Killing Floor (Jack Reacher, No. 1)
by Lee Child
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Book Reviews of Killing Floor (Jack Reacher, No. 1)
Book Review: Good Debut For A New Anti-Hero
Summary: 4 Stars
Jack Reacher is a drifter. Not a vagrant or a fugitive, but a transient by choice. After spending his entire life in the army (his father was military, and Reacher was an elite military policeman) he's decided he wants to live free, literally with just the clothes on his back, some money in his pocket, and a folding toothbrush clipped to his pants. He throws away his clothes when they're dirty, buying new, economical ones to replace them.
Six months after his discharge, he asks the Greyhound driver to let him out in Margrave, Georgia. It is a spontaneous decision driven by the recollection of a story told to him by his older brother about Blind Blake, a famous blues guitarist who was supposed to have died in the small town. Margrave is the perfect small southern American town - literally. Its lawns are all manicured, the streets are spotless, and its inhabitants live a life of leisure.
Within hours of his arrival in Margrave Reacher is arrested for a multiple murder. Once his alibi and bona fides are confirmed Reacher is released, at which time he makes the shocking, coincidental discovery that one of the murder victims is his big brother, a US Treasury Agent. As Reacher joins forces with the local cops to investigate, he learns that the bucolic façade of Margrave is just that - a façade. Reacher uncovers a conspiracy that involves most of the authority figures in Margrave, as well as some well-placed outside officials. Reacher is forced to use his considerable bag of tricks to counter the ruthless conspirators and help end the threat to the innocent townspeople.
I'm not really sure of Reacher as a character yet - he seems to be a borderline immoral, yet just man who is not afraid to use his considerable military skills to accomplish his goals. I'll have to wait to read a few more of Childs' books to see how the character develops.
Book Review: Visceral, violent, and very suspenseful
Summary: 3 Stars
Having seen Lee Child out promoting his current book, The Hard Way, I felt sufficiently intrigued to search out this, the first of his Jack Reacher novels. Mr. Child seemed the very personification of his main character: a man's man, Hemingway-esque; more comfortable shooting rhinoceros and chugging back scotch than sitting and discussing his books. Hmmm. Must investigate.
Indeed, the Jack Reacher character is all that and more. A former military policeman and spec ops Jack Palance type, Reacher, clearly in the grips of PTSD and social alienation, is, in this first novel, on a vagabond walkabout when he stumbles into the town of Margrave, Georgia and promptly is arrested for murder. Turns out the dead guy is Reacher's estranged brother, who was a covert op for the US Treasury. This is the first of many coincidences and plot devices which stretch credibility to the breaking point, but hey, with such impressive writing, suspension of disbelief comes easily. Even when I guessed the next step (as is readily done) there was no break in the delicious tension.
Well crafted action scenes are in abundance as Reacher aligns himself with the only good guys in town to uncover an international counterfeiting scheme. James Bond, played by The Rock, meets Deliverance. Aficionados of Guns `n Ammo will delight in descriptions of weaponry, fighting tactics, and spook stealth. There are also scenes of gruesome gore, so the squeamish should be warned and set the book down now.
An improbable love interest adds a little spice, but be advised the romance scenes are written entirely from an almost comical stereotypical male perspective, and as such are likely to be unimpressive to woman readers.
All in all, a tightly crafted suspenseful read, worthy of the awards Mr. Child received on its publication ( Anthony Award, Barry Award).
Book Review: THE NIGHT THAT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT IN GEORGIA
Summary: 3 Stars
Driving along Interstate 15 and enjoying another adventure with Jack Reacher made the miles just fly by. Didn't realize that "The Killing Floor" was the inception of the Jack Reacher character and series since I had either read or listened to other books by this author that featured this tough ex-military cop character and the stories are such that they do not have to be read in any particular order to be enjoyed. I did notice that a lot of the Reacher adventures seem to begin with our heroic drifter sitting in a restaurant enjoying a cup of coffee or eating breakfast when a chance occurrence pulls him into yet another crime situation awaiting his particular brand of expertise. This one is no exception.
Jack takes us down south for this thrill ride, to a sleepy little town called Margrave, Georgia. A murder has been committed and of course our hero is arrested for the foul deed since he is the only "stranger" in the of course none of the upright town folk could have possibly committed the dirty deed. It appears that everyone has a part to play in this escapade from the local police chief and his assistant (a black cop who has relocated from the Boston area) to a couple of ancient town barbers, to a bank executive and even the FBI.
The story is liberally peppered with vicious bad guys committing brutal acts, damsels in distress, slimy town fathers, an ingenious scam, and enough action and surprises to keep you interested and on your toes (like the identity of the victim for whose murder Jack has been arrested).
Our fast thinking hero's abilities are put to the test, and of course he passes with flying colors. Give Jack and his creator, Lee Child, a B- on this one. 3 ½ stars.
Book Review: Enthralling...
Summary: 4 Stars
I never heard of Lee Child until I saw him featured recently on the cover of Parade Magazine. I don't know how this writer of thrillers escaped my notice for so long. But the article intrigued me enough to purchase The Killing Floor (on audio book) for a very long car trip. This book is the first in his Jack Reacher series and kept us enthralled for 1000+ miles.
Jack Reacher is a former military policeman who now finds himself wandering the US. He stops in Margrave, Georgia to discover the fate of an old blues guitarist, Blind Blake. But while having breakfast his first morning in town, he is arrested for murder. It doesn't take long for him to realize that something is very wrong in this little town and it involves a tainted mayor, crooked cops, bribes, counterfeiting and even murder. But then things become personal. Reacher must use all of his skills to figure out not just what the conspiracy is and who are the ten men involved, but he must also stay alive in the process. It's not an easy assignment when you don't know who to trust.
I really enjoyed learning the money-facts that Child included in The Killing Floor. He describes how much cash is available in the US, how banks operate, how money is printed (inks, paper, etc.), and the safeguards used to deter counterfeiters. I never knew that the black ink used for printing has magnetic properties that allow bills to be scanned through machines. I found these things very interesting and they added to his story.
For thrillers, David Baldacci has been my favorite for a number of years. Child is right there with him. In fact, some claim that Child is the best. In any case, we've already started listening to Child's second book, Die Trying.
Book Review: A Thriller novel
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the first novel in the Jack Reacher series, but chronologically there is a short story that precedes it in time (see the Thriller collection). Jack Reacher left the Army six months before and has been traveling the country, eking out money he received with his discharge. Events lead him to the small town of Musgrave, Georgia, where he just wants to find some information about a blues musician, Blind Blake, who was said to have died in the town. He walks into a murder investigation, immediately arrested and accused. Strangers in town, expecially a small town, are easy to blame for any misfortune.
Reacher might have left town again, but when it turns out the victim was his brother, he is drawn into the case. He used to be in the Military Police, specializing in homicides. Reacher is a dangerous man when provoked, having previously dealt with highly trained killers in the military, and guilty parties make the mistake of trying to take him out.
Bodies accumulate as the bad guys kill people, and Reacher adds to the body count. There are some gruesome murders. The nature of crimes in the town, and guilty parties, gradually becomes evident. But there are some twists and some surprises. To say there is a blazing finish is an understatement. As in later novels in the series, Reacher finds it is best to be an old soldier and fade away.
I would rate the novel, at best, PG13 leaning towards adult only. You will learn a little along the way about economics and money supply, and why other countries are a step ahead of the US with their paper currency.