What do you think?
Rate this book
Jack Reacher #4
Running Blind
Women are being murdered nationwide by a killer who leaves no trace of evidence, no fatal wounds, no signs of struggle, and no clues to an apparent motive. All the victims have one thing in common: they each knew Jack Reacher.
512 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
About the author
Lee Child
461 books28.5k followersLee Child was born October 29th, 1954 in Coventry, England, but spent his formative years in the nearby city of Birmingham. By coincidence he won a scholarship to the same high school that JRR Tolkien had attended. He went to law school in Sheffield, England, and after part-time work in the theater he joined Granada Television in Manchester for what turned out to be an eighteen-year career as a presentation director during British TV's "golden age." During his tenure his company made Brideshead Revisited, The Jewel in the Crown, Prime Suspect, and Cracker. But he was fired in 1995 at the age of 40 as a result of corporate restructuring. Always a voracious reader, he decided to see an opportunity where others might have seen a crisis and bought six dollars' worth of paper and pencils and sat down to write a book, Killing Floor, the first in the Jack Reacher series.
Killing Floor was an immediate success and launched the series which has grown in sales and impact with every new installment. The first Jack Reacher movie, based on the novel One Shot and starring Tom Cruise and Rosamund Pike, was released in December 2012.
Lee has three homes—an apartment in Manhattan, a country house in the south of France, and whatever airplane cabin he happens to be in while traveling between the two. In the US he drives a supercharged Jaguar, which was built in Jaguar's Browns Lane plant, thirty yards from the hospital in which he was born.
Lee spends his spare time reading, listening to music, and watching the Yankees, Aston Villa, or Marseilles soccer. He is married with a grown-up daughter. He is tall and slim, despite an appalling diet and a refusal to exercise.
Killing Floor was an immediate success and launched the series which has grown in sales and impact with every new installment. The first Jack Reacher movie, based on the novel One Shot and starring Tom Cruise and Rosamund Pike, was released in December 2012.
Lee has three homes—an apartment in Manhattan, a country house in the south of France, and whatever airplane cabin he happens to be in while traveling between the two. In the US he drives a supercharged Jaguar, which was built in Jaguar's Browns Lane plant, thirty yards from the hospital in which he was born.
Lee spends his spare time reading, listening to music, and watching the Yankees, Aston Villa, or Marseilles soccer. He is married with a grown-up daughter. He is tall and slim, despite an appalling diet and a refusal to exercise.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,257 reviews
September 14, 2016
“But you are kind of arrogant, you know?” she said. “Prosecutor, judge, jury, executioner, all in one? What about the rules?”
He smiled.
“Those are the rules,” he said. “People mess with me, they find that out pretty damn quick.”
FIVE SOLID STARS, YES!!!
Once again, Lee Child has delivered another winner with this smashing mystery/suspense/thriller story. Normally I’m a bit leery about picking up a book that is over 500 pages long. I would say most of the novels I’ve read are between 250 and 350 pages. However, I know I can count on this author, and Running Blind (or The Visitor) didn’t disappoint me one bit. I enjoyed every single page of it, and of course, there was never a dull moment. I was drawn into the story within the first few pages and it kept me wondering and guessing who the hell this killer was throughout the entire book!
I could feel the tension starting to ramp up when I reached the beginning of chapter 2, and it became more and more intense as I read further into the story. Every twist and turn made me even more curious about the killer’s motive. And by the end, I was surprised at the turn of events. I must admit, I never thought it would end this way, but well, it didn’t really matter because I was pleased anyway!
Even though there were only a few action scenes in this book, they were good and I enjoyed them all. The story mostly focused on an investigation which held my attention and kept me engrossed all the way through.
Due to plenty twists and turns in this book, it’s difficult for me to write a review without giving the story all away. So, I think I’d better stop right here and let you find out for yourself how brilliant it is.
By the way, this is a gripping crime thriller with an ingenious plot, appealing characters, and stunning twists. Fans of the genre shouldn’t miss out on this one.
On to the next book!
He smiled.
“Those are the rules,” he said. “People mess with me, they find that out pretty damn quick.”
FIVE SOLID STARS, YES!!!
Once again, Lee Child has delivered another winner with this smashing mystery/suspense/thriller story. Normally I’m a bit leery about picking up a book that is over 500 pages long. I would say most of the novels I’ve read are between 250 and 350 pages. However, I know I can count on this author, and Running Blind (or The Visitor) didn’t disappoint me one bit. I enjoyed every single page of it, and of course, there was never a dull moment. I was drawn into the story within the first few pages and it kept me wondering and guessing who the hell this killer was throughout the entire book!
I could feel the tension starting to ramp up when I reached the beginning of chapter 2, and it became more and more intense as I read further into the story. Every twist and turn made me even more curious about the killer’s motive. And by the end, I was surprised at the turn of events. I must admit, I never thought it would end this way, but well, it didn’t really matter because I was pleased anyway!
Even though there were only a few action scenes in this book, they were good and I enjoyed them all. The story mostly focused on an investigation which held my attention and kept me engrossed all the way through.
Due to plenty twists and turns in this book, it’s difficult for me to write a review without giving the story all away. So, I think I’d better stop right here and let you find out for yourself how brilliant it is.
By the way, this is a gripping crime thriller with an ingenious plot, appealing characters, and stunning twists. Fans of the genre shouldn’t miss out on this one.
On to the next book!
July 3, 2012
I am afraid that this is a complete load of pants.
Lee child has been my guilty pleasure, but this book does not have reacher doing what he does best (killing people!) or the epic scale of the other books. And there are some serious flaws with the logic in the book.
Flaw One - Reacher is pulled in by the FBI because the results of a serial killer profiling exercise have resulted in the fact that it is Reacher. Despite going through his personal history, the FBI never once question him on his involvement with counterfeiting, armed militias, vietnam hoaxs and the rest.
Reacher convincing them he is not their man, but embarassingly for the story line, the FBI threaten his girlfriend if he doesnt help.
Reacher gets involved with the case as a special advisor - and its in more of a private detective mode investigating the case, rather than gung ho and smashing people up.
Then there is the story - several women who have filed complaints against the military for sexual harassment are found dead in a bath of paint. The FBI cannot determine how this is being completed
The answer is the second major flaw but is easily determined. They are being hypnotised into killing themseleves by the woman who is heading up the case.
And why is she doing this - because of an inheritance scam with her sister - one of the casualities. The other murders are simply to cover her tracks. Please dont insult the readers intelligence.
On a personal level - Reacher lets himself down my having a liaison with another invesigator before he closes things down with his previous dream woman, who he leaves cause he doesnt want to settle down.
By far and away, the weakest in the series to date.
I will perservere with the next one however.
Lee child has been my guilty pleasure, but this book does not have reacher doing what he does best (killing people!) or the epic scale of the other books. And there are some serious flaws with the logic in the book.
Flaw One - Reacher is pulled in by the FBI because the results of a serial killer profiling exercise have resulted in the fact that it is Reacher. Despite going through his personal history, the FBI never once question him on his involvement with counterfeiting, armed militias, vietnam hoaxs and the rest.
Reacher convincing them he is not their man, but embarassingly for the story line, the FBI threaten his girlfriend if he doesnt help.
Reacher gets involved with the case as a special advisor - and its in more of a private detective mode investigating the case, rather than gung ho and smashing people up.
Then there is the story - several women who have filed complaints against the military for sexual harassment are found dead in a bath of paint. The FBI cannot determine how this is being completed
The answer is the second major flaw but is easily determined. They are being hypnotised into killing themseleves by the woman who is heading up the case.
And why is she doing this - because of an inheritance scam with her sister - one of the casualities. The other murders are simply to cover her tracks. Please dont insult the readers intelligence.
On a personal level - Reacher lets himself down my having a liaison with another invesigator before he closes things down with his previous dream woman, who he leaves cause he doesnt want to settle down.
By far and away, the weakest in the series to date.
I will perservere with the next one however.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2020
Running Blind = The visitor (Jack Reacher #4), Lee Child
The Visitor is the fourth book in the Jack Reacher series, written by James D. "Jim" Grant with pen name: Lee Child. It was published in 2000. In the United States; the book was released under the title: Running Blind.
It is written in the second and third person. The prologue opens with a mystery person's point of view on knowledge, power and killing, "People say that knowledge is power. The more knowledge, the more power. Suppose you knew the winning numbers for the lottery? You would run to the store. And you would win. Same for the stock market. You're not talking about a trend or a percentage game or a whisper or a tip. You're talking about knowledge. Real, hard knowledge. You would buy. Then later you'd sell, and you'd be rich. Any kind of sports at all, if you could predict the future, you'd be home and dry. Same for anything. Same for killing people."
