(Article is in Novels universe)
Seth Duncan is a character appearing in the novel Worth Dying For by British author Lee Child. He is the adopted son of Jacob Duncan who is the oldest of 3 brothers who run a trucking company that serves local farmers.
In Worth Dying For[]
Reacher first sees a picture of Seth at the Duncan residence, in which he appears a few years younger. He later tracks him down to a stakehouse, based on that his wife said that he was out eating dinner with friends.
After fighting Brett, one of the Cornhuskers, Reacher confronts Seth, though indirectly mentions his abuse against his wife, before punching him.
Seth then meets with his father and uncles at Jasper's house, where he mentions the events at the diner. They agree to get rid of Reacher, sending two new Cornhuskers to the motel he is staying at.
Continuing their family meeting, Seth is questioned if has something to hide following a discussion about a shipment delay at the Canadian border. Seth admits that he didn’t hit his wife, and tells his father and uncles that one of their customers had grown frustrated with shipment delays, and that he had given an estimated delivery date. The customer had sent goons to talk to Seth, though despite his reassurances, it wasn’t enough. One day they came and sought payback on Seth, thereby he let it out on his wife, whom they hit while he held her. Seth further adds that they came again the day before (before the events of the book) and hit her again.
Seth and uncle Jasper say nothing after Jonas discovers the bodies of two Cornhuskers that Reacher dropped in their driveway.
During the family meal where his father and uncles discuss the delivery issue and Reacher, Seth urges that he wants Reacher to pay. After they agree to pin the delivery delays on Reacher, Seth states that he also wants to join, when they finally get Reacher.
During Reacher’s dinner with Dorothy Coe, she tells him a story from 25 years ago, when Seth was 8 years old. She mentions that Seth was often bullied at school, and that he was taken in by Jacob, though no one asked about his origin. A girl had once visited the Duncan's home and was touched by Seth, his father and uncles. After the word got around, no girls or boys, ever visited the Duncans. One day, a little girl, the same age as Seth, went missing. Despite the efforts of the state police, National Guard and FBI, she was never found. Dorothy reveals that the girl was her daughter. She pointed her finger at the Duncans, who were questioned by the state police. In retaliation, the Duncans stopped making deliveries from her farm for a year. Her husband committed suicide soon after.
Seth is present when Roberto Cassano and Angelo Mancini question the family about Reacher’s role in the delivery delay, to which Jacob Duncan reassures that the delivery will be on the way as soon as Reacher is finished. Seth is also present when Cornhuskers bring in the doctor, to which Jacob leads the questioning of.
After having dinner at Jonas’ house, Seth asks his father if he can drive him home. Jacob orders him to stay a bit longer, because he wants everyone ready for the delivery and that they have a lot more to talk about.
After relocating to Jasper’s house, Seth expresses that Reacher wouldn’t find anything in the police reports that others haven’t read before, and that there is no evidence. Jacob tells him that it’s not about Reacher being smarter and what is already in the reports, but about what is not in them.
After Reacher, Dorothy Coe, the doctor and his wife leave the house together to check the Cornhusker’s phone in the vehicle Reacher stole, Seth arrives in Eleanor’s car and holds them at gunpoint. He then orders them to sit down on the ground and cross their legs. Reacher tells him to have some self respect due to the cold, and asks him to let them get their jackets. Coe is allowed to get her jacket first, followed by the doctor‘a wife and then the doctor himself, however Seth doesn’t allow Reacher to get his because he doesn’t trust him. Soon after, several Cornhuskers arrive and Seth orders them to get the others inside, excluding Reacher. He then orders some of them to restrain him. Seth then asks Reacher the same question he asked him when they first met, before trying to punch him, only for Reacher to use his skull in self defence. After hurting his fists against Reacher’s skulls, Seth gesticulates to the Cornhuskers refraining him, and Reacher is subsequently knocked unconscious.
Seth decides to question Dorothy Coe first about Reacher. He notably asks her about her knowledge of him, whether or not she knew him, or if she had invited him to breakfast, all of which she denies. He praises this and points out that it’s impossible that Reacher could make it out of the basement, given it was designed to sustain hurricanes. He then heads out to Eleanor’s car and heads back home.
Seth is witnessed by Mahmeini’s remaining goon arriving back home. Seth joins his father and uncles in Jasper’s basement looking for an aesthetic to help with his wounds. Jonas finds the right bottle of it, right before they all here someone walking upstairs. Seth arrives upstairs together with his uncles after Jacob left first. They obey Mahmeini’s goon, who broke into the house to confront them, and holds them all at gunpoint. Jacob negotiates with the goon, insisting that Reacher is a real threat and possibly still out there, and that the Duncans have no knowledge of Safir or Mahmeini. In a moment of hesitation, the goon shuffles his gun between all of them, before he is shot through the window by Cassano. The Duncans then have drinks with Cassano and Mancini after cleaning up. While discussing Reacher with them, Jacob suggests that Seth could go solo in search of Reacher alongside Cassano and Mancini. Cassano insists that it doesn’t matter how many he sends out looking for Reacher, they will still beat them to it.
Seth is in Jacob’s house when Reacher’s attack on the Duncans commences. Jasper is present in the house talking to him and Jacob, but it’s unknown what is said. After Jasper leaves, Jacob and Seth tries to escape the burning property in a truck, but they switch to Seth’s Cadillac after the truck doesn’t budge. When the Cadillac also doesn’t budge, they resort to escaping on foot. Jacob and Seth separate and escape in one respective direction each. Seth crosses a field and makes it to the main road, and tries desperately to shoot Reacher who is pursuing him in a SUV. Seth eventually runs out of bullets, and in a last resort throws the gun at Reacher’s vehicle, but bounces of easily. Reacher then runs Seth over, with the impact instantly killing him.