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Jack Reacher
New Kid in Town: A Jack Reacher Story
A thrilling new addition to the bestselling Jack Reacher series, by Andrew Child
Hitching a ride cross-country, Reacher manages to thwart an unsavory criminal hiding out in a sleepy backwater town in rural Texas …
This story originally appeared in Hotel An Anthology of New Mystery Short Stories edited by Don Bruns.
Hitching a ride cross-country, Reacher manages to thwart an unsavory criminal hiding out in a sleepy backwater town in rural Texas …
This story originally appeared in Hotel An Anthology of New Mystery Short Stories edited by Don Bruns.
38 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 30, 2024
179 people are currently reading
423 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Child
27 books238 followersAlso see Andrew Grant
Andrew Child, who also writes as Andrew Grant, is the author of RUN, False Positive, False Friend, False Witness, Invisible, and Too Close to Home. Child and his wife, the novelist Tasha Alexander, live on a wildlife preserve in Wyoming.
Andrew Child, who also writes as Andrew Grant, is the author of RUN, False Positive, False Friend, False Witness, Invisible, and Too Close to Home. Child and his wife, the novelist Tasha Alexander, live on a wildlife preserve in Wyoming.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
December 1, 2024
A quick little taster, very easy to listen to though it was narrated by the Orphan X narrator, so I had to work hard not to have Evan Smoak in my head. But they are both hot capable guys, right?!
This was very quick, he jumped in a car for a hitch, got involved in a man's pickle and helped out swiftly. This is my first by Andrew Child and I found it easy to slot in. I love these little stories, and Jack Reacher never fails to impress.
I never have a problem with these, some reviewers say it's too short, no character development etc.. but that is not what we are here for. All good in the hood. I always love him.
This was very quick, he jumped in a car for a hitch, got involved in a man's pickle and helped out swiftly. This is my first by Andrew Child and I found it easy to slot in. I love these little stories, and Jack Reacher never fails to impress.
I never have a problem with these, some reviewers say it's too short, no character development etc.. but that is not what we are here for. All good in the hood. I always love him.
November 25, 2024
Fast paced, action packed Jack Reacher story. Just too short. Written by Lee Child’s step-brother, Andrew.
October 6, 2025
4 Stars for New Kid in Town: Jack Reacher (audiobook) by Andrew Child and Andrew Grant read by Scott Brick.
Reacher is hitchhiking across Texas and ends up in a sleepy little town. Unfortunately in this town there’s a murder that wonts cut his trip and his life short.
Reacher is hitchhiking across Texas and ends up in a sleepy little town. Unfortunately in this town there’s a murder that wonts cut his trip and his life short.
September 9, 2024
It has all the typical Jack Reacher characteristics, as it pulls you into the story from the start and moves as a fast pace. Nevertheless, perhaps a consequence of the fact that it's a short story, there's little build-up and the story leaves you wanting more.
February 9, 2025
Uhm...short filler, kinda weird 'open' ending.
July 20, 2024
This Reacher short story was originally written for an anthology where every entry was based on a track from the Eagles' "Hotel California" album, thus, "The New Kid in Town" moniker. Unfortunately, this was not one of the better Reacher stories. Being forced into a theme and presumably rushed for the publication, it came off as being a forced and rushed story. While the set up was fairly typical Reacher - he stumbles upon a dastardly situation while merely trying to hitch his way through Texas and soon finds himself up against a nefarious foe - the plot ended up feeling like one that normally would take 300+ pages to fully play out rushed headlong through about 19 pages, leaving things feeling more like an outline or summary than a fleshed out story.
February 12, 2025
Love me a Reacher read but unfortunately this one did not hit the spot. Really rushed. No real character development. Didn’t feel any sort of emotion over any of the deaths.
April 14, 2025
Love the author and the series, but I could’ve went without reading this short story.
March 7, 2025
Good book, short read…..
August 30, 2024
A standard Jack Reacher story. Competently made, fast past and with the standard "surprise" at the end. Nothing special but if you like the series you will like this
January 8, 2026
This is one of only a few short stories by Andrew Child featuring Jack Reacher. I read this story a few weeks ago in the anthology, Hotel California. A few years back he started co-writing the Reacher novels with his brother. An accomplished author in his own write under the name Andrew Grant, I have enjoyed following his contributions to the Reacher canon, and went back and read all of his previously published novels. I read my first Reacher story in 2019, I had picked up the most recent as a gift for my dad, this time I read the back and thought it looked interesting, and picked up the eBook for myself. I read about a book or published short story a week until I was caught up, thought I jumped around a lot, picking titles at random. I have since stayed up to date on the series. I have also read the Hunt for Reacher Series by Diane Capri and also the Jack Reacher Experiment book 1 by Jude Hardin. I even have a tag on my blog for all Reacher Stories no matter the author. I really enjoy the character, and have loved almost all of the books. I had picked up the Anthology this came from but have not got around to reading it yet. This is one I really wanted to read and was excited it was available as a standalone story. So I was pretty excited to give this a read.
