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Jack Reacher #9
One Shot
Six shots. Five dead. One heartland city thrown into a state of terror. But within hours the cops have it solved: a slam-dunk case. Except for one thing. The accused man says: You got the wrong guy. Then he says: Get Reacher for me. And sure enough, from the world he lives in—no phone, no address, no commitments–ex–military investigator Jack Reacher is coming. In Lee Child’s astonishing new thriller, Reacher’s arrival will change everything—about a case that isn’t what it seems, about lives tangled in baffling ways, about a killer who missed one shot–and by doing so give Jack Reacher one shot at the truth.…
The gunman worked from a parking structure just thirty yards away–point-blank range for a trained military sniper like James Barr. His victims were in the wrong place at the wrong time. But why does Barr want Reacher at his side? There are good reasons why Reacher is the last person Barr would want to see. But when Reacher hears Barr’s own words, he understands. And a slam-dunk case explodes. Soon Reacher is teamed with a young defense lawyer who is working against her D.A. father and dueling with a prosecution team that has an explosive secret of its own. Like most things Reacher has known in life, this case is a complex battlefield. But, as always, in battle, Reacher is at his best.
Moving in the shadows, picking his spots, Reacher gets closer and closer to the unseen enemy who is pulling the strings. And for Reacher, the only way to take him down is to know his ruthlessness and respect his cunning–and then match him shot for shot…
The gunman worked from a parking structure just thirty yards away–point-blank range for a trained military sniper like James Barr. His victims were in the wrong place at the wrong time. But why does Barr want Reacher at his side? There are good reasons why Reacher is the last person Barr would want to see. But when Reacher hears Barr’s own words, he understands. And a slam-dunk case explodes. Soon Reacher is teamed with a young defense lawyer who is working against her D.A. father and dueling with a prosecution team that has an explosive secret of its own. Like most things Reacher has known in life, this case is a complex battlefield. But, as always, in battle, Reacher is at his best.
Moving in the shadows, picking his spots, Reacher gets closer and closer to the unseen enemy who is pulling the strings. And for Reacher, the only way to take him down is to know his ruthlessness and respect his cunning–and then match him shot for shot…
466 pages, Paperback
First published June 14, 2005
8556 people are currently reading
30127 people want to read
About the author
Lee Child
442 books34.2k 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,511 reviews
April 14, 2021
Nobody should pick up a Jack Reacher novel and expect great literature. I might be wrong but I suspect that that isn’t Lee Child’s purpose. What you get instead is a good dollop of wish-fulfilment, good writing, beautiful, intelligent and feisty females who are either integral to the development of the plot or just along for the ride, and implausible story lines! One shot is no exception – why change a winning formula? In Reacher, Child has created a character who is, perhaps, not quite the guy who every other guy wants to be (and with whom every woman wants to be?), well, at least not permanently. But it might be nice for a couple of weeks to: be able to kick ass as effectively as he does, never be wrong, second guess all the villains’ moves, and then ride off into the sunset with a clear conscience and no dangling strings! But in common with all of its predecessors, and despite the implausibility of the plot,' One Shot' doesn’t last a few days let alone a few weeks, it’s a real page-turner. In a genre full of world weary, divorced, alcoholic, guilt ridden cops, Reacher is a breath of fresh air – the closest thing to Casey Ryback outside of the movies!
August 30, 2022
Review update: Rereading this book after my original review, I'm impressed by how relatively little violence there is in this novel compared to some of the more recent books in the series. Lately, the body count in these books is unbelievably over the top and it seems that on every other page, Reacher has to stop and beat the crap of out someone--or maybe three or four or five or six someones, all at the same time. By comparison, this is a much more interesting and cerebral story. Naturally, Reacher has to discipline a few miscreants along on the way, but not nearly to the extent of the later books, and the body count is far, far lower. Reading this book again after some of the more recent entries, reenforces my view that this is really one of the best books in the series.
Original Review: The ninth installment in the Jack Reacher series is one of the better books in the series. It opens when a highly efficient sniper sets up in a parking garage in a Midwestern city and shoots five people dead, missing with only one of six shots. The shooter gets away clean but leaves what appears to be a boatload of evidence in his wake. Following the forensic trail, the police quickly arrest an ex-army sniper named James Barr. The evidence against him is overwhelming, but once arrested, the only thing Barr says is, "Get me Jack Reacher."
Reacher, it turns out, is already on his way. Reacher has been whiling away his time in Miami Beach when he sees a news report about the incident. He and James Barr have ancient history between them and immediately upon seeing the report Reacher is on a bus, headed in Barr's direction. Upon arriving in the city, Reacher checks in with the D.A. and with the lawyer who's defending Barr and who just happens to also be the D.A.'s daughter, and from that point on, everything turns topsy-turvey.
This is a very intricately plotted book, with a lot of unexpected twists and turns that make it hard to review the book without giving away critical information that readers should be left to discover for themselves. Suffice it to say that the book is action-packed with a lot of interesting characters. Reacher himself is in top form and it's a lot of fun watching him reason his way through the puzzle that's been presented him. It's even more fun to then watch him periodically kick the crap out of some truly bad guys who really deserve it. Fans of the series will not want to miss this one, and people looking to try the series would do well to begin here.
Original Review: The ninth installment in the Jack Reacher series is one of the better books in the series. It opens when a highly efficient sniper sets up in a parking garage in a Midwestern city and shoots five people dead, missing with only one of six shots. The shooter gets away clean but leaves what appears to be a boatload of evidence in his wake. Following the forensic trail, the police quickly arrest an ex-army sniper named James Barr. The evidence against him is overwhelming, but once arrested, the only thing Barr says is, "Get me Jack Reacher."
Reacher, it turns out, is already on his way. Reacher has been whiling away his time in Miami Beach when he sees a news report about the incident. He and James Barr have ancient history between them and immediately upon seeing the report Reacher is on a bus, headed in Barr's direction. Upon arriving in the city, Reacher checks in with the D.A. and with the lawyer who's defending Barr and who just happens to also be the D.A.'s daughter, and from that point on, everything turns topsy-turvey.