تاریخ نخستین خوانش: روز بیست و دوم ماه ژوئن سال 2016 میلادی
عنوان: آخرین مهمان - کتاب چهارم - از سری جک ریچر؛ نویسنده: لی چایلد؛ مترجم: محمد عباس آبادی؛ تهران، تندیس، 1394؛ در 543ص؛ شابک 9786001821417؛ موضوع: داستانهای نویسندگان انگلیسی - سده 21م
در سراسر کشور، زنانی به دست قاتلی کشته میشوند، که هیچ اثری از خود برجای نمیگذارد؛ نه مدرکی، نه زخم مهلکی، نه اثری از درگیری، و نه هیچ سرنخی از انگیزه ای برای کشتن؛ جسدها در وانی پر از رنگ سبز ارتشی، در خانه های قربانیها، رها میشوند؛ به درستی، تنها چیزی که همه ی قربانیها را به هم پیوند میدهد، اینست که همگی آن زنان «جک ریچر» را میشناخته اند؛ «جک ریچر»، بار دیگر شرایط را به بهترین شکل ممکن پایان میدهد، و ثابت میکند که قهرمانی بیهمتاست، و همیشه میتواند از هر شرایطی، سربلند بیرون بیاید؛ «آخرین مهمان» تأیید میکند، که «لی چایلد» توانایی اینرا دارند، که نویسندگان بزرگواری را که در این ژانر مینویسند، به چالش بکشند؛ از دیدگاه این فراموشکار چهارمین کتاب از سری «جک ریچر»، تا کنون بهترین کتاب این سری بوده است
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 09/04/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی
The Visitor is the fourth book in the Jack Reacher series, written by James D. "Jim" Grant with pen name: Lee Child. It was published in 2000. In the United States; the book was released under the title: Running Blind.
It is written in the second and third person. The prologue opens with a mystery person's point of view on knowledge, power and killing, "People say that knowledge is power. The more knowledge, the more power. Suppose you knew the winning numbers for the lottery? You would run to the store. And you would win. Same for the stock market. You're not talking about a trend or a percentage game or a whisper or a tip. You're talking about knowledge. Real, hard knowledge. You would buy. Then later you'd sell, and you'd be rich. Any kind of sports at all, if you could predict the future, you'd be home and dry. Same for anything. Same for killing people."
تاریخ نخستین خوانش: روز بیست و دوم ماه ژوئن سال 2016 میلادی
عنوان: آخرین مهمان - کتاب چهارم - از سری جک ریچر؛ نویسنده: لی چایلد؛ مترجم: محمد عباس آبادی؛ تهران، تندیس، 1394؛ در 543ص؛ شابک 9786001821417؛ موضوع: داستانهای نویسندگان انگلیسی - سده 21م
در سراسر کشور، زنانی به دست قاتلی کشته میشوند، که هیچ اثری از خود برجای نمیگذارد؛ نه مدرکی، نه زخم مهلکی، نه اثری از درگیری، و نه هیچ سرنخی از انگیزه ای برای کشتن؛ جسدها در وانی پر از رنگ سبز ارتشی، در خانه های قربانیها، رها میشوند؛ به درستی، تنها چیزی که همه ی قربانیها را به هم پیوند میدهد، اینست که همگی آن زنان «جک ریچر» را میشناخته اند؛ «جک ریچر»، بار دیگر شرایط را به بهترین شکل ممکن پایان میدهد، و ثابت میکند که قهرمانی بیهمتاست، و همیشه میتواند از هر شرایطی، سربلند بیرون بیاید؛ «آخرین مهمان» تأیید میکند، که «لی چایلد» توانایی اینرا دارند، که نویسندگان بزرگواری را که در این ژانر مینویسند، به چالش بکشند؛ از دیدگاه این فراموشکار چهارمین کتاب از سری «جک ریچر»، تا کنون بهترین کتاب این سری بوده است
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 09/04/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی
October 12, 2019
The fourth installment in the Jack Reacher series finds our hero in New York where he's just inherited a house from an old mentor who has recently died. Reacher has also fallen madly in love with the old mentor's daughter, Jodie, who he knew as a teenager and who has blossomed into a sexy, brilliant lawyer. Jack truly loves Jodie and Jodie truly loves Jack, but he's not at all sure about this homeownership business. (Seriously, can you imagine Jack Reacher mowing the lawn every Saturday?) Jack is a ramblin' man, and the house is a dead weight that is bringing him down, both physically and mentally.
Jack is desperately trying to figure out how to remain attached to Jodie while detaching himself from the house, when the FBI ensnares him in an investigation. A serial killer is moving around the country killing women in a particularly gruesome way. What the women have in common is that they all left the U.S. Army after making complaints about sexual harassment, and they all knew Jack Reacher.
The Fibbies claim that maybe Reacher is the killer. Or maybe it's somebody like Reacher. In any event, they insist that he cooperate with the investigation and help them capture the villain. Jack believes that the FBI investigation is headed entirely in the wrong direction, principally because it is relying too heavily on attempts to profile the killer. Reacher insists that they'll never catch the killer that way and so goes off in his own direction, as he is wont to do, leaving the FBI to basically eat his dust.
This is a very good entry in the series. The crimes are clever; the cast is a good one, and Reacher is genuinely distressed about the decisions he has to make in his life. As always, it's fun to watch him outsmart everyone else and also beat up a lot of people who badly need beating up. I enjoyed this books as much the second time around as I did the first.
Jack is desperately trying to figure out how to remain attached to Jodie while detaching himself from the house, when the FBI ensnares him in an investigation. A serial killer is moving around the country killing women in a particularly gruesome way. What the women have in common is that they all left the U.S. Army after making complaints about sexual harassment, and they all knew Jack Reacher.
The Fibbies claim that maybe Reacher is the killer. Or maybe it's somebody like Reacher. In any event, they insist that he cooperate with the investigation and help them capture the villain. Jack believes that the FBI investigation is headed entirely in the wrong direction, principally because it is relying too heavily on attempts to profile the killer. Reacher insists that they'll never catch the killer that way and so goes off in his own direction, as he is wont to do, leaving the FBI to basically eat his dust.
This is a very good entry in the series. The crimes are clever; the cast is a good one, and Reacher is genuinely distressed about the decisions he has to make in his life. As always, it's fun to watch him outsmart everyone else and also beat up a lot of people who badly need beating up. I enjoyed this books as much the second time around as I did the first.
May 6, 2022
Reacher is so cool!
The following ratings are out of 5:
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙
Romance: 💙💚
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙📔
World building: 🌎🌍🌏🌎🌏
Character development: 😳🤬😏🤓☺️
The Hero: Reacher - he is 6’5” and built like a brick outhouse. He is a former Military Policeman who was great at his job. Now he is retired from the military and has traveled the country on his own terms, stopping for periods of times in different towns. Now he is a homeowner, who has spent the summer fixing up his home and yard. He feels anchored now which he doesn’t like since he has lived like a hobo, traveling the country with the clothes on his back, a watch, a toothbrush and very little else.
The love interest: Jodi Garber - she is a New York corporate lawyer and the daughter of Leon Garber, Reacher’s old commanding officer who died recently leaving his half million dollar home to Reacher. She had feelings for Reacher since she was fifteen and they met on a base in the Philippines.
The Story: Reacher had feelings for Jodi when they first met, but dampened them down since she was the daughter of a man he respected and thought of like a father. When Leon Garber died, Reacher came to the funeral and was surprised to see Jodi and find her divorced and that she had feelings for him as well.
While helping out a local restauranteur who is being shaken down by a local gang, Reacher is picked up by the FBI and questioned about a series of murders across the company. The victims of the murders all happened to know Reacher.
I thought I would listen to this audiobook after binging Reacher season 1 on Amazon Prime. I loved it and wanted more so decided to try one of the audiobooks. Listening to this made me appreciate a lot about the script and the way Alan Ritchson played the character. I could see so many of the same characteristics in this Reacher as in the Amazon TV Show.
Reacher has the same confidence and is just as irreverent and arrogant in the books as in the show. I love the way that sometimes Reacher is so nice and selfless like he is for the local restauranteur and other times when people ask for his help he just flat out says No and when they ask why, he says because he doesn’t want to. It doesn’t benefit him at all, so why should he? Even when he helped the restauranteur he was indirectly helping himself because he enjoyed eating there and if it closed he wouldn’t be able to. Reacher yearns for his hobo lifestyle and feels that owning a house is like being strangled.
