This short novel by Lee Child, one of the world's most successful bestselling authors, continues the series of thrillers about Jack Reacher. More precisely, this novella should have chronologically begun the entire subsequent series of thrillers about Jack Reacher, since here he appears before the reader as a teenager. The action takes place in New York on a hot July day in 1977. Due to the incredible heat, Jack drinks Coca-Cola instead of coffee. He is only 16 years old. He travels from a military base in Korea to a military school in the United States, and, finding himself alone in New York, tries to strike up romantic relationships with pretty students. However, life brings him together with a mafia boss who violates Reacher's peculiar moral code. And this dramatically changes the guy’s plans, turning the further narrative into a hunt for the scum. At the same time, in New York, due to the heat, a famous historical event occurs - a blackout, a massive power outage that occurred on the night of July 13-14, 1977. Manhattan is plunged into darkness and chaos. There are robberies, broken shop windows, and looting all around. It was like Christmas for black people. The police are paralyzed... In a word, it was not a boring night. Along the way, Jack notices a serial killer lurking in the darkness, for whom the city authorities have announced a hunt. But everything ends almost well. Almost, but not quite. Written in the recognizable style of Lee Child - energetic and dynamic action.