This is a very intricately plotted book, with a lot of unexpected twists and turns that make it hard to review the book without giving away critical information that readers should be left to discover for themselves. Suffice it to say that the book is action-packed with a lot of interesting characters. Reacher himself is in top form and it's a lot of fun watching him reason his way through the puzzle that's been presented him. It's even more fun to then watch him periodically kick the crap out of some truly bad guys who really deserve it. Fans of the series will not want to miss this one, and people looking to try the series would do well to begin here.
November 14, 2023
من این کتاب و فکر میکنم دو جلد دیگه از مجموعه رو نزدیک پنج سال پیش خریده بودم که قتلگاه (جلد اول) جزئشون نبود. نمیدونم چرا ولی قصدی هم نداشتم کل مجموعه رو بخونم. دو سه سال بعد سر یه سری تعریفهای خیلی زیادی که از کل مجموعه شنیدم، از اون سه تا کتابی که داشتم، این جلد رو برداشتم و شروع کردم به خوندن که ببینم چیه اینقدر تعریف میکنن و واقعاً از همون شروع طوری میخکوب شدم که نفهمیدم چطوری صد صفحه خوندم، اونم منی که خواننده کُندخونیام
هیچی دیگه. کتاب رو بستم و گفتم نه اینطوری نمیشه و باید از اول بخونم همش رو :))
خوشبختانه هم اون موقع تونستم همهی کتابای چاپ شده رو با قیمت مناسب پیدا کنم و از اول شروع کردم به خوندن و بالاخره بعد از هشت جلد دوباره برگشتم به یک شلیک و به همون خوبی بود که انتظار داشتم
بهترین جلد ریچر تا الان
------------
فیلمش خیلی تعریفی نبود در مقایسه
اگه خواستید سراغش بیاین، حتما اول کتاب رو بخونید
هیچی دیگه. کتاب رو بستم و گفتم نه اینطوری نمیشه و باید از اول بخونم همش رو :))
خوشبختانه هم اون موقع تونستم همهی کتابای چاپ شده رو با قیمت مناسب پیدا کنم و از اول شروع کردم به خوندن و بالاخره بعد از هشت جلد دوباره برگشتم به یک شلیک و به همون خوبی بود که انتظار داشتم
بهترین جلد ریچر تا الان
------------
فیلمش خیلی تعریفی نبود در مقایسه
اگه خواستید سراغش بیاین، حتما اول کتاب رو بخونید
June 28, 2017
4.5/5
“You going to shoot me?” Reacher asked.
“Maybe.”
“You should.”
“Why?”
“Because if you don’t, I’m going to find you and I’m going to make you sorry.”
Lee Child never ceases to amaze me with the depth and cleverness of his writing. This is the ninth installment of Jack Reacher series and it still gave me a lot of thrills and chills, as same as the previous ones did. How on earth can he come up with such engaging and riveting plot? Every twist and turn literally blew me away. It’s no wonder this book was turned into movie. One Shot is such a great read!
Five people were shot dead in a public plaza by the lone sniper and the shootings appeared to be entirely random. The accused man denied the charges and asked for Jack Reacher. And here’s where Reacher had become involved in this case.
In this book, Reacher faced the new ruthless enemy with no mercy for anyone who dared stand in his way. But as always, this ex-military police never quits. And he would never stop until he could ultimately bring justice to those innocent victims of this vicious man.
One of the things about this book that impressed me greatly was that all the dialogue kept the story moving along at a cracking pace. The last 10% of the story was full of unstoppable excitement. Reacher took “one-man army” to a whole new level! To be honest, I think his plan was crazy and it seemed to me that it was more likely to be a suicide mission, but hell if I didn’t root for him to make it to the house and take down all those bad guys. This scene had me on the edge of my seat throughout, I can tell.
Read this book, people! You'll certainly never be disappointed!
“I warned you,” he whispered into the darkness below. “You should have put me down when you had the chance.”
“You going to shoot me?” Reacher asked.
“Maybe.”
“You should.”
“Why?”
“Because if you don’t, I’m going to find you and I’m going to make you sorry.”
Lee Child never ceases to amaze me with the depth and cleverness of his writing. This is the ninth installment of Jack Reacher series and it still gave me a lot of thrills and chills, as same as the previous ones did. How on earth can he come up with such engaging and riveting plot? Every twist and turn literally blew me away. It’s no wonder this book was turned into movie. One Shot is such a great read!
Five people were shot dead in a public plaza by the lone sniper and the shootings appeared to be entirely random. The accused man denied the charges and asked for Jack Reacher. And here’s where Reacher had become involved in this case.
In this book, Reacher faced the new ruthless enemy with no mercy for anyone who dared stand in his way. But as always, this ex-military police never quits. And he would never stop until he could ultimately bring justice to those innocent victims of this vicious man.
One of the things about this book that impressed me greatly was that all the dialogue kept the story moving along at a cracking pace. The last 10% of the story was full of unstoppable excitement. Reacher took “one-man army” to a whole new level! To be honest, I think his plan was crazy and it seemed to me that it was more likely to be a suicide mission, but hell if I didn’t root for him to make it to the house and take down all those bad guys. This scene had me on the edge of my seat throughout, I can tell.
Read this book, people! You'll certainly never be disappointed!
“I warned you,” he whispered into the darkness below. “You should have put me down when you had the chance.”
April 12, 2024
I was looking forward to reading this series for a while, but I couldn’t find the first. Finally, I started with the 9th book. Probably I would better understand the main character If I started with the first book. However, I already liked this book more than I expected. I read this in less than two days, not a record for me, but obviously loved it so. I’m going to read more about my new favorite ex-military police. Engaging and marvelous characters (especially Reacher). An unexpected and challenging story which a strong beginning that continued to the end, hard to put down. Highly recommended!
March 11, 2009
A sniper guns down five people. The evidence against him is overwhelming. When questioned by the police he declares bluntly that they have the wrong man. Then he says, "Get Reacher." The cops have no idea who Reacher is, but you and I should know, because, if we are reading in order this is # 9 in the series. (oops- I read this one out of order)..
Reacher, however, is on the way already? Why? Because, the sniper committed the same type of crime during the Persian Gulf War and got away with it-- under Reacher's watch. Now Reacher wants nothing more than to assist with the prosecution of this man. However, something catches his eye and the whole case begins to stink.
