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jimbowen0306's review against another edition
4.0
I remember reading Misery (you know, the Stephen King book) a few years ago, and one of the more memorable times we know Annie Wilkes is insane is when she's describing how she freaks out at the cinema as a kid. She's been taken to see one of those "Saturday Morning Serials" that are laid on for kids. No those serials tell stories each week of derring-do (you know like the Lone Ranger or whatever). Anyhow she's remembered the story-cum-cliffhanger from the previous week and knew that the star couldn't, just couldn't escape, but does, all the same. That drove her crazy with rage.
Now if Annie Wilkes had read this book, it wouldn't surprise me if it produced a similar response. In the previous story in the series, Jack Reacher is going to have to make a miraculous escape to get out of the situation that he found himself in at the denouement of that book. The explanation given about his escape in this book defies..... credibility.
Anyhow, what do I think of the story? The story was your typical Jack Reacher fair. He comes in to a community on its uppers (in this case a Nebraska town seems to have parallels to the Texas town that gave LBJ his victory in his first senatorial race), and saves the day. In this case, the town is dominated by a family you just know is up to no good, but they've got the residents so cowed that they won't rise up against them till Reacher comes along.
If you like the Reacher series, you'll like this book. It contains all the standard Reacher stuff in it. If you've read a similar Reacher book before, and not bought into it, this probably won't change your mind.
Incidentally, you don't have to have read the previous book in the series to read this book. It's more that if you don't, you might miss the oblique references that aren't that important anyway.
Now if Annie Wilkes had read this book, it wouldn't surprise me if it produced a similar response. In the previous story in the series, Jack Reacher is going to have to make a miraculous escape to get out of the situation that he found himself in at the denouement of that book. The explanation given about his escape in this book defies..... credibility.
Anyhow, what do I think of the story? The story was your typical Jack Reacher fair. He comes in to a community on its uppers (in this case a Nebraska town seems to have parallels to the Texas town that gave LBJ his victory in his first senatorial race), and saves the day. In this case, the town is dominated by a family you just know is up to no good, but they've got the residents so cowed that they won't rise up against them till Reacher comes along.
If you like the Reacher series, you'll like this book. It contains all the standard Reacher stuff in it. If you've read a similar Reacher book before, and not bought into it, this probably won't change your mind.
Incidentally, you don't have to have read the previous book in the series to read this book. It's more that if you don't, you might miss the oblique references that aren't that important anyway.
lethaldose's review
5.0
Loved this book. The Reacher series is my favorite ongoing series of books today, and Worth Dying For is one of my favorite books in this great series.
You have all the basic stuff here that you come to expect from a Reacher book, the biggest critique of these books at this point is that they are formulaic. And that is true, but for escapist fiction I don't see why that is a bad thing. Reacher wanders kung-fu-like into a Nebraska town and would wander out soon enough, but he gets caught up in something. As usual it is triggered by Reacher seeing something that isn't right, and he feels a need to right it and one thing leads to another and pretty soon Reacher is completely involved in screwing up the bad guys plans and balancing the scales of justice. But like I said this story is particularly satisfying. The story has bullies that deserve to feel what it is like to be bullied, and has truly evil people that deserve every ounce of fear and pain that Reacher causes them. That is what makes this book so very satisfying. The good people in this small community are helpless and have been relentlessly abused and bullied. And when you find out what has been going on for 25 years in this town, it will make you sick and you will rejoice that these people are getting what they deserve, Reacher.
This is a must read for any Reacher fan.
You have all the basic stuff here that you come to expect from a Reacher book, the biggest critique of these books at this point is that they are formulaic. And that is true, but for escapist fiction I don't see why that is a bad thing. Reacher wanders kung-fu-like into a Nebraska town and would wander out soon enough, but he gets caught up in something. As usual it is triggered by Reacher seeing something that isn't right, and he feels a need to right it and one thing leads to another and pretty soon Reacher is completely involved in screwing up the bad guys plans and balancing the scales of justice. But like I said this story is particularly satisfying. The story has bullies that deserve to feel what it is like to be bullied, and has truly evil people that deserve every ounce of fear and pain that Reacher causes them. That is what makes this book so very satisfying. The good people in this small community are helpless and have been relentlessly abused and bullied. And when you find out what has been going on for 25 years in this town, it will make you sick and you will rejoice that these people are getting what they deserve, Reacher.
This is a must read for any Reacher fan.
jaidyn0612's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
ldbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
kathydavie's review
4.0
Fifteenth in the Jack Reacher suspense series and takes place in Nebraska. I'm curious as to how many states Jack has operated in so far.
