Not a Drill

About this book

One lift leads to another, and for Jack Reacher an aimless August day in Maine becomes a journey to the very end of Interstate 95. With an expired passport and no particular place to be, the drifter hitches a ride toward the Canadian border just to see where the road runs out. Then a battered old minivan pulls over, and three young travelers offer him a ride into the Allagash wilderness. Written by Lee Child, Not a Drill is a short Jack Reacher story first published in 2014 as a Delacorte Press eBook original. It runs about 12,500 words, so you can finish it in a single sitting. It has the dry humor, sharp observation and lean prose that Reacher fans know well. The forest is vast, the trail is remote, and the cheerful companions in the van may not be what they seem. Reacher's habit of noticing every detail, and of never turning down a ride, could carry him somewhere he never planned to go. Whether you have followed Reacher through the novels or want a quick introduction to the character, this short story delivers tension, atmosphere and a hero who keeps moving. It is a good choice for fans of crime, action and road-trip thrillers. Buy now and start reading online instantly in your browser, with no download needed.

Author

Lee Child

Length

~46 pages

Reading time

55 min

Chapters

8

Released

October 22, 2026

Languages

🇬🇧 EN · 🇵🇱 PL · 🇩🇪 DE · 🇫🇷 FR · 🇪🇸 ES · 🇮🇹 IT · 🇧🇷 PT-BR · 🇲🇽 ES-MX · 🇵🇹 PT · 🇺🇦 UK · 🇨🇿 CS · 🇸🇰 SK · 🇬🇷 EL · 🇭🇺 HU · 🇹🇷 TR · 🇳🇱 NL · 🇷🇴 RO · 🇧🇬 BG · 🇭🇷 HR · 🇷🇸 SR · 🇸🇮 SL · 🇱🇹 LT · 🇱🇻 LV · 🇪🇪 ET · 🇸🇪 SV · 🇩🇰 DA · 🇳🇴 NB · 🇫🇮 FI · 🇯🇵 JA · 🇰🇷 KO · 🇨🇳 ZH · 🇹🇼 ZH-TW · 🇮🇩 ID · 🇻🇳 VI · 🇹🇭 TH · 🇮🇳 HI · 🇸🇦 AR · 🇮🇱 HE

Formats

eBook · Print edition

Print format

Paperback, 13.5 × 21 cm, 48 pages

ISBN

978-0-8041-7883-9

Age rating

Teen 13+