61 Hours (Jack Reacher #14)

61 Hours is the fourteenth Jack Reacher book by Lee Child. Reacher is an ex-military cop who keeps finding situations that need his expertise.

Reacher is passing through South Dakota when the bus his on breaks down outside of the town of Bolton. Because there is a storm coming in that will shut down the highway, the 22 people on the bus - 20 seniors on a tour, the driver, and Reacher who paid for a ride to the Rapid City - will stay in town until a new bus can be delivered.

When Reacher sees that the Bolton police department has a situation, he asks about it. Reluctantly, Deputy Chief Peterson fills Reacher in on the facts. He also explains that in order to get the new prison on the edge of town, the Police department has some rules to follow. Now Peterson is worried about protecting a witness if the prison siren goes off - and all police officers are required to report to a security perimeter.

Reacher figures since he is stuck in town anyway he may as well meet the witness so he can guard her if anything happens at the prison. And what follows is Reacher -style justice for the bad guys.

Child has created a compelling, likable character with a firm sense of right and wrong, and the muscle to hold others up to his standards. He is the cop you want on your side in a fights. Fans of mystery and suspense novels should read the books from the beginning and get sucked into an addictive series.


Child, Lee. (2010). 61 Hours. New York: Dell Books.