Bad Luck and Trouble (Jack Reacher, No. 11) by Lee Child
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Book Reviews of Bad Luck and Trouble (Jack Reacher, No. 11)
Book Review: Another Good Jack Reacher Story!
Summary: 4 Stars
In Bad Luck And Trouble, Jack Reacher gets a coded message for help, from a member of his old army unit. A member of the old unit has been found dead in the desert, and a number of others seem to be missing.
This story varies slightly from other Reacher novels, as Reacher is working against the bad guys, with the help of a few of his former colleagues, and not by himself.
I found Reacher's army colleague's interesting, and I was rooting for them all the way, even though we do not learn too much about their characters, or past, other than there were all once very close. It was good to see Reacher's character working with other people, though, in searching for clues, making plans, and putting those plans into action.
However, I thought the bad guys were very one-dimensional, and not really fleshed out, at all. For me, this made the ending something of an anti-climax. Overall, though, an enjoyable read, as always, but not the best in the series.
Book Review: Reacher follows in the literary Rambo's footsteps
Summary: 5 Stars
Fans of David Morrell, Richard Stark (Donald Westlake), and F. Paul Wilson's brawny thrillers will love Lee Child's laconic loner hero. Featured in ten previous novels, Jack Reacher is a shiftless vagabond who owns nothing and lives nowhere and everywhere. A former military policeman and Army special investigator, he is also a knight-errant of sorts, using his experience, large body, and suppressed violent disposition to right wrongs for people who can't. Like a masterless ronin, he's not "in the system," using the names of obscure baseball players as aliases. But in this newest novel, Child throws Reacher a curve, reuniting him with a group of tightly-knit "special investigators" gathered to find out what happened to their four missing and murdered comrades - and to make someone pay. Reacher's loner personality is tested when he must fit into a team system once again. Watching this quiet, dangerous giant of a man interact with fellow ex-soldiers is almost as interesting as watching the elite unit follow nebulous clues to uncover the reason one of their own was tortured and tossed out of a helicopter. Once hooked, chances are you'll go back for those previous Reacher books featuring this engaging modern judge, jury, and sometime executioner.Book Review: best of jack reacher
Summary: 5 Stars
This was my favorite of the Jack Reacher series and also the most heartbreaking. For those of you who have read "The Enemy" and are familiar with his colleagues, helpers, and enemies, this would really make you furious. I especially hated the killers who caused Franz' dog to die. I am always amazed when I think of how Lee Child does his research.Book Review: Reacher Strikes Again!
Summary: 4 Stars
Fete of Death
Not as good as "One Shot" by a long shot and some previous Jack Reacher novels as well, "Bad Luck and Trouble" is nevertheless a worthy thriller by Lee Child. I wouldn't classify it as one of his best efforts because I prefer Jack Reacher the Loner to Jack Reacher the Groupie. What makes Reacher click with the reader is his effectiveness as a loner. As a member of a team in "Bad Luck and Trouble" he loses this effectiveness and much of his luster as a unique character.
In this novel, Reacher rounds up his old buddies from his military days, which slows down the action to all but a dead stall, and sets out to investigate the disappearance of another of their military comrades. In the process, they discover an international conspiracy. Prior to that, Reacher and his pals roam around Vegas in this outing and have to whack out a baddie who is bird-dogging them and bury him in true Vegas fashion under cement, what else, Mafia-style. After all, what would you expect in a city created by Bugsy Siegel?
When all is said and done, this is still a fine thriller and well worth the read. If you haven't read a Reacher novel before, however, I would suggest you start with another book in the series, such as, "One Shot," which centers around Reacher the Loner.
--Bryan Cassiday
Book Review: One of the weaker Reacher novels
Summary: 3 Stars
As I already said in the title, one of the weaker Reacher novels. At first I was excited that some of Reacher's old Army friends show up, but none of the characters is really developed and the entire story seems kind of flat. Also, as his pals are all doing well, Reacher has access to insane amounts of money in this one, which makes for some very unrealistic plot developments. My suggestion would be to skip this one.