Review: Decent for Jack Reacher Fans
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 22, 2012
(this review contains no spoilers)Lee Child's stoic and cool-headed Jack Reacher is back for another story, but this time, readers are given a look to his past.  Taking place in 1986, Reacher must go undercover to discover a traitorous woman is trying to infiltrate the ranks of the Pentagon.  What starts off as a low-priority, low-stakes operation gives way to a powerful and violent realization.First and foremost, DEEP DOWN feels a bit brief and incomplete.  This is understandable -- most readers are probably used to dealing with Jack Reacher in the setting of a novel.  However, if Lee Child were going to visit Reacher's history like he does in DEEP DOWN, this novella format is probably the best way to tackle this.  It's short, but not too short.  It mostly assumes that you are familiar with the character in some respects.  On this front, anyone who hasn't read any of the novels in which Reacher is portrayed are automatically at a loss.The real enjoyment of DEEP DOWN comes from the fact that this is one of Reacher's first big missions.  Fans will enjoy many of the quick references to later works, and seeing Reacher's personal involvement with his targets here is quite fun to see.  Again, if readers aren't familiar with the character, they will miss most of where the enjoyment of this story comes from.Overall, if you are a Jack Reacher fan, this story should sate your appetite for a few more months; if you're unfamiliar with the character, I would recommend starting elsewhere (perhapsKILLING FLOOR).This Kindle Single includes an excerpt from the upcoming WANTED MAN by Lee Child.