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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
Lags through the middle and you can see the reveal coming a mile away. Plus it uses the same type of ending location as One Shot does which feels a bit redundant.
I love Lee Child’s Jack Reacher books, which are fascinating and almost impossible to put down. I found this one at a library sale and it met all expectations. In this book, Reacher is actually wrong, and also slow on the uptake several times, which simply makes the plot twists that much more unexpected. Now for some sleep!
One of the better Reacher books so far (I'm reading in chronological order), this one features Jack in a "right place at the right time" scenario, as he gets drawn into the kidnapping of a rich man's wife and his step-daughter. Otherwise a pretty typical formula for a Reacher book, it entertained me while I was on vacation and it read QUICK!
A kidnapping that is and isn't, a loving father who is and isn't, soldiers that are and are no longer. If Child wanted to write a novel about the identify crisis in today's fighting force he couldn't have done a better job than this. I try not to read too much into Reacher's stories, they are largely the stuff of popcorn-popping action with a character equal parts Conan and Sherlock Holmes. However, it's difficult to ignore the context of the stories that get shaped and pointing here to the values Reacher embodies even in the face of trouble juxtaposed with those who gave up serving others for the pursuit of money and a government that does little enough to help them, well, there's a lot there to be thoughtful of even as you're rooting for street-justice.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
As usual, an entertaining read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The Hard way is the tenth installment in the Jack Reacher series and is one of my favorites so far. I am always so surprised as to how Lee Child is able to conceptualize the scenarios that Reacher is dragged into. The books read simply, are typically fast paced, but the mystery aspects of them are done so well. There are layers, and it is always exhilirating watching the reveals unfold.
This one was a reread for me, and I am grateful that I had forgotten most of it. I was left guessing the entire time, and the twists and big reveal felt very realistic and plausible, and I am mad I didn't figure it out myself.
The pacing was breakneck for the most part, and the story consisted of its fair share of interesting characters. Looking forward to the next one!
This one was a reread for me, and I am grateful that I had forgotten most of it. I was left guessing the entire time, and the twists and big reveal felt very realistic and plausible, and I am mad I didn't figure it out myself.
The pacing was breakneck for the most part, and the story consisted of its fair share of interesting characters. Looking forward to the next one!
The golden age of Lee Child continues with Reacher's 10th outing. This has all the thrills of the finest Jack reacher novels - the central mystery is excellent, Reacher's mistakes are reasonable and keeps the reader along for the ride, and said reader should be able to recall all the details that Reacher missed, but are critical for the plot twists that occur. There is an amusing moment where Reacher discovers text messaging for the first time, which both dates this novel but also reminds us of how he's really out of touch with his whole hobo act.
Speaking of which... it is weird that Reacher was back in NYC. Lee Child's need to keep these novels standalone makes it unsatisfying for Reacher to return to a city he's been many times (he's a wanderer, no?), and also completely ignore Jodie Garber's existence. There was even a throwaway reference to the first novel...
I've avoided giving Lee Child perfect scores and this one continues - the third act of the novel is a bit rough and so you finish the novel not quite satisfied. The antagonists are great, the twists are good, and overall, a great but not perfect book.
Speaking of which... it is weird that Reacher was back in NYC. Lee Child's need to keep these novels standalone makes it unsatisfying for Reacher to return to a city he's been many times (he's a wanderer, no?), and also completely ignore Jodie Garber's existence. There was even a throwaway reference to the first novel...
I've avoided giving Lee Child perfect scores and this one continues - the third act of the novel is a bit rough and so you finish the novel not quite satisfied. The antagonists are great, the twists are good, and overall, a great but not perfect book.
Spoiler
The moment you meet Lane and his cadre of special forces, you get this feeling that Reacher was going to have to go mano-a-mano with them. They remain excellently dangerous, but without decent characterization (I barely recall who anyone was aside from Lane). The unravelling of the kidnapping plot happens very well, and the details on how the money exchanges occur is peak Lee Child. That said, the supporting cast are all very weak -- Pauling becomes a sidekick within seconds, and the rest have very small parts and are unmemorable. As always, Jack gets laid and those scenes are also cringe. And finally, the showdown between Lane and Reacher is a little lame. Realistic, with both sides being surprised by the other, but not quite the explosive intellectual/action showdown I was hoping for.
All I can recall of reading this book the first few times was that it involved a kidnapping that wasn’t a kidnapping, a murder that wasn’t a murder, and a stand-off in a barn in England. Oh, and somebody gets threatened with a potato peeler.
But the actual story is far more gruesome than that synopsis would suggest. Good stuff here.
But the actual story is far more gruesome than that synopsis would suggest. Good stuff here.
Five stars is probably one too many - I'm not sure any Jack Reacher book *really* deserves "It's amazing!" But this was definitely one of my favorite Reacher books. I like that there was more investigating and thinking and a little less kicking people's knees in. Some interesting characters and some really nice plot twists. Can't ask for much more out of this kind of book.