I also love how he gets back at people that try to use him or back him into a corner. I like this guy and picturing him as Alan Ritchson doesn’t hurt either. I didn’t really like the narrator, I thought he should have a deeper voice to match such a big guy. However, Jonathon Mcclain is a good reader with good cadence and tempo, so I still enjoyed the audiobook pretty well.
Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub
The following ratings are out of 5:
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙
Romance: 💙💚
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙📔
World building: 🌎🌍🌏🌎🌏
Character development: 😳🤬😏🤓☺️
The Hero: Reacher - he is 6’5” and built like a brick outhouse. He is a former Military Policeman who was great at his job. Now he is retired from the military and has traveled the country on his own terms, stopping for periods of times in different towns. Now he is a homeowner, who has spent the summer fixing up his home and yard. He feels anchored now which he doesn’t like since he has lived like a hobo, traveling the country with the clothes on his back, a watch, a toothbrush and very little else.
The love interest: Jodi Garber - she is a New York corporate lawyer and the daughter of Leon Garber, Reacher’s old commanding officer who died recently leaving his half million dollar home to Reacher. She had feelings for Reacher since she was fifteen and they met on a base in the Philippines.
The Story: Reacher had feelings for Jodi when they first met, but dampened them down since she was the daughter of a man he respected and thought of like a father. When Leon Garber died, Reacher came to the funeral and was surprised to see Jodi and find her divorced and that she had feelings for him as well.
While helping out a local restauranteur who is being shaken down by a local gang, Reacher is picked up by the FBI and questioned about a series of murders across the company. The victims of the murders all happened to know Reacher.
I thought I would listen to this audiobook after binging Reacher season 1 on Amazon Prime. I loved it and wanted more so decided to try one of the audiobooks. Listening to this made me appreciate a lot about the script and the way Alan Ritchson played the character. I could see so many of the same characteristics in this Reacher as in the Amazon TV Show.
Reacher has the same confidence and is just as irreverent and arrogant in the books as in the show. I love the way that sometimes Reacher is so nice and selfless like he is for the local restauranteur and other times when people ask for his help he just flat out says No and when they ask why, he says because he doesn’t want to. It doesn’t benefit him at all, so why should he? Even when he helped the restauranteur he was indirectly helping himself because he enjoyed eating there and if it closed he wouldn’t be able to. Reacher yearns for his hobo lifestyle and feels that owning a house is like being strangled.
I also love how he gets back at people that try to use him or back him into a corner. I like this guy and picturing him as Alan Ritchson doesn’t hurt either. I didn’t really like the narrator, I thought he should have a deeper voice to match such a big guy. However, Jonathon Mcclain is a good reader with good cadence and tempo, so I still enjoyed the audiobook pretty well.
Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub
May 27, 2013
I think this is the first book I've ever rated "one star." Normally, I don't finish books that I don't like, so I don't have a reason to assign a low rating. I did finish this one, unrealistically hoping it would get better. First of all, I normally love the Jack Reacher books for what they are: guilty pleasures and a fun way to spend an afternoon. This book just left me feeling guilty for wasting my time, with no pleasure to balance it.
I've read several other bad reviews and agree with them, but didn't see one that mentioned the biggest problem of the book, in my opinion: Hypnotism is not brain-washing! You cannot compel someone to do something under hypnosis that is inconsistent with his/her core values. These women were defined as mentally tough - and then they became robots through hypnosis? Absurd. And it is impossible to think that they all swallowed their tongues on command! The will to live, in a non-suicidal person, is paramount. Even if the person wanted to kill herself I don't think she could physcially do it that way. Drinking poisoned Kool-Aid is a far cry from voluntarily swallowing your tongue.
Other problems: Lamarr volunteered early on that she and her stepsister would inherit money when Lamarr's stepfather died. Then he dies and so does the stepsister. Reacher's first rule is to consider the obvious and follow the money. He fails miserably, as does the FBI.
Then there's Harper. The braless thing is stupid. I can imagine that being a young female FBI agent is tough enough without walking around braless with a tight white shirt on.
The problems with the book are too numerous to recount. I hated that I knew who the killer was so early in the book. And there was no true resolution. The bad guys (police & FBI) aren't held accountable and Reacher seems ok with it. He was jerked around by all of them and seems to take it in stride. Perhaps Reacher was "hypnotised," too?
I'm not giving up on the rest of the series, though. I hope the next one will live up to the standard set in the first three books.
I've read several other bad reviews and agree with them, but didn't see one that mentioned the biggest problem of the book, in my opinion: Hypnotism is not brain-washing! You cannot compel someone to do something under hypnosis that is inconsistent with his/her core values. These women were defined as mentally tough - and then they became robots through hypnosis? Absurd. And it is impossible to think that they all swallowed their tongues on command! The will to live, in a non-suicidal person, is paramount. Even if the person wanted to kill herself I don't think she could physcially do it that way. Drinking poisoned Kool-Aid is a far cry from voluntarily swallowing your tongue.
Other problems: Lamarr volunteered early on that she and her stepsister would inherit money when Lamarr's stepfather died. Then he dies and so does the stepsister. Reacher's first rule is to consider the obvious and follow the money. He fails miserably, as does the FBI.
Then there's Harper. The braless thing is stupid. I can imagine that being a young female FBI agent is tough enough without walking around braless with a tight white shirt on.
The problems with the book are too numerous to recount. I hated that I knew who the killer was so early in the book. And there was no true resolution. The bad guys (police & FBI) aren't held accountable and Reacher seems ok with it. He was jerked around by all of them and seems to take it in stride. Perhaps Reacher was "hypnotised," too?
I'm not giving up on the rest of the series, though. I hope the next one will live up to the standard set in the first three books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2018
A batter steps into the box and looks out at the tall, hulking pitcher on top of the mound. He’s got the book on this guy, knows the formula. All heat, nothing but fastballs. Starts inside to back the hitter off the plate and then works the corners.
So he’s surprised when the first pitch is a loping change up, a slower pitch that comes across the outer edge of the plate for a strike. The next few pitches are all over the place – high, low, fast, slow, balls and another strike. The hitter is completely flustered, none of this has gone according to plan and he’s confused and disoriented and on a three two full count he is completely devastated when he’s struck out on a big 12-6 curve ball.
Lee Child’s fourth Jack Reacher is just that – a curve ball that has the reader tied up to the very end. The first three books held to a pretty simple formula centered around the implacable and stoic hero. This 2000 publication is more of a murder mystery than an action thriller and damned if Child doesn’t spend some time with character development and plot.
Sure there are some gaping holes and some inconsistencies and some preposterous twists but this is altogether a good book and a page turner. Fun, entertaining and the best one yet.
So he’s surprised when the first pitch is a loping change up, a slower pitch that comes across the outer edge of the plate for a strike. The next few pitches are all over the place – high, low, fast, slow, balls and another strike. The hitter is completely flustered, none of this has gone according to plan and he’s confused and disoriented and on a three two full count he is completely devastated when he’s struck out on a big 12-6 curve ball.
Lee Child’s fourth Jack Reacher is just that – a curve ball that has the reader tied up to the very end. The first three books held to a pretty simple formula centered around the implacable and stoic hero. This 2000 publication is more of a murder mystery than an action thriller and damned if Child doesn’t spend some time with character development and plot.
Sure there are some gaping holes and some inconsistencies and some preposterous twists but this is altogether a good book and a page turner. Fun, entertaining and the best one yet.
June 30, 2014
**SPOILERS BE HERE!**
Oh, where to begin? First, I'm now convinced Child is paid per word--nothing else excuses the descriptions: "He did this, and this other thing, and this other thing, and then this other thing. She felt one way, and another way, and another way that's actually the same thing as the first two ways, but phrased a little differently. He went into the bedroom, and he saw a bedspread, a lamp, a bedside table, a window, a cat, a rug." Come on.
But really, I have no problem generally with the Jack Reacher series. It's simple and pulpy, but usually good fun. And his vigilante-style justice and the fact that he always gets the girl are conventions I can usually go along with. But THIS book... Well, here's what I learned from it:
1. Never trust an unattractive woman.
2. A rambling man can't have a woman tying him down.
3. You should "play along" and help out a woman who claims sexual harassment, even if you know (and will then tell everyone else) that you think she was just being a big ho.
4. The only kind of relationship you can have with someone who has been sexually assaulted is a paternalistic sort, because they're damaged forever and will never want anything more than friendship and protection ever ever ever.
5. When you meet a pretty girl, she's required to give you her vital stats, because what else would you want to know about her? Age, height, relationship status, whether or not she wants to join you for dinner.
6. When said pretty girl tells you that she feels like she's continually harassed and objectified, go ahead and objectify her as well, because hey, you're Jack Reacher.
