| Product: |
Die Trying - Lee Child |
| Date: |
25/06/01 (72 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Excellent story, Great Writing Style
Disadvantages: It Ends
This is the second book in the Jack Reacher series. I picked it up after reading the Visitor and I think it is probably a better read which is no mean feat. Again the book can be read with no prior knowledge of Jack Reacher. I felt that I gained a little by having read another book but there is no way that you have to read these books sequentially.
This time Reacher stumbles on a kidnapping and ends up getting taken as an additional hostage. He soon realises that his fellow hostage may be more valuable than he first thought and he begins to uncover the bigger picture. In his favour is the fact that his captors think he is an average club bouncer/doorman but how long can he keep his past hidden?
I think that my favourite thing about Child's writing is the way he releases facts slowly so that you can constantly think about what is coming up. The pace of the book is quick so it is almost the perfect balance.
Again Child comes across as being a very knowledgeable writer. He goes into technical detail when it is needed and this helped greatly when you are trying to picture some of the weapons the characters were using.
As an author he does not mess about. There is no padding of the story. The book begins at the start of the kidnapping and very little unnecessary detail is included. For a book that is over 500 pages that is quite impressive.
This novel is written in the third person which is very effective. This helps him to build up the character of Reacher but he is also able to set the scene perfectly. There is one part of the story where Reacher is trapped in a tight space, I almost felt claustrophobic reading it, Child describes scenes that vividly.
He is also a master at dropping in little facts and quirks which add greatly to the story. He also goes for the tried and trusted formula. Throw in a bit of romance a few twists and you will please the majority of readers. I think his writing is mo
re suited to the male market but similar to Patricia Cornwell both sexes could read and enjoy the material.
It is always the sign of a good book when you are eager to read it again and anytime I forgot to bring it with me when I had a few spare minutes I was genuinely annoyed. It is hard to see how Child could write a bad book as his style is so easy to read and the level of detail is excellent.
There must be film deals in the pipeline for Child. I have been trying to think of an actor to play Reacher. Harrison Ford was the one that kept springing to mind but I think that was the Jack Ryan character I was thinking of. Ford is probably too old now but I would be curious to see if other people have thought about this.
I am now moving on to Killing Floor which is the first book in the Reacher series. They are a bargain and can be picked up at WH Smith online for £4.79.
Summary:
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