Reacher jumps in and does his stuff. If you've read any of the other novels in this series you know that his stuff includes busting heads, killing bad guys, and analyzing the heck out of every situation. This is one of the best of the series I have read and kept me up late to finish. My eyelids got heavy, but I literally could not put it down until I finished it.
Reacher, however, is on the way already? Why? Because, the sniper committed the same type of crime during the Persian Gulf War and got away with it-- under Reacher's watch. Now Reacher wants nothing more than to assist with the prosecution of this man. However, something catches his eye and the whole case begins to stink.
Reacher jumps in and does his stuff. If you've read any of the other novels in this series you know that his stuff includes busting heads, killing bad guys, and analyzing the heck out of every situation. This is one of the best of the series I have read and kept me up late to finish. My eyelids got heavy, but I literally could not put it down until I finished it.
August 27, 2018
Number 9 in the Jack Reacher Series.
5/5 because this was great.
This story starts out of the blocks on page one and just keeps going.
There is what appears to be and random act of violence. A sniper fires 6 bullets and kills 5 people. The man accused has done this before whilst still in the army in Kuwait. Reacher was the MP that arrested him, on that occasion, but because of political intervention the assassin got off. Reacher promised the man if he ever reared his ugly head again Reacher would find him and that would be the end of him.
When Reacher hears the assassins name on TV he set off to fulfil his promise.
The evidence against the assassin is over whelming but when Reacher hears that the one person the assassin wanted to see was Reacher himself, Reacher couldn’t believe it. Why would the assassin want to see Reacher when he knows that Reacher would kill him, given half a chance.
Reacher wants answers but the assassin has been badly beaten whilst in gaol and is now in a coma.
The more questions Reacher asks the more convinced he becomes that something is very wrong. When Reacher’s digging starts getting too close to the truth, someone decides it’s time for Reacher to disappear, permanently. Big mistake! Someone is about to be very, very sorry that they irritated the beast. All hell is about to break loose.
This is an all action romp that you will find hard to put down.
Highly recommended for lovers of full on action.
5/5 because this was great.
This story starts out of the blocks on page one and just keeps going.
There is what appears to be and random act of violence. A sniper fires 6 bullets and kills 5 people. The man accused has done this before whilst still in the army in Kuwait. Reacher was the MP that arrested him, on that occasion, but because of political intervention the assassin got off. Reacher promised the man if he ever reared his ugly head again Reacher would find him and that would be the end of him.
When Reacher hears the assassins name on TV he set off to fulfil his promise.
The evidence against the assassin is over whelming but when Reacher hears that the one person the assassin wanted to see was Reacher himself, Reacher couldn’t believe it. Why would the assassin want to see Reacher when he knows that Reacher would kill him, given half a chance.
Reacher wants answers but the assassin has been badly beaten whilst in gaol and is now in a coma.
The more questions Reacher asks the more convinced he becomes that something is very wrong. When Reacher’s digging starts getting too close to the truth, someone decides it’s time for Reacher to disappear, permanently. Big mistake! Someone is about to be very, very sorry that they irritated the beast. All hell is about to break loose.
This is an all action romp that you will find hard to put down.
Highly recommended for lovers of full on action.
April 11, 2015
Good mystery-crime novel with lots of fast-paced action and even a bit of romance. If you are a Jack Reacher fan, I'm sure you will enjoy this entertaining book.
As for the movie, it's kind of hard to imagine Tom Cruise as the big and tall Jack Reacher, but I still might give it a try.
December 27, 2021
This is my issue here, I normally rate higher than 3 stars with my beloved 'Reacher', but with the audio format, I have a definite tendency to be distracted, and that's what happened here.
I love the narrator, Jeff Harding, he is super talented and this is a good thing as I think I will always use this format for this series.
I didn't feel the kinship for the ensemble cast of characters as much as I usually do, as those that come in usually cause a tight crew to solve the problem.
I just love the character of Jack Reacher, the capability, the assuredness, the almost self deprecation that is flipped with cockyness.
But this lower rating is fine, just a kick up the bum to listen to an audio book propertly if I've gone to the trouble of borrowing a title through my favourite public library!
I love the narrator, Jeff Harding, he is super talented and this is a good thing as I think I will always use this format for this series.
I didn't feel the kinship for the ensemble cast of characters as much as I usually do, as those that come in usually cause a tight crew to solve the problem.
I just love the character of Jack Reacher, the capability, the assuredness, the almost self deprecation that is flipped with cockyness.
But this lower rating is fine, just a kick up the bum to listen to an audio book propertly if I've gone to the trouble of borrowing a title through my favourite public library!
March 18, 2022
Book 9 in the Jack Reacher series and as per all the books before this one - I loved it. Never fails to make me swoon. Another fab book by Lee child.
Five stars.
Five stars.
July 4, 2023
Nice read. Much better than Killing Floor, in my opinion. My 2nd Reacher. Since I don’t plan to read all of them, I’m reading out of order and choosing ones I have heard or read are his best of the series. The ending of this one sort of had the same feel/tension as the ending of The Gray Man.
July 3, 2012
I'm going to add the same review for all of the Reacher series, so if you've read this one, you've read 'em all. If you feel a certain affinity for the lone hero, a man of principle, of unwavering knowledge and assent as to his own actions, than Jack Reacher's your kinda guy.
Lee Child has created an unforgettable and unique character in his creation of Jack Reacher. Jack seems to implicitly understand that he is a unique animal/human running around on this planet and that in spite of social conventions, cultural trappings, and whatever conventions and abstractions we allow into our mind in order to alleviate this core fact of our singularity (and aloneness)...the truth of it is not something Mr. Reacher denies.
He embraces it. Understands his philosophy implicitly, revels in his physical being,his conventions and values. He defends those he loves, those he does allow into his world, with a loyalty bar none while never letting go of the notion that he is alone and being perfectly comfortable with that.
I read one, and within two months read all 15 books with an appetite that couldn't get enough.