7. No one can resist Jack Reacher.
So.... yeah. Quality read.
Oh, where to begin? First, I'm now convinced Child is paid per word--nothing else excuses the descriptions: "He did this, and this other thing, and this other thing, and then this other thing. She felt one way, and another way, and another way that's actually the same thing as the first two ways, but phrased a little differently. He went into the bedroom, and he saw a bedspread, a lamp, a bedside table, a window, a cat, a rug." Come on.
But really, I have no problem generally with the Jack Reacher series. It's simple and pulpy, but usually good fun. And his vigilante-style justice and the fact that he always gets the girl are conventions I can usually go along with. But THIS book... Well, here's what I learned from it:
1. Never trust an unattractive woman.
2. A rambling man can't have a woman tying him down.
3. You should "play along" and help out a woman who claims sexual harassment, even if you know (and will then tell everyone else) that you think she was just being a big ho.
4. The only kind of relationship you can have with someone who has been sexually assaulted is a paternalistic sort, because they're damaged forever and will never want anything more than friendship and protection ever ever ever.
5. When you meet a pretty girl, she's required to give you her vital stats, because what else would you want to know about her? Age, height, relationship status, whether or not she wants to join you for dinner.
6. When said pretty girl tells you that she feels like she's continually harassed and objectified, go ahead and objectify her as well, because hey, you're Jack Reacher.
7. No one can resist Jack Reacher.
So.... yeah. Quality read.
October 15, 2020
Popsugar Challenge 2020 - A book in a series of more than twenty books
Ugh, I really dont like it when Jack Reacher has more than a one night stand with a woman but im not going to down star it because he did kind of cheat on her so that kind of makes up for it (smiles).
As usual Jack speaks to my soul, his avoidance of commitment, his desire to never own anything or be bogged down with stuff. My favourite nomad.
As all the books in this series so far I really love how these are crafted, the twists, the visuals, the OMG did I just read that (im definitely leaving this book with weird thoughts about my mouth) and the OMG how did i miss that elements!
Can be read as a standalone and the series can be read out of order (which ive done) and it doesn't make any difference particularly.
Five stars as always. Thank you Lee Child for the glorious gift that is Reacher.
Ugh, I really dont like it when Jack Reacher has more than a one night stand with a woman but im not going to down star it because he did kind of cheat on her so that kind of makes up for it (smiles).
As usual Jack speaks to my soul, his avoidance of commitment, his desire to never own anything or be bogged down with stuff. My favourite nomad.
As all the books in this series so far I really love how these are crafted, the twists, the visuals, the OMG did I just read that (im definitely leaving this book with weird thoughts about my mouth) and the OMG how did i miss that elements!
Can be read as a standalone and the series can be read out of order (which ive done) and it doesn't make any difference particularly.
Five stars as always. Thank you Lee Child for the glorious gift that is Reacher.
January 5, 2018
Ok, so I read 3 of these in quick succession late last year (the first 3) and then decided to take a break. I did enjoy them and I did enjoy this one, but I don't want to get hooked in as they are not my normal genre.
As per usual Jack is larger than life and without giving anything away he is instrumental n both the crime(s) and the solving. One has to admire him despite him being so bloody perfect.
All in all a good book and for 500+ pages it did whizz by. I still have, courtesy of my best mate, at least another 15 of them, so I will enjoy them but I just have to limit myself.
As per usual Jack is larger than life and without giving anything away he is instrumental n both the crime(s) and the solving. One has to admire him despite him being so bloody perfect.
All in all a good book and for 500+ pages it did whizz by. I still have, courtesy of my best mate, at least another 15 of them, so I will enjoy them but I just have to limit myself.
June 3, 2010
I'm afraid I'm going to have give Jack reacher a rest for a while. This book was ridiculous. I had this thing figured out very early on and was dreading being right. You will not be impressed by the method of murder. It is a huge stretch to think that this could be remotely possible. Plus, the investigators are morons! Lee Child makes the FBI no more tha stupid thugs that can't get anything done without resorting to threats of everything from framing someone from murder to actually having them, or their loved ones, killed. Just stupid.
And another thing since I'm on a roll, I am really upset about Lee Child's understanding of military investigatory services. The MPs don't investigate more than petty crime. Just changing the service to Army CID would give a lot more credence to the backstory of Reacher.
And another thing since I'm on a roll, I am really upset about Lee Child's understanding of military investigatory services. The MPs don't investigate more than petty crime. Just changing the service to Army CID would give a lot more credence to the backstory of Reacher.
August 18, 2018
Reacher and the FBI
Running Blind offers the reader an impossible puzzle, sort of like the locked-room murder puzzle. There's a serial killer out there and it's a complete puzzle how the murders are being committed. In fact, it's such a puzzle that the FBI has to bring in Jack Reacher to solve it. As long as you don't get hung up on the unlikelihood of that playing out, you'll enjoy a pretty good mystery with few clues and a lot of dead ends to bang into.
This is the fourth Reacher novel and, if like me you skipped the second and third books, you'll be shocked at the new Reacher, no longer a drifter, a stranger without a home. He is now a homeowner with property taxes to pay and a high powered Manhattan lawyer as his girlfriend. But, he's still this odd duck who has to do things his own way.
Quite an enjoyable read, fastmoving, and definitely worth a read.
Running Blind offers the reader an impossible puzzle, sort of like the locked-room murder puzzle. There's a serial killer out there and it's a complete puzzle how the murders are being committed. In fact, it's such a puzzle that the FBI has to bring in Jack Reacher to solve it. As long as you don't get hung up on the unlikelihood of that playing out, you'll enjoy a pretty good mystery with few clues and a lot of dead ends to bang into.
This is the fourth Reacher novel and, if like me you skipped the second and third books, you'll be shocked at the new Reacher, no longer a drifter, a stranger without a home. He is now a homeowner with property taxes to pay and a high powered Manhattan lawyer as his girlfriend. But, he's still this odd duck who has to do things his own way.
Quite an enjoyable read, fastmoving, and definitely worth a read.
September 2, 2021
Yet again another fun installment, I love Jack keeping me company while I am in isolation and working from home full time. And again, I feel in safe hands with Jack, the narrator and a prolific author that knows how to deliver quality action storylines. He takes us away from our daily life burdens and I find this type of reading satisfying, entertaining and fun. What more do I need?
Jack and Jodie are certainly an item, but Jodie senses Jack's hesitation to settle. She has made partner in an amazing law firm, pulls all nighters at work. Jack is not comfortable organising and being committed to car insurance, home insurance, utility bills - let alone staying in one city. He wants to rid his life of any committment or any traced of being settled, in the same way Jodie wants security and a sense of home.
So he jumps at the chance to 'consult' with the FBI on a matter out of town that involves him by association; he has had work dealings with two women found dead in very unusual circumstances. In baths with green paint. The purp seems very evasive and the numbers are growing.
As I only listen to this series and don't hold the physical book in my hands, I don't have any good one liners to quote. But Jack Reacher is the king of one liners, don't you think?
I can't help but race forward and try to reconcile a more than twenty year time span when the series introduced us to a man in his thirties after his illustrious military police career, and the women he meets in every installment.
But, as with all things, I do smash them so quickly. I have read the first four in as many weeks, so this little reader in Sydney is a very happy one indeed.
Jack and Jodie are certainly an item, but Jodie senses Jack's hesitation to settle. She has made partner in an amazing law firm, pulls all nighters at work. Jack is not comfortable organising and being committed to car insurance, home insurance, utility bills - let alone staying in one city. He wants to rid his life of any committment or any traced of being settled, in the same way Jodie wants security and a sense of home.
So he jumps at the chance to 'consult' with the FBI on a matter out of town that involves him by association; he has had work dealings with two women found dead in very unusual circumstances. In baths with green paint. The purp seems very evasive and the numbers are growing.
As I only listen to this series and don't hold the physical book in my hands, I don't have any good one liners to quote. But Jack Reacher is the king of one liners, don't you think?
I can't help but race forward and try to reconcile a more than twenty year time span when the series introduced us to a man in his thirties after his illustrious military police career, and the women he meets in every installment.
But, as with all things, I do smash them so quickly. I have read the first four in as many weeks, so this little reader in Sydney is a very happy one indeed.
April 8, 2019
Ugh, where to begin. Another iteration of Lee Child's pattern: We have an inside man, a pointless subplot, and an improbable romance.
