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krtzmn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
eaglenws's review against another edition
5.0
I wish I could give this 6 stars. I’ve really liked all of the Jack Reacher books I’ve read so far, but this was my favorite.
travellingcari's review against another edition
4.0
Mercenaries, murder, kidnapping. New York City, East Anglia, West Africa. There was a lot going on in this story as Reacher found himself part of the hunt for Edward Lane's wife and stepdaughter. A good, solid read. I haven't figured out if I like Reacher yet, but he's growing on me
nadine_b's review against another edition
A personal favorite for those who love Reacher’s strategic mind at work. He’s hired to find a missing woman, but things quickly unravel into a case that’s far more dangerous than it seems. The twists are excellent, and the pacing never lets up. This one also has a subtle romantic undercurrent, which adds depth without distracting from the action.
alexmac25's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this more than the last few reachers I have read. The plot was good and kept you in suspense, with a fun twist at the end
kahn_johnson's review against another edition
3.0
Something seems to happen to American authors when they decide to set a book in England - not odd in itself I guess, stranger writing about a strange land and all that, but this is Lee Child we're talking about.
And the dozy sod is English.
Things start out as per normal in The Hard Way. Reacher's in a place doing nothing when stuff happens and drags him in. Tension and twists unfirl and Child is again on good form. Not top form, sadly, as this one reads like he was having another idea while writing it, but an average Reacher book is still a million miles ahead of anything James Patterson has produced in the last few years.
And then the action moves to England. And maybe it's the use of Americanisms that jar a tad (we don't do soccer or parking lots), but the final third of the book just doesn't seem to gel.
Granted it's not as bad as London Bridges - the Patterson abomination where he basically looked up London landmarks on Wikipedia and listed them all on one page as Alex Cross looked out of his London hotel room - but it still reads as though Child hadn't done his research properly, instead just looking at maps and the London A-Z.
Once we get to the final showdown, of course, we're back on safer ground. The where isn't an issue, it's the what. And the what plays out in fine, violent, Reacher style - even if a couple of the devices used by Child to build tension have a strangely child-like quality, at odds with the rest of the narrative.
So, not his best, but ten books into Reacher's world, he's allowed an off day.
And the dozy sod is English.
Things start out as per normal in The Hard Way. Reacher's in a place doing nothing when stuff happens and drags him in. Tension and twists unfirl and Child is again on good form. Not top form, sadly, as this one reads like he was having another idea while writing it, but an average Reacher book is still a million miles ahead of anything James Patterson has produced in the last few years.
And then the action moves to England. And maybe it's the use of Americanisms that jar a tad (we don't do soccer or parking lots), but the final third of the book just doesn't seem to gel.
Granted it's not as bad as London Bridges - the Patterson abomination where he basically looked up London landmarks on Wikipedia and listed them all on one page as Alex Cross looked out of his London hotel room - but it still reads as though Child hadn't done his research properly, instead just looking at maps and the London A-Z.
Once we get to the final showdown, of course, we're back on safer ground. The where isn't an issue, it's the what. And the what plays out in fine, violent, Reacher style - even if a couple of the devices used by Child to build tension have a strangely child-like quality, at odds with the rest of the narrative.
So, not his best, but ten books into Reacher's world, he's allowed an off day.
coenani's review against another edition
4.0
It's been a while since I last read a Reacher book, but I need to get back into the habit of reading them again. While the build-up in Child's book is usually a bit on the slow side, I felt like that was especially the case in this book.
Once it got rolling however, it kept rolling faster and faster. The tension got real near the end and I was glad that I picked up on some of the signs that Reacher himself originally missed. I guess that reading enough of Child's books does that to you. The brilliant use of placing important items at earlier parts of the story is wonderful and helped keep me entertained. Is this important? Or is that important?
Overall I really liked the book and figure I should pick the rest up sooner rather than later.
Once it got rolling however, it kept rolling faster and faster. The tension got real near the end and I was glad that I picked up on some of the signs that Reacher himself originally missed. I guess that reading enough of Child's books does that to you. The brilliant use of placing important items at earlier parts of the story is wonderful and helped keep me entertained. Is this important? Or is that important?
Overall I really liked the book and figure I should pick the rest up sooner rather than later.
stelaw's review against another edition
4.0
A great read. Well plotted with a welcome absence of excruciatingly boring detail of roads, rooms and kit in the majority of the book. Unfortunately these rear up in the final shoot out act but the mot enjoyable in the series so far.
joshwatts's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
This books is great!
Although it was my first Jack Reacher and I do feel as though they could become quite repetitive if you read more in the series.
Although it was my first Jack Reacher and I do feel as though they could become quite repetitive if you read more in the series.