Books

[dsrtao]

Dad recommended these to me; I got them from the library. I think I'll be buying them.

Killing Floor
Die Trying
Tripwire
Running Blind
Echo Burning
Without Fail
Persuader
The Enemy
One Shot
The Hard Way
Bad Luck and Trouble
Nothing to Lose
Gone Tomorrow, all of these by Lee Child.

Jack Reacher grew up in an Army family, on Army bases around the world, went to West Point and became an officer. His MOS was military police, and he reached the rank of Major twice. After 13 years, he left the armed services.

Now he has no visible means of support, no fixed address; there are no reliable means of contacting him. He has no luggage, no weapons, no particular destination or plan. He is not looking for trouble, but trouble keeps finding him, book after book after book.

It would be inaccurate to call him a troubleshooter, because he doesn't always use a gun. It would be quite accurate to call him a trouble-killer, however. People die. Somehow, Jack never kills or even grievously wounds an innocent. His first impressions of people are usually accurate. One of the underlying tropes seems to be "Jack is never wrong, or at least, not for long".

Escapist. Violent. Offering relatively simple solutions to complex problems. Better written than Fleming's Bond, and more likeable.

Comments

[goldsquare.livejournal.com]

Been reading those since 2001 or so. Like them a lot.

They are also fun to re-read, because the quality of the "mystery" writing is so high. You can look back, and see how smartly the various clues were laid.

[abbergails.livejournal.com]

I think I read all of them, except for the last two? Really good recommend from dad!

[dsrtao]

You know, I have almost no idea what you like to read these days?

[abbergails.livejournal.com]

Government conspiracies are my faves. A good murder mystery. And an occasional chick lit, but only if its hysterically funny, like Bridget Jones or like Ayelet Waldman.

[abbergails.livejournal.com]

Reminded me of MacGyver.