I'm irritated at the lack of continuity here. In the 2nd book, Jack Reacher had exposed corrupt FBI agents, saved a cherished FBI agent (and daughter of a high-ranking general), and stopped a terrorist attack, but this doesn't even merit a mention when he's picked up by the FBI again? Not a line? Not a phone call from the friends/allies he made in the 2nd book? People whose lives he saved, careers he protected? These FBI agents are allowed to lock him up in Quantico and put a camera on him? Try to get a sexy FBI agent to bang him? Not to mention all of the other blackmailing that went on. Not a mention of "that ugly business in Montana" or anything like that? Utterly ridiculous.
At least the relationship he established in the last book is still here, but that's about it for continuity.
The whole plot hinges on hypnotism?!? Really? You can hypnotize people into killing themselves? Right.
Oh, and there's a point-of-view character sprinkled throughout who is carefully manipulated to make you think he's the killer. (the killer's POV's are full of non gender-specific pronouns or in 2nd person, but this is obviously a male). Eventually this guy shows up as a harmless distraction, but it's a cheap way to try to lead the reader away from the real killer. (Who was obvious because of the "inside man" part of the pattern).
What a mess.
I'm irritated at the lack of continuity here. In the 2nd book, Jack Reacher had exposed corrupt FBI agents, saved a cherished FBI agent (and daughter of a high-ranking general), and stopped a terrorist attack, but this doesn't even merit a mention when he's picked up by the FBI again? Not a line? Not a phone call from the friends/allies he made in the 2nd book? People whose lives he saved, careers he protected? These FBI agents are allowed to lock him up in Quantico and put a camera on him? Try to get a sexy FBI agent to bang him? Not to mention all of the other blackmailing that went on. Not a mention of "that ugly business in Montana" or anything like that? Utterly ridiculous.
At least the relationship he established in the last book is still here, but that's about it for continuity.
The whole plot hinges on hypnotism?!? Really? You can hypnotize people into killing themselves? Right.
Oh, and there's a point-of-view character sprinkled throughout who is carefully manipulated to make you think he's the killer. (the killer's POV's are full of non gender-specific pronouns or in 2nd person, but this is obviously a male). Eventually this guy shows up as a harmless distraction, but it's a cheap way to try to lead the reader away from the real killer. (Who was obvious because of the "inside man" part of the pattern).
What a mess.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2013
A Reacher novel is kinda' like pizza: Even when it's not great, it's still usually pretty good. HOWEVER, have you ever had one of those pizzas that was so bad that you cannot help but to tell others to avoid that particular pizzeria? That's what Running Blind was like. Avoid it at all costs!
Seriously, THIS IS THE ONE TO AVOID IN THE SERIES! It's OMG stupid! If I told the heart of the mystery you wouldn't believe it, thinking it's the plot from some 3rd-rate Karloff movie from the 1930s, but once you realized I was serious and that that really was the crux of the issue here, you'd agree and say, "OMG, that IS stupid!" I won't give a spoiler because I don't want to be blocked, but it's a stinker.
There is some good characterization going on here. I liked the literary techniques Child used to mask the killer. And I liked the way Reacher (in some cases) was running circles around the authority figures who thought they had him under their thumbs.
Child might want to do a bit more study into forensics and transference before he makes claims about multiple trace free crime scenes.
One last comment: I listened to this on Books on Disk, and this particular voice artist was bad...distractingly bad.
Seriously, THIS IS THE ONE TO AVOID IN THE SERIES! It's OMG stupid! If I told the heart of the mystery you wouldn't believe it, thinking it's the plot from some 3rd-rate Karloff movie from the 1930s, but once you realized I was serious and that that really was the crux of the issue here, you'd agree and say, "OMG, that IS stupid!" I won't give a spoiler because I don't want to be blocked, but it's a stinker.
There is some good characterization going on here. I liked the literary techniques Child used to mask the killer. And I liked the way Reacher (in some cases) was running circles around the authority figures who thought they had him under their thumbs.
Child might want to do a bit more study into forensics and transference before he makes claims about multiple trace free crime scenes.
One last comment: I listened to this on Books on Disk, and this particular voice artist was bad...distractingly bad.
February 24, 2017
2 ½ stars. Long, drawn out process investigating murders. Not enough action. The ending was frustrating.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
The story starts off in an exciting way with thugs demanding payoffs from a new restaurant owner. Reacher likes the restaurant and takes action. That was fun. But after that there was very little action, not enough. It was a long, drawn out process trying to solve the murders, but no one figured anything out until the very end. I’m reminded of the Michael Connelly books which have interesting discoveries along the way. That was missing here. For maybe the last third of the book, I had a good guess as to who and how, but Jack and others appeared kind of dumb because they never considered this. Sure, the author gave the reader more hints than Jack got, but I felt the characters should have been more open minded. Instead, I kept hearing it’s impossible. The first third of the book was pretty good due to anticipation, but the end was a letdown.
I really like the Reacher character and the series. Although I had problems with this book, it still kept my interest, and I plan to read the next one.
The FBI does really bad things to force Reacher to work on the case. At the end, the FBI does more really bad things. I hated the FBI’s actions and threats almost more than what the killer was doing. So I didn’t feel good at the end of the book.
I wanted the killer to suffer. So far in all four books, the bad guy is quickly killed at the end. I wanted to see them get caught, see them suffer, hear their words after they realized it was over. Especially in this book, I wanted to hear what the killer would have said about motive and methods. Without those insights and feelings, the ending was empty.
I did not like the author throwing in one character as a red herring. The purpose was to confuse the reader. It wasn’t explained, justified, or done well.
One thing odd about Reacher is that he doesn’t travel with clothes. He only has what he is wearing. He sometimes showers, but then he puts on the same clothes. He doesn’t do laundry. I’m sure his clothes smell. In previous books he would buy cheap new clothes and throw away the old. He wasn’t buying any new clothes in this book. This is one of those suspend disbelief items. Just don’t think about it.
STORY BRIEF:
A serial killer is killing women who were raped or sexually harassed while in the military. The men who hurt them were put in jail or lost their jobs. The women left the military. The FBI profilers think the killer is someone like Reacher. Since the first two victims knew him, the FBI have Reacher under surveillance. They learn Reacher is innocent when a 3rd victim is killed while they were watching him. Now the FBI forces Reacher to help them solve the case. They believe his military contacts and experiences will be useful. They threaten Reacher’s girlfriend to keep him in line.
THE SERIES:
If you haven’t read any Reacher before, start with books 1 and 2. You do not need to read them in order. There are at least sixteen books so far. My ratings and order of the first four books are:
4 ½ stars. Killing Floor
4 stars. Die Trying
4 stars. Tripwire
2 ½ stars. Running Blind.
NARRATOR:
The narrator Dick Hill was very good.
DATA:
Unabridged audiobook reading time: 13 hrs and 5 mins. Swearing language: I don’t recall any. Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: one referred to not shown. Setting: 1999 various other U.S. locations. Book copyright: 2000. Genre: mystery suspense thriller. Ending: Bad guy is caught, but there is no good feeling because other things are frustrating.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
The story starts off in an exciting way with thugs demanding payoffs from a new restaurant owner. Reacher likes the restaurant and takes action. That was fun. But after that there was very little action, not enough. It was a long, drawn out process trying to solve the murders, but no one figured anything out until the very end. I’m reminded of the Michael Connelly books which have interesting discoveries along the way. That was missing here. For maybe the last third of the book, I had a good guess as to who and how, but Jack and others appeared kind of dumb because they never considered this. Sure, the author gave the reader more hints than Jack got, but I felt the characters should have been more open minded. Instead, I kept hearing it’s impossible. The first third of the book was pretty good due to anticipation, but the end was a letdown.
I really like the Reacher character and the series. Although I had problems with this book, it still kept my interest, and I plan to read the next one.
The FBI does really bad things to force Reacher to work on the case. At the end, the FBI does more really bad things. I hated the FBI’s actions and threats almost more than what the killer was doing. So I didn’t feel good at the end of the book.
I wanted the killer to suffer. So far in all four books, the bad guy is quickly killed at the end. I wanted to see them get caught, see them suffer, hear their words after they realized it was over. Especially in this book, I wanted to hear what the killer would have said about motive and methods. Without those insights and feelings, the ending was empty.
I did not like the author throwing in one character as a red herring. The purpose was to confuse the reader. It wasn’t explained, justified, or done well.
One thing odd about Reacher is that he doesn’t travel with clothes. He only has what he is wearing. He sometimes showers, but then he puts on the same clothes. He doesn’t do laundry. I’m sure his clothes smell. In previous books he would buy cheap new clothes and throw away the old. He wasn’t buying any new clothes in this book. This is one of those suspend disbelief items. Just don’t think about it.
