Reacher Novel

By Lee Child

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Never go back—but Jack Reacher does, and the past finally catches up with him. . . . Never Go Back is a novel of action-charged suspense starring “one of the best thriller characters at work today” (Newsweek).
 
Former military cop Jack Reacher makes it all the way from snowbound South Dakota to his destination in northeastern Virginia, near Washington, D.C.: the headquarters of his old unit, the 110th MP. The old stone building is the closest thing to a home he ever had.
 
Reacher is there to meet—in person—the new commanding officer, Major Susan Turner, so far just a warm, intriguing voice on the phone.
 
But it isn’t Turner behind the CO’s desk. And Reacher is hit with two pieces of shocking news, one with serious criminal consequences, and one too personal to even think about.
 
When threatened, you can run or fight.
 
Reacher fights, aiming to find Turner and clear his name, barely a step ahead of the army, and the FBI, and the D.C. Metro police, and four unidentified thugs.
 
Combining an intricate puzzle of a plot and an exciting chase for truth and justice, Lee Child puts Reacher through his paces—and makes him question who he is, what he’s done, and the very future of his untethered life on the open road.

Don’t miss Lee Child’s short story “High Heat” in the back of the book.

Praise for Never Go Back
 
“A breathless cross-country spree . . . some of the best, wiliest writing [Lee] Child has ever done . . . Child’s bodacious action hero, Jack Reacher, has already tramped through 17 novels and three e-book singles. But his latest, Never Go Back, may be the best desert island reading in the series. It’s exceptionally well plotted. And full of wild surprises. And wise about Reacher’s peculiar nature. And positively Bunyanesque in its admiring contributions to Reacher lore.”—Janet Maslin, The New York Times
 
“Welcome to the relentless world of Jack Reacher and his impressive tendency to be in the wrong place at the right time. . . . Child has created an iconic character that other thriller writers try to emulate but don’t come close to matching. He has a talent for taking material that in the hands of other authors would be stale and making it seem fresh. . . . Tight and compelling . . . Never Go Back is one of Child’s best novels.”—Associated Press
 
“An adrenaline-charged, action-packed thriller . . . impossible to put down.”—Lansing State Journal
 
“The dialogue has never been sharper. . . . The pages turn themselves.”—San Antonio Express-News

“For the pure pleasure of uncomplicated, nonstop action, no one touches Reacher.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
 
“Brilliant . . . Child never, ever slips. He keeps the action cranking better than anyone, but, best of all, he keeps us guessing about Reacher.”—Booklist (starred review)
 
“One of the best in the series.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Sep 3, 2013
• ISBN: 9780440339373

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 Never Go Back (with bonus novella High Heat)

[decaturmamaof2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Entertaining!! Love Jack Reacher, who has become a meme of himself by this point.

[jarratt_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I've liked all the Jack Reacher novels I've read. Some, more than others. "Never Go Back" is one of the others. Most Reacher novels could use a considerable amount of trimming to make the story tighter and this one is no different. As usual, I like how Lee Child makes Reacher intuitive in his deductions (rather than relying on technology all the time), but sometimes he's TOO intuitive. Reacher needs to make mistakes sometimes and those mistakes need to be punitive.There were a lot of red herrings in this one and quite a few coincidences to make it wholly plausible. The novel is about as average as one can get.

[mikebruscellsr · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was my first 'Jack Reacher' read and it was a great romp! The character Child creates is quirky, and a bit strange, but he is almost always right in his assessments of people, motives, actions, results, timing, and conclusions. He sees what others fail to notice and he makes decisions based on a deep and wide knowledge and experience of just about everything. Reacher is a well-attuned student of human nature. Also, he is prepared for anything that comes his way and is ruthless in ensuring he neutralizes whatever bad-ass crosses his path, a real mensch. Child draws a very original and intriguing character who pulls you into his world and who causes you to pay attention, because the roller coaster ride is guaranteed to be fun! The dialogue is great throughout and the action is fast and relentless with the reader looking forward to the next brilliant solution for the next confrontation. My first stop is the local bookstore to stock up on the previous adventures I have missed!

[jtsolakos · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was my first Jack Reacher book. It was an okay read. If I read another one, I will start with the first book to see how good it use to be. I love a book that keeps you guessing the "whys and hows" until the end, but figured this one half way through.

[delta61 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed the book, even though it is like all the other books. Sometimes his lengthy descriptions are boring.

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

Another Jack Reacher novel that has a corrupt military system as the baddie.

