Second Son - Lee Child, 2011

Second Son by Lee Child is a short story about his character, Jack Reacher, at 13. This is an opportunity for fans of Jack Reacher to peer into his childhood during the tumultuous year of 1974. Jack's father, Stan, is a Marine sent to Okinawa on a top secret mission. Upon arrival, Reacher and his brother Joe find themselves in a neighborhood dominated by a fat, nameless bully with a boil on his neck. Both Reacher boys are physically intimidating and do not doubt their ability to deal with the bully. Joe is a worrier and gives the bully an opportunity to cause trouble, while Jack has been mollified by his mother, Josie, to remain passive in the face of such threats. While Child builds this boyhood struggle for dominance, Stan loses a top secret code book while Josie leaves to see her elderly, dying father in Paris. Jack, always called Reacher, has to step in, juggle the obstacles, and save the day. The author deftly sets up the characters and the conflict in a short space, getting to the climax and resolving it with minimal contrivance. The story is cleverly written, the dialogue is interesting and even occasionally funny. Given the story length, it is impressive how well the author is able to develop each character using dialogue, their inner monologue, and the views of other characters regarding each other. For those established Reacher fans, the story may be too short and may not provide an in depth view into Jack Reacher. However if you keep in mind that it is just a glimpse into young Jack Reacher then you may find it enjoyable. If you are looking for a quick read that will keep you engaged the whole time, Second Son is a must read.