STORY BRIEF:
A serial killer is killing women who were raped or sexually harassed while in the military. The men who hurt them were put in jail or lost their jobs. The women left the military. The FBI profilers think the killer is someone like Reacher. Since the first two victims knew him, the FBI have Reacher under surveillance. They learn Reacher is innocent when a 3rd victim is killed while they were watching him. Now the FBI forces Reacher to help them solve the case. They believe his military contacts and experiences will be useful. They threaten Reacher’s girlfriend to keep him in line.
THE SERIES:
If you haven’t read any Reacher before, start with books 1 and 2. You do not need to read them in order. There are at least sixteen books so far. My ratings and order of the first four books are:
4 ½ stars. Killing Floor
4 stars. Die Trying
4 stars. Tripwire
2 ½ stars. Running Blind.
NARRATOR:
The narrator Dick Hill was very good.
DATA:
Unabridged audiobook reading time: 13 hrs and 5 mins. Swearing language: I don’t recall any. Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: one referred to not shown. Setting: 1999 various other U.S. locations. Book copyright: 2000. Genre: mystery suspense thriller. Ending: Bad guy is caught, but there is no good feeling because other things are frustrating.
November 18, 2017
My rating: 4/5
The novel is great as the first two. I have to read the third one but I just couldn't get it in a lower price in amazon. So I bought the fourth one which is running blind or visitor. But when I jumped into the story I found out that the third book and the fourth are connected in a way ( not by story, so no problem) But You can read the third after four. There will be no problem in it. A character is present in both the books.
Just like the first two ones the phasing of the novel is really fast. It's a thrill ride. Jack Reacher is always badass.
The novel is great as the first two. I have to read the third one but I just couldn't get it in a lower price in amazon. So I bought the fourth one which is running blind or visitor. But when I jumped into the story I found out that the third book and the fourth are connected in a way ( not by story, so no problem) But You can read the third after four. There will be no problem in it. A character is present in both the books.
Just like the first two ones the phasing of the novel is really fast. It's a thrill ride. Jack Reacher is always badass.
January 20, 2021
After recently enjoying Heather Martin’s excellent biography of Lee Child/Jim Grant, I decided to re-read one his earlier books in the Jack Reacher series. It must have been almost 20 years since I first read The Visitor, so it frequently felt like I was reading a new book. A strange sensation, considering how many memorable scenes and characters there are in it.
The novel initially finds Reacher in a very un-Reacher like situation. He has a house and a car; both inherited from his former commanding officer. Also a girlfriend; daughter of the same CO. As for a steady 9 to 5 job, forget it! He already feels trapped enough. Most of his spare time has been spent clearing up his large overgrown garden. Then he is unwittingly and unwillingly co-opted by his old nemesis the FBI in the hunt for a serial killer who drowns their female victims in tubs of camouflage paint.
This is a real masterclass in suspense-thriller writing. The action is relentless, coast to coast. The plot twists come thick and fast and each chapter ends in a tantalising cliffhanger which just begs one to continue reading till the end.
Unsurprisingly, at the end of the novel, Reacher has managed to extricate himself from the settled life and is back to his wandering ways.
As, these days, I’m always discovering new books by new authors, it’s very rare that I re-read anything, although I’m very glad I made an exception for The Visitor.
The novel initially finds Reacher in a very un-Reacher like situation. He has a house and a car; both inherited from his former commanding officer. Also a girlfriend; daughter of the same CO. As for a steady 9 to 5 job, forget it! He already feels trapped enough. Most of his spare time has been spent clearing up his large overgrown garden. Then he is unwittingly and unwillingly co-opted by his old nemesis the FBI in the hunt for a serial killer who drowns their female victims in tubs of camouflage paint.
This is a real masterclass in suspense-thriller writing. The action is relentless, coast to coast. The plot twists come thick and fast and each chapter ends in a tantalising cliffhanger which just begs one to continue reading till the end.
Unsurprisingly, at the end of the novel, Reacher has managed to extricate himself from the settled life and is back to his wandering ways.
As, these days, I’m always discovering new books by new authors, it’s very rare that I re-read anything, although I’m very glad I made an exception for The Visitor.
January 9, 2019
I needed something easy today and this was the perfect balm for my stressed out brain.
I think I need some kind of small town conspiracy story to follow up. I need corruption and vigilante justice, backwater evil and all kinds of vice.
Hit me up with recommendations please...
I think I need some kind of small town conspiracy story to follow up. I need corruption and vigilante justice, backwater evil and all kinds of vice.
Hit me up with recommendations please...
July 16, 2014
"I am the one and only..." - Chesney Hawkes
"Vodka helped create some of the greatest fiction we've ever read" - some quote by someone, somewhere, after a bottle.
To give Lee Childs his due, he is excellent writer of popcorn fiction - you know, the tough-guy-with-his-own-rules character. I'm a big fan of Jack Reacher and his on goings. The Visitor is slightly different to the other three Reacher novels in the sense Jack isn't smashing people's faces up so much, it's more a direct murder/mystery story. He gets thrown in the deep end and offered a chance to work with the FBI, where they are investigating a serial killer who isn't a fan of women in the military. Or after a dust up with a few New York mobsters, he gets to go down for potential murder. Manipulated? Yes. Decisions decisions.
In Jack's fourth outing in the series Reacher gets to flex his brainstrings and not his muscles - so given this, it does (for me) lead towards a ponderous read. After two hundred and fifty pages I'd already guessed who was committing the murders - it was plainly obvious. So despite the author showing Jack is much more than just brawn (which is welcome) there wasn't much for me to enjoy. The ending finished how I guessed it would, leaving me thinking - despite all the murders and running around going on, it was all too obvious. Transparent is the word of the day here. Don't do that as a writer, don't go hinting who could potentially be the killer - the story was killed fairly quickly once a few hints were there. Possibly didn't help as by the end of the first few hundred pages we're getting the killers thoughts on page. That's not a bad thing in itself, but it is a bad thing when you let slip something that reveals the identity of the antagonist.
So let's talk characters, Jodie is still here playing the not-so-happy love of Reachers life - she wants to make partner at a law firm. You can guess the problems their having with Jack continually taking the law into his own hands. Then there is Harper, a 'vanilla' FBI agent, assigned to shadow Jack's every movement. She is rather great in a tomboy-with-gun sorta way. Other members of the FBI investigative team include Blake, a doughnut eating agent (it's not water weight, that's FAT mate). Then there's Julia Lamaar, who's sister is on the list of potential targets. She is the head analyst of the FBI's psychologically criminology unit. There are many more characters who make a appearance, none that really stuck with me.
Another out of character nugget was Jack's tedious moaning and whining about his life, what's going on between him and Jodie. Throw in a third and you've got a triangle! See I went to school! When I was reading this I was thinking, perhaps the writer wants to show a more caring softer side. That's fine, tough guys can be sensitive. NOT WHEN THEY MOAN LIKE SOMEONE OUT OF A SOAP!! Was I shouting? Sorry about that. The balance of Jack was being ripped apart in my mind. It doesn't help that the pacing is slow, as. The only time Jack get's to kick some booty is at the start of the novel. Then we're left with a mystery to solve, that isn't so mysterious after all. In my opinion, if you're going to have a moment of feeling (when you're the tough guy) he needs to then go and do what he does best, be tough.
The worst so far in my humble opinion. Hopefully the next novel in the series will be a stunner! Maybe? Possibly? Hey, I'm not a cynic.
To finish up I'd like to say what a dirty slutter Jack Reacher is! Seriously, he's always eyeing up the ladies, a bit of mouth-to-mouth in this one. James Bond best move over, there's a real (sensitive) tough guy in town.
"Vodka helped create some of the greatest fiction we've ever read" - some quote by someone, somewhere, after a bottle.
To give Lee Childs his due, he is excellent writer of popcorn fiction - you know, the tough-guy-with-his-own-rules character. I'm a big fan of Jack Reacher and his on goings. The Visitor is slightly different to the other three Reacher novels in the sense Jack isn't smashing people's faces up so much, it's more a direct murder/mystery story. He gets thrown in the deep end and offered a chance to work with the FBI, where they are investigating a serial killer who isn't a fan of women in the military. Or after a dust up with a few New York mobsters, he gets to go down for potential murder. Manipulated? Yes. Decisions decisions.
