Review: Improbable but entertaining
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 12, 2013
This book fills in another chapter in Reacher's early life.  The guy is a trouble magnet.  No, wait, he's always actively sought out trouble.  How else to sustain such a streak of bestsellers?  In this one Reacher not only helps a struggling FBI agent to take out NY baddies, but also gets involved in one of the most famous cases of the (20th) century.  Oh, and he's a chick magnet, too.  All of this makes for great entertainment.  The Reacher novels are addictive; so far, the short stories have been just as good.  The books and stories do provide a timeline of Reacher's life, but each also stands alone.  This episode is as good a place to start as any.  I'm not sure what makes Child's dry, detailed style so gripping.  The guy does his research and that helps (I've spoken to ex-military folks who've read his work, and they agree it has the ring of authenticity).  In any event, every single person to whom I've recommended a Reacher book has loved it and then gone out and devoured the rest of the series.  Me, too.  Can't wait for the next installment.  And if you were disappointed by the movie: that's Hollywood for you.  Just read the books!