[bjkelley · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

My second "Reacher" book. While I didn't enjoy it as much as the first one, it was still a great read. A little bit longer than I usually like (400 pages), but there wasn't in "filler" in the book. The part of the plot about what the bad guys were up to got a little confusing, but that may just me on me.

[tysonadams · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Lee's writing continues to set the standard for crime-thrillers. He has also started to include more humour in his writing, something I really enjoy.

[whitewavedarling · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Although I've really enjoyed Jack Reacher novels in the past, this one didn't stand up to the precedent set by those past reads. Besides having a really slow and repetitive start, the book just seemed... well, easy. Everything just fell together easily and perfectly, almost as if Reacher was just standing by and watching things unfold, and responding to a few fights when they found him. It was just... sort of easy--more intrigue than plot, in a way. On top of this, the dialogue was really hard to read. I don't know when I've read such fragmented and awkward dialogue that just didn't ring true, and the effect got worse as the book went forward. Based off of this, I wouldn't read more Jack Reacher novels; as is, since I've enjoyed earlier ones, I don't know if I'll pick up another one or not, but this certainly isn't one I'd recommend.

[docwalt10 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This is the first Jack Reacher series book I've started to read. I'm at Chapter 6 and enjoying it so far. My interest is from the two movies.

[ajohnson2371 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A much better read than the last one or two books. The story was easier to follow along, and the ending was not as confusing as the last book. Very much an enjoyable read, as expected. This one would make a good movie plot, without having to remove or change a lot of material.

[reading_fox · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Meh, Average Jack Reacher, lacking in passion or really much in the way of plot, it seems very contrived an hung on unlikely coincidences, with gratuitous detailed violence thrown in for good measure, but doesn't re-create the atmosphere of the early ones.Jack has finally made it DC to visit the 'voice on the phone' that he'd liked whenever it was that he'd had to phone his old base. However when he arrives there he discovers that she's just been arrested on a bribery charge, and even worse there are two old cases outstanding against him - a violence charge and a paternity suit. The army apparent;y doesn't employ skip tracers so they'd just been sitting in the files, but now that he's here he has to answer them (or flee a concept that never occurs to him). For no apparent reason he's also re-enlisted,and re-instated to his former rank. Jack meets some unhelpful army lawyers and contrives a plan to bust the CO out of prison so that together they can investigate the three cases against them. Meanwhile someone's hired some heavies to keep Jack in line. Allowing the gratuitously detailed violence an outlet here and there. Lee Child would have you believe that on a commercial aeroplane nobody would notice the violence or speak up. There's also a massive plothole where Jack and Susan had been shuffling around in laceless boots, but then manage to run away, before stopping to buy some laces much later. This is average and far form the best of the Reacher stories, but still a time passing read. Just don't think too hard.

[mrmapcase · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really like when Lee breaks up the usual situations of Reacher wandering into a backwoods town and finds himself in trouble. By having him get dragged into something bigger makes for a great pulse pounding thriller, and we get a look at military style Reacher.Free review copy.

[techeditor_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Jack Reacher fans will be glad to see NEVER GO BACK, the next book in Lee Child's series, and they will probably love it. I didn't.This story is corny, even cartoonish. Jack Reacher is an all-knowing superman with supersenses and an ability to predict the future. Almost everything that happens is either impossible or unlikely.By comparison, Child's ONE SHOT is less corny and even enjoyable. Perhaps that is because Child could write anything he wanted about the fictional places and circumstances in ONE SHOT. Whereas, in NEVER GO BACK, Reacher goes back to the U.S. army, where his actions are questionable; no one could get away with what he gets away with in NEVER GO BACK.

[mikedraper · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was delighted with the chance to read Lee Child's latest Jack Reacher novel. It shows Jack Reacher returning to his 110th MP Special Unit outside of Washington, D.C.He's surprised that the commanding officer he had spoken to is now in jail and is told that there are charges against him from when he was in active military duty.The rest of the novel shows Reacher dealing with inefficient or corrupt military officials as he tries to straighten everything out.Jack shows his strength in dealing with everything and knowing just what to do to remedy a situation.The descriptions of the land are well done including a particularly entertaining segment where he deals with the family of a moonshiner who was blown up in a meth lab.I enjoyed this page turner and recommend it.

