Safe Enough: And Other Stories

Prolific thriller writer, Child (Jack Reacher series) shares in the foreword to his riveting short story collection that writing short stories has always been something of a guilty pleasure. Short stories don’t usually bring in much money, but they give authors a chance to try something new and have a little fun. Though listeners may be mourning Child’s departure from the Reacher series (having left the remaining books in his brother Andrew’s hands), they can rest easy, as Child’s clear delight in writing comes through in this excellent collection. Accompanied by Edoardo Ballerini’s pitch-perfect narration, Child offers 20 non-Reacher stories that are thought-provoking, intriguing, and just plain fun. There’s a cop who does everything by the numbers, a bodyguard who is rescued by his client, an organizational meeting for an espionage mission, a police file-room clerk with a hidden talent, and a serial killer who only kills people deemed to be “bad.” Ballerini’s accents are believable, and his tone complements Child’s writing, creating a conversational, inviting atmosphere.