Category: Lee Child

by Lee Child
Series: Jack Reacher, #18

Hardcover, 400 pg.
Delacorte Press, 2013
Read: July 23 – 24, 2014

The journey that Reacher started following 61 Hours is at an end — he’s back at the 110th MP, his old unit to meet the person the goes with the voice at the other end of the phone line — the new CO, Maj. Susan Turner. He’s planning on asking her to dinner, and to see what happens from there. Sure, walking from South Dakota to get a date seems extreme — but other than bringing justice to various locations between South Dakota and Virginia, what else does Reacher have in his day planner?

Sure, since this is Jack Reacher — it won’t go all that easily for him. He arrives at the gate, hoping to get a date — instead he gets a global conspiracy, a cross-country trip, a chance to visit life-changing mistakes he may have made over a decade ago, and a return to active duty. On the whole, this is a lot less violent than most Reacher novels — with a comparatively very small body count (but it is violent, and there is a body count — never fear).

This story alone is fun — Reacher being Reacher. This time he’s got a version of himself along for the ride. Turner has the job he used to have, has a lot of the same opinions, skills, background — but Turner’s made some different choices in her life, has different attitudes, making her a mirror image in many ways (not just being small and female). She’s willing to do a lot to take down the criminals behind the conspiracy, but not as far as Reacher will. She’s far more interested in the courts and the Army having a crack at the conspirators, while Reacher’s just focused on stopping them and breaking as many eggs as he has to go get his omelet made.

Turner’s own appraisal of Reacher and the reader’s own look at her in contrast to Reacher tells us a lot more about the ex-MP than what we’ve seen before (at least adding depth and color to our impression of him, if not actual new information). In many ways Susan Turner is the most objective look we’ve ever gotten of Reacher (our typical omniscient third-person narrator isn’t terribly objective when it comes to Jack Reacher). She likes him — a lot — but is very critical. I like her and think there’s probably a lot her appraisal.

This was a very satisfying read — Lee Child and his hero, firing on all cylinders, doing what they do best. Told in a pretty fresh way, with added insight into the character. Just what the doctor ordered.

—–

4 1/2 Stars

A Wanted Man by Lee Child

By HCNewton

On January 31, 2014

In Authors, Fiction, Jack Reacher, Lee Child, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

A Wanted Man

by Lee Child
Series: Jack Reacher, #17

Hardcover, 405 pg.
Delacorte Press, 2012
Read: Dec. 16-17, 2013

Despite the fact that I’d written 2 paragraphs of this while reading it, I had a really hard time coming up with something to say here. This is about the most reliable series I know — how do you say something new and/or interesting about Old Faithful? Every 60-110 minutes it goes off, you can count on it. Every year or so, Lee Child let’s Jack Reacher go off. This is not a problem at all for the reader — far from it — but it’s a pain in the rear if you’re trying to write about it.

The greatest strength of this series is how different each novel/adventure is, totally unlike the rest — and yet each is quintessentially Reacher. There’s an unmistakable feel to reading about everyone’s favorite nomadic ex-MP.

This time out, Reacher’s still hitchhiking his way to Virginia — the same trip he started shortly after 61 Hours, and is picked up by two men and a woman on their way back from a corporate retreat (he assumes). He starts to notice a few things not quite right about the way they’re acting, but on page 33 he says, “Not my problem.” Which pretty much guarantees we’ll be spending the next 400 pages dealing with these people.

So what makes this one different from all the rest? It’s the twistiest, turniest Reacher in ages (if not ever). Like any good suspense writer, Child specializes in throwing a good curveball or five at you in the course of a novel — but (again, this is common with the best) usually you can look back at what’s come before and see where that plot twist came from. But there were a couple of turns in this one that took me totally by surprise. Not that Child cheated at all, or used a Deus ex machina, or the like. Just honest, out of the blue, surprises. I would’ve enjoyed the novel without those touches, but having them was a pleasant bonus.

I’m really looking forward to this next adventure — Reacher’s worked harder to get to Virginia this time than we’ve seen him before. He’s had a goal longer than we’re used to. I expect a humdinger of a read next time — and who knows?* Maybe it’ll be worth more than just one.

—–

^* who knew? Actually got to use the word “humdinger.”