[ronrose1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A good thrill ride until just short of the end. The book starts off with Reacher at his unleashed best, cracking heads and winding his way through a jungle of trouble. At a certain point in the book, he becomes less aggressive, a bit more subdued, less the wild animal on the run. Reacher finds himself back in Washington D. C. at his old duty station of the 110th M.P.'s. A call from the current commander, Major Susan Turner, has piqued his interest. When Reacher arrives, he finds Turner has been arrested on what sounds like a spurious charge. Less than a couple of hours in town and Reacher is told to leave town. He is also threatened with some trumped up charges and summarily placed back on active military duty all in an effort to get him out of the way. The problem is Reacher has no idea what he is in the way of and has no intention of getting out of the way until he figures it out. Book provided for review by Amazon Vine.

[gaby317 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

If you're reading this review, you're likely a fan of Lee Child's Jack Reacher series and trying to decide whether to pre-order Never Go Back. I recently read that Lee Child and Rick Riordan top the Amazon pre-order list for Fall 2013 and since I tend to pre-order Lee Child's novels, I should say that this latest one is definitely worth getting as soon as possible.Never Go Back continues the story that began with 61 Hours, The Affair, and A Wanted Man. Reacher's last conflict introduced him to the current head of the 110th Special Unit, Major Susan Turner. She had been a voice on the phone to him, attractive, intelligent, witty. On the strength of their interaction, Reacher headed back to D.C. intending to invite Major Turner to dinner. But when he arrives, he walks into several ugly surprises. Certainly, the twists in Never Go Back had me wondering if this was to be the very last Jack Reacher novel.Much has been said about how Jack Reacher is a present day nomad, roaming the world with no ties and somehow able to remain unchanged by the world. But in Never Go Back, Reacher is recommissioned into the Army, back into his old unit. The freedom that allowed for his old life seems to have been irreversibly curtailed. I can't say anything else except that if you have enjoyed the earlier Jack Reacher novels, you have to read this latest one.

[bookmarque · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

For those who already know and love Reacher, you won't find anything surprising in this installment, but you will enjoy the ride as we all do. For those who saw the movie and picked up this book as your first Reacher, you'll find plenty of what fans already love and hopefully you'll fall in yourself. There's shenanigans. As always. Reacher gets himself hooked into other people's nefarious plans and does his best to screw them up. His heart is always in the right place and he uses his head (figuratively and literally). He fights at least twice in every book and usually gets laid double that. There are sleazy hotels (and sometimes nice ones), greasy spoons, cheap clothing and coffee. Lots of coffee. Sure, coincidences play a big part and you've just got to go with it. Ditto for Reacher's meticulous planning seldom going awry. Even when it does, Reacher adapts and usually comes up aces. Bones get broken. Bad guys go down. Wrongs are set right. Reacher gets on another bus. All is right with the world.

[lauranav_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The next Jack Reacher novel is here, and it is still a great ride. I like that he's a thinker, and can keep multiple issues/projects going at once. And can do it on very little sleep, which is a good thing in this book. If he's sleeping, know that either the phone is going to ring or someone is about to pound on the door.I like the Reacher novels for various reasons, and this one is just as satisfactory. Reacher has a pretty clear idea of right and wrong, is on the side of good, and notices the little people along the way. The writing can be laugh out loud funny, even if it's just a commentary on a motel clerk. The chapters finish with a great lead into the next scene so it's addictive and so very hard to put down and resist. Sure, some of the plots are a bit convoluted, and some of the things he gets away with are a tad far fetched. Cars are stolen, people are beat up, but as Harry Tasker said in True Lies "Yeah, but they were all bad". At the end of the book, I would be comforted to know there are men in the world who fight to make things right and protect the innocent the way Jack Reacher does. And it's just so much fun to see what he's going to think of next.

