A lot like Jack Reacher but where Reacher is a lone wolf
924938
A  fresh and exciting new hero. A lot like Jack Reacher but where Reacher is a lone wolf, Noah is a team leader working with a shadow government agency. Same result, bad guys lose.
2842018
A Wanted Man concludes a sort of trilogy of "Jack Reacher wandering around the upper midwest."  In 61 Hours, he is in South Dakotah.  He's blown up at the end of that book, but survives and finds his way to a tiny town in Nebraska in Worth Dying For.  At the end of Worth Dying For, he's dropped off at the highway, where he's picked up shortly after at the beginning of A Wanted Man.  I'm sure some fan has done a timeline of these three books.  Let's just say it was a very eventful couple of weeks for Jack Reacher.

The people who pick him up seem to be a trio traveling together for business.  As long as they get him closer to Virginia, he doesn't really care.  But when he figures out that the woman is a hostage, and the two men might be the men the state troopers at the road blocks are looking for, his ride gets much more interesting.  Of course, Reacher's insatiable curiosity and personal quest for justice will not allow him to let anything go.  He commandeers a sheriff's car for a while, flees from justice when an APB goes out for him, and finally recruits a couple of FBI agents to help him take down dozens of criminals.

I enjoyed A Wanted Man because I love Reacher's character, his deliberate way of figuring everything out, and his skill at staying alive and getting the bad guys.  But for this book, the whole interconnected criminal enterprise seemed cobbled together and incomplete, and the big, final confrontation was too rushed and unoriginal.  This, of course, is in comparison to other Reacher novels.  A Wanted Man still ranks above most action-oriented fiction.  So Reacher fans will not want to miss this one, especially to fill in the gap between Worth Dying For and his arrival in Virginia, in Never Go Back.  When I say it's not Child's best, it's still pretty darn good.
3636824
Fun reading and the center of attention did not rest on Stone, but a new guy - who was a bit far fetched, but in a "Reacher" sort of way.
677724
We follow the life of DC Wolfe as he joins the homicide department. His first case is that of a gruesomely murdered banker. With the wife as the only probable suspect, Wolfe is busy hunting the murder weapon  a weapon designed to take off a mans head at a single swipe. But soon a homeless druggie is murdered the same way. Though at first it seems that there could be no possible connection between the two except for the murderer, they soon find that both the victims went to the same public school as boys. With Bob the Butcher claiming responsibility for the murders on internet, Wolfe is soon on the track of a dangerous serial killer. Will he be able to catch the killer before he gets to those who are close to Wolfe?

From the very first chapter we are given a glimpse into the character of the protagonist DC Wolfe. HE takes his job seriously and is even good at it. However, he tends to be downright impulsive and ignore the chain of command in course of his duty. He trusts his instincts to the core. He is also a family man who lives with his young daughter and their dog. He loves his daughter completely.  After a somewhat slow start, the pace picks up as bodies start piling up and Wolfe starts tracking. The police procedures are described in details and some information provided is kind of repetitive. However the author sets up the scenes and settings well. At some points DC Wolfe is portrayed as a methodical thinker, like Lee Childs Jack Reacher. However I did not like how the majority female characters were portrayed  showing more distasteful characteristics more often than good or redeemable characteristics.
94722
Not your typical Reacher book in any way. Minimal violence, only one headbut and maybe signs that he's starting to age. Taken as anything but a Reacher book this would probably be a full 4 stars, as a Reacher it's more than 3, but not what you expect
72260
I have been a fan of Lee Childs Jack Reacher action novels for many years.  I just completed reading this book 61 Hours and found it to be another suspenseful and action packed tale.  The weather played a big part in this story.  It is ice cold and snowing in South Dakota when the bus Jack was riding in went off the road and crashed near Bolton, South Dakota.  There were mostly elderly people on the bus with the exception of Jack and the driver of the bus.

Jack helped some of the injured people off the bus and it was freezing outside at this point. In a short while a police officer from Bolton arrived on the scene.  The police department also brought a bus, which was used to transport prisoners to their federal lock up in Bolton.  After all the injured and elderly boarded the bus and took them to various hotels and hospitals.  Jack and police Officer Andrew Peterson of the Bolton Police Department begin talking and the real meat of the novel begins.

The story gets a little more complicated because of the policies which have to be followed by Bolton P.D. when it comes to a prison riot and what the officers are assigned to do in such a case.  There is also a serious problem with someone who is going to attempt to kill a witness who is supposed to testify against a connected thug.  Jack gets involved with the problems of Bolton P.D. and the wind, snow and icy cold weather all add to the challenges Jack Reacher must meet.

I never give away too much information when I review a novel because it spoils it for the reader.  If you are a Jack Reacher fan you should check out this book, 61 Hours.  I found it to be a somewhat suspenseful book because of the hours count down in the book.