—–

4 1/2 Stars

The Affair by Lee Child

By HCNewton

On November 19, 2013

In Fiction, Jack Reacher, Lee Child, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, Uncategorized

The Affair

by Lee Child
Series: Jack Reacher, #16

Hardcover, 405 pg.
Delacorte Press, 2011

“You want me to impersonate a civilian?” [Reacher said]

“It’s not that hard. we’re all members of the same species, more our less. You’ll figure it out.”

Thus begins the sixteenth Jack Reacher novel. Taking place in 1997, he’s still an MP, and is being sent undercover into a small town near an army base, while another investigator is being sent into the base it self to investigate a murder possibly tied to base personnel.

His undercover disguise looks pretty much like the post-discharge Jack Reacher we know — no job, good pair of boots, a toothbrush and one shirt. He wanders into town, finds an ally or two and gets to work.

It takes very little time for Reacher to find himself at odds with some locals (I didn’t think this storyline was all that satisfying, but it gave Reacher a chance to bash in a few heads). Not that he’s ever short of ego, but he seems cockier than I’m used to — I’m assuming that comes from the inherent authority of an MP as opposed to a loan wanderer. Regardless, it was a kick to read his encounters, with this extended family:

He said, “Is there a reason I don’t get out of this truck and kick your butt?”

I said, “Two hundred and six reasons.”

He said, “What?”

“That’s how many bones you got in your body. I could break them all before you put a glove on me.”

Which got his buddy going. Hist instinct was to stick up for his friend and face down a challenge. He leaned further out his own window and said, “You think?”

I said, “Often all day long. It’s a good habit to have.”

The local county sheriff is a former Marine MP, and it takes her no time at all to suss out Reacher’s purpose and to recruit him to help her investigation into this — and related — murders. Yes, her — that particular plotline is self-evident (although this is a bit . . . more explicit than Child’s norm).

There’s little suspense in this — 1. It takes place before Killing Floor, so you know Reacher’s not killed, 2. how seriously worried are you ever that Reacher will survive? Sure, you wonder what will happen to those around him — what the collateral damage is going to be, but that’s about it. Nevertheless — the final hundred pages or so of this is an edge of your seat ride. Which is par for the course for Child, doesn’t make it any less fun.

Beyond the murder investigation — or more properly, around it — are politics (federal, local and military), discussion of the role (and shape) of the military, the future of the U. S. Army (contrasted with some other branches). In the end, the identity of the murder is pretty obvious — but the twisty path that Reacher and the others travel to find it, what obstacles they overcome, and the fallout — that’s what makes this a very satisfying read.

—–

4 1/2 Stars

Worth Dying For by Lee Child

By HCNewton

On September 24, 2013

In Fiction, Jack Reacher, Lee Child, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

Worth Dying For by Lee Child
Series: Jack Reacher, #15

At the end of a harrying week, there’s not much better than settling down to read about Jack Reacher kicking whatever, taking names, and meting out justice.

The last couple of novels have been a little more on the cerebral side for Reacher (not that they haven’t had plenty of violence), which is fine — Reacher’s more than just brawn, he’s got a brain. But by page 43 of this book when the first fight (well, the first real) starts you can tell this us going to be a lot different than the last couple of books, there’s going to be a good deal of violence, and the reader’s blood is going to be pumping a lot. And wow, is there a lot of fighting going on — I haven’t kept notes or anything, but I don’t remember as much hand-to-hand fighting in a Reacher book in ages — if ever. Well-exectued by both Child and Reacher, I should add.

There is a misunderstanding involving one representative of the for parties that Reacher is up against here. The kind of misunderstanding that would make classic sit-com fodder, but here serves to ratchet up the paranoia and mutual suspicions between the parties. I had a lot of fun watching how one chance encounter and a million to one happening unravels something that really could’ve taken Reacher down, particularly in his weakened condition.

That weakened condition is one of the best things about this book — there’s a strong link between Worth Dying For and 61 Hours, the strongest since Tripwire and Running Blind — 11 books back — and, from what I’ve learned from a couple of TV interviews, this link continues in his latest, Never Go Back (further incentive, not that I need it, to catch up with this series). His body is still recovering from the trauma endured, and his mind is set on the officer who’s taken his old position. I really appreciated that, it’s good to see that these aren’t just random adventures, but there’s some continuity at work here, even if the novels are completely stand-alone in nature.

