by Lee Child
Part of Jack Reacher, book 6
First published 2002
A Secret Service agent approaches Jack Reacher with an unusual request. She wants him to prove her protection system can be breached by devising a theoretical assassination plot against the vice president. Reacher accepts the challenge, using his military expertise to identify vulnerabilities in the security apparatus. His analysis reveals multiple ways a determined killer could reach the target. The exercise becomes deadly serious when the agent reveals that real assassins have already begun moving against the vice president. A professional team has spent months preparing their attack, studying patterns and weaknesses. They believe their plan is flawless. Reacher must shift from theoretical planning to active defense, racing to anticipate the killers' next moves. He knows how an assassin thinks because he has just walked through the process himself. The hunters become the hunted as Reacher turns his tactical mind against the conspiracy. The vice president's life depends on whether Reacher can outthink opponents who have planned as carefully as he has.
Genres: adventure, suspense, mystery, crime, thriller, action
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: cat-and-mouse, high-stakes, race-against-time
14 pages · Audio Cassette · Brilliance Audio