The Enemy (Jack Reacher, No. 8) by Lee Child
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Book Reviews of The Enemy (Jack Reacher, No. 8)
Book Review: Do NOT Start Here
Summary: 3 Stars
If you have not read Lee Child before, do NOT start with this book - like I did. I picked up this book on the recommendation of my brother-in-law and that's another bone I have to pick with him. In fairness, he recommended Lee Child and Jack Reacher, not 'The Enemy' in particular.
'The Enemy' fills in the back story of Reacher's life and long-time readers will likely appreciate that, but not yet being a long-time reader, I wouldn't know if that saves this book or not. I like action/adventure books (Robert Ludlum, Frederick Forsyth, John Case - I've even choked down many of Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan paperweights), so I should like Lee Child and Jack Reacher, but this book did not do it for me. Careful police work and some bare-knuckle action led to an implausible (OK, stupid and silly) climax.
But, since I really do respect my bro-in-law (after all, he also recommended Alan Furst) and so many other readers also rave about the Jack Reacher series, I will likely give Child another go.
Book Review: disappointed
Summary: 3 Stars
So, it is official now: Lee Child can actually produce duds (Tripwire, Die Trying, One Shot, Enemy) along with excellent items (Running Blind and Persuader).
It is not a complete loss, however, it is very boring because for the bigger half of the book Reacher does everything but pursuing the most natural line of investigation and the pace is very slow.
Also, there is a feeling that most of every-day-army-life things were simply copied over from General's Daughter by DeMille.
Book Review: The Best Of The Best
Summary: 3 Stars
I am a prodigious book reader, well over 100 annually. Only recently have I discovered Lee Child, and in doing so have found the most artful writer of all times. However, even tho' all his novels superlative, "The Enemy" is far and above the most gripping of any novel ever, by ANYone!
Dr. Stephen Clark
Book Review: ENjoyed it but I could put it down.
Summary: 3 Stars
A nice thriller/mystery. Not the best, not the worst. Note to Amazon - allow the reviewers to give half stars. Unlike the 5* reviewers, I could definitely put it down. Unlike the 1* reviewers, I was not bothered by any purported inaccuracies re: military protocol.Book Review: Child's Reacher exceeds his grasp
Summary: 2 Stars
Although I don't normally read in this genre, I have to say that Child's work is strangely compelling, and the Reacher character that I was introduced to on a long flight interested me enough that I have gone back for more.
I have to agree with the previous reviewer, D.R. Jeanclerc that "the subtle mark of good writing is that its flow makes it virtually transparent to the reader." However, that is only one element of "good writing", and while Child produces excellent, transparent beach-reading, he seriously stumbled with "The Enemy". In this prequel to the rest of the Reacher series, I had expected to find out why the Reacher character ended up a drifter with a penchant for taking revenge against villains who hurt the innocent. I mean...how many Majors who got their $70,000 RIF bonus in the 90's didn't cash in ther experience in the corporate world by getting an MBA or other advanced training? So I was prepared to find out how someone with a background so similar to mine could end up so different. Namely, how does one follow all the rules to get accepted into USMA, get commissioned from one of the most rigid and hidebound institutions in the US and advance to Major in 6 years (impossible in the MP Corps, but okay, I'll suspend disbelief until it is explained) and then willfully and exuberantly break all of them when it is convenient to him?
I don't expect authors who write about the military to have actually served. However, I do expect them to take the time and effort to research the background of their subjets or at least have respect for them, (or at least get an editorial staff who have left Manhattan at some point in their lives).
The Enemy is full of editorial pratfalls (the use of English jargon instead of terms an American would use, ie. counterpane (instead of bedspread, and yogurt "pot" instead of container (which is used as an alternative to pot at times). One can almost detect a British accent in the odd turn of phrase from time to time as well. This wasn't as distracting as the military inaccuracies, which occur on almost every page of the book. They are too numerous to name, but if you have served you wil be distracted from the story on almost every page as you gasp in amazement at how poorly Child knows the US military. This is lamentable enough, considering how much editorial support exists to ensure this doesn't happen without altering the value of the story (the back story of armor/infantry tensions being laughable at at time when the Heavy/Light concept was part of US Army doctrine).
Child also doesn't get soldiers right, but again, that would require 1000 words to explain how. He should do what he does best...spin a story with Reacher in the middle in a generic setting with generic supporting characters and let hell break loose.
What is truly disappointing is Child's failure to get into how a person becomes a Reacher. As an individualist who follows his moral compass even when it is against his interest (to an extreme degree), Reacher has become an interesting character in most of Child's well written thriller/mysteries. However, this ex-soldier, ex-investigator could not finish the novel. If Mr. Child ever wants a proofreader who can set him straight, he can come to me. I'm the one standing with the millions of other vets who could have helped him out if he had asked. Normally I enjoy his novels for what they are...I would skip this one.