Bad Luck and Trouble (Jack Reacher) by Lee Child
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Book Reviews of Bad Luck and Trouble (Jack Reacher)
Book Review: Bad luck for the reader
Summary: 1 Stars
This was my first (and last) Jack Reacher story. The guy is an arrested adolescent, with 1960's ideas about living a life unencumbered by possessions, taking idiotic chances in implausible situations. He leads a band of cohorts who are said to be the best and brightest, but who show total devotion to their leader, the dimmest of losers.
The narrative is divided into short chapters, each meant to leave the reader panting to find out what happens next. What does happen next is another tedious description of Los Angeles traffic and highways: much of it has all the excitement of your car's GPS guidance system.
When we get to the action parts, we descend to cartoon adventure. For example, a secure, fortress-like installation is built with fences low enough and close enough that the hero can assault it with homemade Molotov cocktails.
This is the sort of book we end up reading while waiting for Nelson DeMille to produce more of the real thing.
Book Review: An Open Letter To Lee Child
Summary: 5 Stars
First of all, presuming of course that you are reading this Mr. Child, let me start by saying that I loved this book more than any other Reacher novel yet, which is saying a lot. Something about the build up, the foot work, the set up for the final few chapters---it really and truly worked. But want to know why I really liked it?
Because FINALLY, the punishment fit the crime.
And this is a lament I've had with a few of your other novels (most notably Die Trying and The Hard Way). When the bad guy finally goes down, it's not nearly satisfying enough. The villains you create are so truly despicable, so awful and vile, that the reader WANTS to see them pay. We WANT repercussion to be SIGNIFICANT. Yet too many times the punishment passes by in the blink of an eye, when it should be the crowning point of the book instead. It's something we want to SAVOR!
And that's why this book is different. The ending was stupendous! All that pent up anger and frustration I felt was appropriately relieved. Please keep this up. I've almost put your books away for good, several times, after being let down by your endings (especially after such FABULOUS beginnings and middles!). This, however, was a much needed step in the right direction.
Thank you!
Book Review: My First Reacher Novel, Probably My Last
Summary: 2 Stars
I picked up Bad Luck and Trouble because it sounded like an interesting book. I must say, though, that it was not my cup of tea. I, on the whole, enjoy crime novels and spy thrillers in the vein of Vince Flynn and David Baldacci. Lee Child most likely fits here nicely.
The story is about Jack Reacher, a former military policeman. He receives a call for help from one of his former teammates. It seems that several members of the unit have disappeared and Reacher needs to find out why. Interesting premise, but it quickly devolves into a revenge novel with a little bit of "let's stop the terrorist" thrown in to make the story timely.
I have no problem with the writing of the book. Mr. Child is a very talented writer. I just did not enjoy the story. Revenge for the sake of revenge is not my idea of a good time.
Book Review: disappointing
Summary: 2 Stars
Unfortunately, in my opinion, this book cannot be compared the The Hard Way. That one was taut, thrilling and extremely gripping. This one was drowning in minutiae, far too many 'filler' details. It took 250 pages to even know what the characters were trying to stop. From then on, you just knew Reacher would get the bad guys and the climax was pretty standard 'shoot 'em up', no surprises or twists at all. I expected so much more. Pass this one by.Book Review: Best Yet
Summary: 5 Stars
I have enjoyed the seris, and liked this one the best, because of the former team members, they give some real balance to Jack...