Side Character Reacher? A Review of Lee Child's 'The Secret

Rating: 3/5 ⭐️

Lee Child's protagonist is Jack Reacher: a former U.S. Army military police major turned drifter who roams America with no home, no phone, and no luggage, stumbling into trouble and sorting it out. The irony of The Secret, the 28th Reacher novel? For long stretches, Reacher barely feels like the protagonist at all.

I've been following this series since my college days. I remember binging through the first nine books and the small ritual of picking up each new release. This one left me with mixed feelings.

The Formula That Usually Works

Jack Reacher novels run on a formula that has always worked for me. Reacher stumbles into trouble and, being the decent guy he is, stays to sort it out. He's the underdog, using his wits and his size to beat people who outnumber and outgun him.

I expect action, and I expect moments that show off Reacher's sharp intellect. "The Secret" deviates from that pattern, and I'm still not sure how I feel about it.

The Sisters Steal the Show

The antagonists this time are two sisters, as resourceful and smart as they are deadly. Their methods of disposing of their enemies are inventive enough that law enforcement, the feds, and even the CIA can't see them. It's rare in a Reacher novel to find antagonists who hold my attention more than Reacher himself, but these two managed it.

Reacher, the Side Character

In "The Secret," Reacher feels more like a side character than the protagonist. His involvement in the plot seems secondary, and the sisters' storyline overshadows him for most of the book.

There are only two action scenes where Reacher really gets to shine, an interrogation with a Russian and the finale. Both are fun. Two is not enough for a Reacher novel.

Verdict: 3/5

"The Secret" is an okay book, but it doesn't stand out in the series. The shift in focus from Reacher to the antagonists is an interesting experiment, but it costs the novel the Reacher-centric action and problem-solving I read these books for. It's a decent read, not one that will stay with me.

I give "The Secret" three stars. It's a solid addition to the series that lacks the Reacher flair fans like me crave. Newcomers shouldn't start here, but seasoned fans get a different perspective, even if it's not the one we're used to.

Quick Answers

Who is Lee Child's protagonist?

Jack Reacher, a West Point graduate and former U.S. Army military police major who leaves the service and drifts across America, getting pulled into trouble in whatever town he lands in. He's the hero of all 28+ novels in the series, plus Amazon's Reacher TV show and two Tom Cruise films.

Who writes the Jack Reacher books now?

Recent Reacher novels, including The Secret, are co-written by Lee Child and his younger brother Andrew Child, who is gradually taking over the series.

Where does The Secret fit in the Jack Reacher series?

It's the 28th Jack Reacher novel, published in October 2023. It's a flashback story set in 1992, when Reacher was still an Army MP recently demoted from major to captain, so it reads fine as a standalone.

Is The Secret worth reading?

If you're a seasoned Reacher fan, yes, with tempered expectations. The antagonists outshine Reacher, and the usual Reacher-centric action is sparse. It's a 3/5, solid but not the place for newcomers to start.