Whoa, so this is kind of a big deal. While speaking to EW, Lee Child revealed that his next book, Night School, will actually be a prequel story. It’s apparently set back in 1996, and Reacher is still in the army.
Read the rest of the interview here, which includes snippets about Child’s writing style and even a quick tidbit about the upcoming Jack Reacher movie.
My Thoughts
Honestly, I’m excited about a prequel novel for several reasons. Personally, I wasn’t big on Lee Child’s last few books. In fact, I haven’t gotten into any of his stories since 61 Hours–which was six years (and six books) ago. The problem, at least in my opinion, is that Child seems to write with the same formula over and over again. Half way through the story, I know where everything’s heading and lose interest.
So, in that sense, I’m hoping that a prequel novel will be the boost that the Reacher series so badly needs, and provide a fresh take on the character. Only time will tell, but Night School remains one of the year’s most intriguing books due to Child’s hit or miss potential. It could be a great book, or it could totally suck. Either way, we’ll find out on November 8th!