Rating: 5 Stars.  Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Tactical Principles of the most effective combative systems)
2542002
Like many of the other reviewers, I've read most, if not all of Lee Child's Jack Reacher books. It is interesting to get more detailed information about what led to Reacher's nomadic avenging angel existence--although much of it is alluded to in the other books. The formula is a familiar one. Reacher in a small town, where powerful forces are overwhelming people in need of a white night. One of the things that appeals to many of us in Reacher's character is his unambiguous dedication to setting things right---making sure evil-doers are punished and the exploited are avenged. There is never any grey areas in Child's stories. Right is right and wrong is wrong. With the possible exception of Reacher himself. In this book, much more than the others, Reacher acts as judge, jury and executioner. There is a very justifiable reason, based on the plot line Child lays out, but still it's somewhat disconcerting. Embarking on vigilante justice is a slippery slope and seeing it in action makes me squirm a little. So why don't I rate this book as highly as some of the other Reacher novels? I have some trouble pinning it down, but it just didn't feel like Child at the top of his game. The dialogue wasn't quite as memorable, the plot line a little too predictable, the ending a little too abrupt. But still, it's a good read, well worth the time of aficionados or soon to be aficionados.
1461937
Yes, it was Jack Reacher but there was something missing...and I can't describe what it is; something missing in his personality that reacts to plot development. Still, you'll enjoy.
1838125
I love the Jack Reacher books by Lee Child, but the plot of  this one seemed to be particularly complicated.  The premise and underlying motives were a bit far-fetched, in my opinion.  I'm used to reading and enjoying the solitary Reacher as he quietly goes about his life of travel and fighting evil wherever it turns up.  I will still wait eagerly for the next installment.
1736702
This is the first of the Jack Reacher series.

Jack was riding a Greyhound bus from Florida to Atlanta. Just before reaching Atlanta he asked to be let off at a junction to a small town in Georgia. No plans. It was just a whim. As he entered the town, he was arrested for a murder. The rest of the story was focused on proving to the small town folk that he was not a murderer. There were a lot of twists and turns in the book that surprises and keeps you interested.

The book did start out slow with choppy sentences and incomplete thoughts. It got better as it went along. I finally figured the choppiness was because it was being told in first person and those were how Reacher's thoughts were going.

I highly recommend this book. Looking forward to reading the next in the series.
3827727
I really like the Jack Reacher series, but I don't like it when I feel an author is getting political or trying to advance his or her own politics.  I believe that Lee Child did start into that with this book.  This was not my favorite Jack Reacher novel.
1809693
I had read all of the Reacher books but this one since based to customer star ratings it looked to be a poor choice as compared to all the others which were highly rated.  This story is a Reacher novel that can be read and liked.  It is about Reacher doing his "help the little guy, beat up on the bad guys" routine.  Lots of detail setting the environment for characters and situations.
From taking a more detailed read of the ratings it looks like some folks objected to the author on a political basis.  Not sure what the issues were but if you look at this book a chance to ride along for another adventure with Reacher you are likely to like this one as much as you may have liked others with Reacher as the main character.  Maybe the folks that rated this read poorly read "politics" into the novel more than what is there or maybe they were just too sensitive to commentaries made by Reacher.
Enjoy the read
3986883
With the cliffhanger ending of 61 Hours, a rarity for Lee Child's Jack Reacher novels, I was eager to pick up the next book in the series, Worth Dying For.  Clearly Reacher survived the catastrophic explosion at the end of 61 Hours.  (Was there ever a doubt?)  As Worth Dying For unfolds, Reacher reveals what happened, solidifying what we already know: Reacher is equal parts super human and super lucky.

In Worth Dying For, Reacher has hitchhiked toward Virginia but doesn't get very far.  He ends up in another tiny town, this time in Nebraska, which, of course, is full of corruption, crime, and hidden secrets.  The town is so small it doesn't have police of its own.  The Duncan family, three brothers and one son, rule the town with an iron fist.  No one dares to offend them or their henchmen, a bunch of former Nebraska football players.  Of course it doesn't take Reacher long to see the Duncan's power.  On his first night in town, he drives the drunk town doctor to assist the younger Duncan's wife, who has a broken nose.  He then tracks down her husband, breaks his nose in revenge, and the war is on.

The Duncans are more than a local family who forces all the farmers in the area to do business with them or suffer the consequences.  They are part of an international smuggling scheme.  They have kept their highly profitable business a secret from the townspeople, but when a shipment is late, one of their customers gets impatient and sends his muscle to help.  Then a couple other criminal gangs in the pipeline come to town to assist.  Between their internecine fighting and Reacher's overpowering wit, brains, and muscle, all the bad guys end up dead.  (Sorry about the spoiler.  But if you ever read a Reacher book, you would probably have guessed that.)

The set up of Worth Dying For seems artificial and contrived.  It's hard to conceive that the conditions of this town and the power the Duncans hold over it could actually occur.  But once you hurdle that barrier, the story is quite enjoyable.  Reacher is in fine form as a one-man army and bringer of justice.  He's one bad dude who's fun to root for.
2906743
ack Reacher tells us about the happenings in his life when the world welcomed 1990. The cold war is over. The Soviet Union is disintegrating. Berlin Wall is coming down. The arms races is ending. When you consider all these factors, it should be a better world in store for you. Forget about the future. The first few days of the year turns very hectic for Jack. It all starts with the murder of a one-star general.

