# The Sentinel (Child novel)

The Sentinel is the twenty-fifth book in the Jack Reacher series written by Lee Child. It is the first Jack Reacher book to be co-authored by James Grant and his younger brother Andrew Grant but published using their pen names of Lee Child and Andrew Child respectively. The book was released on 27 October 2020 in the United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia and Ireland by Delacorte Press and Bantam Press.

## Plot

The Greyhound bus deposited Jack Reacher in Nashville just as midnight painted the sky a deep indigo. A sense of liberation washed over him, the weight of his recent travels finally lifted. He found refuge in a modest motel, the air thick with the smoke of stale cigarettes and disinfectant. Protect and honor has begun, a subtle unease begins coming in; a recurring face in the diner across the street, a lingering car parked down the alley, a persistent feeling of being watched.
Reacher's quiet arrival in Nashville is soon interrupted by an unexpected encounter with a man who identified himself as an insurance negotiator. This man, overly keen on driving Reacher to a remote town in Tennessee, sparked Reacher's inherent caution. His excessive interest in Reacher's travel plans, coupled with a strange intensity in his eyes, raised a red flag. The negotiator's eager and interested who felt manufactured, hinting at an ulterior motive, a hidden agenda that Reacher was determined to unravel, knowing that his relaxed arrival in Nashville may be far from the peaceful respite he had hoped for.
Reacher stepped off the bus into the quietude of a small Tennessee town, a place where time seemed to move at a slower pace. The town's tranquil facade hid underlying tensions, and Reacher quickly grasped the local power dynamics, sensing a simmering unease linked to a recently dismissed information technology manager named Rusty Rutherford. Whispers hinted at Rutherford's growing anger and a potential for turmoil.
At Fat Freddie's Diner, a greasy spoon central to the town's social fabric, Reacher encountered Rutherford himself. The man's raw frustration over his lost job was evident, an unsuspecting bitterness and resentment. Rutherford's words revealed a burning desire for vengeance, a clear indication of the trouble brewing beneath the surface of this seemingly peaceful town. The presence of a Nazi Brotherhood group in such a seemingly quaint town was jarring. Reacher's investigations unearthed unsettling connections between this hateful organization and authority, suggesting a deeper, more than success.
Rutherford, in a hushed tone, unveils a deeply hidden secret, illness that crime and illicit operations stretching beyond their quiet town. This conspiracy, he reveals, is far more extensive than Reacher could have imagined, putting him in immediate peril. Reacher quickly grasps the gravity of the situation, understanding that Rutherford's life is now in grave danger.
However, Reacher soon clutch on the guards a watchful presence surrounding Rutherford, a silent sentinel safeguarding the secret. While he suspects the Nazi Brotherhood's involvement, a more profound and influential force lurks beneath the surface, casting a shadow of doubt on his initial assumptions.
As Reacher digs deeper into the unraveling mystery, he encounters a barrage of attacks and threats. The Nazi Brotherhood and their ruthless enforcers and accountable risks and pursue him, aiming to silence his pursuit of the truth and prevent him from exposing their clandestine operation.
Reacher, driven by his unforgiving and determination and a touch of ruthlessness, master-plan into the heat, gradually finding the falling down has begun the secret's core – a connection to the Nazi Brotherhood and their illegal. The bodyguard breaks out of leads him down a bodyguard. Their choices become a race against time and danger by those involved.
Meanwhile, the FBI, recognizing the gravity of the situation, steps in to assist. Special Agent Wallwork and the skilled undercover agent, Natasha, arrive in town, attempting to collaborate with Reacher in unraveling the intricate truth and delivering swift justice to the perpetrators responsible for the unfolding the town.
Reacher, Rutherford, and the FBI agents face off against the Nazi Brotherhood and their allies in a killing down. The secret is revealed, and the truth is exposed, leading to a decisive battle for justice. Reacher helps bring the guilty to justice, but he knows that the fight for truth and justice is never truly over. He leaves the small town, satisfied with his contribution, and moves on to the next time, forever a silent sentinel against injustice.

## Characters

* Jack Reacher: The main protagonist, a former military policeman, known for his resourcefulness and capacity for justice.
* Rusty Rutherford: Recently fired manager of information technology for a small town in Tennessee.
* Natasha: An undercover FBI Special Agent.
* Special Agent Margaret Fisher: An undercover FBI Special Agent.
* Officer Rule: Police officer in the small town.
* John Goodyear: Detective in a small town.
* Speranski: Leader of a local Nazi Brotherhood group.
* Henry Klostermann: Leader of a local Nazi Brotherhood group.
* Special Agent Wallwork: FBI Special Agent.
* Marty: Driver of long black German sedan that was supposed to take Reacher out of town.
* Holly: Waitress at Rutherford's favorite diner.
* Sarah Sands: Former FBI Special Agent and cyber crimes expert working with Rutherford.
* Dave Thomassino: Electronic scrap delivery driver.
* Bill Budnick: Owner of Fat Freddie's diner.
* Zach: Low level nazi thug working with Klostermann.
* Denisov: Russian enforcer brought in to take care of Reacher.

## Reception

Publishers Weekly as an "action thriller." It follows Jack Reacher, a drifter with a military background, as he becomes entangled in a dangerous conspiracy within the U.S. Army. Reacher's unwavering determination and astute observational skills make him a compelling protagonist, propelling the narrative forward with relentless pace and a palpable sense of danger. Child masterfully crafts a suspenseful plot, leaving readers on the edge of their seats until the very last page.