by Lee Child
Part of Jack Reacher, book 17
First published 2012
Jack Reacher stands roadside with a freshly broken nose held together by silver duct tape. His imposing frame makes hitchhiking difficult, but he needs to reach Virginia to settle unfinished business. Three travelers finally stop for him: two men and one woman who seem ordinary enough. The ride starts smoothly until Reacher realizes his companions are fabricating their stories. Every detail they share rings false. Then red and blue lights flash ahead. A police roadblock blocks the highway. An incident has occurred, and officers are hunting suspects. The car slows toward the checkpoint. Reacher faces a crucial question. Are his three companions innocent civilians who will pass inspection easily? Or are they the criminals police seek, making Reacher their unwitting fourth member? Perhaps they picked him up as cover, a decoy to help them slip past law enforcement. The roadblock approaches, and Reacher must decide whether to trust these strangers or prepare for the consequences of their deception.
Genres: adventure, suspense, mystery, crime, thriller, action
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Virginia
427 pages · Paperback · Bantam Press