The description of this offering in the Reacher series states:
“A thrilling new addition to the bestselling Jack Reacher series, by Andrew Child
Hitching a ride cross-country, Reacher manages to thwart an unsavory criminal hiding out in a sleepy backwater town in rural Texas …
This story originally appeared in Hotel An Anthology of New Mystery Short Stories edited by Don Bruns.”
This is an excellent story. Even rereading it after a few years, this time as a standalone it is great. I believe this was the first standalone work Andrew wrote with Reacher as a character. And it is masterfully written.
I really loved this story. I read it then went back and listened to it using adaptive technology. This is one of three Stories Child has written for the Music and Murder Mystery anthology series; the books and stories are:
Hotel California - New Kid In Town
Back in Black - You Shook Me All Night Long
Bat Out of Hell – Vat Out Of Hell
If you are a fan of Reacher this is a great shorter story in the collection of Reacher stories from the Child brothers. It is an excellent piece. Writing short form fiction if a very different skill than long form fiction, Andrew is proving himself an expert of each. And this is a wonderful read. So I encourage you to give it a try, either as this standalone edition or in the anthology edited by Don Burns.
The description of this offering in the Reacher series states:
“A thrilling new addition to the bestselling Jack Reacher series, by Andrew Child
Hitching a ride cross-country, Reacher manages to thwart an unsavory criminal hiding out in a sleepy backwater town in rural Texas …
This story originally appeared in Hotel An Anthology of New Mystery Short Stories edited by Don Bruns.”
This is an excellent story. Even rereading it after a few years, this time as a standalone it is great. I believe this was the first standalone work Andrew wrote with Reacher as a character. And it is masterfully written.
I really loved this story. I read it then went back and listened to it using adaptive technology. This is one of three Stories Child has written for the Music and Murder Mystery anthology series; the books and stories are:
Hotel California - New Kid In Town
Back in Black - You Shook Me All Night Long
Bat Out of Hell – Vat Out Of Hell
If you are a fan of Reacher this is a great shorter story in the collection of Reacher stories from the Child brothers. It is an excellent piece. Writing short form fiction if a very different skill than long form fiction, Andrew is proving himself an expert of each. And this is a wonderful read. So I encourage you to give it a try, either as this standalone edition or in the anthology edited by Don Burns.
April 21, 2025
The good news is that the phenomenon that is Jack Reacher continues. The character brought into ‘life’ by Lee Child lives on in novels written with step-bro and is expanding in projects undertaken by Andrew Child alone.
This is a terrific short story crafted originally for an anthology “Hotel California”. But being a Reacher narrative is available for fans as a separate title, positioned between books: “The Secret” and “In too Deep”.
Witnessing a potential child abuse incident, Reacher cannot just remain an on-looker. But by becoming involved he gets a ride; he arrived from the East so he has no destination in mind other than Westbound.
This is such a brilliant concept; rather than a Michael Portillo travelogue, we are anticipating the latest bother Reacher will walk into. Just love his ‘values’ and that despite his size few ‘walk away’. Consequently, the action starts and the thrills spill over each passing page.
Of course as “The Kid in Town” the stranger walking down the highway off a bus, ever since “Killing Floor” he can easily be set up and take the fall. It was a brilliant idea to address that situation here and like me I am sure you will be very impressed and entertained by the result.
This is a terrific short story crafted originally for an anthology “Hotel California”. But being a Reacher narrative is available for fans as a separate title, positioned between books: “The Secret” and “In too Deep”.
Witnessing a potential child abuse incident, Reacher cannot just remain an on-looker. But by becoming involved he gets a ride; he arrived from the East so he has no destination in mind other than Westbound.
This is such a brilliant concept; rather than a Michael Portillo travelogue, we are anticipating the latest bother Reacher will walk into. Just love his ‘values’ and that despite his size few ‘walk away’. Consequently, the action starts and the thrills spill over each passing page.
Of course as “The Kid in Town” the stranger walking down the highway off a bus, ever since “Killing Floor” he can easily be set up and take the fall. It was a brilliant idea to address that situation here and like me I am sure you will be very impressed and entertained by the result.
December 8, 2024
Upgraded to 2 star and close to 2.5 because of the last minute flip.
