What begins as a sloppy marital argument in a bar in Texas may turn into something far more destructive. Jack Reacher, never known for minding his own business, brings his vagabond law-man-for-hire self to the scene. Carmen Greer seems to be the victim, and as a surly regulator, he doesn't hesitate to pick her up outside of Lubbock, that is, until she asks him to murder her husband. This abusive man is soon to be released from jail, and Carmen's worst nightmares are about to begin again.
But when Sloop Greer is let out of jail, what Carmen expects, doesn't happen. Sloop is instead killed by someone else, and Carmen is set up to take the blame. Reacher doesn't see how things could be wrapped up so simply and sets out to uncover what evil and human suffering lies beneath this town in Echo County, Texas.
Lee Child is the pen name of Jim Grant. He writes commercial thrillers about a former military cop named Jack Reacher. Child was born in 1954 and raised in England. Child studied law but also worked backstage at a theatre and eventually worked in commercial television upon graduating college. He produced over forty thousand hours of programming, wrote thousands of commercials, news stories, and trailers. He was laid off after corporate restructuring and began his career as a novelist with his first book Killing Floor. His prose style has been called hardboiled and commercial, and he considers novels the purest form of entertainment.
"I love Jack Reacher books. He is a great character. He is ex-Army, at one point a major in the Military police. After 13 years he does not have any visible means of support and no permanent home. in otherwords, he is a drifter and as you would expect, a bad ass. At 6' 5", no body fat he's not afraid to mix it up. The other thing is that he's a good guy. Always accepts the lost cause a fight for what's right. He's human, makes mistakes but always wins at the end. A very enjoyable read."
— Chris Ciabattone (5 out of 5 stars)
The bestselling novel featuring the "wonderfully epic hero" (People) who inspired the hit film Jack Reacher. Thumbing across the scorched west Texas desert, loner Jack Reacher has nowhere to go, and all the time in the world to get there. Cruising the same stretch of two-lane blacktop is pretty Carmen Greer. But for Reacher, the lift comes with a hitch. Carmen’s got a story to tell, and it’s a wild one. All about her husband, her family secrets, and a hometown that’s pure Gothic. She’s also got a plan. Jack Reacher’s part of it. And before the sun sets, this ride could cost them both their lives.
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" It's a good book, don't be mistaken, but somehow I found it a bit difficult to "believe" Reacher's actions, especially in the beginning. "
— abolotdky7, 4/11/2024" couldnt imagine this series read by any other voice! "
— Megan, 1/26/2017" Lee Childs / jack Reacher. They are synonymous for action, witty and faced-pace detective novel. Jack is ex-military police which means that he is no-nonsense and not afraid to mix it up with the antogonist. "
— Chap, 5/3/2016" Another great Jack Reacher story. Kept me guessing. "
— Barb, 2/20/2014" Not bad, an easy, quick read. "
— Victor, 2/12/2014" This book had a stunning discription of a rain storm that just put the reader wallowing in the mud along side Reacher. That prose was almost poetry and was worth a re read. One again Reacher is the "Man's man" character extrodinare. (And woman's ideal champion) (I cannot see how Tom Cruise can EVER play Reacher effectively.)The plot was clever and kept me guessing all the way to the last chapter. "
— Chris, 2/8/2014" I really enjoyed this one... my 5th in Lee Child's Jack Reacher series. My favorite narrator, I believe. Good story! "
— Debbie, 2/1/2014" Another in the Jack Reacher series, and a little less engaging than the ones I have read previously. I thought that Child spent a lot more time building the background in the beginning, with a lot less action early in the story. However, still a good light holiday read. "
— Sunflower, 1/24/2014" Jack Reacher does it again!! I don't know how, but I'm happy to be along for the ride. "
— Barbara, 1/10/2014" to me these books are mostly just to be macho... still can't understand how he wears the same outfit for days at a time. "
— Carol, 1/4/2014" Didn't like this one quite as much; still full of interesting twists, but seemed harder and sadder. "
— Sarah, 1/3/2014" A much slower book than the previous Reacher novels. Still good, took longer to get to the point. Reacher still had his own way to fix the problems he found himself involved in. "
— Jan, 12/25/2013" I must have missed this Jack Reacher story before, but it's great to read now! I love his exposure to horses, and how saddles the big mare, and how he rides. Lots of twists, and wow he is a thinking man with lots of common sense. "Where ya' headed?" .... how would you answer that? "
— Dave, 12/12/2013" Ehh. Not Child's best works. I thought it lagged at points and some parts were a bit far fetched. Reacher definitely has some spidey senses. "
— Daniel, 12/7/2013" Something of a bounce back from the previous entry, in terms of plot. All of the Reacher novels are very atmospheric, too, and this one is no exception. The pacing was a little different from the others, which worked OK, and Reacher's self-doubt near the end is compelling. "
— Ananda, 11/13/2013" A change of pace for Jack Reacher, but a worthy addition to the series. Third act is a little hard to believe, but what an enjoyable ride to get there. Reminds me of a mid-70s Charles Bronson movie in its tone and attitude. Reacher is a real bad-ass in this one. "
