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A review by yuna
Killing Floor by Lee Child
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