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nicole0617's review against another edition
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, and Suicide
secre's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I've always thought of the Reacher books as mindless action fodder; entertaining but mindless. Maybe they were at the start, but I really should have re-thought that assumption by now as once again, Child surprised me with a interesting and oddly thoughtful novel.
After the dissolution of another short lived relationship, Reacher finds himself travelling in his usual nomadic fashion. Until he finds a ring in a pawn shop. Not just any ring. A West Point ring. West Point Class 2005. Small, obviously female. Reacher is a West Pointer. He knows what she went through to get the ring. He knows she wouldn't have given it up willingly. Somewhere, there is a West Pointer in trouble and Reacher is determined to find her.
This had far less mindless action than I had expected and far more careful consideration of the challenges faced by discharged servicemen and women who are all but forgotten the moment the US Armed Services can wash their hands clean. It has some interesting reflections on the problems injured servicemen and women come across and the lengths they are forced to go to.
It's a surprisingly touching book and an intelligent one as well, with some insights on the US opioid crisis that I wouldn't be surprised to find in high end literary fiction, rather than fast paced action novels. It's also wryly funny at points. There are moments where Reacher pokes fun at different branches of the Armed Forces, there are moments where others poke fun at Reacher. It's deftly written, and makes you both smile and think.
All in all, a well written, well paced Reacher novel that kept my interest and kept me engaged. It's never going to be my preferred genre, but I've been surprised at just how enjoyable the series is.
After the dissolution of another short lived relationship, Reacher finds himself travelling in his usual nomadic fashion. Until he finds a ring in a pawn shop. Not just any ring. A West Point ring. West Point Class 2005. Small, obviously female. Reacher is a West Pointer. He knows what she went through to get the ring. He knows she wouldn't have given it up willingly. Somewhere, there is a West Pointer in trouble and Reacher is determined to find her.
This had far less mindless action than I had expected and far more careful consideration of the challenges faced by discharged servicemen and women who are all but forgotten the moment the US Armed Services can wash their hands clean. It has some interesting reflections on the problems injured servicemen and women come across and the lengths they are forced to go to.
It's a surprisingly touching book and an intelligent one as well, with some insights on the US opioid crisis that I wouldn't be surprised to find in high end literary fiction, rather than fast paced action novels. It's also wryly funny at points. There are moments where Reacher pokes fun at different branches of the Armed Forces, there are moments where others poke fun at Reacher. It's deftly written, and makes you both smile and think.
All in all, a well written, well paced Reacher novel that kept my interest and kept me engaged. It's never going to be my preferred genre, but I've been surprised at just how enjoyable the series is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use and Addiction
lfro2013's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
An action movie in book form, genuinely fun and interesting and I really enjoyed it the whole time. Reacher is a pretty good character, and I liked the twins dynamic as well. It's the first of his books I've read, and I'm sure if I read more I'd get bored because they're probably formulaic, but this one I had a good time with.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction
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