Saturday 2 November 2019

Blue Moon - Lee Child - Jack Reacher Book 24

Blue Moon
Jack Reacher Book 24
Lee Child
Penguin Random House Canada
ISBN 9780399593543
eISBN 9780399593550
ASIN B07NCNVZ5P


Over a six month period earlier this year I read the 29 other Reacher novels and short stories. And then I had to wait for this latest one to release. It was worth the wait. It all started by chance I was picking up the then current release because the description caught my attention when I was looking at it as a gift for my father. That first one, Past Tense, was great and many since have been excellent reads. And this one is one of my favourites.

In some ways this is a modernization of Last Man Standing starring Bruce Willis or Fistful of Dollars with Clint Eastwood. The story begins with Reacher riding a bus. He sees a young thug planning to rob an older man. Reacher being Reacher steps in and does something about it. In helping out the old man, a mister Aaron Shevick. After saving Shevick he helps him to an appointment to pay a loan shark. Soon Reacher has the lay of the land, and is determined to help the Shevick’s.

The town of nearly a half million inhabitants is split nearly down the middle. The Ukrainians run the west of centre and the Albanians run east of centre. But sometimes things do not go according to plan. And with the help of a petite waitress and some of her friends maybe Reacher can turn the tables. This story is high in action. Slim on the sex scenes. And Reacher ends up building a crew that includes some ex-military.

The story involves a sick woman, her concerned parents. And some people who are tired of living under the thumb of criminals. Reacher does what he does best and knocks some heads, and takes out some trash. And along the way the two sides get played against each other. The Reacher we encounter this book is edgier and darker than many of the previous offerings. He does give a few bad guys a chance but there is a turning point where he will settle for nothing less than taking them all down. 

Reacher seems to becoming more fatalistic as he ages. And He is also more direct. More direct in his attacks and in delivering damage once he has decided that is the route to go. It will be interesting to see what happens next and how Reacher handles it. 

On a side note I can’t wait to see what Diane Capri does in her Hunt for Reacher series. How will Otto and Gaspar debrief the characters from this story. 

The Reacher novels are great reads during my commute to work. They can be read early morning or after a stressful day. They are entertaining, fast paced and always interesting. A good read in a fun series. One of my favourites. 

Books by Lee Child:
Jack Reacher Books Publishing Order:

Killing Floor
Die Trying
Tripwire
The Visitor /Running Blind
Echo Burning
Without Fail
Persuader
The Enemy
One Shot
The Hard Way
Bad Luck and Trouble
Nothing to Lose
Gone Tomorrow
61 Hours
Worth Dying For
The Affair
A Wanted Man
Never Go Back
Personal
Make Me
Night School
The Midnight Line
Past Tense
Blue Moon

The Sentinel Jack Reacher's Rules
...

Reacher Short Stories and Novella’s:
No Middle Name – Complete Collected Short Stories
Stories in No Middle Name Collection:
Too Much Time
Second Son
Deep Down
Guy Walks into A Bar
James Penney’s New Identity
High Heat
Everyone Talks
Not A Drill
Small Wars
Maybe They Have A Tradition

No Room At The Motel
The Picture of the Lonely Diner

Other Short Stories:
The Fourth Man
The Christmas Scorpion
...
Faking a Murderer with Kathy Reichs
Cleaning the Gold with Karin Slaughter
Good and Valuable Consideration with Joseph Finder
...

Other Books by Lee Child
The Hero
Jack Reacher: A Mysterious Profile
...



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