In Jack's fourth outing in the series Reacher gets to flex his brainstrings and not his muscles - so given this, it does (for me) lead towards a ponderous read. After two hundred and fifty pages I'd already guessed who was committing the murders - it was plainly obvious. So despite the author showing Jack is much more than just brawn (which is welcome) there wasn't much for me to enjoy. The ending finished how I guessed it would, leaving me thinking - despite all the murders and running around going on, it was all too obvious. Transparent is the word of the day here. Don't do that as a writer, don't go hinting who could potentially be the killer - the story was killed fairly quickly once a few hints were there. Possibly didn't help as by the end of the first few hundred pages we're getting the killers thoughts on page. That's not a bad thing in itself, but it is a bad thing when you let slip something that reveals the identity of the antagonist.
So let's talk characters, Jodie is still here playing the not-so-happy love of Reachers life - she wants to make partner at a law firm. You can guess the problems their having with Jack continually taking the law into his own hands. Then there is Harper, a 'vanilla' FBI agent, assigned to shadow Jack's every movement. She is rather great in a tomboy-with-gun sorta way. Other members of the FBI investigative team include Blake, a doughnut eating agent (it's not water weight, that's FAT mate). Then there's Julia Lamaar, who's sister is on the list of potential targets. She is the head analyst of the FBI's psychologically criminology unit. There are many more characters who make a appearance, none that really stuck with me.
Another out of character nugget was Jack's tedious moaning and whining about his life, what's going on between him and Jodie. Throw in a third and you've got a triangle! See I went to school! When I was reading this I was thinking, perhaps the writer wants to show a more caring softer side. That's fine, tough guys can be sensitive. NOT WHEN THEY MOAN LIKE SOMEONE OUT OF A SOAP!! Was I shouting? Sorry about that. The balance of Jack was being ripped apart in my mind. It doesn't help that the pacing is slow, as. The only time Jack get's to kick some booty is at the start of the novel. Then we're left with a mystery to solve, that isn't so mysterious after all. In my opinion, if you're going to have a moment of feeling (when you're the tough guy) he needs to then go and do what he does best, be tough.
The worst so far in my humble opinion. Hopefully the next novel in the series will be a stunner! Maybe? Possibly? Hey, I'm not a cynic.
To finish up I'd like to say what a dirty slutter Jack Reacher is! Seriously, he's always eyeing up the ladies, a bit of mouth-to-mouth in this one. James Bond best move over, there's a real (sensitive) tough guy in town.
Read
June 6, 2022A Jack Reacher book, ie compulsory to read when found on a hotel bookshelf. This isn't his best, in that the mystery is twisty and clever but there's a whole lot of implausibility and I'm not just talking about hands the size of supermarket chickens. The actual murder method had my daughter spluttering rage at its ridiculousness, but I was more narked by Reacher's deductive reasoning, which is basically that racism and misogyny are stupid beliefs and thus people capable of coming up with clever criminal schemes can't be racists or misogynists. Um.
Whatever, we didn't come here for realism. Fun.
Whatever, we didn't come here for realism. Fun.
April 11, 2015
Great read!
I knew it, I knew it ... kept me guessing all the way.
I knew it, I knew it ... kept me guessing all the way.
February 9, 2017
I always "feel" that I should like the Jack Reacher books better. I mean these are very popular books...everyone seems to love them...Tom Cruise even agreed to play Jack in the film. Must be great, right?
Still, mostly I like these. I can go a good solid 4 stars here. As the books go along there always seems to be (to me anyway) times where Jack just doesn't make a lot of sense within his own story/plot/personality. I mean (I say that a lot don't I?) I get the "freedom" of being a rootless drifter (in many ways Jack could be seen as the modern equivalent of the iconic "wandering" or "drifting" Gunfighter from the American West. he shows up. handles the trouble and then rides off into the sunset...albeit in a Greyhound rather than on horseback.). Still we're getting to the point where some of it is getting a bit hard to swallow. Anyone who's ever been in a place with nowhere to sleep and nothing to eat while broke will tell you it's not quite as easy to function as Jack makes it look. The guy needs to have ...the books need to show... a more reliable way for jack to live now that his savings are gone. It's the same kind of thing that ruined The Rockford Files for me. I like James Garner, but he'd have to get paid once in a while to keep going not get stiffed on ever single job as he seems to on that program.
Okay, that said what we get here is a good well crafted story with Jack being strong armed into working with the FBI (if you're like me you'll grit your teeth at the pushy feds...I'm not a big government person anyway). The plot is well crafted and the story telling/plot holds together and develops well. No clueless plot coming from left field here. It's all thought out.
All in all better than some Reacher novels I've read. Good one, nice solid 4 star read, Enjoy.
Still, mostly I like these. I can go a good solid 4 stars here. As the books go along there always seems to be (to me anyway) times where Jack just doesn't make a lot of sense within his own story/plot/personality. I mean (I say that a lot don't I?) I get the "freedom" of being a rootless drifter (in many ways Jack could be seen as the modern equivalent of the iconic "wandering" or "drifting" Gunfighter from the American West. he shows up. handles the trouble and then rides off into the sunset...albeit in a Greyhound rather than on horseback.). Still we're getting to the point where some of it is getting a bit hard to swallow. Anyone who's ever been in a place with nowhere to sleep and nothing to eat while broke will tell you it's not quite as easy to function as Jack makes it look. The guy needs to have ...the books need to show... a more reliable way for jack to live now that his savings are gone. It's the same kind of thing that ruined The Rockford Files for me. I like James Garner, but he'd have to get paid once in a while to keep going not get stiffed on ever single job as he seems to on that program.
Okay, that said what we get here is a good well crafted story with Jack being strong armed into working with the FBI (if you're like me you'll grit your teeth at the pushy feds...I'm not a big government person anyway). The plot is well crafted and the story telling/plot holds together and develops well. No clueless plot coming from left field here. It's all thought out.
All in all better than some Reacher novels I've read. Good one, nice solid 4 star read, Enjoy.
June 16, 2017
One hundred pages too long and more holes than a colander. The identity of the killer was telegraphed about half way.
May 10, 2022
Read this book as a part of a challenge, my partner had it lying around so I thought, why not.
The books is engaging from the very first page.
Jack Reacher is sitting in a bar, where the owner of the bar is being hassled by the local "mafia" to pay cash for "security" which a whole load of rubbish, the owner can't afford it and he is being bullied. Jack cant just stand by and watch someone being picked on and belittled, even though it has nothing to do with him, so Jack puts together a very simple but extremely clever plan, and he teaches these men a lesson, don't pick on the little people.
Jack returns home from the bar, and is blinded by bright lights, there are police surrounding him everywhere, he has been taken into custody and is investigated by the FBI, he is the suspect of serial killing of two women he previously represented whilst he was in the Army. These two women have only one thing in common and that is that they both know Jack Reacher.
Jack is a hero, I assimilate him with a James Bond type character, he is suave, strong, intelligent, cool, calm and collected.
The case is mysterious, and nothing I could have guessed.
I like the thrill of the book, but a little slow for my likings. I will give the series another go, with another on in the Jack Reacher series to see if they are similar.
Please visit my blog and follow to see all of my past and future book reviews.
https://www.facebook.com/Kylies-Book-...
The books is engaging from the very first page.
Jack Reacher is sitting in a bar, where the owner of the bar is being hassled by the local "mafia" to pay cash for "security" which a whole load of rubbish, the owner can't afford it and he is being bullied. Jack cant just stand by and watch someone being picked on and belittled, even though it has nothing to do with him, so Jack puts together a very simple but extremely clever plan, and he teaches these men a lesson, don't pick on the little people.
Jack returns home from the bar, and is blinded by bright lights, there are police surrounding him everywhere, he has been taken into custody and is investigated by the FBI, he is the suspect of serial killing of two women he previously represented whilst he was in the Army. These two women have only one thing in common and that is that they both know Jack Reacher.
Jack is a hero, I assimilate him with a James Bond type character, he is suave, strong, intelligent, cool, calm and collected.
The case is mysterious, and nothing I could have guessed.
I like the thrill of the book, but a little slow for my likings. I will give the series another go, with another on in the Jack Reacher series to see if they are similar.
Please visit my blog and follow to see all of my past and future book reviews.
https://www.facebook.com/Kylies-Book-...
December 31, 2018
Τελευταίο βιβλίο για το 2018 και έμεινα, για άλλη μια φορά, ικανοποιημένος από τον Lee Child και τον Jack Reacher. 4ο βιβλίο της σειράς (ευτυχώς η Bell επανακυκλοφορεί τα βιβλία που ήταν εξαντλημένα εδώ και καιρό) και ο συγγραφέας αποδεικνύει για ακόμα μια φορά γιατί ο ήρωας του είναι από τους πιο μακροβιότερους στη λογοτεχνία (23 βιβλία ως τώρα).
Καλή Χρονιά σε όλους!!!!
Καλή Χρονιά σε όλους!!!!
