Safe Enough and Other Stories Anthology

Lee Child the Television Producer and Author of the enormously popular series of Jack Reacher Novels has published an anthology of 20 Short Stories.

The anthology is called Safe Enough and Other Stories.  Is Child safe enough from receiving heavy criticism from his readers and critic’s for publishing this book?  Likely, Child is not safe.

The Foreword by Child is perhaps the most engaging and enjoyable four pages of the book.

At 237 pages, the 20 Short Stories are a mixed bag. Some are well written and rewarding for the reader.  Others are somewhat less rewarding, but still entertain.  A few of the stories feel like a complete waste of the readers time, and that Child might have put no time into the story either.

Not Jack Reacher

Child makes clear up front Safe Enough is not about, or will utilize the Reacher character or the style of the series of novels. None of the stories have a protagonist, or at least one I can remember.

The Anthology

The short stories in Safe Enough all involve some type of crime.  Most of the characters in the stories are up to no good.  In most of the stories, the people on the side of the law abuse it, and people on the other side want to continue benefitting from breaking it.  Only a few of the characters are likeable.  Similar to the movies, the Mastermind or Villain Boss talks too long and is the recipient of an unsavory end.

Child does provide some quick turns of fate that prove to be enjoyable.  However, some of the turns of fate feel telegraphed, predictable, and therefore unrewarding.