This story was originally a part of an anthology Hotel California based on an album but then this story is a clear indicator for Reacher canon readers as to why Andrew has still not got into the groove of Lee's creation. This story like the recent books bar a couple have not been hot.
In brief this is a fast-paced, short story that continues the adventures of the iconic former military policeman, Jack Reacher. Reacher finds himself again in another small town where a mix of mystery and danger unfolds. The story introduces a new setting and fresh characters, but tries to stay true to the series' core elements—Reacher's sharp instincts, his moral code, and his willingness to take matters into his own hands when injustice is at play. This is more the ruthless Reacher of yore.
Andrew maintains the essence of Reacher's character while trying to add his own flair. The plot is straightforward, but the tension ebbs for much of the story with typical Reacher action.
Overall, New Kid in Town is a tepid entry for fans of the series, managing to elicit some satisfaction at the end with a decent comeback tweak.
This story was originally a part of an anthology Hotel California based on an album but then this story is a clear indicator for Reacher canon readers as to why Andrew has still not got into the groove of Lee's creation. This story like the recent books bar a couple have not been hot.
In brief this is a fast-paced, short story that continues the adventures of the iconic former military policeman, Jack Reacher. Reacher finds himself again in another small town where a mix of mystery and danger unfolds. The story introduces a new setting and fresh characters, but tries to stay true to the series' core elements—Reacher's sharp instincts, his moral code, and his willingness to take matters into his own hands when injustice is at play. This is more the ruthless Reacher of yore.
Andrew maintains the essence of Reacher's character while trying to add his own flair. The plot is straightforward, but the tension ebbs for much of the story with typical Reacher action.
Overall, New Kid in Town is a tepid entry for fans of the series, managing to elicit some satisfaction at the end with a decent comeback tweak.
Read
February 28, 2025Andrew Child isn't a bad writer, but he's not a notably good one. He's just a franchisee of an idea and any moderately decent writer could pretty much follow the template and be successful. Maybe that doesn't matter much if the content is good, but for me, I don't expect to keep reading the Reacher books and stories. But we'll see.
~~~
These short stories are maddening to a large extent. If you can't come up with a full story, why are you nickel and diming your fanbase with this drivel? Just please, stop. On the other hand, many people seem to enjoy them and I guess if you're that much of a fan, a little Reacher may go a long way. But these aren't necessary, add nothing to any worldbuilding that might be going on (and there's not much), aren't satisfying and it's not particularly interesting to read what would amount to about half a chapter in a novel.
~~~
This one is pretty dumb, but there is one good scene (the scene where Reacher rushes out the back door of a diner with another person).
~~~
These short stories are maddening to a large extent. If you can't come up with a full story, why are you nickel and diming your fanbase with this drivel? Just please, stop. On the other hand, many people seem to enjoy them and I guess if you're that much of a fan, a little Reacher may go a long way. But these aren't necessary, add nothing to any worldbuilding that might be going on (and there's not much), aren't satisfying and it's not particularly interesting to read what would amount to about half a chapter in a novel.
~~~
This one is pretty dumb, but there is one good scene (the scene where Reacher rushes out the back door of a diner with another person).
December 5, 2025
New Kid in Town captures much of the familiar Reacher energy—tight pacing, gritty atmosphere, and that unmistakable mix of instinct and justice that return readers expect. Child does a great job maintaining the tone of the series, and the setup is engaging enough to keep you turning pages.
That said though, the story never quite lands as cleanly as it could have. Several plot threads feel underdeveloped, and by the final chapters, a few key questions remain hanging in a way that’s more frustrating than mysterious. It’s enjoyable for the Reacher vibe alone, but it lacks the satisfying closure that makes the stronger installments stand out. A decent read, especially for fans, but not the most complete entry in the series.
That said though, the story never quite lands as cleanly as it could have. Several plot threads feel underdeveloped, and by the final chapters, a few key questions remain hanging in a way that’s more frustrating than mysterious. It’s enjoyable for the Reacher vibe alone, but it lacks the satisfying closure that makes the stronger installments stand out. A decent read, especially for fans, but not the most complete entry in the series.
May 20, 2024
A thrilling new addition to the bestselling Jack Reacher series, by Andrew Child
Hitching a ride cross-country, Reacher manages to thwart an unsavory criminal hiding out in a sleepy backwater town in rural Texas …
This story originally appeared in Hotel An Anthology of New Mystery Short Stories edited by Don Bruns.
Heather's Notes
So I liked this story, but I really would have liked more at the end. They never really stated what the guy was doing (although it seems a bit obvious). Also Reacher does not need a girl in every story. He is becoming a bit of a man whore.
