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yuna's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Liked parts of it, didn't like parts of it.
The mystery and action was interesting. I liked the way little details and clues from earlier in the book tied into later scenes and actions. I read the forward first so knew going in that Child wrote Reacher to be a badass and wouldn't really be bothered to have try-fail cycles. So, I took that for what it was. Goes in, gets shit done, nothing all that bad is ever going to happen to him *shrug*.
Also liked how Reacher's feelings are touched upon throughout the book. The dude rides that line between confidence and arrogance really close, and at times he does come off a bit wooden. But we also get his bouts of shame/guilt/sadness. As much as I didn't like the relationship with Roscoe, I appreciated that this traditionally "tough guy" character is also sad and teary over walking away from something that could be good except he doesn't want to compromise--and he owns up to that part.
I'm...ehh, on the writing style. Sometimes the spare prose worked for me, a lot of the time it didn't because it wasn't spare so much as it was redundant and choppy. This book really didn't need to be this long. Also made the pacing feel a bit wonky and I was flagging on interest in the mystery toward the end.
The mystery and action was interesting. I liked the way little details and clues from earlier in the book tied into later scenes and actions. I read the forward first so knew going in that Child wrote Reacher to be a badass and wouldn't really be bothered to have try-fail cycles. So, I took that for what it was. Goes in, gets shit done, nothing all that bad is ever going to happen to him *shrug*.
Also liked how Reacher's feelings are touched upon throughout the book. The dude rides that line between confidence and arrogance really close, and at times he does come off a bit wooden. But we also get his bouts of shame/guilt/sadness. As much as I didn't like the relationship with Roscoe, I appreciated that this traditionally "tough guy" character is also sad and teary over walking away from something that could be good except he doesn't want to compromise--and he owns up to that part.
I'm...ehh, on the writing style. Sometimes the spare prose worked for me, a lot of the time it didn't because it wasn't spare so much as it was redundant and choppy. This book really didn't need to be this long. Also made the pacing feel a bit wonky and I was flagging on interest in the mystery toward the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Hate crime, Torture, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Fatphobia
rhosynmd's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, and Violence
Moderate: Kidnapping
thecandlelightlibrary's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Although I do have some problems with the story (how quickly the police department includes Reacher in the investigation and Roscoe’s lost potential as a standalone character/instant attraction, for example), this book was written in 1997, it was exactly what the author promised in the introduction, and I was entertained throughout the entire story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Body horror, Confinement, Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexual content