So while I am supposed to be reading Kate Mosse’s Sepulchre (I am about halfway through), I couldn’t resist whizzing through Lee Child’s latest Jack Reacher thriller Nothing To Lose. Now, as yiou may know, I am a big Reacher fan and this book, whilst not quite at the same level of excitement and intrigue, certainly did not let me down. I still found myself wanting to read on through to the end without stopping which is a satisfying feeling after you have been trudging through a book like I am walking through treacle. I don’t think that is any reflection on Sepulchre, which has the makings for an interesting story and pretty French settings, but there are times which I find it hard to connect with a book and this is one of those times. In fact, it is a recurring theme at the moment and it is a pattern I hope will stop soon since I do so love to read.
Anyway, back to Reacher. Jack Reacher – the 6’5″ hunk of ex military cop badass – finds himself on his way to San Diego for no other reason than he has to have somewhere to go and since he has no worldy possessions to his name (bar a toothbrush, a money clip and a bank card), he walk, hitches and rides wherever he wants to go. After a stopover in Hope, Colorado, he wanders to the next town called Despair, only to be kicked out. What the township of Despair doesn’t realise is that if you have shady goings on while Reacher is around, he will stick around to sort them out, no matter how hard you make it for him.
Reading Lee Child’s books is a bit like reading adventure stories as a child. The hero is a guy that men want to be and women want to be with. He gets things done. He has a strong moral compass even if he will go the hard way if necessary. It is pure escapism but realistic enough that the characters come alive for that short time you are reading about them. Why there has not yet been a TV show or film made, I will never know – maybe its the lack of very tall men in Hollywood who would be suitable. My pick? Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. His character in Walking Tall was very Reacher-like.