[brendajanefrank · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The best thing about "Never Go Back" is that it's 416 pages, a lot of pages, because I never want Reacher novels to end. The next best thing about "Never Go Back" is that it's pure, classic Reacher.I have read all 17 previous Reacher novels, and this one is just as good or better than those. I really don't like reviewing "Never Go Back" because telling you my favorite parts would ruin the story, but I really want to tell you my favorite parts.For those unfamiliar with the series, these are action/thriller/mystery novels. The dialogue is terse. Reacher, the protagonist, is terse. He is also a contradiction in many ways. Reacher is moral and kind, but in a Robin Hood type of way. His value system has few grey areas and often is inconsistent with the law.Reacher is a true drifter, always on the move, with nothing, literally nothing, to tie him down. His possessions fit into one pocket. Reacher is liberated from the common chores of life. When his clothes are too dirty to wear, they go in the trash. New clothes come from second-hand stores, discount stores or the like. Even Reachers names get discarded as he checks in to "low rent" motels under names of presidents, baseball players and others.Yet, Jack went to West Point and is way above average in intelligence. To fill empty hours he likes to play mental number games. In fact, Reacher has little need to write anything down. Long names, addresses, telephone numbers, passwords all reside in his head. Complicated schemes are all created in his mind with no need to record anything. In fact, Reacher could be described as brilliant.Women and sex have their appeal to Reacher, but don't expect flowers and romance. That type of relationship would tie him down and is thus, unacceptable. Yet, Reacher would cross the United States by hitchhiking and bus to meet a women whose voice he finds attractive. Reacher must satisfy his curiosity, and he is inquisitive about much, being a very smart guy.Almost nothing stands in Reacher's way. Five or six armed assailants? He can take them on. Reacher doesn't need gimmicks, weapons or fancy marshal art. Usually, his incredible strength, size, and mental agility carry the day. These assailants are normally not the products of West Point, and Reacher is always at least three steps ahead of their moves.Yes, Reacher is a violent man, but only in self-defense or to defend the Good Guys. Reacher protects himself and others who need protection and enforces his own moral code.That's the flavor of the novel. In my view, the plot is fine but the reason for the plot is simply to display Reacher in action. Nothing wrong with that.

[bwhitson_4 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Reacher has returned to the East Coast - Rock Creek Virginia to be exact where he plans to meet up with Major Susan Turner, commanding officer of the 110th MP Special Unit at its HQ. Reacher at one time was in charge of the 110th and is still regarded with respect among the staff who had heard about him. But instead of Major Turner he finds Coronel Morgan who has replaced her after her arrest. Col. Morgan has informed Reacher that he is back in the military under Rule 10 of the U. S. Code and he will now face charges for assaulting someone 16 years ago. This is a story of Reacher and Major Turner's attempt to prove their innocence and figure out who set them up and why. This is a cross country chase. There are some muscle bound thugs who underestimate Reacher, much to their dismay, along with the army, FBI, and Metro police who are all trying to stop them. Reacher works on the 50-50 theory, heads or tails, as he and Turner try to figure out who's setting them up and why. The story kept me wondering until all was revealed in the last chapter.

[dyarington_1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This is the least enjoyable Reacher book I have read and I've read them all. It starts off well with the same old Reacher mannerisms, but then it veers suddenly to the left (no pun intended) . Reacher is drawn into a very complex situation that gets worse and worse, punctuated by several of the standard Reacher fisticuffs, or should I say elbows and head butts. He likes her, the woman he sets off to find in Virginia--and he almost finds a lost 13 year old daughter, but noooo--It is not to be. I had my hopes up for a new Reacher twist, but Child let me down again.I definitely did not like this book. It should not be labeled a thriller. The ending is so contrived and abrupt--only about five pages to explain away the whole book. What a bummer! Don't get me wrong. The Reacher books are my all time favorite thrillers, but this one let me down.

[satxreader · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I don't know what I can add to the previous reviews. I'm a shameless Jack Reacher fan (although I REFUSE to pay good money to go to the movie to see a 6'5" 250-lb guy played by a diminutive little elf. But I digress) and "Never Go Back" did not disappoint. While there are a few in the Reacher series that are not quite up to his usual standards, this was not one of them. It was a fun read all the way through. Keep 'em coming, Lee Child...I can read faster than you can write! ;-)

[jamespurcell · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another excellent book in an outstanding series. Reacher gets to relive his time commanding the 110th MPs as he is forced to assist the current commander of the group clear herself from the retribution of a deep and well connected military conspiracy. They go on the run and eventually prevail with lots of interesting, violent and, sometimes, fun stops along the way.

[bobcatnshn · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I have read a number of the Jack Reacher series and have enjoyed them. This one was no different. In some ways, this is one of the better Reacher novels in that his relationship with Turner is well developed and interesting. Of course, there was sufficient action to keep the pages turning.However, I thought that the two "bad guys", Romeo and Juliet, were poorly developed. It seems that they were only there to direct the activities of their minions, who were also poorly developed. In addition, some deaths apparently had no ramifications and certainly no explanation. And the end, really? It seems like Mr. Child lost interest and wanted to quickly wrap-up the story.Again, not a bad read all-in-all. But for some gaping holes, some of which are mentioned above, it would have been one of the better Reacher tales.Thanks LIbrary Thing!Bob in Chicago

[hedgepeth_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An excellent introduction to this first time reader of the Jack Reacher series. Lee Child keeps his novel moving a brisk pace dropping hints of things that may come. While a portion of the outcome can be guessed from the beginning, the road to the conclusion is quite entertaining. A perfect book to escape from the hassles of the workplace!

