Author Lee Child’s Jack Reacher is the consummate vagabond. A former Army MP, he hasn’t a care in the world, carries his toothbrush in his pocket, and hitchhikes wherever his whims lead him. As readers join Reacher for his 23rd escapade, he’s in Maine. Summer is ending, and he plans a trek to San Diego, which seems the perfect place to spend the winter. He doesn’t get far before he sees a sign pointing to Laconia, New Hampshire. Remembering that his father, Stan, talked about growing up there, Reacher decides he’d like to see the old family homestead.
Meanwhile, Canadians Shorty Fleck and his girlfriend Patty Sundstrom have car trouble in the same area. Fortunately, they see a sign for a motel deep in the woods. They’re greeted warmly—almost too warmly—by the proprietor. But why, they wonder, are there no other guests? And how come in the middle of the night when Patty tries to open their room door, it won’t open? Something seems off with the whole setup, and they soon realize the proprietors have something “special” planned just for them.
Reacher’s also running into obstacles. There’s no record of a Reacher ever living in Laconia. And with his usual penchant for finding trouble, he finds himself rearranging a man’s face after he catches the man assaulting a waitress. The local cops tell Reacher the man is the son of a Boston mob boss and suggest he leave town immediately.
Obviously, they’ve never met Reacher.
When, a few days and adventures later, he finally does leave, he comes upon the very motel the Canadians are staying at. Told there is no room, Reacher leaves, but senses all is not right. It’s at this point that the two story lines converge as Child, with his sparse writing style, amps up the tension to a satisfying climax. Past Tense is one of the best Reacher books yet.