Enough said,
HR
Lee Child has created an unforgettable and unique character in his creation of Jack Reacher. Jack seems to implicitly understand that he is a unique animal/human running around on this planet and that in spite of social conventions, cultural trappings, and whatever conventions and abstractions we allow into our mind in order to alleviate this core fact of our singularity (and aloneness)...the truth of it is not something Mr. Reacher denies.
He embraces it. Understands his philosophy implicitly, revels in his physical being,his conventions and values. He defends those he loves, those he does allow into his world, with a loyalty bar none while never letting go of the notion that he is alone and being perfectly comfortable with that.
I read one, and within two months read all 15 books with an appetite that couldn't get enough.
Enough said,
HR
March 12, 2019
The best book in the series so far.
April 15, 2020
Again Jack Reacher appears, he is drifter & ex-military police, his strong sense of honor, he can not do any wrong in any chase and conflict.
Jack Reacher Movie trailer
Jack Reacher movie (2012) Based on Lee Child book
In 2006, One Shot was nominated for a Macavity Award for Best Mystery Novel. This is the book turned into the movie, “Jack Reacher”, starring Tom Cruise. I thinks it’s one of the best for Lee & Cruise.
Movie/Writers: - Lee Child’s book "One Shot", screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie
Wikipedia documentation
Tom Cruise Lands Christopher McQuarrie’s ONE SHOT
IMDb - the 2 Jack Reacher movies
Jack Reacher Movie trailer
Jack Reacher movie (2012) Based on Lee Child book
In 2006, One Shot was nominated for a Macavity Award for Best Mystery Novel. This is the book turned into the movie, “Jack Reacher”, starring Tom Cruise. I thinks it’s one of the best for Lee & Cruise.
Jack Reacher Movie Poster
based on One Shot (novel)
Movie/Writers: - Lee Child’s book "One Shot", screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie
Wikipedia documentation
Tom Cruise Lands Christopher McQuarrie’s ONE SHOT
IMDb - the 2 Jack Reacher movies
September 22, 2012
This is the first Jack Reacher book I've read, and I picked it up because of the upcoming movie. I have to say my only problem with it is that now I'm going to have to read all of Lee Child's books, and I already have a queue of over 140 "to read".
It's a really great thriller. It's hard to talk about it without revealing too much, hence the spoilers warning. My favorite bit is that Jack is not some flawless superman. He's trailed throughout the book and only once picks it up. That was something I'm not used to in most thrillers. Most of the time the protagonists is presented with an almost supernatural ability to pick up that they're being followed. He's also kind of flawed in that he's essentially a homeless man. He travels with only the clothes on his back and the money in his wallet, staying in shady motels. I'm don't know if this is how he is in every book, but it's also very unique.
It's also a pretty good mystery (even though we know a lot) in that you get to see Reacher put all the pieces together. If all the books are this good, I'm sure I'll have no problem making my way through this series. I now only hope they don't screw up the movie.
It's a really great thriller. It's hard to talk about it without revealing too much, hence the spoilers warning. My favorite bit is that Jack is not some flawless superman. He's trailed throughout the book and only once picks it up. That was something I'm not used to in most thrillers. Most of the time the protagonists is presented with an almost supernatural ability to pick up that they're being followed. He's also kind of flawed in that he's essentially a homeless man. He travels with only the clothes on his back and the money in his wallet, staying in shady motels. I'm don't know if this is how he is in every book, but it's also very unique.
It's also a pretty good mystery (even though we know a lot) in that you get to see Reacher put all the pieces together. If all the books are this good, I'm sure I'll have no problem making my way through this series. I now only hope they don't screw up the movie.
July 12, 2013
"One Shot" was turned into a vehicle for Tom Cruise and released to theaters late in 2012. I finally read the book and loved it. But a little background first. Watching the movie was my first exposure to author Lee Child's work. And after the opening scene and exposure to the hard-bitten dialogue, I was hooked. The back and forth got me to recall my obsession during college forays into used book stores hunting for early Mickey Spillane novels. The other memory it provoked was watching Humphrey Bogart in "The Maltese Falcon." And yes, I'm a Tom Cruise fan. He's an intense guy and so short I didn't pay any attention to him and Nicole Kidman as they walked alongside my wife and I at Universal Studios way back when. But he played Jack Reacher like he really was 6 foot 5 inches and 250 pounds. I picked up Child's first novel in the series "Killing Floor" after reading a short he'd written on the young Reacher back in his military base-hopping days. I plowed through the first five novels before realizing I'd better take a break or I'd start punching people who deserved it. And I'd be out of more Jack Reacher novels if I read them all. Ok, whew. So I read some other stuff. Got some great recommendations from fellow book enthusiasts. I took in a Reacher novel here and there and finally found a dog-eared copy of "One Shot" at the great Book Barn near my home in Clovis, Calif. Getting into it took a couple of tries. I knew the story via the Christopher McQuarrie-directed movie version. But after about three chapters, that cloud of repetition faded and I got into the story. I pounded it out over several days vacationing on the beach at my sister's in Hermosa Beach. Again, I became part of the story. That invisible guy on the sidelines watching the case unfold. Reacher, as usual, gets an impossible situation and has to make sense of it. Along the way, he's harassed by the cops and treated like a criminal. Still, it doesn't bother him. He was put on this earth with a talent. And that's setting things straight. Bad people are not his friends. But Reacher does what's right, even if that means giving somebody a second chance and a shot at justice. Great stuff, especially after body surfing all day and kicking back with a craft beer on a deck overlooking the coast.
July 24, 2025
Jack Reacher fans: In case you haven't heard, Amazon Prime will be releasing a TV show based on the Jack Reacher novels. Each season will cover one of Lee Child's novels. Thankfully, the actor playing Reacher will not be Tom Cruise. It will be Alan Ritchson, who fits, physically, Reacher's description much better than Cruise. I'm excited. BTW: I wrote this review way back in 2012, so some of it is old news...
Lee Child's "One Shot" is the ninth novel in the Jack Reacher series, and it's also the book that the upcoming movie is based on. Why the producers chose to start off the inevitable movie series with book 9 is kind of beyond me, although I suppose it doesn't really matter.