I know, why a "4" if I'm not impressed? I figured it's not fair to penalize the story just because I'm annoyed. Child still writes well and the story hangs together well with characters you can, well, hate and hate more. There are aspects to that I enjoyed, just not as thoroughly as other Jack Reacher installments.
My Take
It's not as good as the previous stories. I kept wondering "Was it worth reading?" I'm hoping that I'm just being too particular. Too familiar with Jack Reacher. I'm worrying that he's getting older and he's still cocky. That one day, he'll take a fall he can't recover from. Silly, I know. He's a fictional character and of course Child can write him in/out of anything. It just goes to show what an amazing character Child has created that I identify with him and want him happy. That I worry about him.
Hmmm, Kathy might need a life…
Too funny. I loved it when Reacher took out the bad guys destroying the doc's car, turns to the doctor's wife who is staring in disbelief and seriously asks her, "What?"
The doctor is out of line? For responding to a call for help? What is with these people?
Everyone keeps poking at Reacher to leave and, well, you know Reacher, he's just too stubborn to take a hint. Even when it leaves him lying, a prisoner, on a cold, cement floor.
Child drove me nuts in this. All the hints as to what the Duncans are doing, what they've done, and it's not until almost the end that the truth emerges. In some ways, the horror of what they've done is muted by being held back so long. It's hideous to think that these people got away with this for so long. Just as bad are the people who let them. Between the inhabitants of the area and the cops, I am appalled!
I did enjoy the misinterpretations along the way. Every link in the chain had their own reactions and interpretations. Funnily enough, each one reacts in the same way, they simply interpret it according to the facts in front of them. The bad guys almost do all the work for Reacher.
Ah, geez, just to show ya what a nice guy Seth is, he bargained the beating Rossi's men were going to give him into hurting his wife instead. Gee...whatta guy.
The Story
He gets dropped in the middle of nowhere, where the Duncans hold a monopoly on trucking farmers' crops to market, using their leverage to force the locals to overlook their bad habits, hiring local football heros who didn't make it to the bigtime. And they are bad. Bad, bad men who dictate the actions of all of those around them. Including the police. Anyone who crosses them is treated to a range of punishments.
It's Reacher's experience that sticks him in the middle of this. He knows what can happen after previous domestic disputes. The effects of aspirin. And he forces the doctor to treat Mrs. Duncan, an act that rouses his own protective instincts.
What really stirs things up is the snafu created by Seth and the promises he's made. Not following through unleashes a much bigger mess with lots of internal strife.
The Characters
Jack Reacher is a moral man with the fists and brains to back it up. But he's hurtin' bad after events in 61 Hours and he's just been abandoned in the middle of Nowhere, Nebraska. I do like that he's on his way to Virginia. Who knew that he'd seek out a particular woman on purpose?
Eleanor Duncan is determined to stay despite her husband Seth Duncan's beatings. Seth's uncles include Jasper with his "arcane skills, folk wisdom, and backwoods knowledge" along with a supply of veterinary medicine and Jonas. They and Seth's father, Jacob, live in their own homes in a compound just off the road where they plot and plan their overt and covert operations. They employ Cornhuskers. Huge football players who were feted, but then didn't make the cut into pro ball.
Mr. Vincent owns the motel where Reacher stops for the night and runs the bar where the doctor drinks.The doctor's wife supported Dorothy Coe when she made her accusations. Dorothy Coe is trying to run her farm and ekes out a living by working for Vincent as a maid. Her daughter Margaret was eight years old when she went missing twenty-five years ago. Her husband was Artie Coe. Detective Miles Carson investigated Margaret's disappearance; he sure didn't spend much time thinking.
Roberto Cassano and Angelo Mancini are troubleshooters who work for Rossi with whom Seth made the deal. Rossi, in turn, works for Safir who sends his own two men to apply pressure. Safir, in turn, works for Mahmeini who has access to Saudi royalty. Asghar is one of Mahemeini's.
Eldridge Tyler is a for-hire sniper who has a lot to protect.
The Cover
The cover is an overhead shot at night of a vehicle racing down a very straight highway. Thank god for all those reds and yellows to warm us up as there isn't anything but Reacher to warm us in this story.
The title refers, I think, to Reacher's own beliefs. That there are things Worth Dying For.
