Persuader (Jack Reacher 7) by Lee Child | Book Review

Jack Reacher.

The ultimate loner.

An elite ex-military cop who left the service years ago, he’s moved from place to place…without family…without possessions…without commitments.

And without fear. Which is good, because trouble–big, violent, complicated trouble–finds Reacher wherever he goes. And when trouble finds him, Reacher does not quit, not once…not ever.

But some unfinished business has now found Reacher. And Reacher is a man who hates unfinished business.

Ten years ago, a key investigation went sour and someone got away with murder. Now a chance encounter brings it all back. Now Reacher sees his one last shot. Some would call it vengeance. Some would call it redemption. Reacher would call it…justice.

How was it?

The seventh book in Lee Child’s Jack Reacher series kicks off with a bang – literally. The story screeches in with some action right from the start, pulling readers into the chaos before offering any explanations. I was thrown by some of what was happening in that opening scene. It was a smart move that set the tone for a relentless, twisty thriller that managed to hold my attention from beginning to end. I kept questioning and speculating about everything that was going on, and yet I was more surprised here than any other Reacher books that I’ve read so far.

One of the things I find interesting in this book is how it grounds Reacher in the era it was written. His uncertainty with emails, for example, is a subtle but telling reminder of the early 2000s – a marker of time that adds a bit of charm to his otherwise tough-as-nails persona.

The plot revolves around unfinished business from Reacher’s past, resurfacing through a chance encounter. This setup gives us a gripping combination of vengeance and justice, wrapped in Reacher’s signature approach – uncompromising, strategic, and ruthless. What stands out here is the back-and-forth narrative between the present-day operation and the dark incident that happened ten years earlier. The back-and-forth kept me on edge, it was slowly unraveling the mystery of what went wrong in the past while Reacher tackled the present-day threat. Although both have dark moments, the past incident is really the one that F’d me up because at some point in the book I didn’t want to know the details. But ultimately, the back-and-forth structure worked well in heightening the tension and tying together the plot.

There’s a lot of darkness hinted at in Persuader – disturbing acts and messed-up goons that push Reacher’s moral boundaries. These elements give the story an edge that makes it one of the grittier entries I’ve read. It’ll be interesting to see how these darker themes are adapted into season 3 of Reacher, especially since some of the hinted atrocities might not make it to the screen.

Overall, Persuader is a tightly wound, action-packed thriller that delivers classic Jack Reacher. With intense action, a gritty narrative, and a well-paced mystery, this book showcases everything fans love about the series. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to Reacher’s world, this entry is a must-read.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

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