Killing Floor (Jack Reacher #1)

by Lee Child

She had been doing paperwork on a keyboard.

She had been doing paperwork on a keyboard.

What an odd turn of phrase.

She had been doing paperwork on a keyboard.

What an odd turn of phrase.

I looked back and dropped my arms to my sides. No grateful exhalation.

I looked back and dropped my arms to my sides. No grateful exhalation.

Fantastic little detail that really firmly sets this character's personality in the mind.

I looked back and dropped my arms to my sides. No grateful exhalation.

Fantastic little detail that really firmly sets this character's personality in the mind.

I’d been a lonely wanderer for six months. I’d learned something. Like Blanche in that old movie, a wanderer depends on the kindness of strangers. Not for anything specific or material. For morale. I gazed at the back of Roscoe’s head and smiled. I liked her.

Highly introspective

I WAS WOKEN UP BY BRIGHT LIGHTS COMING ON. THE PRISON had no windows. Day and night were created by electricity. At seven o’clock the building was suddenly flooded with light. No dawn or soft twilight. Just circuit breakers thrown shut at seven.

There's something about the rhythm and cadence of the language in this book that is captivating. It's a bit like a film noir detective story. Short simple sentences, uncomplicated observations that themselves tell the story, and at the same time reveal the protagonist's personality.

People who wear glasses, without them they always look defocused, vulnerable. Out in the open. A layer removed. He looked like a tired old man.

I started to think vaguely about funeral arrangements. I’d never had to do it before. The Marine Corps handled my father’s. Joe arranged my mother’s. But I got out of the car with the two of them and we walked through the chill air to the door. Found our way back to the shabby office. The same doctor was at the desk. Still in a white coat. Still looking tired. He waved us in and we sat down. I took one of the stools. I didn’t want to sit next to the fax machine again. The doctor looked at all of us in turn. We looked back at him.

This attention to detail in the expository portions is done incredibly well. It's fascinating, poetic.

It was about as distinctive as the most distinctive thing you could ever think of.

graunching.

Verb Edit graunch (third-person singular simple present graunches, present participle graunching, simple past and past participle graunched) To grind or crunch. Noun Edit graunch (plural graunches) A grinding or crunching sound.

“But he was sporty. You know that word? Sporty? It means kind of uppity. Uppity with a smile and a grin is sporty. Blake was sporty. Had a lot of spirit and energy. Walked fast and talked fast, always moving, always smiling his sweet fool head off.