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Bad Luck and Trouble

Author: Lee Child
Publisher: Bantam Books Ltd
Category: Book

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Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars

5 reviews
Sales Rank: 657

Media: Paperback
Pages: 528
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 6.9 x 4.2 x 1.4

ISBN: 0553818104
EAN: 9780553818109
ASIN: 0553818104

Publication Date: March 10, 2008
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Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars

Another Reacher classic March 26, 2008
1 out of 3 found this review helpful

Great plot with new characters and plenty of action. Read Soft Target by Conrad Jones if you like Lee Child its Fantastic. I can recomend both books as absolute fire crackers !!!

3 out of 5 stars

A little too tiresome March 21, 2008
4 out of 7 found this review helpful

I've been a Lee Child fan from the off and have read all of the Jack Reacher novels. Whilst not the worst in the series, this certainly isnt the best either. In this book Reacher is drawn back into the fold of his old army buddies to help investigate 'off the record' the mysterious disappearance of several of his old MP unit.

The story itself is interesting, until about midway when the book becomes a little too detailed and boring - eg, working out mathemetics and the detail he dedicates to buying some dodgy handguns seems to last forever. The biggest disappointment however is that the storyline itself, particularly the bad guys just doesnt hold water. I couldnt believe that the bad guys, givent their background, could really be that bad. it was a step too far for me and not even the money involved managed to convince me otherwise - especially with regards to the killings involved. the last quarter of the book is where the action kicks in and all in all its not bad - it would certainly make a decent holiday read.

However, the other major issue for me is that Reacher himself is just too predictable and one dimensional. He's been a lone drifter now for probably longer than he was in the army, yet he manages to find himself in major off the record investigations every few weeks. I'm not sure how long Child can continue with Reacher in this way and still maintain credability. i can understand how a man might want some freedom after the confines of the army but Reacher's been on the road for 10 years now, living with just a toothbrush.

3 out of 5 stars

OK but the least enjoyable yet... March 13, 2008
2 out of 4 found this review helpful

I discovered the Jack Reacher books about 18 months ago and was immediately hooked - since then I have worked my way through them all and enjoyed them immensely. This one I still enjoyed, but I think it was noticeably poorer than the rest. It was good to see Jack hooking up with some old friends, but I thought the story was rather contrived, and in particular the way that "the baddies" went about dispatching their victims, especially when under pressure at the end, was more like something Enid Blyton might have come up with. You can't help thinking that they would simply have shot people and fled rather than doing "what they did" (not wanting to spoil it!). I also think that all the convoluted maths which keeps popping up - "I'm Jack Reacher, the human computer" - was rather overdone. Why is this suddenly being touted so much? Not at all credible really.

But I think the main reason I didn't enjoy this book as much was the fact that I ended up (for the first time) actually not liking Jack very much any more. It's so satisfying when someone deserving gets their lights punched out, but I thought this time he was presented as being a little too cold blooded and ruthless, if that's possible! So, a good read, but far from the best of this series.

4 out of 5 stars

Reacher is mellowing - -just a little March 10, 2008
7 out of 9 found this review helpful

I have read all the Reacher series, and one criticism that could be leveled is that there has been too little character development. Reacher is a great hero, but the "lone avenger" thing was a little too one dimensional.

This story sees things move on, because suddenly Reacher is forced to contemplate and compare his life against the lives of those he has worked with - this provides some welcome variety and depth to things. Similarly the story is more a puzzle than an action thriller, and Reacher has to rely on others to help, rather than fixing things on his own. This helps things in my view, as there are fewer plotlines which strain credibility.

All the familiar landmarks of a Reacher tale are here and this will keep you reading till the end, because you will want to know what happens - it's just that the journey travels through slightly unfamiliar territory.

4 out of 5 stars

Great new characters but storyline a little limp March 7, 2008
6 out of 8 found this review helpful

I love Jack Reacher but he has softened a little since the days of Echo Burning, Killing Floor and Tripwire. I really enjoyed this book but it did create a conflict for me. On one hand I love Jack Reacher because he is a loner who leaves no trace but on the other hand I enjoyed him hooking up with his old colleagues from 'back in the day' (his favourite phrase!).

I didn't feel that that the story line was as fast paced as some of the previous offerings but Lee Child has opened up the possibility of developing the Special Investigators who survived this romp.

I really enjoyed The Enemy, the only JR novel that returned to his MP days - I would like to see more of Jack from back along with Neagley, Dixon, Ortez and co.

For Jack Reacher fans, you will enjoy this book but you'll need to get used to a more civilised JR who has a passport, a bank account and friends. But at least his fold away toothbrush is still the only luggage he carries!!