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Past Tense

A Jack Reacher Novel
Series: Jack Reacher
4.07 goodreads logo

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( 77,010 ratings, 5,701 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In Past Tense by Lee Child, Jack Reacher takes a detour to explore the town where his father was born, marking a nostalgic journey into the mystery of his family history. As he delves deeper, he uncovers hidden secrets and strange incidents in the seemingly quiet town, intertwining his past with a tense, present-day confrontation. This gripping tale weaves together mystery and danger, characteristic of Reacher's crime and thriller adventures.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're thrilled by suspenseful crime stories that lead you on a gripping chase filled with unexpected twists. Lee Child delivers a fast-paced narrative where the protagonist's quest for answers intertwines with high-stakes danger, making it a captivating read for those who love intense thrillers.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Past Tense by Lee Child is a gripping addition to the #1 New York Times bestselling Jack Reacher series, renowned for its heart-pounding suspense that has inspired two major motion pictures and an upcoming streaming series. The novel unfolds with Reacher, ever the wanderer, hitchhiking his way across America. His journey is meant to be straightforward, a path from the rugged coastlines of Maine to the sunlit shores of California. However, fate intervenes on a secluded country road in the dense wilderness of New England.

Stumbling upon a sign for a town that whispers of his pastโ€”his father's birthplaceโ€”Reacher's curiosity piques. What harm could there be in indulging a personal detour for just one extra day? As Reacher steps into the town, shadows of family mysteries emerge, entwined with troubling revelations. When he inquires at the city clerk's office about his ancestral home, the answer is both shocking and bewildering: no records show a Reacher ever residing there. With his father's history cast in doubt, Jack is compelled to dig deeper, asking the uneasy question: was his father ever truly part of this place?

Meanwhile, the narrative interweaves with that of two young Canadians whose car has inconveniently broken down in the same remote area. En route to New York City to exchange a valuable possession, their journey takes a sinister turn as they find themselves marooned at a desolate motel. The hospitality of the motel's proprietors feels exaggeratedly warm, setting a chilling tone as something ominous lurks beneath the surface.

Amidst these intricate tales of discovery and peril, Reacher embarks on an exploration that uncovers far more than he anticipated. Each revelation brings him closer to a disturbing truth about his lineage, as fragmented plots converge in a suspenseful crescendo. The journey becomes a stark reminder that while the present is fraught with challenges, it is the past that often harbours the most daunting revelations. As Reacher delves into these familial labyrinths, he uncovers that the past can be tense indeedโ€”and lethally so.

This thrilling novel is an exemplification of Lee Child's mastery of suspense. It blends action, drama, and profound mystery, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the very last page. Additionally, this edition includes a sneak peek at Lee Childโ€™s next thrilling novel, Blue Moon, offering an enticing glimpse into yet another chapter of intrigue featuring Jack Reacher.

Series: Jack Reacher

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  • In Too Deep
    Jack Reacher, "the coolest continuing series character" (Stephen King), returns in a brand new, pulse-pounding read from Lee and Andrew Child. Reacher had no idea where he was. No idea how he had got there. But someone must have brought him. And shackled him. And whoever had done those things was going to rue the day. That was for damn...
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    Jack Reacher, "the coolest continuing series character" (Stephen King), returns in 2025 with his 30th adventure - a brand new, pulse-pounding read from global No.1 bestselling authors Lee and Andrew Child. 'If there is a more iconic character in modern fiction than Jack Reacher, I'd like to meet them.' DAILY MIRROR THE 2025 JACK REACHER THRILLER Jack Reacher will make...
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  • Tripwire
    Tripwire by Lee Child continues the exhilarating adventures of Jack Reacher, the redoubtable hero weโ€™ve come to admire. In this third hard-hitting, action-packed thriller, Lee Child takes readers on a gripping journey full of suspense and unexpected twists. For Jack Reacher, being invisible has become a way of life. He passes his days digging swimming pools by hand and his...
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  • The Visitor
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  • The Secret
    The Secret by Lee Child and Andrew Child offers a thrilling continuation of the much-loved Jack Reacher series, promising a high-octane narrative that grips from the very first page. Set in the gritty backdrop of Chicago in 1992, the story ignites with a mysterious incident in a hospital. A patient wakes to find two enigmatic strangers at his bedside. They...
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  • Echo Burning
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  • Die Trying
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  • Killing Floor
    The very first book by number one bestseller Lee Child, which introduces his iconic hero Jack Reacher. 'This was the first Jack Reacher novel and with its lean, spare prose it has one of the most intriguing heroes of our times and displays a gift for explosive drama.' Daily Express Jack Reacher jumps off a bus and walks fourteen miles...
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  • The Hard Way
    In The Hard Way, author Lee Child delivers another electrifying thriller featuring the indomitable Jack Reacher. This time, Reacher finds himself plunged into a dangerous game of cat and mouse that takes him from the bustling streets of New York City to the quiet, rolling landscapes of the English countryside. The enigma begins when Reacher witnesses a man nonchalantly crossing...
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  • Bad Luck And Trouble
    You do not mess with Reacher, in Lee Child's irresistible number one bestseller. You do not mess with Jack Reacher. He is as close to untraceable as a person can get. A loner comfortable in his anonymity and solitude. So when a member of his old Army unit finds a way to contact him, he knows this has to be...
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  • Worth Dying For
    Worth Dying For by Lee Child is a gripping and explosive thriller that showcases the unique brilliance of its author and the unparalleled resilience of its protagonist, Jack Reacher. In the remote and desolate wilds of Nebraska, Reacher stumbles upon a small community living in fear, dominated by the ruthless and menacing Duncan clan. The Duncans have imposed their will...
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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Past Tense by Lee Child is praised as a superb addition to the Jack Reacher series, with reviewers highlighting Child's skill in blending multiple narratives and maintaining suspense. The character of Reacher is commended for his moral compass and enduring appeal, with the novel delivering a powerful and satisfying conclusion. Renowned for its high standard, the book is described as a thrilling and cerebral read that combines action with storytelling flair, appealing to both longtime fans and newcomers.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780399593536

Publisher: Random House USA Inc

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 30 April 2019

Country: United States

Imprint: Dell Publishing Co Inc.,U.S.

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 29.0mm

Width: 105.0mm

Height: 188.0mm

Weight: 261g

Pages: 512

About the Author

Lee Childย is the author of more than two dozenย New York Times bestselling Jack Reacher thrillers, with most having reached the #1 position, and the #1 bestselling complete Jack Reacher story collection,ย No Middle Name. Foreign rights in the Reacher series have sold in one hundred territories. A native of England and a former television director, Lee Child lives in New York City and Wyoming.

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