Die Trying (Jack Reacher, No. 2)

Definitely not Killing Floor
My first impression found no first person narrative, which I enjoyed in the first novel. The over use of "right?" and the shrugging made everyone seem like they had the same "acting coach." The FBI guys were interchangable for the first 3/4 of the book, and the female lead was fantastically annoying. In short, there was way too much "everyone else" and too little Reacher. Certain high tension moments in the book were totally unbelieveable (lasers from the sky ruse, and the gun to the chest). I really enjoyed the first book but found this story a severe disappointment.

Very pleased with seller.
The book came in good shape and was here in just a matter of day. I would buy with them again.

"Die Trying" lives
This is about the fourth Reacher book that I've read and I enjoyed it about as much as any. At the beginning and well into the book the reader is kept in the dark about what is really going on. Then, when the reader is allowed in on the real plot, it becomes a real adventure. Since we know that there are subsequent Reacher books, we know that Reacher is going to live. For a time, however, this is somewhat doubtful. There's a lot of action, the usual love interest, some pretty good people and some real doofuses involved. Oh, and some real evil, too.

Exciting
As with all the Jack Reacher novels, this, too, is well written and keeps your interest. Good job Mr. Child!

Good, fun, action tale for some tough guy escapism reading
"Die Trying" by Lee Child is his second Jack Reacher novel, and it's a fast paced, tough, entertaining story of the capable hero who just happens to be at the wrong place at the right time. Or maybe he was in the right place at the right time to become entangled in an adventure as he is kidnapped with an attractive female FBI agent.

The tale has enough twists and turns along with good action sequences to keep you entertained and engaged throughout the book. Former Army MP, Jack Reacher, is definitely a tough guy, and he definitely has a knack for getting involved when he senses something isn't right. Fortunately, he has the strength, brains, and skills to make things right - his way. A way that often leaves bodies laying cold on the ground. Naturally the kidnapping is much more than a simple kidnap for ransom demand. The plot twists around to a much larger conspiracy.

Coming from Montana, I enjoyed some of the local references, just as I enjoyed the entire book. I like Child's writing and the Jack Reacher series is a fun action filled escapism type of read. I don't analyze each and every tactic, nor do I look for inaccuracies and so forth. I read Child's Jack Reacher books for one reason, and that's because they are fun tough guy stories. Reacher is tough and his adventures are entertaining. I liked this one a bit more than the first, probably because of the Montana setting and the use of the sniper rifles. Good, fun, action tale for some tough guy escapism reading.

Reviewed by Alain Burrese, J.D., author of Hard-Won Wisdom From the School of Hard Knocks and the dvds: Hapkido Hoshinsul, Streetfighting Essentials, Hapkido Cane, the Lock On Joint Locking Essentials series and articles including a regular column on negotiation for The Montana Lawyer. Alain Also wrote a series of articles called Lessons From The Apprentice.