Every once in awhile when I want some purely escapist reading, I pick up a Jack Reacher novel by Lee Child. I haven’t read these books in order, in fact I’ve only read a few, but they are certainly exciting, to say the least. For those who are not familiar with Reacher, he is an ex-army major who has become a drifter, wandering around the country and taking care of situations that he mostly falls into.
Jack has hitched a ride on a bus full of senior citizens when an accident strands them in the small town of Bolton, South Dakota, in the middle of a snowstorm. With our inside information, we readers know that the car crash is not actually an accident. Outside of town, a Mexican drug cartel has taken over an abandoned military facility. The local police are guarding Janet Salter, an old lady who is a key witness against the cartel.
It is simply chance that causes Reacher to become acquainted with Janet. But when he learns that the police are expecting a visit from an assassin, he decides to help protect her.
I have seen comments on Amazon from hard-core Jack Reacher fans complaining that this novel is not as action packed as the others and that the series is deteriorating. I don’t really have any complaints, but then I have only read a couple of the novels. I found the book fast paced and exciting.
What? Me Read? 
People can be very picky, wanting each book to be the same. I think this sounds great, will definitely pick it up!
Yes, that’s an insightful comment. If you enjoy thrillers, I think this is an exciting book.
I think also authors like the experiment with pace and style like any other. We’d all get bored with the same structure, right?
Yes, and you’d think that readers would welcome such experimentation, but not everyone does.
You have a very nice-looking blog, by the way.
Depends on the reader I guess!
Yep, lots of work. My blog used to be via wordpress.com and was pretty bland and empty.
Thought I might push it into something more. Plus, wordpress is amazing for meeting equally enthusiastic readers and up-and-coming writers. I geek out far too often!