Running Blind (Jack Reacher, No. 4)
by Lee Child
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Book Reviews of Running Blind (Jack Reacher, No. 4)
Book Review: A delightful game between author and reader
Summary: 5 Stars
Lee Child plays the game well. Personally, I won this game, spotting the killer fairly early. That certainly didn't lessen my enjoyment of the book. It did free me, to an extent, so that I could carefully study some of the author's technique, his attempts to make me question my first certainty. And he certainly plays the game fairly. We are given many of the killer's thoughts from the very fist chapter on. So it's a case of matching the psychological profile we're given to the more superficial pictures of the characters. THis book also continues the subplot introduced in TRIPWIRE in which Reacher must make a crucial lifetime decision.I do recommend reading first DIE TRYING which introduces the Leon Garber character, and then TRIPWIRE in order to get the full subplot. The Jack Reacher novels are fairly fast reads in spite of the 400+ page length of each one, but I did find this one even faster than the others. Very highly recommended, but do read at least a couple in the series, preferably those I've mentioned, first.Book Review: I agree ...
Summary: 2 Stars
... with R. H. Oakley's review, which said in part, "Enough clues are given that most readers will realize who the killer is and how the killer pulls it off half way through the book. And the means used to pull it off would not be believed in a comic book. The sheer impossibility was so great that once I realized what the answer was, I skipped to the end of the book to confirm my belief, and then gave up on it."
I'm halfway through now, and having figured out the ridiculous ending, I simply have no further interest in this book. I give it two stars because the first third held my interest and promised an interesting denouement. But once you realize who is guilty and why - and above all, how it's being done - you will probably decide, as I did, that the book just isn't worth finishing.
Incidentally, does this author do any research, about anything, ever? He does not know the first thing about police procedure, criminal profiling, the FBI, or the military. Sheesh!
Book Review: Decent Reacher tale - not the best
Summary: 3 Stars
Of the first four Jack Reacher novels, this one is the weakest. I'm certainly not a reader who avidly tries to figure out all of the twists and turns before the big reveals at the end. I will quote this from the review: "The ending will come as a complete surprise to even the most careful reader". If you are even paying half-attention to the story you will figure out the killer early on. I looked down at my Kindle when I figured it out and I had read about 23% of the book. Childs actually points it out fairly clearly. So when he unleashed the reveal at the end, I shrugged instead of gasped as I knew who it was for most of the book.
I also felt the relationship between Reacher and Jodie was completely different in this book. You would be hard-pressed to tell they had secretly been in love for 15 years based on their interactions here. Worth a read, but not the best in the series so far.
Book Review: Horrible
Summary: 1 Stars
I hated this. Read the first Reacher book a couple of weeks ago, absolutely loved it and got completely hooked. Just finished Reacher #5 and about to download 6.
If you ask me, the first two are stunning (5* masterpieces), #3 is good but not as good (different feel to it but still interesting, 3-4*), but this was horrible. The CIA came across as completely unbelievable, the 'twist' was visible a mile off, and the whole thing was based on a flawed premise (SPOILER: hypnosis just doesn't work like that).
Five was better but also flawed (3*?).
The first two were so good that I am going to plod on, however. Hope the series gets back on track.
[this reminds me of the John Rain books, where the first two are stunning and then the whole thing gets tired fast once he leaves Japan and gets his annoying sidekicks...]
Book Review: Some character discrepancies bother me ...
Summary: 3 Stars
I love Jack Reacher novels--he's a great anti-hero. I was given a bunch of Lee Child books and have been reading them in no particular order. I assumed this was the first in the series because of so many character discrepancies ... what a disappointment to discover it wasn't. For example, Reacher checks his watch (even though in other books he never wears one because he has an odd always-knows-the-time ability), he lives in a house and has a girlfriend (even though he's all about nothing to tie him down), and he's under surveillance for a week and doesn't know it (that's not the Reacher I know and love!). I was ready to forgive these and other "errors" when I thought it was just the beginning of a developing character for the author, but not as a third or fourth book. I can suspend my disbelief when reading Child novels, but appreciate character consistency.