Each Reacher novel is pretty much a stand-alone story. Reacher himself is a bit of a mysterious loner who doesn't like to reveal much of himself anyway. In past novels, Child has liberally doled out pieces of Reacher's history---raised in Paris, France by diplomat parents; had an older brother Joe; was a military police investigator and a brilliant one at that; inexplicably honorably discharged from the Army; unlimited funds from a mysterious bank account; remains 'off the grid' by never staying in one city for long, doesn't have a cellphone, doesn't use credit cards---but never enough to get a clear idea of how Reacher has become the man he is now.
Reacher's only weakness, his tragic flaw, is apparently a desire to help people in distress. He hates injustice and he especially hates people who think that they are above the law or think they can get away with anything.
In "One Shot", Reacher arrives in town after seeing a news story about a sniper killing five people during a busy business day in the center of downtown. Police immediately capture the suspect, a former Marine sniper named James Barr. Evidence against him is overwhelming. During the interrogation, Barr's only words are "You got the wrong guy" and "Get Jack Reacher". Reacher and Barr crossed paths years before when Reacher investigated Barr's sniper 'assassination' of four American GIs in Kuwait. It turned out that those GIs were doing highly illegal and traitorous things anyway, but it was such an embarrassment for the military that the higher-ups in the Pentagon let Barr go. Reacher promised Barr that if he ever did it again he would kill him himself. Reacher always keeps his promises. The question is: why would Barr ask for Reacher, the last man he would most likely ever ask for?
When Reacher starts investigating, he soon realizes that Barr is being set up by someone with a lot of power within the city. So much power that Reacher isn't in the city for 24 hours before someone tries to have him killed. Of course, this just naturally pisses Reacher off even more. Child just gets better and better with each Reacher novel, and "One Shot" is the best one I've read so far. I say that about every subsequent novel, of course. If the movie producers can capture even a half of the excitement and suspense of the book, then they will probably have a winner at the box office.
My only serious qualms about the film is the casting of Tom Cruise as Reacher. I have nothing against Cruise as an actor. On the contrary, I like him very much as an actor, having enjoyed most of his action films (the last two "Mission: Impossible" movies were, in my opinion, great), but he simply doesn't fit the character of Reacher physically.
In the books Reacher is over six feet tall and huge. Indeed, his height and weight actually play a significant role in this book in helping to solve the case. No matter how good an actor Cruise is, he'll never pull off being six feet and huge, so it will be interesting to see how the producers adapt to this. I already know that the movie will not be anywhere near as good as the book---that's a given---but I'll go see it anyway.
Lee Child's "One Shot" is the ninth novel in the Jack Reacher series, and it's also the book that the upcoming movie is based on. Why the producers chose to start off the inevitable movie series with book 9 is kind of beyond me, although I suppose it doesn't really matter.
Each Reacher novel is pretty much a stand-alone story. Reacher himself is a bit of a mysterious loner who doesn't like to reveal much of himself anyway. In past novels, Child has liberally doled out pieces of Reacher's history---raised in Paris, France by diplomat parents; had an older brother Joe; was a military police investigator and a brilliant one at that; inexplicably honorably discharged from the Army; unlimited funds from a mysterious bank account; remains 'off the grid' by never staying in one city for long, doesn't have a cellphone, doesn't use credit cards---but never enough to get a clear idea of how Reacher has become the man he is now.
Reacher's only weakness, his tragic flaw, is apparently a desire to help people in distress. He hates injustice and he especially hates people who think that they are above the law or think they can get away with anything.
In "One Shot", Reacher arrives in town after seeing a news story about a sniper killing five people during a busy business day in the center of downtown. Police immediately capture the suspect, a former Marine sniper named James Barr. Evidence against him is overwhelming. During the interrogation, Barr's only words are "You got the wrong guy" and "Get Jack Reacher". Reacher and Barr crossed paths years before when Reacher investigated Barr's sniper 'assassination' of four American GIs in Kuwait. It turned out that those GIs were doing highly illegal and traitorous things anyway, but it was such an embarrassment for the military that the higher-ups in the Pentagon let Barr go. Reacher promised Barr that if he ever did it again he would kill him himself. Reacher always keeps his promises. The question is: why would Barr ask for Reacher, the last man he would most likely ever ask for?
When Reacher starts investigating, he soon realizes that Barr is being set up by someone with a lot of power within the city. So much power that Reacher isn't in the city for 24 hours before someone tries to have him killed. Of course, this just naturally pisses Reacher off even more. Child just gets better and better with each Reacher novel, and "One Shot" is the best one I've read so far. I say that about every subsequent novel, of course. If the movie producers can capture even a half of the excitement and suspense of the book, then they will probably have a winner at the box office.
My only serious qualms about the film is the casting of Tom Cruise as Reacher. I have nothing against Cruise as an actor. On the contrary, I like him very much as an actor, having enjoyed most of his action films (the last two "Mission: Impossible" movies were, in my opinion, great), but he simply doesn't fit the character of Reacher physically.
In the books Reacher is over six feet tall and huge. Indeed, his height and weight actually play a significant role in this book in helping to solve the case. No matter how good an actor Cruise is, he'll never pull off being six feet and huge, so it will be interesting to see how the producers adapt to this. I already know that the movie will not be anywhere near as good as the book---that's a given---but I'll go see it anyway.
January 1, 2012
4 ½ stars. You need to suspend disbelief, but it’s still a fun, tough guy story.
STORY BRIEF:
A sniper kills five people leaving a downtown office building. Several pieces of evidence point to James Barr a former army sniper. James says “You’ve got the wrong guy. Get Reacher for me.” Coincidentally Reacher comes to town for his own reasons. Reacher saw the story in the news. He knew Barr when they were in the army together fourteen years ago. Some bad guys don’t like Reacher being in town and try to harm him. Of course that’s the worst thing they could do since now Reacher won’t leave until he finds them.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
This is the ninth book in the Reacher series and one of the better ones. If you like the series, definitely do this one. The bad guys trying to harm Reacher was done well. Reacher’s investigation and solving the mystery was done well. I liked some of the things Reacher did as he was evading the bad guys and the cops. I would have liked a few more fight scenes, but I won’t complain. It’s just one of my favorite things - watching Reacher beat up thugs.