[coyote99_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I am an on and off fan of Lee Child. I binged on too many when I first discovered him, and Jack Reacher got a little old. I have had a nice long break so when I received my ARC of Child's new book I flipped the first page not really expecting to finish it on one night. But I did. Just could not put it down.While Reacher is very predictable and his adventures all head down the same loner path, they simply make for a great read. Nothing deep, no subtle wit. Just a good pace and consistent writing! I don't want to like him, but I do. A lot.

[kayebarley · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

wow. This is probably one of my favorite Reacher novels yet. As in most series, I have some novels I enjoy better than others - NEVER GO BACK showed a side of Jack Reacher to we don't get to see too often, one I'd like to visit with more often.

[jnwelch_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

[Never Go Back] by [[Lee Child]] gives us another fast-paced ride with [Jack Reacher], "a tough guy hero that men will envy and women will adore"(Daily Express). After a snowy outing in South Dakota in [A Wanted Man], Reacher makes his way to Virginia, to his old army unit, the 110th. He's there to meet Major Susan Turner, the woman whose voice he liked when they worked together by phone in the previous book. When he gets there, though, she's been taken away on bribery charges, and he's accused of misdeeds as a military policeman many years ago, i.e. beating to death a man he never heard of in gangland LA, and fathering a child with a woman he can't seem to remember. The man behind Maj. Turner's desk then re-activates Reacher into the Army, to make sure they can prosecute him. Inviting a fox back into the hen house? Meanwhile thugs at his motel are telling him to get out of town or else.All of this, of course, is like waving a red flag at a bull. A smart bull. Reacher figures out where Turner is, and we're off and running on a conspiracy that traces all the way to Afghanistan and back. We get lots of great fight scenes, a kindred spirit in Turner, and Reacher outwitting the bad guys while also trying to track down what may be a 14 year old daughter he never knew he had.Reacher is an outsider with no home, who buys cheap clothes rather than do laundry, and never stays in one place very long. For a while Turner thinks of him as "feral", but the fact that others matter to him gives her pause. That "means you can't really be feral. I imagine caring for others is the first thing to go. And you still know right from wrong. Which all means you're OK." She has inherited his position at the 110th, and she figures that means she'll be OK, too. When she presses him, Reacher points to a possible genetic reason for the way he is. "Millions of years ago we were all living in small . . . groups of people. So there was a danger of in-breeding. So {each group} had at least one person who had to wander. That way the gene pools would get mixed up a little. . . . I think 99 of us grow up to love the campfire, and one grows up to hate it."This is a top level entry in a high quality series. His fans will eat it up.

[leischen_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

First off-Tom Cruise IS NOT Jack Reacher. Get that image out of your head before you even start reading. Then Reacher can look like you want him to in your mind's eye.This time around, Reacher is going back home to the 110th MP Special Unit to visit their current commander, a lady major he only knows by phone. Once at HQ, he finds Major Turner is under arrest for bribery and Reacher is wanted for a 16 yr old homicide and a paternity suit. He's also subject to being called back in reserve status. Along with this, he finds himself in constant conflict with Col. Morgan, the current CO. Oh, and somebody beat Turner's lawyer into a coma after he refused Reacher's requests at a breakfast meeting. Reacher could be in trouble--with the army, DC police, FBI, and the bad guys all looking for him.This is the set-up for a mystery that takes Reacher from Washington DC to West Virginia to Pittsburgh to LA and back again. All the while, he's aware that the problem also extends to the hills of Afghanistan. As always, there are bad guys galore. The ringleaders are a pair who call themselves Romeo and Juliet and they have a squad of 4 hitmen trying to stop Reacher as he tries to unravel the story of Big Dog and the identity of Sam Dayton. There are the requisite fights as Reacher tries to stay one jump ahead of the hit team, while trying to take them out at the same time. In West Virginia, a fire at a meth lab brings him into conflict with the Claughton Clan (who've been in Grant County for 300 years). The flight from Pennsylvania to California contains some classic Reacher moments.This is among the best of Reacher's adventures. Implacable, seemingly untouchable enemies with an extensive network; a mystery at the highest levels of the Army and the federal government coupled with mysteries that affect Reacher ersonally; a beautiful, resourceful heroine who is every bit Reacher's equal-all ingredients of a top flight adventure. Highly recommended.