Book Reviews and More: Eleven Numbers

Tuesday, 4 March 2025

Eleven Numbers - Lee Child

Eleven Numbers

Lee Child

Amazon Original Stories

ASIN B0DFMNV4Z3

Prior to reading this I had read all the Reacher novels and the Reacher novella’s and short stories. I picked up my first as a gift for my dad, read the back and ended up reading all that were in print in under a year. I was not exactly sure what I expected from this story, but having enjoyed most of Lee Child’s works in print it I figured it was worth a read.

The description of this volume states:

“An American mathematician’s assignment in Russia spirals into a high-stakes maze of shifting loyalties and intrigue in a propulsive short thriller by #1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Child.

Nathan Tyler is an unassuming professor at a middling American university with a rather obscure specialty in mathematics—in short, a nobody from nowhere. So why is the White House calling? Summoned to Washington, DC, for a top-secret briefing, Nathan discovers that he’s the key to a massive foreign intelligence breakthrough. Reading between the lines of a cryptic series of equations, he could open a door straight into the heart of the Kremlin and change the global balance of power forever. All he has to do is get to a meeting with the renowned Russian mathematician who created it. But when Nathan crashes headlong into a dangerous new game, the odds against him suddenly look a lot steeper.”

This story is a very interesting premise. I did not see the two major twists coming. A regular guy called to serve his country. But everything might not be as it appears. He soon realizes his best friend might be a Russian mathematician he has always looked up to, and maybe sees things better than he does.

I am glad I read it is a very solid short novella, or long short story. Writing short form fiction is a very different art than writing novels and this is an excellent offering from Child’s pen. If you are a big fan of Child it is an interesting read to show off his skill in short form fiction. I can easily recommend this story for fans of Child’s works, fans of great short stories, or those into the espionage genre. A very intriguing read!