February 26, 2012
My fourth Jack Reacher and very nearly my last. I've enjoyed the three previous books and was expecting to enjoy this one. But I didn't.
I would have abandoned this in disgust by half way if it were not for my sheer determination to finish it - just in case the author redeemed himself. But he didn't.
I really wanted this to be good - I like Jack Reacher books - or at least I have until this one. There was nothing in the previous books to suggest that I would tire of the main character or the story lines. I usually get that sort of inkling by book 3 and so I thought this one a safe bet.
Little of this book was believable and I had the end sorted out early... so soon in fact I thought I had to be wrong, it couldn't be that obvious.
At half way I read the review on Goodreads to see if there was a clue to encourage me to keep reading what by now I was considering an insult to my intelligence. I think Beej's review saved it - just. Apparently I shouldn't give up on the series as the following novels shrug this slump off. "...Reacher hasn't lost his shine."
Well, I'm not in a hurry to find out. But I will give him another chance.
I would have abandoned this in disgust by half way if it were not for my sheer determination to finish it - just in case the author redeemed himself. But he didn't.
I really wanted this to be good - I like Jack Reacher books - or at least I have until this one. There was nothing in the previous books to suggest that I would tire of the main character or the story lines. I usually get that sort of inkling by book 3 and so I thought this one a safe bet.
Little of this book was believable and I had the end sorted out early... so soon in fact I thought I had to be wrong, it couldn't be that obvious.
At half way I read the review on Goodreads to see if there was a clue to encourage me to keep reading what by now I was considering an insult to my intelligence. I think Beej's review saved it - just. Apparently I shouldn't give up on the series as the following novels shrug this slump off. "...Reacher hasn't lost his shine."
Well, I'm not in a hurry to find out. But I will give him another chance.
July 28, 2022
The FBI is a bunch of RUTHLESS bastards. They don't care who they mess with or ruin- as long as they come out ahead... and spotless. That's the take-away from this story.
A thrill ride of Reacher falling into several misadventures and the FBI being douche bags about it. Reacher is forced to work with the Bureau to solve a case of military women getting murdered. The one thread they have to connect them is they all filed sexual harassment charges against the service.
Reacher also makes a decision about the house Leon Garber left him in his will when he died. Also he must decide about the relationship he has with Leon's daughter Jodie Garber, an attorney for a high powered Manhattan law firm. Will Reacher remain tied down to a house and a girlfriend?
In light of the current state of affairs where the FBI has been accused of playing politics: first with the Trump/Russia hoax and then the covering up of Hunter Biden's laptop and calling it "disinformation", this story gives more fuel to those charges. Slimy, politically motivated CYA (cover your ass) tactics employed by the men in charge in this story make the current FBI "missteps", blunders and accusations very, very, VERY plausible.
In the end, I never suspected the guilty party... will you solve it before the climactic scene? I didn't and was surprised at the killer. All the clues are there to see and discover. Read it carefully and you just might figure it out.
A thrill ride of Reacher falling into several misadventures and the FBI being douche bags about it. Reacher is forced to work with the Bureau to solve a case of military women getting murdered. The one thread they have to connect them is they all filed sexual harassment charges against the service.
Reacher also makes a decision about the house Leon Garber left him in his will when he died. Also he must decide about the relationship he has with Leon's daughter Jodie Garber, an attorney for a high powered Manhattan law firm. Will Reacher remain tied down to a house and a girlfriend?
In light of the current state of affairs where the FBI has been accused of playing politics: first with the Trump/Russia hoax and then the covering up of Hunter Biden's laptop and calling it "disinformation", this story gives more fuel to those charges. Slimy, politically motivated CYA (cover your ass) tactics employed by the men in charge in this story make the current FBI "missteps", blunders and accusations very, very, VERY plausible.
In the end, I never suspected the guilty party... will you solve it before the climactic scene? I didn't and was surprised at the killer. All the clues are there to see and discover. Read it carefully and you just might figure it out.
September 27, 2022
Lee Child’s Jack Reacher is one of the greatest thriller series.
A nice read with a great flow - always a great plot for a potential Reacher film.
Retired Military Police Officer Jack Reacher returns & inherits his longtime, 15 year dead friend, Commanding General Officer Leo Garber’s home. Reacher is his “surrogate” son.
At the funeral he meets Jodie Jacob, Leo’s daughter, NY lawyer, married/divorced. Reacher could not date Jodie during his 15 yr. service as she was his CO’s daughter - now Jodie & Reacher fall in love.
FBI threatens Reacher using Jodie if he doesn’t take a case. FBI agent Lisa Harper(29) is assigned with him.
They research a list containing 11 Military Veteran Women who live alone, 7 are alive, 4 have been killed...
- Amy Callan
- Lorraine Stanley
- Caroline Cooke
- Allison Lamarr
A “murderer” hypnotizes each victim to lay & drown in a tub unbound, naked, filled with Camo/Green - Army Camouflage paint.
Reacher & Harper save the fifth woman, Rita Scimeca, while being drowned in a tub & kill the insane “murderer”.
One of the “murdered” above & the insane “murderer” in the book are stepsisters to the dead father - the key was to perform multiple murders, hiding the “murdered” stepsister in the above 4 - able to get their dad’s inheritance.
Harper tries to help Reacher to “stick around” Jodie, but Reacher cannot live in one place... he’s back to traveling place to place - hitching a ride or riding on a bus.
At the end, Jodie’s promoted to a 2 year partnership in her London law firm. Since she will be in London, Jodie says - “for 15 yr. we couldn’t live together - now I find I can’t live with you”.
Reacher says he’ll visit now & then. Jodie & Reacher stay together before the end of the month going their separate ways.
A nice read with a great flow - always a great plot for a potential Reacher film.
Retired Military Police Officer Jack Reacher returns & inherits his longtime, 15 year dead friend, Commanding General Officer Leo Garber’s home. Reacher is his “surrogate” son.
At the funeral he meets Jodie Jacob, Leo’s daughter, NY lawyer, married/divorced. Reacher could not date Jodie during his 15 yr. service as she was his CO’s daughter - now Jodie & Reacher fall in love.
FBI threatens Reacher using Jodie if he doesn’t take a case. FBI agent Lisa Harper(29) is assigned with him.
They research a list containing 11 Military Veteran Women who live alone, 7 are alive, 4 have been killed...
- Amy Callan
- Lorraine Stanley
- Caroline Cooke
- Allison Lamarr
A “murderer” hypnotizes each victim to lay & drown in a tub unbound, naked, filled with Camo/Green - Army Camouflage paint.
Reacher & Harper save the fifth woman, Rita Scimeca, while being drowned in a tub & kill the insane “murderer”.
One of the “murdered” above & the insane “murderer” in the book are stepsisters to the dead father - the key was to perform multiple murders, hiding the “murdered” stepsister in the above 4 - able to get their dad’s inheritance.
Harper tries to help Reacher to “stick around” Jodie, but Reacher cannot live in one place... he’s back to traveling place to place - hitching a ride or riding on a bus.
At the end, Jodie’s promoted to a 2 year partnership in her London law firm. Since she will be in London, Jodie says - “for 15 yr. we couldn’t live together - now I find I can’t live with you”.
Reacher says he’ll visit now & then. Jodie & Reacher stay together before the end of the month going their separate ways.
October 15, 2011
I really like the Jack Reacher books. They are usually smart, fun, interesting, and the character is just so damn badass, that they make for great popcorn.
Unfortunately, this one just is pretty bad. Better than the bad books of most other writers, this one still falls short on most marks.
Given, it is fun to see Reacher beat up on bad dudes, which he does with aplomb. However, the bad guys here are so predictable that the big surprise ending is evident from the character's initial introduction. The "unsolvable" method of committing the crimes central to this story is both obviously telegraphed and eye-rollingly bad. What makes the Reacher books so great is how authentic and plausible the characters seem, and in this novel nobody is believable.
Luckily, the following novels shrugged this slump off, so don't give up on the series if you get here and feel like Reacher's lost his shine. He hasn't.
Unfortunately, this one just is pretty bad. Better than the bad books of most other writers, this one still falls short on most marks.
Given, it is fun to see Reacher beat up on bad dudes, which he does with aplomb. However, the bad guys here are so predictable that the big surprise ending is evident from the character's initial introduction. The "unsolvable" method of committing the crimes central to this story is both obviously telegraphed and eye-rollingly bad. What makes the Reacher books so great is how authentic and plausible the characters seem, and in this novel nobody is believable.
Luckily, the following novels shrugged this slump off, so don't give up on the series if you get here and feel like Reacher's lost his shine. He hasn't.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,257 reviews