A Suspenseful Thriller
Lee Child, the bestselling author behind the Jack Reacher series, brings us Eleven Numbers, a short story. As a fan of Reacher, I was eager to dive into this new release, a January First Reads option. I hoped it would deliver the same thrills, yet I found the story lacking. The ending was the highlight for me, with a twist I didn’t see coming, but unfortunately, the journey to get there left much to be desired.
The Mathematician
In Eleven Numbers, Lee Child tells the story of Nathan Tyler, a low-profile American mathematician whose life takes an unexpected turn when the White House calls him in for a top-secret mission. Tasked with deciphering a series of cryptic equations, Nathan is thrust into a high-stakes international game, where the fate of global power rests on his shoulders. As he races to meet a Russian mathematician in a dangerous and shifting web of intrigue, Tyler finds himself caught in a deadly struggle with far higher stakes than he ever anticipated.
Falling Short
Although the story had potential, particularly with its interesting premise, there were a few aspects that made it difficult for me to fully engage. The story had a decent start, with some twists and turns, mixed in with some light humor and sarcastic smirks. I couldn’t help but chuckle at the line, “Math is weird.” However, as the plot unfolded, I found the technical jargon and math-heavy dialogue to be a bit much. I am not a fan of math in any form, but I struggle to think even lovers of numbers would have enjoyed the lull in the story, weighed down with heavy numbers. It felt like I was wading through muddy waters, attempting to find a shiny object to hold on to.
Child had an intriguing premise, one that draws readers in and promises an enticing tale. Without a doubt, some of this is delivered to the reader. I especially enjoyed the way that Nathan stood up for himself and had a backbone, but for me, the story fell short. In terms of character development, I found the protagonist compelling and likeable, but not fully fleshed out. I liked how the story ended in terms of the character of Nathan, but getting there reflected a character that was not very well-rounded.
What’s your favorite line from the book?
Mine: “‘They’re both musical,’ Tyler said. ‘If one is the root note, then eight is the octave, and three is the major third. They’re like trumpet fanfares, or calls to battle on a bugle.’”
What’s yours?
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