I know, why a "4" if I'm not impressed? I figured it's not fair to penalize the story just because I'm annoyed. Child still writes well and the story hangs together well with characters you can, well, hate and hate more. There are aspects to that I enjoyed, just not as thoroughly as other Jack Reacher installments.
My Take
It's not as good as the previous stories. I kept wondering "Was it worth reading?" I'm hoping that I'm just being too particular. Too familiar with Jack Reacher. I'm worrying that he's getting older and he's still cocky. That one day, he'll take a fall he can't recover from. Silly, I know. He's a fictional character and of course Child can write him in/out of anything. It just goes to show what an amazing character Child has created that I identify with him and want him happy. That I worry about him.
Hmmm, Kathy might need a life…
Too funny. I loved it when Reacher took out the bad guys destroying the doc's car, turns to the doctor's wife who is staring in disbelief and seriously asks her, "What?"
The doctor is out of line? For responding to a call for help? What is with these people?
Everyone keeps poking at Reacher to leave and, well, you know Reacher, he's just too stubborn to take a hint. Even when it leaves him lying, a prisoner, on a cold, cement floor.
Child drove me nuts in this. All the hints as to what the Duncans are doing, what they've done, and it's not until almost the end that the truth emerges. In some ways, the horror of what they've done is muted by being held back so long. It's hideous to think that these people got away with this for so long. Just as bad are the people who let them. Between the inhabitants of the area and the cops, I am appalled!
I did enjoy the misinterpretations along the way. Every link in the chain had their own reactions and interpretations. Funnily enough, each one reacts in the same way, they simply interpret it according to the facts in front of them. The bad guys almost do all the work for Reacher.
Ah, geez, just to show ya what a nice guy Seth is, he bargained the beating Rossi's men were going to give him into hurting his wife instead. Gee...whatta guy.
The Story
He gets dropped in the middle of nowhere, where the Duncans hold a monopoly on trucking farmers' crops to market, using their leverage to force the locals to overlook their bad habits, hiring local football heros who didn't make it to the bigtime. And they are bad. Bad, bad men who dictate the actions of all of those around them. Including the police. Anyone who crosses them is treated to a range of punishments.
It's Reacher's experience that sticks him in the middle of this. He knows what can happen after previous domestic disputes. The effects of aspirin. And he forces the doctor to treat Mrs. Duncan, an act that rouses his own protective instincts.
What really stirs things up is the snafu created by Seth and the promises he's made. Not following through unleashes a much bigger mess with lots of internal strife.
The Characters
Jack Reacher is a moral man with the fists and brains to back it up. But he's hurtin' bad after events in 61 Hours and he's just been abandoned in the middle of Nowhere, Nebraska. I do like that he's on his way to Virginia. Who knew that he'd seek out a particular woman on purpose?
Eleanor Duncan is determined to stay despite her husband Seth Duncan's beatings. Seth's uncles include Jasper with his "arcane skills, folk wisdom, and backwoods knowledge" along with a supply of veterinary medicine and Jonas. They and Seth's father, Jacob, live in their own homes in a compound just off the road where they plot and plan their overt and covert operations. They employ Cornhuskers. Huge football players who were feted, but then didn't make the cut into pro ball.
Mr. Vincent owns the motel where Reacher stops for the night and runs the bar where the doctor drinks.The doctor's wife supported Dorothy Coe when she made her accusations. Dorothy Coe is trying to run her farm and ekes out a living by working for Vincent as a maid. Her daughter Margaret was eight years old when she went missing twenty-five years ago. Her husband was Artie Coe. Detective Miles Carson investigated Margaret's disappearance; he sure didn't spend much time thinking.
Roberto Cassano and Angelo Mancini are troubleshooters who work for Rossi with whom Seth made the deal. Rossi, in turn, works for Safir who sends his own two men to apply pressure. Safir, in turn, works for Mahmeini who has access to Saudi royalty. Asghar is one of Mahemeini's.
Eldridge Tyler is a for-hire sniper who has a lot to protect.
The Cover
The cover is an overhead shot at night of a vehicle racing down a very straight highway. Thank god for all those reds and yellows to warm us up as there isn't anything but Reacher to warm us in this story.
The title refers, I think, to Reacher's own beliefs. That there are things Worth Dying For.
fitzpact's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
nickedkins's review against another edition
2.0
I was stuck without a book at a bach and the bookshelf had 40 indistinguishable Lee Child novels. I selected one with my eyes closed. It was exactly what I expected. The entire experience was like buying and drinking two litres of homogenised milk.
nnoyes's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.5
davekan's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0