The villains at the center of this mess are probably the vilest that Child has yet cooked up — and that’s saying something. Once everything about their criminal activities is revealed, you’re more than ready for Reacher to do his thing. Which he — naturally — does with aplomb and efficiency.

Take your blood pressure meds, get in your comfy chair and kick back for a heck of a read.

—–

4 Stars

61 Hours by Lee Child

By HCNewton

On July 31, 2013

In C-E, Fiction, Jack Reacher, Lee Child, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

61 Hours by Lee Child
Series: Jack Reacher, #14

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It struck me while reading 61 Hours that the Reacher series is the literary equivalent of those wandering hero TV shows that we don’t seem to have any more, like Route 66, The Incredible Hulk, Knight Rider, and even Highway to Heaven — hero wanders into a town, sees some sort of injustice afoot, takes it upon himself (and/or is forced to) confront the source of the injustice, cleans up town and leaves. I started off thinking about the Hulk, but expanded it a bit the further I got in the book. Reacher is both Banner and the monster (don’t make Reacher angry, you wouldn’t like him when he’s angry). I think I’m going to start listening to “The Lonely Man Theme” during the last chapter of all future Reacher books.

Yeah, that’s a bit rambling, sorry. But I think the same impulse that kept people coming back to those shows is what brings us to Reacher. The outsider who saves the day and moves on. What we might be powerless to see, or incapable of doing — he can, with no fear of consequences. There’s something totemic about that.

That’s exactly what 61 Hours promises and delivers. The villian was a bit more villainous than some (but he’s not the worst human being Reacher’s faced off with, just the worst lately), the mystery’s a bit of a gimme –but no one’s ever confused Reacher with Nero Wolfe, and it’s easy to see why Reacher doesn’t put the pieces together as early as the reader does. It’s possible that this is the least violent novel in the series, but you know that violence is on the way –and when it arrives, Child makes every bullet and hit count.

The title/hook is something different for Child. He basically starts a countdown at the end of the first chapter — 61 hours until something’s going to happen. And then we get frequent updates — “Fifty-four hours to go”, “Thirty-one hours until it starts”, and that sort of thing (not real quotations, just examples). Really ratchets up the tension — I can’t imagine it’d work more than once, but it really worked well this time.

Frequently, the relationships that Reacher develops/finds with people are the weak areas of the book, but Child gives us three strong ones this time around — the Deputy Chief of a small police department who knows enough to see that Reacher is a resource, the spunky elderly woman who’s the target of Big Bad, and the Major sitting in Reacher’s old desk at his old command. With each of them we see different facets of our hero at work — and seeing both what they respond to in Reacher, and what he is drawn to in them helps flesh out all four characters, but Reacher more than the rest. I’m not sure we learn a lot more about our favorite wandering ex-MP through this, but we know it better.

61 Hours is one more piece of evidence proving that Lee Child is one of the (if not the) best, the most consistent writers working today. Long live the king.

Dusted Off: The Hard Way by Lee Child

By HCNewton

On July 31, 2013

In C-E, Fiction, Jack Reacher, Lee Child, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

The Hard Way by Lee Child
Series: Jack Reacher, #10

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The thing about a Reacher book is that the instant the conflict is introduced (this time, a kidnapping), you know the major plot points for the book: Reacher will rescue the kidnapped people; there will be some physical altercations and at least 1 gunfight; he will meet (and likely bed) an attractive woman; and the Bad Guy will be vanquished (likely forever); justice will triumph.

Knowing a;; this, which pretty much eliminates all suspense, you also know that it’ll still be a fun, intense, edge-of-your-seat read.

How does Child pull that off?

Don’t know. Don’t care, as long as he keeps it up.

Dusted Off: One Shot by Lee Child

By HCNewton

On July 31, 2013

In C-E, Fiction, Jack Reacher, Lee Child, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

One Shot by Lee Child
Series: Jack Reacher, #9

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Darn satisfying read. Pure Child gold. Some nice twists and turns along the way, but from the time that the suspect says “Get Reacher” you know that 1. He’s absolutely innocent and 2. The bad guys are going to pay. Just that simple. So why bother going on? Cuz the next 300+ pages will be impossible to turn away from, you will be sucked in the entire time and have a blast the whole time.

