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Lunch » Tags » Books » Reviews » The Affair: A Reacher Novel (Jack Reacher) » User review

I could never get into this one...

  • Oct 23, 2011
Rating:
+2
Normally, a new Jack Reacher novel by Lee Child has me counting the days before it comes in at the library. That was the case with his latest novel, The Affair, but unfortunately this one didn't click for me. I don't really know what it was or why I felt that way, but I couldn't get drawn in and absorbed like I normally do.

The story moves back to his Army days, the times when he still had a place he considered "home." He's sent out to a small town near an Army base to investigate the killing of a woman. There's a strong likelihood that the death was caused by someone on the base, and he's supposed to work in conjunction with another investigator to figure out if there's any substance to the allegations. Of course, sending Reacher in undercover to get a feel for the town and manage the locals isn't a great idea, as he's not exactly inconspicuous. He's made quickly by the town sheriff, who takes more than a professional interest in him. She's got a murky background that also seems to play into the current investigation, but Reacher may not be entirely rational when it comes to believing her story and assessing her involvement. When the Army decides to consider the case "closed" and orders Reacher back to base, he decides that he'd rather disobey orders and find out the truth rather than cover it up. That doesn't set well with some powerful political leaders who are not adverse to silencing Reacher in whatever way is necessary.

As I mentioned above, this installment never hooked me like other ones have. Reacher was Reacher, with his ability to track time without a clock, anticipate actions, and dish out major bodily harm when necessary. Maybe it was the investigation into the local deaths and whether they had ties to anyone at the base. It seemed as if the investigation kept circling over the same facts, and the linkage to the base remained somewhat murky for a long time. When the plot started to approach the climax, I didn't much care what happened by that time. When I hit the last page, my first thought was... meh.

I realize that many others thought this one was excellent according to the Amazon reviews. Maybe if I read it over again, I'd feel different now that I know the context (and the ending). Your mileage may (and probably will) vary, but for me this was simply average.

Disclosure:
Obtained From: Library
Payment: Borrowed

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More The Affair: A Reacher Novel (J... reviews
review by . February 21, 2012
posted in Cafe Libri: Reviewing Books & More
A new beginning for Reacher in:
   It began long ago in the multiple award winning debut novel Killing Floor. 16 novels later the backstory of why Jack Reacher, US Army MP, left the service is finally told in The Affair.   It is 1997 and there is a problem in Mississippi. Somebody killed the very beautiful 27 year old Janice May Chapman in Carter Crossing. The problem for the military is the fact that quite possibly somebody from the nearby army base, Fort Kelhem, might be involved. Army Rangers, two different …
review by . February 21, 2012
It began long ago in the multiple award winning debut novel Killing Floor. 16 novels later the backstory of why Jack Reacher, US Army MP, left the service is finally told in The Affair.    It is 1997 and there is a problem in Mississippi. Somebody killed the very beautiful 27 year old Janice May Chapman in Carter Crossing. The problem for the military is the fact that quite possibly somebody from the nearby army base, Fort Kelhem, might be involved. Army Rangers, two different …
review by . January 25, 2012
Lee Child steps back into Jack Reacher's early history to tell this story.      It's 1997 and Reacher is still in the military. He's a major in the military police and goes where he's ordered.   He's sent to Carter Crossing, Mississippi, to be undercover and monitor the official investigation of a woman who was murdered. The crime was comitted outside Ft. Kelham, a U.S. Ranger base where there is a top secret operation under way. Randers are being …
see all The Affair: A Reacher Novel (J... reviews (4)
About the reviewer
Thomas Duff ()
Ranked #48
Thomas Duff, aka "Duffbert", is a long-time member of the Lotus community. He's primarily focused on the development side of the Notes/Domino environment, currently working for a large insurance … more
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About this book

Wiki

Praise for #1 bestselling author Lee Child and his Reacher series
 
“Child is a superb craftsman of suspense.”—Entertainment Weekly
 
“The truth about Reacher gets better and better.”—Janet Maslin,The New York Times
 
“Implausible, irresistible Reacher remains just about the best butt-kicker in thriller-lit.”—Kirkus Reviews
 
“Like his hero Jack Reacher, Lee Child seems to make no wrong steps.”—Associated Press
 
“Lee Child [is] the current poster-boy of American crime fiction.”—Los Angeles Times
 
“Indisputably the best escape artist in this escapist genre.”—Marilyn Stasio,The New York Times
 
“Jack Reacher is much more like the heir to the Op and Marlowe than Spenser ever was.”—Esquire
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Details

ISBN-10: 0385344325
ISBN-13: 978-0385344326
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Publisher: Delacorte Press

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"I could never get into this one..."
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