In the early books the author frequently used the phrase “he shrugged.” In recent books, he is not using that phrase as much, but he’s almost overusing the phrase “Reacher said nothing.” Some reviewers complained. I was ok with it.
THE SERIES:
I suggest reading the books in order, but not required. All the books get 4 or more stars from me except three: Running Blind, Without Fail, and The Enemy. Save those for last if you’re NOT a die hard Reacher fan.
NARRATOR:
The narrator Dick Hill was very good.
DATA:
Unabridged audiobook reading time: 12 hrs and 13 mins. Swearing language: I don’t recall any but probably moderate. Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: two referred to not shown. Setting: 2004 Indiana. Book copyright: 2005. Genre: mystery suspense thriller. Ending: Good.
STORY BRIEF:
A sniper kills five people leaving a downtown office building. Several pieces of evidence point to James Barr a former army sniper. James says “You’ve got the wrong guy. Get Reacher for me.” Coincidentally Reacher comes to town for his own reasons. Reacher saw the story in the news. He knew Barr when they were in the army together fourteen years ago. Some bad guys don’t like Reacher being in town and try to harm him. Of course that’s the worst thing they could do since now Reacher won’t leave until he finds them.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
This is the ninth book in the Reacher series and one of the better ones. If you like the series, definitely do this one. The bad guys trying to harm Reacher was done well. Reacher’s investigation and solving the mystery was done well. I liked some of the things Reacher did as he was evading the bad guys and the cops. I would have liked a few more fight scenes, but I won’t complain. It’s just one of my favorite things - watching Reacher beat up thugs.
In the early books the author frequently used the phrase “he shrugged.” In recent books, he is not using that phrase as much, but he’s almost overusing the phrase “Reacher said nothing.” Some reviewers complained. I was ok with it.
THE SERIES:
I suggest reading the books in order, but not required. All the books get 4 or more stars from me except three: Running Blind, Without Fail, and The Enemy. Save those for last if you’re NOT a die hard Reacher fan.
NARRATOR:
The narrator Dick Hill was very good.
DATA:
Unabridged audiobook reading time: 12 hrs and 13 mins. Swearing language: I don’t recall any but probably moderate. Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: two referred to not shown. Setting: 2004 Indiana. Book copyright: 2005. Genre: mystery suspense thriller. Ending: Good.
July 16, 2022
Another great book in the series. A Jack Reacher movie was adapted from this book and is possibly better than the book version. The film had a better ending in my opinion.
April 11, 2018
Despite owning every single Jack Reacher novel in paperback (and it’s such a beautiful looking collection) it’s shockingly been nearly a year since I read The Enemy, so I couldn’t wait to continue with the series.
I just love Reacher. Honestly I could just read about him doing anything mundane and still be addicted to it. He is one of my all-time favourite characters and as with Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch, I am trying to savour these novels rather than storming through them as quickly as possible (as hard as that is at times).
One Shot was another enjoyable caper, however I’m unsure why this novel was the one chosen to be made into a film because some of the earlier ones I felt were more dramatic and action-packed. However having read the plot for the film it has been changed significantly. That said I’m not even sure I’ll ever watch it but I am intrigued, Tom Cruise as Reacher is like Mr. Bean playing Harry Bosch and I feel like watching the film would make me imagine Cruise more reading these novels and that’s not something I want. I felt the ‘mystery’ element was quite weak but I enjoyed the character development of Reacher and following along with his thought processes. As always I found myself connecting with some characters only to feel a sense of melancholy as the book drew to a close and I knew I wouldn’t be meeting them again. That’s the thing about these wandering novels, we meet so many characters and some of them leave a lasting impression.
There’s honestly not much else you’re going to see me say in these reviews apart from some variation of the above. I love these books and I just can’t wait to read them all.
I just love Reacher. Honestly I could just read about him doing anything mundane and still be addicted to it. He is one of my all-time favourite characters and as with Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch, I am trying to savour these novels rather than storming through them as quickly as possible (as hard as that is at times).
One Shot was another enjoyable caper, however I’m unsure why this novel was the one chosen to be made into a film because some of the earlier ones I felt were more dramatic and action-packed. However having read the plot for the film it has been changed significantly. That said I’m not even sure I’ll ever watch it but I am intrigued, Tom Cruise as Reacher is like Mr. Bean playing Harry Bosch and I feel like watching the film would make me imagine Cruise more reading these novels and that’s not something I want. I felt the ‘mystery’ element was quite weak but I enjoyed the character development of Reacher and following along with his thought processes. As always I found myself connecting with some characters only to feel a sense of melancholy as the book drew to a close and I knew I wouldn’t be meeting them again. That’s the thing about these wandering novels, we meet so many characters and some of them leave a lasting impression.
There’s honestly not much else you’re going to see me say in these reviews apart from some variation of the above. I love these books and I just can’t wait to read them all.
August 1, 2018
Man, it seems when I finish each Jack Reacher book I keep telling myself I'm gonna take a break from the series so I don't get burned out, but I find myself already jumping to the next book, and it leaves me wanting more! The series is just so addictive!
Jack Reacher is back in the action when a lone gunman senselessly guns down 5 innocent bystanders in a small Indiana city. The authorizes catch up to the shooter and take him into custody, and supposedly the case is solved, except for one small problem. The man says, You got the wrong guy, then says, Get me Jack Reacher. And then like a ghost, Reacher arrives in town, and he also knows the accused shooter, a trained sniper who never missed a shot. Reacher teams up with beautiful defense lawyer Helen Rodin, trying to find the holes in the system, and finding the real enemy.
Jack Reacher becomes the American Sherlock Holmes in One Shot, always one step ahead of everyone, looking into all possibilities of how and why! Another winner!!
Jack Reacher is back in the action when a lone gunman senselessly guns down 5 innocent bystanders in a small Indiana city. The authorizes catch up to the shooter and take him into custody, and supposedly the case is solved, except for one small problem. The man says, You got the wrong guy, then says, Get me Jack Reacher. And then like a ghost, Reacher arrives in town, and he also knows the accused shooter, a trained sniper who never missed a shot. Reacher teams up with beautiful defense lawyer Helen Rodin, trying to find the holes in the system, and finding the real enemy.
