by Lee Child
Part of Jack Reacher, book 22.5
First published 2018
Jack Reacher seeks shelter from an unexpected blizzard in a nameless desert bar near Barstow, California. He came for rest and relaxation but finds himself trapped by the storm with an odd collection of strangers. A bartender serves drinks while a confused elderly couple waits out the weather. Two British Royal Military Police officers reveal they lost their VIP during transport to a classified meeting at a nearby U.S. military installation. The situation turns deadly when they receive a threat from the Christmas Scorpion, a lethal assassin with a reputation for precision kills. The officers need someone who can handle an impossible situation. They might have found exactly what they need in the wrong place at the right time. Reacher must decide whether to walk away or face down one of the world's most dangerous killers on Christmas Eve.
Genres: adventure, mystery, crime, thriller, action
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, impossible-situation
Setting: Barstow, California, United States
Period: Christmas Eve, Present Day
43 pages · Kindle Edition · Bantam