Reviews

Running Blind by Lee Child

bmlowry8's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

rhoyourboat's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

thatgirl_wyatt's review against another edition

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adventurous fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

caffeinated_cassade's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

First of all, Jodie deserves better. 

Second of all, what an anxiety inducing read. I was so engrossed that I started to be concerned of how “easy” and real the murders felt. I’m a fan of the Reacher films and shows, but never felt drawn to the books. I think I might have been turned. I have another book in the series on my list for later on. This is labeled as a thriller and it definitely was, albeit not in the way I anticipated. 

Also, listen, Jack. I will punch you and break my fist to double down on my first point. 

sam_hartwig's review against another edition

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3.0

I enjoyed this, but felt like the book was basically all filler. There wasn't much going on with the story, a lot of going over the same facts & details and little things to help flesh out the story that went nowhere.
I think I had a feeling in the back of my mind about how the killer was murdering the women but I had a huge shock when the killer was revealed.
I'll keep listening to these on Audio because they're easy and quick, but I won't be expecting much story wise.

ihaveknowledge's review against another edition

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dark mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

This was the slowest Jack Reacher book I've read so far. Very slow and I have to say dull.

minker's review against another edition

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adventurous fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

rellimreads's review against another edition

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4.0

This is the 4th book in the series. There’s some continuation of Jack’s personal life from the last book - but the mystery/suspense/thriller arc is completely started & resolved here, so this can be read on its own.

I really liked this one. The FBI seeks Jack’s help because the victims are all former service women who Jack interacted with during his time as an MP. Though the FBI already has thoughts about motive & a potential profile, Jack comes at it from a different direction. Add in being reluctantly partnered with newish agent and its an intriguing dynamic.

While I had ideas and guesses, I wasn’t sure about who the killer was until the same time Jack & Harper were. There are sections from the killer’s perspective, but they’re anonymous so it just gave an eerie quality while everyone else was scrambling to save whatever other women might be killed.

In a personal front, Jack’s relationship with Jodie is strained by his wanderlust and her long work hours. Frankly, I kind of prefer him as a wanderer and like what looks like a death to ideas of him being in a static home base.

Narration:
Again enjoyed Johnathan McClain’s narration.

a_reader_obsessed's review

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1.0

1.5 Stars

Ugh.

I’ve only read 5 books in this series, and this was the worst.

I pretty much hated every peripheral character in this. For me, the females were blatant awful stereotypes - one was a hateful bitch who couldn’t get over her preconceived notions. The other wanted to be taken seriously despite her beauty, but tried to use it to get what she wanted anyways. The FBI were unbelievable assholes who had no compunction in using extortion, lying, cheating, whatever means they deemed necessary to win, and their justified stupidity was absurd.

It does not help that this was the longest book ever at over 500 pages with very little action, as this was more a thinking man’s mystery. I kept hoping it would get better, but no such luck. To top it all off, there was no satisfaction in solving the crime, and I absolutely hate when that happens.

Safe to say Reacher remains true to form - judge, jury, and executioner in all facets of his life and those messing with it. I’m ok with that, but I hope this is a rare misstep because I just lost hours of my life that I can’t ever get back.

bings's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

So much better than the previous book...

Though, I did figure out the killing method and had an inkling off who the bad guy was long before the end of the book. This fact in itself does not cause a lower rating, as that will come down to the individual reading the book.... however

The character of Reacher felt out of place an more one dimensional. Reacher, does the right thing, usually just because it is the right thing to do. Someone is picking on someone smaller than them, Reacher does something about it. Reacher notices and injustice and he fixes it (not always the right way by law, but what he deems fair and right, grey area, I digress) however, he is so hardheaded lending aid to a case where, admittedly it is not his problem, but it was a wrong that needed fixing and right up the alley of his moral compass. He seemed like a robot all of a sudden where is view point was simply, not my circus, not my monkeys. 

On the plus side, the story pulled me in, was fast paced enough without feeling like the mystery was going in circles, that it kept me turning the page and going, just one more chapter.

P.S Lee Child. Stop comparing the sexy special agent love intertest to teenage girls. It's gross and unnecessary.