Rating: 
Summary: Reader's Dilemma!
Review: Okay, I've just finished this fourth entry in the Jack Reacher series, and I'm in a quandary. First and foremost, Lee Child is a very good writer, and although this one moves a little slower than its predecessors, it still maintained my interest---and also "riled me up" a little. I think Mr. Child definitely has a poor opinion of the FBI. This is the third of the series that has some really nasty FBI agents---bribing, blackmailing, insinuating absurdities, and even more! (If you've read the previous three, you will know what I mean!). The plot is great; the killer's m.o. is quite unusual and even if really far-fetched, works in that the reader never knows how the victims died! However, I must admit, that I had the killer figured out very early. Oh, yes, Lee did try to throw us some red herrings (including the enigmatic appearance of an Army chaplain, who comes out of nowhere, and disappears back, without any explanation!). And maybe I'm getting old fashioned, but come on, Jack. You have turned into a really self-centered, insensitive, self-pitying moron who refuses, yes REFUSES, to live in a civilized, realistic world. I know many readers think that Jack's meandering all over the globe makes him a free spirit, an independent guy, no chains to hold him down. It also makes him shallow and annoying. He says he loves Jodie--bull, Jack. You love the sex you have with her. If you really loved her, would you be so enamored with FBI agent Lisa Harper? And all this gobbledygook about commitments and normal living, it's just more self-centered crap focusing on your inability to live in a real world. And Child should be chastised for making Jodie the culprit in the end of the book. Oh, Jack, I had really started to like you, but even in "Tripwire," I started seeing a side of you that made me respect and enjoy you less and less. You are a great detective, a remarkable physical presence, but society doesn't need guys who take the law into their own hands without any moral ramifications, and a man who uses women for his immediate pleasure but just can't bring himself to face the truth that he isn't worth their time. Now, with that out of my system, it's still an entertaining read, but I don't think I'll venture along with Jack any further. I enjoy escapist entertainment, after all, that's what it's all about. But don't give me a hero who breaks all the rules and invites us to see him as a hero. Goodbye, Jack!
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Summary: Jack Reacher Returns
Review: The latest book in the Jack Reacher novels, Lee Child has penned an enjoyable thriller. Ex-MP Reacher, although he was blackmailed by the FBI into taking the job, finds that his hunt for the vicious serial killer of young women who were at one time enlisted in the US Army, is a job he is more than qualified to undertake. Well developed characters, and what seems like behind-the-scenes knowledge of the subject matter make this an entertaining read.
Rating: 
Summary: An Exciting, Well-Done Thriller
Review: I have now read all of the Jack Reacher novels by Lee Child and I believe this one to be the best of them all. Not that it doesn't have flaws - some of the activities carried out by the FBI are pretty questionable, Reacher at times approaches super-human in his skills, and there are probably a few too many red herrings and digressions. Nevertheless, for what it is, this is an extremely fast-moving and exciting thriller. It is genuinely hard to put down and the ending will likely surprise you (though admittedly a careful reader will probably see it coming; there are clues aplenty). Child plays fair, however, and you buy the whole thing. I do wish Child's novels "reached" (pun intended) a wider audience; he is a good writer who has created an interesting and charismatic character. This book is well worth your time.
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Summary: Running Blind runs wild.....
Review: This book had me guessing until the end. I have a couple of sticking points that bothered me however. One was how vicious the FBI treats Jack at the end. It was way over the top in my opinion and the bit about the priest that makes an appearance towards the end is never really explained. I don't want to add anything else that may spoil the book for anyone. Aside from those two things I would recommend this book. I like the character of Jack Reacher, he always stays so calm and cool. Definitely worth the price. Ree-views
Rating:
Summary: Unrealistic to the extreme
Review: I'm a huge fan of the Jack Reacher series, but this book falls far short of par for the course. The love interests are muddled, the story line is slow, and the charcters have no depth. Add to that the fact that the FBI is seen breaking the law several times and Reacher accepts all of this with impotent calm. If you're a fan, read it, but don't expect much.
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Summary: EX-MILITARY POLICEMAN, JACK REACHER, IS BACK IN ACTION!