Lee Child continues the Reacher series with this book. For a change, the author takes us to Reacher's past unlike the previous ones in the series. Normally, the series goes forward in time. But not this time! Since Lee Child tells it from Reacher's point of view using the first person narrative, it is very engaging. By setting the story against the military background, there is room for suspense, prejudice, crime and also worldwide travel.

This novel is a departure from the usual writing of Lee Child. Here, you see a writer who uses his skills expertly to keep the reader engaged till the very end. Reacher is able to deduce events quickly. But since this is a military investigation, his energy is more focused on finding the evidence in order to do the right thing. In addition, Lee Child also gives us a glimpse of the personal life of Reacher in order to emotionally bond the readers with his lead character.

By far, this is the best I have read in this series. Pick it up if you are in the mood for mystery and action.
2073537
Never Go Back by Lee Child (Dealacorte, 2013, 416 pages, $28.00) is the eighteenth title in the Jack Reacher series of mystery thrillers featuring the mysterious Reacher, who mysteriously arrives in town when things are going wrong, steps in to save the day, and moves on to continue his lone voyage. The novels are robust, manly (whatever that means), and exciting. A drug for those addicted to this genre tracing itself back to the very mists of story writing concerned with the lone hero, not a part of society, but an observer, and, when needed, a participant in it. Since the book is, on publication, has already spent 71 days in the Amazon top 100 and is currently at number 9, a new film starring Tom Cruise based on the Jack Reacher character has just been released, and Child has embarked on a lively book tour. I'll not spend to much time discussing this particular volume, but rather try to explore Reacher himself, why he appeals to readers, and, perhaps, a little bit of speculation about Child's mode of working on this very popular character. Read the rest of my review on my blog.
3806852
While traveling through South Dakota in 61 Hours, ex-military cop Jack Reacher had occasion to call in to his old office in Washington, D.C, the headquarters of the 110th MP. Reacher once commanded the unit but it now belongs to Major Susan Turner. Reacher decided that Turner had a very nice voice and, on the strength of that impression, he has slowly been making his way in the direction of D.C. in the hope that she will go out to dinner with him.

As this book opens, he finally arrives only to discover that Turner has just been arrested. His old unit is now under the command of an acting head named Morgan. Morgan not only tells Reacher that Turner is in the slammer but that Reacher himself is being charged with two relatively ancient crimes. Reacher claims to be totally innocent and to have little or no memory of either alleged incident. Nonetheless, the acting commander invokes some arcane regulation and informs Reacher that he is now back in the army and under Morgan's command, at least until the charges are cleared up. Morgan orders Reacher to go to a motel and to then report for duty first thing in the morning.

At this point, neither Reacher nor the reader has the slightest idea what in the hell might be going on, but obviously something very unseemly is in the works. Reacher is determined to discover what it might be and so dutifully checks into the motel as ordered.

As soon as he does two musclemen, clearly military me out of uniform, arrive at the motel and tell Reacher to get out of town, promising that no one will come looking for him if he does, and that they will beat the crap out of him if he refuses to do so.

Well, of course, no one threatens to beat the crap out of Jack Reacher, let alone actually do it, and before long the two musclemen are lying comatose next to their car which now has two new dents in the sheet metal from where Reacher has introduced their heads to the side of their ride. The next morning, Reacher gets up and reports to the unit as ordered, which is going to be very bad news for the people who are screwing with him.

It wouldn't be fair to say any more; needless to say the story proceeds as long-time Reacher fans will expect. The conspiracy at hand is deep and complex and, as always, Reacher will have to kick the crap out of any number of people who continue to underestimate him in spite of his size. (He is, of course, considerably larger and more intimidating than Tom Cruise.)

This is one of the better entries in this long-running series and would make a great summer read--or any other season, for that matter. This particular edition also includes an entertaining Reacher short story called "High Heat," which features a very mature sixteen-year-old Jack Reacher.
3824083
Seemingly inspired by the Jack Reacher books by Lee Childs with a hint of First Blood (without the crazy sheriff and shooting up the town) Call It Even is the story of one Robbie Bowman, former Army Corporal, wandering the country, looking for a place to belong but also looking for his runaway sister. His travel took him through a small New Mexico town where he was suspected of murdering a mother and the daughter of the local DEA agent Walker. Upon release, he came upon the suspect camp of the real perps: a drug dealer named El Chaco and his group of American mercenaries... and his inner sense of justice and the experiences he had in Iraq and Afghanistan require him to somehow seek out the culprits and redeem himself if only to balance his karma...

The character is properly motivated, but the flashbacks are a bit long and took too much out of the narrative flow of the story. Also, the tension wasn't quite ratcheted up properly and thus the ending felt not quite right. It was drawn out and resolution between Bowman and the the female DEA agent was really weak.