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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
adventurous
dark
slow-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
I LOVE this book. This is the last Reacher book I read (not counting the ones that were released after I finished the series till that point) and it's so much fun. I like the setting, I like the town (though it's a bit reminiscent of the one in Nothing to Lose (which was awful), I like the characters, and I LOVE the villains and the mystery and how Reacher solves everything and the ending and it's all just masterful and wonderful. I highly recommend this for a deep dive into the Reacher universe.
dark
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Hmmm, I've read a number of books about Jack Reacher over the years and always felt they stretched credibility a little bit. The issue I have with them is that Reacher's a guy who's gone all David Carradine (you know, from the television show Kung Fu), and decided to "walk the Earth" (or in this case the US) after spending time as a military policeman in the US Army.
The problem I have is that he ride's his luck. Sure he's a bit of a man mountain (6'5, 250lbs). Sure he's bright. Sure he's a good shot, but to have had as many close calls as Reacher has, means you ride your luck. And in this one he really rides his luck.
This book sees Reacher planted in South Dakota. In one of those typical "back a** end of nowhere" places where the local plod can call on Reacher for help. Which is what they do of course (it'd be a whole different book if he was told "move on, nothing to see here"). This time he's roped in to help defend an old age pensioner who stumbled upon a murder-cum-drug deal between a Mexican cartel, and a biker gang (because hell, it's South Dakota, they ride bikes up there don't they?). In the process many shenanigans happen. People die. Baddies get identified, and Reacher does his Reacher thing.
So in short, it's your typical Reacher fayre. If you like what's gone before, you'll like this. If you didn't, maybe you won't. I will say one thing though. I did buy the next book in the series (which means it can't be an entirely bad read), though in my defense, I'm genuinely how the author explains what happens in the end of this book, which is a typical exemplar of "Oh come on really?" luck riding, to my mind at least.
The problem I have is that he ride's his luck. Sure he's a bit of a man mountain (6'5, 250lbs). Sure he's bright. Sure he's a good shot, but to have had as many close calls as Reacher has, means you ride your luck. And in this one he really rides his luck.
This book sees Reacher planted in South Dakota. In one of those typical "back a** end of nowhere" places where the local plod can call on Reacher for help. Which is what they do of course (it'd be a whole different book if he was told "move on, nothing to see here"). This time he's roped in to help defend an old age pensioner who stumbled upon a murder-cum-drug deal between a Mexican cartel, and a biker gang (because hell, it's South Dakota, they ride bikes up there don't they?). In the process many shenanigans happen. People die. Baddies get identified, and Reacher does his Reacher thing.
So in short, it's your typical Reacher fayre. If you like what's gone before, you'll like this. If you didn't, maybe you won't. I will say one thing though. I did buy the next book in the series (which means it can't be an entirely bad read), though in my defense, I'm genuinely how the author explains what happens in the end of this book, which is a typical exemplar of "Oh come on really?" luck riding, to my mind at least.
It was like Fargo mixed with Mission Impossible.
I’m not sure if it was good or just long enough for me to forget that I really didn’t care about this book.
I cared about two of the characters and I think I was really shocked by certain actions by other characters because I had never read a Jack Reacher novel, but I had a couple of issues with it that have to be addressed.
1. He calls this woman in Virginia who is the commander of his old army division and just flirts with her, while basically ordering her to give him classified information. It wasn’t even good flirting. He kept asking her if she was married. I was so close to just DNFing this.
2. We are reminded every five pages that Reacher was part of the military. Like, yeah we get it. You’re the military cop. But you are an EX military cop, right?
3. He’s doing this countdown 61 hours, right? But we don’t even know what his mission is or why he’s counting down.
4. Also if the bus breaking down on the way to the Grand Canyon was an accident, how on Earth is this deviation from his trip plans a part of his countdown?
5. What is he counting down to? I think this is the most infuriating part, especially considering, I’ve read the book and still don’t understand how that was supposed to work.
6. Also, the ending
Okay, maybe I had more than a couple of things….
But at the end of the day, this fulfilled a prompt on my challenge and I got to listen to it for two work days which was actually pretty cool. Okay, it kept my attention and I had a couple of “oh my god” moments, and I wouldn’t say it was fun, but I listened to the whole thing, so It’s fine.
I guess.
Not for me. I wouldn’t recommend it. But if you like action thrillers that are the pace of molasses for the first 11 hours and then from 0 to 100 in 30 minutes, then go ahead.
So 2 stars, because I didn’t like it but it’s not the worst.
Audiobook comments: Maybe just read the book and not listen to it. The accents are awful and Mexican and Russian apparently sound the same to this guy.
2019 ATY Challenge - A book with a number in the title or on the cover
I’m not sure if it was good or just long enough for me to forget that I really didn’t care about this book.
I cared about two of the characters and I think I was really shocked by certain actions by other characters because I had never read a Jack Reacher novel, but I had a couple of issues with it that have to be addressed.
1. He calls this woman in Virginia who is the commander of his old army division and just flirts with her, while basically ordering her to give him classified information. It wasn’t even good flirting. He kept asking her if she was married. I was so close to just DNFing this.
2. We are reminded every five pages that Reacher was part of the military. Like, yeah we get it. You’re the military cop. But you are an EX military cop, right?
3. He’s doing this countdown 61 hours, right? But we don’t even know what his mission is or why he’s counting down.
4. Also if the bus breaking down on the way to the Grand Canyon was an accident, how on Earth is this deviation from his trip plans a part of his countdown?
5. What is he counting down to? I think this is the most infuriating part, especially considering, I’ve read the book and still don’t understand how that was supposed to work.
6. Also, the ending
Spoiler
was wrapped up so perfectly that it was almost like the whole book was a waste.Okay, maybe I had more than a couple of things….
But at the end of the day, this fulfilled a prompt on my challenge and I got to listen to it for two work days which was actually pretty cool. Okay, it kept my attention and I had a couple of “oh my god” moments, and I wouldn’t say it was fun, but I listened to the whole thing, so It’s fine.
I guess.
Not for me. I wouldn’t recommend it. But if you like action thrillers that are the pace of molasses for the first 11 hours and then from 0 to 100 in 30 minutes, then go ahead.
So 2 stars, because I didn’t like it but it’s not the worst.
Audiobook comments: Maybe just read the book and not listen to it. The accents are awful and Mexican and Russian apparently sound the same to this guy.
2019 ATY Challenge - A book with a number in the title or on the cover