Review: RUNNING BLIND, the newest novel by Lee Child, continues the saga of ex-military policeman and drifter, Jack Reacher. But wait! Reacher has settled down in this book. He now owns a house, a four-wheel-drive vehicle, and has the undying love of attorney, Jodie Garber, who fans will remember from TRIPWIRE. Is this our hero? Is this the life he was cut out for? Maybe not. Anyway, things kind of get disrupted in Reacher's life when the FBI suddenly pull him in for questioning with regards to the deaths of three ladies, each of whom was mysteriously murdered and left in a bathtub of green paint. The ladies had two things in common with each other. All three were involved in sexual harassment cases while still in the Army, and each knew Jack Reacher. One of the FBI agents, Julia Lamarr, thinks that the killer's profile matches Reacher to a T. If he isn't the serial killer, then it is someone like him with a military background. The FBI believes that the killer will continue his spree of perfect crimes, unless Reacher agrees to help. The only problem is that when Reacher finally joins the hunt, the Feds choose to ignore his advise. He doesn't think that it is a soldier, but they don't want to hear that. When another lady dies, Reacher knows that he must find the killer himself, or it simply won't get done. While he is visiting crime scenes and talking to potential victims, Reacher is also trying to decide the future of his relationship with Jodie. Does he want to remain a "settled" individual, or does he want to get back on the road again? The first half of RUNNING BLIND started off like a heat-seeking missile, but by the last quarter it kind of fizzled out for me. If the reader follows Reacher's advise about looking for motive and who has the most to gain, they will figure out who the killer is long before the FBI does. Mr. Child does throw a number of "red herrings" into the mix, trying to redirect the reader's attention from who the real killer is. One of the "red herrings" more or less appears from out of nowhere, then disappears, and is never fully explained to my satisfaction. It was something I didn't appreciate on Mr. Child's part. Also, I didn't quite buy the method the killer uses to murder his victims. I have heard of death occurring in that particular manner, but I just couldn't see using it to kill four different people. It seemed far-fetched to me. Finally, I felt that RUNNING BLIND didn't have enough action on Reacher's part, and that the ending was a simply a little too weak. Now, I'll say this. Mr. Child's first book, KILLING FLOOR, was one of the best debut novels I have ever read, and I still highly recommend to friends and strangers. His last three books, however, have not been in the same league as the first, which I find disappointing. DIE TRYING, TRIPWIRE and RUNNING BLIND are good reads, and I know that Mr. Child is certainly trying to write as good a novel as possible with each succeeding one. I wish he could just write another one as "GREAT" as KILLING FLOOR.
Rating:
Summary: Running on empty
Review: The fourth book in the Reacher series lacks the action, pacing and plausibilty of the earlier novels. A careful reader sees the ending coming long before one should. Like Reacher, the book feels burdened by house, girlfriend and responsibility. Put him back on the road, before he stops being as entertaining as he was in the earlier books.
Rating:
Summary: Murder most complex
Review: As an avid fan of Lee Child's novels I leapt on this as soon as it came to my attention. Fortunately my enthusiasm was not without warrant. The plot is slightly more complex than the other 3 Reacher novels as it continues switching between characters throughout the story, however the twists and turns more than make up for this. The basic solution to the mystery comes early on in the novel although it's easy to miss, but when it sunk in a part of me wanted to turn straight to the back page of the book to see if I was right,(instead I called my father who'd bought me the book but sneaked a read first. Parents! ). Fortunately the truly genius twist had eluded me and I was forced to stay awake until 3 in the morning, determined to get the answer before sleep claimed my energy. Reacher's character is as usual, very much a 'don't mess kinda guy' and this can wear thin at times as he can be a little bit too incredible on occaision. HOWEVER, if you can suspend disbelief for just a while then the book is as thoroughly enjoyable as you could hope for, with gang warfare, invisible assasins and continuous murder, mystery and suspense. I'm now looking forward to the next one in the hope that mr child serves up more of the same
Rating: 
Summary: He's Reached the end...
Review: I enjoyed the previous Jack Reacher books - except for the author's irritating use of the word "guy". The plots were intricate, yet (almost) believable. Good movie material. This one, however, was stupid. OK, I'm not a citizen of the U.S.A., and in fact I have never been there. But really - the F.B.I. threatening and blackmailing Reacher? the F.B.I. shredding the Constitution in order to compel one retired MP into helping them? No. Never. Not in a thousand years. Child, it seems, has Reached the end of Reacher. The plot's flimsy, the story's unbelievable, the writing... Childish.
Rating:
Summary: More of a whodunnit than usual
Review: Jack Reacher usually is a bit more physical than in this novel. Instead of busting heads, he's really figuring out a mystery. I'm not complaining though, I raced through this book as quickly as the 3 earlier Reacher books. I'm glad to see that author Lee Child figured out a logical way to get Reacher back out in the world and having adventures. At the end of the last book it looked like he might be stuck in a bucolic country life with his new girl friend. Fat chance! I personally hope the business of Reacher vs. the Feds doesn't continue into other books, though. I think that's a bit overdone, the evil feebs who will stop at nothing to protect their agency. Summary: buy this book and enjoy!
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