— Jon, 11/12/2013" Didnt care for this one very much. Actually skipped it originally, but went back and read it when the next Reacher adventure hadnt come out "
— Lawrence, 11/5/2013" Jack Reacher. The drifter. Finds another lil' adventure in Texas to help out a mexi-usa born woman from her abusing husband and his racist family. Just your average read nothing special just a good yarn. "
— Trey, 11/1/2013" This was one of my favorite Reacher stories; I loved the twists in the story and the ending. "
— Wanda, 8/24/2013" As usual kept me on the edge of my seat. Enjoyed it "
— Elizabeth, 3/27/2013" My least favorite of this series, just to improbable of a set up. "
— Beth, 3/6/2013" Best Jack Reacher story so far. Less violence than the other books but more suspense. "
— Jerry, 2/24/2013" Fabulous! I stayed up all night to finish it. Enough said... "
— Amy, 9/10/2012" No spoilers here but this isn't Child's best effort. Still definitely worth the read but in the end I think you will agree it's primarily an "airplane" novel. "
— Kem, 7/28/2012" Not as exciting for a Lee Child book. The beginning and middle had a LOT of description and was therefore dragging to read. Finally finished this book. "
— Reena, 6/2/2012" Not his best. I mean since when does Reacher need a watch to tell time. This book made Reacher out to be an unintelligent thug who got lucky. It was almost as if Lee Child had someone else write this book for him. "
— Derralyn, 3/8/2012" Less far reached than the last book, but still some. "
— •, 1/26/2012" A little less believable than the previous books in the series, but still a good read. "
— Matt, 12/26/2011" This takes forever to get to the point. The set up is fully 1/2 of the book. Hardly a Reacher moment until the action gets underway at the midpoint. Once started, the novel moves with typical style and there are interesting cross-connects. "
— Nick, 12/17/2011" Not the best JR novel. It dragged a bit in the middle, but picked up in the end. All in all not a bad read, just not a great one. "
— Scott, 8/20/2011" Was a drag as compared to the first four that i've read so far. "
— Akshay, 8/10/2011" I love me some Lee Child. He makes no excuses about how our hero, Reacher, manages to get into a new "situation" each book: He just drops in to trouble. Another solid story, keeps up with the Texas heat so much I was constantly thirsty... "
— Kurt, 5/14/2011" The beginning of this novel seemed to be a bit melodramatic, but like all of Child's Jack Reacher books as the plot thickens and the character's actions become intertwined, I was drawn it. "
— Academicsupport, 4/25/2011" Pretty Good. Got a little sketchy in the middle though. "
— Ellen, 4/25/2011" It's a good mystery, but I'm apparently the only one who wonders just how nasty Reacher's underwear gets. "
— Jo, 4/23/2011" Reacher, a kid, lawyers good and crooked. "
— April, 4/20/2011" I Loved this book! I Love the Jack Reacher Character. "
— Candace, 4/11/2011" Although I love Jack Reacher, this particular book was way too slow to really get into. "
— Emmahardeman, 4/9/2011" While this was a good read, it was not my favorite. Somewhat of a weak plot to this one. "
— Janis, 3/24/2011" Trouble just finds Jack! Texas never seemed so uninviting!! "
— Colleen, 3/14/2011" Best Jack Reacher story so far. Less violence than the other books but more suspense. "
— Jerry, 3/14/2011" I usually really enjoy the Reacher books, but the first 8 chapters of this book were long, exhausting and unusually boring. I almost gave up several times. It was an ok book. Wish he would have condensed this book by a couple hundred pages. "
— Sheila, 3/10/2011" What is there to say since I love Lee Child and Jack Reacher - never fails! "
— Donna, 3/7/2011" This ending surprised me...I usually can see most coming. "
— Emily, 3/4/2011" A pretty decent thriller set in the Southwest Texas heat. Reacher makes a lot of educated leaps in logic during the course of the story which makes it a tad bit unbelievable. I did enjoy the story, it just wasn't great. "
— Erik, 3/2/2011" Lee Child never disappoints. All of his books have many twists and turns as well as some surprising plots. Have the next one and can't wait to start it. "
— Carol, 2/25/2011" While the character Jack Reacher is as black and white as they come, the story is interesting, and the result is pure entertainment. This book is for those who like their mysteries drawn in sharp clear lines of good and bad. "
— Lavezzij, 2/24/2011Lee Child is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Jack Reacher series and the complete Jack Reacher story collection, No Middle Name. Foreign rights in the Reacher series have sold in one hundred territories. Two blockbusting Jack Reacher movies have been made so far, based on his novels. He is the recipient of many awards, including the CWA’s Diamond Dagger for a writer of an outstanding body of crime fiction, the International Thriller Writers’ ThrillerMaster, and the Theakstons Old Peculier Outstanding Contribution to Crime Fiction Award. He is a native of England and a former television director.
Laural Merlington is an audiobook narrator with over two hundred titles to her credit and a winner of multiple Earphones Awards. An Audie Award nominee, she has also directed over one hundred audiobooks. She has performed and directed for thirty years in theaters throughout the country. In addition to her extensive theater and voice-over work, she teaches college in her home state of Michigan.