Jack Reacher becomes the American Sherlock Holmes in One Shot, always one step ahead of everyone, looking into all possibilities of how and why! Another winner!!
June 15, 2013
Left at work, I was reading this on breaks. Standard blah action book with the impossibly talented and cool hero.
A clever set-up is wasted by too much reveal too quickly.
The writing is terse but too long. I will explain, no, there is not time, let me sum up:
If you think you are writing like Hemingway for your action book and you actually were, the book wouldn't be over 400 pages.
He writes short sentences. Even fragments. But there are too many of them. Writes the next sentence. Notices a cat on the windowsill. Shrugs, as if to say, yeah. The whole book. Like that. Lots of short sentences. They don't really say anything. Add any information. Examples like when they get to the hospital. Writes, they went in.
No shit, they went into the place they were going? Well stop the presses!
A clever set-up is wasted by too much reveal too quickly.
The writing is terse but too long. I will explain, no, there is not time, let me sum up:
If you think you are writing like Hemingway for your action book and you actually were, the book wouldn't be over 400 pages.
He writes short sentences. Even fragments. But there are too many of them. Writes the next sentence. Notices a cat on the windowsill. Shrugs, as if to say, yeah. The whole book. Like that. Lots of short sentences. They don't really say anything. Add any information. Examples like when they get to the hospital. Writes, they went in.
No shit, they went into the place they were going? Well stop the presses!
July 24, 2019
Jack Reacher , I like this character a lot.
Trust Lee Child , Trust Jack Reacher you will not disappoint.
Don't know how I should put this, expectations were high and believe me that was real.
On a busy day, six shots were fired and five was dead. A case seems like a massacre. The accused was caught in no time. A slam dunk case.
During the interrogation , accused denies and asks to get Reacher for him.
With Reacher involved how we can put this book down.
The story was full of twists and turns, a thriller.
Any body who likes thriller should go for this, a must read. A complete package.
I am going to start Jack Reacher series from now on
I am addicted to this.
Thank you Lee Child for creating this character.
Trust Lee Child , Trust Jack Reacher you will not disappoint.
Don't know how I should put this, expectations were high and believe me that was real.
On a busy day, six shots were fired and five was dead. A case seems like a massacre. The accused was caught in no time. A slam dunk case.
During the interrogation , accused denies and asks to get Reacher for him.
With Reacher involved how we can put this book down.
The story was full of twists and turns, a thriller.
Any body who likes thriller should go for this, a must read. A complete package.
I am going to start Jack Reacher series from now on
I am addicted to this.
Thank you Lee Child for creating this character.
December 30, 2023
Another thrilling adventure from Child. When an ex-sniper is arrested for the senseless slaughter of five innocent civilians he asks for Reacher - but when Reacher once arrives is he there to save him or bury him? This one will keep you up all night - just one more chapter, I need to know what happens next.
March 25, 2020
I know many people have already said it but here goes Tom Cruise was not right for this role! The 5'6 slim built Tom Cruise playing 6 foot plus 200 pound Jack Reacher. AAAARRGGHH ok rant over!!
One Shot is the 9th novel in the Lee Child series. It's in the middle of a normal day in an ordinary American town. A sniper goes to the top of a car park and starts shooting at people. Six shots, five people are killed. The police believe they have their man, it seems like an air tight case only the guy won't talk except for one phrase 'get Jack Reacher for me.'
It's a typical Jack Reacher story, fast paced and high action butt kicking.
It might not be great literature but if you like his others you won't be disappointed.
One Shot is the 9th novel in the Lee Child series. It's in the middle of a normal day in an ordinary American town. A sniper goes to the top of a car park and starts shooting at people. Six shots, five people are killed. The police believe they have their man, it seems like an air tight case only the guy won't talk except for one phrase 'get Jack Reacher for me.'
It's a typical Jack Reacher story, fast paced and high action butt kicking.
It might not be great literature but if you like his others you won't be disappointed.
September 28, 2022
A former Army sniper guns down five pedestrians in a small Indiana town... or did he? Reacher finds himself in the middle of it all. Russian thugs, the Army sniper with a sketchy past, a father/ daughter set of lawyers... one the DA and the other defending the accused. All topped off by a sharp shooting Retired Marine sniper with a loud HumVee and a loud stereo playing "every day is a winding road" by Sheryl Crow. Also Reacher connects with a past from his past... she's now a Brigadier General Army lawyer.
July 6, 2020
The Jack Reacher formula is generally both highly enjoyable and a little repetitive. If you've read a few of the earlier books then you know basically what is going to happen: Reacher stumbles into a small American town, gets embroiled in local criminal shenanigans operated by a small group of 'guys,' one of whom is inhumanly cruel and evil, runs around finding things out for a bit, sleeps with someone, one of his new allies gets kidnapped and eventually he shoots everyone. Usually whilst being right about pretty much everything. And drinking coffee.
One Shot does not fall any real distance from the tree, but it opens with an interesting conceit. We know who is guilty, the evidence is overwhelming, and there's no doubt for the reader that they did the crime. Except things aren't quite so clear as we think, and the bad guys make the mistake of trying to deal with Reacher on their own.
All of the usual signatures are present: Reacher drinks a lot of coffee, checks in at motels, talks about being a military cop, has a quickly finished romance with a blonde woman and we are reminded every 3 pages how much bigger than everyone else Reacher is. However, some of them are different or missing altogether. Guns are crucial to the story, but generally not seen or used through most of the book. This was interesting for a change.
My biggest criticism of this book is how willing people are to just lend Reacher their cars. There are three separate incidences of Reacher just asking people he has barely met if he can borrow their vehicle, and in each case they give it over without much of a discussion, including a fancy convertible Mustang. It wasn't clear to me why they'd do this. In the UK nobody would ever lend a stranger their car. Maybe it's a small-town US thing.
Overall this is one of the better Reacher books that I've read.
One Shot does not fall any real distance from the tree, but it opens with an interesting conceit. We know who is guilty, the evidence is overwhelming, and there's no doubt for the reader that they did the crime. Except things aren't quite so clear as we think, and the bad guys make the mistake of trying to deal with Reacher on their own.
