Book Review: 61 Hours by Lee Child

Lee Child has been producing high quality fiction for several years. Each time he is published, I quickly get myself to the bookstore and buy the new work. It is that good. I was excited about the publication of 61 Hours for several reasons, not the least of which is that it is the 14th installment in the Jack Reacher Series of books that include such titles as Killing Floor, Die Trying, and Tripwire to name a few.

I will make every attempt to not be a spoiler--I hate when someone spoils a good book for me. This book starts fast and moves at a nice good clip throughout.  The book starts with a crash--literally.  Reacher is on a bus headed west when the bus skids across the road and crashes in the snow.  He finds himself helping the others on the bus and then after everyone is evacuateed to the nearest town he quickly becomes involved in the local drama.  Reacher is an ex military policemen who seems to have a nose for trouble and a way of solving problems when no one else can.  The small town is beset by a Mexican Meth cartel that is not only putting the people in the town in serious danger but they are threatining Reacher's safety also.  After several chapters getting around the town, Reacher begins to put the pieces together and doesn't like what he sees.  He spends the rest of the book figuring out how to take down the vicious cartel with limited weapons, assistance and a whole lot of smarts.  Great book, fantastic pacing, a definite home run by Lee Child.  Can't wait for the next Reacher novel. 

 This is a quick history on Jack Reacher in case you haven't read any of the books.  An ex military cop whose career in the military had many ups and downs based on his absolute unwillingness to protect bad people who had done bad things--even if they were his superiors, Jack Reacher retired from the military and now roams the country.  He refuses to own more than one set of clothes--when the ones he is wearing get old, he just throws them away and buys some more.  Because he is homeless by choice, he often gets hassled by local cops.  Each Reacher novel takes place in a different area of the country with most being based in a small town.  A good man with a willingness to perpetrate violence on those who harm the innocent and defenseless, Reacher often contacts old military buddies to get intel that he needs.  Lee Child does a masterful job with pacing and the overall tension in the Reacher novels.  Read any one of them and you will be hooked.