YOUth Review: Cleaning the Gold by Karin Slaughter and Lee Child

Cleaning the Gold, authored by thriller writers Karin Slaughter and Lee Child, is a novella that brings together a story and brings their most famous characters along for the ride. Will Trent, a special agent with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, goes undercover at Fort Knox to investigate a decades-old cold case murder — and his prime suspect is none other than Jack Reacher. Meanwhile, Reacher has arrived at
Fort Knox on his own mission: to expose a dangerous criminal ring operating within America's military. However, a bigger conspiracy emerges that neither could have anticipated, forcing them to set aside their differences and work together.

The authors blend their styles seamlessly, crafting entertaining exchanges between the two protagonists. Readers also pick up a few fascinating details about the U.S. gold vault, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the setting without feeling forced. The brief story is a fast and thoroughly entertaining read for fans of either series, or anyone who enjoys a fast-paced thriller.

My opinion about this book is that despite not being a fan of the genre, it was an enjoyable read. While the plot being decent enough to keep me interested for most of it, it was a little boring in the beginning but after the first chapter it gets much better. I was able to get a grasp of both of the authors' characters and their motives by the end of the short story which proves to me how good they are. My one complaint other than the first chapter being slightly boring is that it didn’t have more to read.

Written by Seth A.