All of the usual signatures are present: Reacher drinks a lot of coffee, checks in at motels, talks about being a military cop, has a quickly finished romance with a blonde woman and we are reminded every 3 pages how much bigger than everyone else Reacher is. However, some of them are different or missing altogether. Guns are crucial to the story, but generally not seen or used through most of the book. This was interesting for a change.
My biggest criticism of this book is how willing people are to just lend Reacher their cars. There are three separate incidences of Reacher just asking people he has barely met if he can borrow their vehicle, and in each case they give it over without much of a discussion, including a fancy convertible Mustang. It wasn't clear to me why they'd do this. In the UK nobody would ever lend a stranger their car. Maybe it's a small-town US thing.
Overall this is one of the better Reacher books that I've read.
October 24, 2012
If you are already a Jack Reacher fan - the number of whom which I assume is now increasing each day (the last book - A Man Wanted debuted at NYT No 1 position this September) - then I don't need to tell you this.
Jack Reacher books are entertainers - not much intelligence there - but very catchy and very interesting. Makes for great holiday / in flight reads.
One Shot is very fast, very smart and totally un-put-down-able . Very vintage Reacher - coffee and eggs and diners, dollar stores, bus depots, hitch hiking and all that :) A lot of Army Vs Marine. A lot sniper related trivia. A very twisty plot and some REALLY badass bad guys - makes the whole book all the more worth it.
Some interesting sense of humor.
The climax is the only place where you see some action - but that's exactly what this book needed. Thankfully Lee does not use Reacher just cos he's got him and hence lets the story be the hero. This is as close to Sherlock Holmes that Reacher's ever got.
The book's plot supposedly forms the base plot / inspiration plot for the Jan 2013 movie - but one look at the trailer and you can see that a lot has been played with (apart from getting that puny guy to pass off as 6'5 " and 250 lbs). A lot of things which happen in the trailer do not happen here.
Do not expect what you see in the movie/ rushes here.
That said ...this book with or without being associated to the movie is a total value for money / time deal.
Fun read !
Jack Reacher books are entertainers - not much intelligence there - but very catchy and very interesting. Makes for great holiday / in flight reads.
One Shot is very fast, very smart and totally un-put-down-able . Very vintage Reacher - coffee and eggs and diners, dollar stores, bus depots, hitch hiking and all that :) A lot of Army Vs Marine. A lot sniper related trivia. A very twisty plot and some REALLY badass bad guys - makes the whole book all the more worth it.
Some interesting sense of humor.
The climax is the only place where you see some action - but that's exactly what this book needed. Thankfully Lee does not use Reacher just cos he's got him and hence lets the story be the hero. This is as close to Sherlock Holmes that Reacher's ever got.
The book's plot supposedly forms the base plot / inspiration plot for the Jan 2013 movie - but one look at the trailer and you can see that a lot has been played with (apart from getting that puny guy to pass off as 6'5 " and 250 lbs). A lot of things which happen in the trailer do not happen here.
Do not expect what you see in the movie/ rushes here.
That said ...this book with or without being associated to the movie is a total value for money / time deal.
Fun read !
November 16, 2017
I picked this up because I needed something to read while traveling to abroad. The beginning was very slow but after several pages I had a difficult time sorting out who was speaking, but as I got into the book, I began to like the main character, Jack Reacher. An ex-military officer and policeman, he was cut loose and straight at the same time romantic.
There has been a sniper attack in a small Indiana town and James Barr is soon arrested in a rock-solid investigation. His sister, who works for a law firm, asks the lawyers to provide him with a defense, which they are loathe to do, given the fact that “everybody knows he murdered 5 people in cold blood.” When interviewed, Barr asks for Reacher.
Reacher reluctantly shows up, if only to bury James Barr because the sniper got away with murder before, which the military covered up.
But, as he looks at things, they just don’t add up for Reacher and soon He becomes the subject of a police investigation.
The novel held my attention, the characters were believable and the circumstances and mannerisms of Reacher don’t make him super-human.
I have completed all Lee Child books...and eagerly waiting for the next one...
There has been a sniper attack in a small Indiana town and James Barr is soon arrested in a rock-solid investigation. His sister, who works for a law firm, asks the lawyers to provide him with a defense, which they are loathe to do, given the fact that “everybody knows he murdered 5 people in cold blood.” When interviewed, Barr asks for Reacher.
Reacher reluctantly shows up, if only to bury James Barr because the sniper got away with murder before, which the military covered up.
But, as he looks at things, they just don’t add up for Reacher and soon He becomes the subject of a police investigation.
The novel held my attention, the characters were believable and the circumstances and mannerisms of Reacher don’t make him super-human.
I have completed all Lee Child books...and eagerly waiting for the next one...
October 26, 2011
The first few pages were painful. Lots of self-consciously terse sentences as if worried about scaring off slow readers. A sample from page 13: "The garage was always packed. He knew that. That was why they were extending it. They were doubling its size. It was used by shoppers. That was why it was quiet."
But soon things pick up and the plot moves along swiftly and smoothly. Reacher is a bland but likeable protagonist, notable mainly for being a loner and an expert investigator, but you wouldn't want to have to make conversation with him. The climax is exciting but I felt that the ending tied things up a little too neatly and the villain gave up a little too easily. Reacher explains to him how he'd done it and I half expected the reply "And I'd have gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for you meddling kids!" And I think the actual conspiracy as described is a little convoluted and unconvincing.
For me the Zec's flashbacks to Soviet Russia were the most powerful sections, and I'd have liked more of that kind of background.
But soon things pick up and the plot moves along swiftly and smoothly. Reacher is a bland but likeable protagonist, notable mainly for being a loner and an expert investigator, but you wouldn't want to have to make conversation with him. The climax is exciting but I felt that the ending tied things up a little too neatly and the villain gave up a little too easily. Reacher explains to him how he'd done it and I half expected the reply "And I'd have gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for you meddling kids!" And I think the actual conspiracy as described is a little convoluted and unconvincing.
For me the Zec's flashbacks to Soviet Russia were the most powerful sections, and I'd have liked more of that kind of background.
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