Never Go Back

Picks up where "A Wanted Man" leaves off. Yes, throughout the earlier novel, Jack Reacher is trying to hitch a ride to Virginia, but never gets further than Iowa. In this book he makes it, and he gets into hotter water than he was in in the Midwest, if that is possible. As in "Deep Down," we get a glimpse of Reacher's old life in the military, but this time it's not a recounting of those days but a misguided attempt on Reacher's part to go home. "Never Go Back" is Reacher's version of "You Can't Go Home Again," sort of.

Cleverly written as always. You never know where Child and Reacher are going until they get there. For example, why does Reacher become so interested in whether or not Major Susan Turner's new JAG lawyer is white and show more male? Is it some kind of out-of-character racism/sexism on Reacher's part? Nope. But I'm not going to spoil it for you here.

What does Reacher mean when he talks about alternative ATMs? Why does he expect to find them near Union Station in D.C. or in the middle of wild and wonderful West Virginia? Intriguing questions to which Child has answers.

My favorite development here is that even though Reacher has become a drifter with no responsibilities, once he finds himself as the ranking officer and there is no one else to make life-and-death command decisions, Reacher makes those decisions; it's as if he never left his old high-pressure job.

An issue that Child explores more than usual is that of whether Reacher is an uncivilized savage. Major Turner at first asks whether Reacher is "feral." Eventually, however, she notices two things about Reacher that she finds redeeming: 1) He has a strong sense of right and wrong, and 2) he cares about the innocent. Indeed, almost uncharacteristically, Reacher himself doesn't kill anybody in the course of this novel--albeit, he does torture a few bad guys. Ironically, it is the relatively fastidious Turner who ends up shooting a man to death. She tries to talk to Reacher about it, but he declines to do more than listen. "You don't do counseling?" she says in mock surprise. He doesn't, he says; so Turner allows that it is a good thing she is tough and able to handle these things on her own.

Another novelty of this story is that Reacher is told early on that he has a daughter that he didn't know about. At first skeptical, when he eventually meets the teen, he comes to like the idea of being a daddy, even though he won't admit it to anyone. Conclusion: Reacher has to work at not seeming as civilized as he actually is. show less

Over the course of seventeen books, Jack Reacher has thwarted assassination attempts, tracked serial killers, and solved seemingly insoluble crimes. Never Go Back turns him into a fugitive from justice, entangled by shadowy-but-powerful enemies in the legal repercussions of long-ago events of which he has no memory. Aided by a fellow fugitive, Reacher must simultaneously evade his pursuers (legal and extra-legal), and unravel the criminal conspiracy he was framed in order to protect.

The dual-stranded plot works well enough on its own terms, but it does not serve Reacher, as a character, especially well. There is little opportunity for his investigative skills to come into play, and much of the plot is resolved by good (sometimes show more improbably good) luck or the actions of others. His talent for violence is also underused, since his near-effortless defeat of two goons in an early scene diminishes the threat they subsequently pose. When the climax of the story arrives, Reacher is more an observer than a participant. It makes sense in context, which a different ending with a more activist role for Reacher would not have, but it fails to satisfy.

All that said, the book has numerous pleasures to offer longtime fans of Child, Reacher, and the series: a tautly written escape scene, nifty descriptions of man-on-the-run tradecraft, and a scene in an LA diner that resolves a key plot thread in a refreshingly un-cliched way. The inevitable coda, in which Reacher parts ways with his latest lover, has a poignant quality that (for such an unemotional character) is unexpectedly moving. Together these scenes make the Never Go Back worthwhile, and reassure readers that, eighteen books in, Lee Child has yet to sink into the comfortable embrace of formula. show less

First off-Tom Cruise IS NOT Jack Reacher. Get that image out of your head before you even start reading. Then Reacher can look like you want him to in your mind's eye.
This time around, Reacher is going back home to the 110th MP Special Unit to visit their current commander, a lady major he only knows by phone. Once at HQ, he finds Major Turner is under arrest for bribery and Reacher is wanted for a 16 yr old homicide and a paternity suit. He's also subject to being called back in reserve status. Along with this, he finds himself in constant conflict with Col. Morgan, the current CO. Oh, and somebody beat Turner's lawyer into a coma after he refused Reacher's requests at a breakfast meeting. Reacher could be in trouble--with the army, DC show more police, FBI, and the bad guys all looking for him.

This is the set-up for a mystery that takes Reacher from Washington DC to West Virginia to Pittsburgh to LA and back again. All the while, he's aware that the problem also extends to the hills of Afghanistan.

As always, there are bad guys galore. The ringleaders are a pair who call themselves Romeo and Juliet and they have a squad of 4 hitmen trying to stop Reacher as he tries to unravel the story of Big Dog and the identity of Sam Dayton.

There are the requisite fights as Reacher tries to stay one jump ahead of the hit team, while trying to take them out at the same time. In West Virginia, a fire at a meth lab brings him into conflict with the Claughton Clan (who've been in Grant County for 300 years). The flight from Pennsylvania to California contains some classic Reacher moments.

This is among the best of Reacher's adventures. Implacable, seemingly untouchable enemies with an extensive network; a mystery at the highest levels of the Army and the federal government coupled with mysteries that affect Reacher ersonally; a beautiful, resourceful heroine who is every bit Reacher's equal-all ingredients of a top flight adventure. Highly recommended. show less

The next Jack Reacher novel is here, and it is still a great ride. I like that he's a thinker, and can keep multiple issues/projects going at once. And can do it on very little sleep, which is a good thing in this book. If he's sleeping, know that either the phone is going to ring or someone is about to pound on the door.

I like the Reacher novels for various reasons, and this one is just as satisfactory. Reacher has a pretty clear idea of right and wrong, is on the side of good, and notices the little people along the way. The writing can be laugh out loud funny, even if it's just a commentary on a motel clerk. The chapters finish with a great lead into the next scene so it's addictive and so very hard to put down and resist. Sure, some show more of the plots are a bit convoluted, and some of the things he gets away with are a tad far fetched. Cars are stolen, people are beat up, but as Harry Tasker said in True Lies "Yeah, but they were all bad". At the end of the book, I would be comforted to know there are men in the world who fight to make things right and protect the innocent the way Jack Reacher does. And it's just so much fun to see what he's going to think of next. show less

This might only be a 4-1/2 star book, but I have to give it full marks because the writing is just so enjoyable. [I will add some passages below.] I thought that Reacher and Turner and Samantha shared a lot of the same voice, probably too much, but I could live with that. And maybe the 50-50 coin flip got a bit old as well, but I could live with that.

I am basically amazed at how well Lee Child nails the US military jargon, the geography, the mannerisms and idiosyncrasies of Americans and so on. At least it seems spot-on to me.

Another great one. Read it!

**********

[Reacher’s Lawyer] You broke out of jail."
[Reacher] "That’s not allowed anymore?"

**********

[Bad Guy No.1] "I have some very bad news."
[Bad Guy No.2] "Does it relate in any show more way to Baldaeci using his credit card at a car rental called Cool Al's?"
[Bad Guy No.1] "What kind of Al's?"
[Bad Guy No.2] "It’s a West Coast thing. What happened?"
[Bad Guy No.1] "Reacher got to them on the plane. He put them out of action and stole their wallets."
[Bad Guy No.2] "On the plane?"
[Bad Guy No.1] "He broke Lozano’s fingers and Baldacci’s arms and no one noticed."
[Bad Guy No.2] "That's not possible."
[Bad Guy No.1] "Apparently it is. One against two, on an airplane, with a hundred witnesses. It's a blatant humiliation. And now he's renting cars on our dime? Who does this guy think he is?"

Reacher thought he was a bad driver.

**********

[Turner] "Knowing what Edmonds can or can't get won’t help us with them."
[Reacher] "It's tactically crucial." Reacher said. "Like in the field manual. We have to assess whether they need to retain unimpaired cognitive function for future interrogation."
[Turner] "That’s not in the field manual."
[Reacher] "Maybe they cleaned it up."

**********

[Reacher] "Is the Metro PD dropping out now?"
[Reacher’s Lawyer] "No. You fled after a lawful police challenge."
[Reacher] "That’s not allowed anymore?" show less

Reacher is back! In the last installment, Reacher was replaced with a chatty, judgmental jerk, but in Never Go Back Lee Child returns to the taciturn and pedantic character we all love. In this installment, Reacher goes back to his old unit to meet the commanding officer he has only spoken to on the phone only to find that she has been arrested for taking a bribe. What's more, he is also being prosecuted for killing a guy sixteen years ago and is told to run away or else. If you've ever read a book about Jack Reacher, you can probably guess how he reacted.

What follows is the usual fun romp in which Reacher is always a half step ahead of the bad guys. Really, the series is fantastic, especially when you want something purely escapist to show more take your mind off of things. They do follow a formula, but it's a fun one. This time it has Reacher endlessly calculating his odds of success and, in a fun twist, encountering a teenage girl who is eerily similar to himself. Thank you, Mr Child, for getting rid of that cranky, pontificating clone and returning the real deal to the series. show less

This was my first 'Jack Reacher' read and it was a great romp! The character Child creates is quirky, and a bit strange, but he is almost always right in his assessments of people, motives, actions, results, timing, and conclusions. He sees what others fail to notice and he makes decisions based on a deep and wide knowledge and experience of just about everything. Reacher is a well-attuned student of human nature. Also, he is prepared for anything that comes his way and is ruthless in ensuring he neutralizes whatever bad-ass crosses his path, a real mensch. Child draws a very original and intriguing character who pulls you into his world and who causes you to pay attention, because the roller coaster ride is guaranteed to be fun! The show more dialogue is great throughout and the action is fast and relentless with the reader looking forward to the next brilliant solution for the next confrontation. My first stop is the local bookstore to stock up on the previous adventures I have missed! show less