That’s simply Child’s way.

Dusted Off: Persuader by Lee Child

By HCNewton

On July 31, 2013

In C-E, Fiction, Jack Reacher, Lee Child, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

Persuader by Lee Child
Series: Jack Reacher, #7

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It’s really hard to say something about a Jack Reacher book–in a very real sense, if you’ve read one, you’ve read ’em all (maybe this changes after book 7, but I doubt it). But dang it all if you don’t come back for more and more and more — like Pringles, or Fritos, etc. Great action; totally outlandish, but (in the moment definitely) believable plot; lots of testosterone-y fun.

Two things I’d like to mention about this book.

First, there’s this fad in TV lately where you watch a scene or two at the top of the show, and then the chyron flashes “X days earlier” and you get to see how events led up to this, and even get a better picture of what happened. It’s a tired and overused gimmick. But in ’03 when this was published, it wasn’t. And even if it was tired then, Child does it right, and I would’ve been totally on board with it then. Great hook to begin the book. Really great.

Secondly, I couldn’t help but be impressed with the way that Child laid out Reacher’s motivation to hunt down this particular criminal in bits and pieces, scattered throughout the present day action. Sure, it was predictable after a certain point, but it was skillfully done. Giving Reacher the proper motivation each time to go after the baddie has to be a struggle, especially since it has to be sufficient motivation to get him to perform superhuman tasks. This was one of Child’s best efforts in that regard.

One more thing that I just thought of–since Parker’s God Save the Child and The Judas Goat I’ve been a sucker for a fight between big, tough hero and impossibly huge, strong, psychotic villain, and the one here delivers the goods in spades. Loved it.

Dusted Off: Without Fail by Lee Child

By HCNewton

On July 31, 2013

In C-E, Fiction, Jack Reacher, Lee Child, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

Without Fail by Lee Child
Series: Jack Reacher, #6

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Taught thriller, starts off strong and snowballs into an adrenaline-filled blast. Pure popcorn fun.

After taking a book off from it, Child develops Reacher’s character a bit by bringing him into contact with people who knew his brother before he killed. Which is nice and commendable, but it’s not his strong suit.

Most of the time, he does what he does best: he puts a target in front of Reacher, gives Reacher juuuuust enough info to keep stumbling from one clue to the next, getting closer and closer to his prey. And when he tracks his prey down things really start going Reacher’s way.

Gone Tomorrow by Lee Child

By HCNewton

On May 30, 2013

In C-E, Fiction, Jack Reacher, Lee Child, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

Gone Tomorrow by Lee ChildSeries: Jack Reacher, #13

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.5 out of 5 really. Not sure why I’m holding that .5 out, but let’s say it wasn’t perfect — just so, so close.

On the one hand, this was a typical Jack Reacher novel* — Reacher sees a wrong that needs righting, a question that needs answered, someone who needs a little help, a little vengence that needs meting out, and he takes care of business, period. On the other hand — this was more intense, had more twists and turns, with higher (personal) stakes than your typical Reacher novel.

So, I guess it was a typical Reacher novel — just turned up to 11.

It’s really hard to say much about this Gone Tomorrow without spoiling the whole thing. But I’m going to try a bit: From the outset, it’s hard to tell who Reacher is working for until a little over halfway through the book (I think–didn’t take notes); everyone (everyone) lies to him about all sorts of things — but there’s enough truth mixed into the lies that I didn’t just spoil anything there; the violence (at least on Reacher’s part) is a bit more concentrated than usual, but once it starts…whoa, Nelly.

The biggest difference in this one is the looming specter of various counter-terrorism agencies and entities, functioning in the full protection and powers given by the Patriot Act and so on. Reacher and other characters in this book aren’t reticent to voice their complaints with these powers and the curtailment on citizen rights, honestly, to an extent that surprised me. While Reacher’s not directly in opposition to these agencies (he never would be that), his purposes and theirs do not directly align. Which gives an extra layer of danger for him — if Reacher’s not careful, he can disappear like he’s never existed before.

Basically the only other thing I can say without spoiling the crap out of this is simply: With Gone Tomorrow, Child, once again, shows that he and Reacher are the best around.

——-

* And a typical Jack Reacher novel is a great read, so don’t take this characterization as a complaint.