Hitching a ride cross-country, Reacher manages to thwart an unsavory criminal hiding out in a sleepy backwater town in rural Texas …
This story originally appeared in Hotel An Anthology of New Mystery Short Stories edited by Don Bruns.
Heather's Notes
So I liked this story, but I really would have liked more at the end. They never really stated what the guy was doing (although it seems a bit obvious). Also Reacher does not need a girl in every story. He is becoming a bit of a man whore.
August 14, 2025
2.75⭐️
It was fine. No complaints. It filled the “written under a pseudonym” prompt for a reading challenge my local library is hosting, so it was a super quick little short that fulfilled its purpose. I don’t feel like googling every author of every book on my radar, so this was easy. And it was entertaining enough. Cool introduction (for me—it’s not the actual introduction) to the Reacher series, and I can see the appeal, but it didn’t make me want to read any other books from the series. It did, however, make me interested in watching the TV series, so I probably will.
It was fine. No complaints. It filled the “written under a pseudonym” prompt for a reading challenge my local library is hosting, so it was a super quick little short that fulfilled its purpose. I don’t feel like googling every author of every book on my radar, so this was easy. And it was entertaining enough. Cool introduction (for me—it’s not the actual introduction) to the Reacher series, and I can see the appeal, but it didn’t make me want to read any other books from the series. It did, however, make me interested in watching the TV series, so I probably will.
March 31, 2025
Andrew is clearly trying to emulate his brother’s style, which is critical to the Reacher books. But he fails pretty badly. There are long periods of boredom, fewer fight scenes, and the action, when it does arrive, is limp and watered down, without the snap and internal monologue Reacher used to add. I’ve read all the Reacher books, short stories, novellas, whatever, but I think it’s time to call it. If Lee is done, so am I.
May 10, 2025
Was in the mood for a thriller and thought I'd give Jack Reacher a go. I hadn't read any Lee Child, so I thought I'd give it a go, and didn't notice that New Kid in Town was written by his younger brother Andrew Child until I was done. So, I still haven't read any Lee Child, and hopefully this doesn't count as a Jack Reacher novel.
It wasn't bad. It just wasn't that good. But at least it was very short.
It wasn't bad. It just wasn't that good. But at least it was very short.
Read
November 8, 2024#andrewchild flying solo with a #jackreacher shortstory #newkidintown by @apg1632
Classic reacher. Helping out people in need and getting caught up in shenanigans along the way. An interesting turn of events but rather a downbeat ending. I listened to the audiobook but I feel like I am missing a few pieces of the puzzle.
Classic reacher. Helping out people in need and getting caught up in shenanigans along the way. An interesting turn of events but rather a downbeat ending. I listened to the audiobook but I feel like I am missing a few pieces of the puzzle.
January 28, 2025
Andrew's first solo credit on a Reacher story! And he did great! A couple of times, he used British words again, but he'll get past it. This one loses some points with me for leaving so much ambiguous at the end. I would personally prefer more clarity, but that's just a stylistic choice thing and I get it.
July 13, 2024
Of all the names you could choose for the bad guy, you went with Mason Greenwood? You know there are random name generators out there on the web…
Still; nice to get a short story in between instalments of the series.
Still; nice to get a short story in between instalments of the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 20, 2024
The story was actually more interesting than the most recent full length novel, In Too Deep, but the short story was too short. I didn’t feel like any of the plot points were explained well enough and then it just ends. Needed to be fleshed out a little.
March 26, 2025
Short, but with all the characteristics that make Reacher.
I have loved Jack Reacher since the first book. This short story had everything you expect, jumping in to protect the vulnerable, taking out the bad guys and then leaving town before the cops showed up.
I have loved Jack Reacher since the first book. This short story had everything you expect, jumping in to protect the vulnerable, taking out the bad guys and then leaving town before the cops showed up.
June 6, 2025
Even thought this was written by the son on Lee Child it was classic reacher. Minding his own business and happens to take out the bad guys. Now the topic is a touchy one for some but it was a great quick read for any reacher fan.
October 24, 2025
It has been said that Andrew did not have the talent to write the Reacher character. I agreed in the beginning. But Andrew has proven with these shorts that he is able to write Reacher well and include the magic too!! I am ready for a lot more Reacher.
May 28, 2024
I HATE CLIFFHANGER!!!!!
June 1, 2024
It was interesting, but it didn't seem like a full baked idea. Reacher always had my interest, but I wanted a full story.
July 14, 2024
An enjoyable bitesize Reacher adventure.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews