I picked up this, the 17th of Lee Child's Jack Reacher novels, at an opportune time. I had become morosely tired of stories that wandered all over creation as seen through the eyes of a myriad of characters. Child's story unfolds in a straight-forward, chapter by chapter linear fashion full of building suspense. I have not always enjoyed Jack Reacher as a character. He seems so unique as to be bizarre. He hitch-hikes his way across the American heartland without a suitcase or even backpack. Every three days or so, he buys a new set of clothes and discards those that are soiled. Cheaper he believes than paying the rent or mortgage on a house. But I have to admit, Reacher has grown on me. In this story, Reacher, a discharged military policeman nursing a broken nose, is picked up on an interstate by a car with three occupants heading for Chicago. One is driving. Another tells stories that don't add up. A woman in the back seems worried. Something is not right. Like other stories Jack Reacher is heading to some unidentified rendezvous with someone—or perhaps he is not—perhaps he is just on the go. And like the few other stories I have read in this series, the drama takes place in wide open spaces where towns are few. In this case, Nebraska and neighboring states. The car and its occupants leave behind a man stabbed to death at an old pumping station. Within minutes the local sheriff, a good man, arrives. Soon the FBI in the person of Julia Sorenson, a 20 year veteran of the service, arrives. Her interaction later in the story with Jack Reacher proves quite interesting. As with others in this series one wonders if Reacher is averse to romance...with this one finally be his undoing or renewal. Other agencies also figure in the puzzling raises a myriad red herrings. This was altogether a good read, although Reacher's prowess seemed a bit over the top. But I got a bit tired of the story at the end. However, I defy anyone to guess the ending. The author, Lee Child, is an interesting character on his own. He is really Jim Grant who was let go by a television channel in England in 1995. Since that event, he has remade him becoming an extremely successful writer of thrillers.

This book is fantastic...I could NOT put it down.

Jack Reacher returns in the A Wanted Man - the 17th entry in this series by Lee Child. And did I mention - one of my favourite characters and series! Reacher is former military police. These days he criss-crosses the country, going where the wind blows, no home and no baggage. But trouble? Well, it seems to find Reacher no matter where he is. And with his unerring moral compass, he can't help it - he steps up and steps in.... This time he's hitch hiking in Nebraska. No one is stopping for him -the busted up face and the sheer mass of him puts people off. But then someone does stop and it looks like he's got a ride to Virginia with the two men and the woman in the car. (faithful readers will remember the voice on the other end of the phone that he wants to meet....) But Reacher's radar is alerted - something just doesn't seem quite right in the car....and what about the two roadblocks they drive through...... The first third of A Wanted Man is slower than previous novels. I liked how Reacher came his conclusion that something was wrong in the car. I enjoyed being privy to his thoughts on how and what he was going to do. There's not as much physical action in this book as previous books, although the run up to the end is good and fulfills the kick ass Reacher quotient. Child inserts a good twist, just to keep us on our toes....and makes you wonder about the alphabet agencies and their agendas. Lee Child has created a character that appeals to all readers, men and women. He's the quintessential hard boiled hero. No backing down, his own set of morals and tough as nails. He has a firm moral compass, carefully delineated lines on what's right and wrong, but has no problem using questionable methods to get to the bottom of things. He's big, strong, smart and....well.... kinda sexy too. There have been quite a few readers who really truly disliked this book. I'm not one of them. It's different, but for me it was still a really good read. Reacher Creatures can rejoice - the 18th book is in the works and to quote Child.... .... "I have started work on next year's installment, titled "Never Go Back" Reacher finally makes it to Virginia and meets Susan Turner...but as you might imagine, he also runs into a world of trouble there. Let's hope he survives."