One Shot: Jack Reacher, Book 9

Lee Child can weave an interesting tale about Jack Reacher but may drive readers who are familiar with proper sentence structure and use of punctuation to the brink. I know that’s the case for me. I purchased the entire Jack Reacher series of books after seeing the first season of the series. I never would have read so many of his books if I hadn’t already paid for them. I have often wondered why, with all the money that Lee Child must have brought in from his writing, he can’t seem to afford a staff who will proofread and correct the many mistakes throughout his books. Same goes for his publisher. I held onto hope with each successive book that he might learn something about writing and make his books easier to read. I hoped, with the addition of his brother on the last couple, that the books would improve but seemed to get only worse. Sometimes, 2 whole pages of back-and-forth banter are written with nothing to occasionally let you know who is speaking, so multiple readings may be needed at times to sort it out. I think almost all, if not all, of the pages have sentences with commas where none are needed, periods where commas are needed, clauses used as sentences, and a new paragraph starting from a clause that belongs in the previous sentence of the preceding paragraph. As I said, hard to read if you understand basic sentence structure. There are often times where I wish Lee had done one iota of research to get facts right. I refer to passages in the stories where it was apparent that Lee Child had no experience or knowledge; I guess, more or less, the writing is off the top of his head. Some problems are: 1: He thinks the flashing emergency lights of vehicles in the western states are the same as in much of the New England states (blue on fire trucks and red on police). 2: He didn’t know what the average shoe size in America is actually 10 ½ (stating it as 9) 3: He thinks a large man like Jack Reacher would have what Lee evidently thinks of as a large foot size of 11, instead of something closer to 14 or 15 (I am 6’1” and wear a 13.) I assume Lee has a small foot. 4: Lee has never been near a fast-moving train, thinking there is violent ground movement when the train is even over a mile away and hurricane force winds near one traveling 60 mph. 5: He seems to think that all gas stations and quick marts sell khaki pants and various shirts, packs of socks, and underwear. 6: Jack Reacher can knock anyone unconscious and very often dead with one punch. I can remember only a couple times when it took two. 7: He thinks face bones will “shatter” from a Jack Reacher punch and can knock out a gorilla or even an elephant. Jack also never has injuries to his hand or elbow from such amazing blows. 8: Jack Reacher’s hands are said to be as large as a dinner plate and his fists as large as Thanksgiving turkeys…really? Yes, his books are hard to read for these and other reasons caused by lack of oversight by his publisher and lack of staff. Please, I hope never to find out he has a staff that lets this stuff through. Good storyteller, other than the lack of research on details and no idea as to sentence/paragraph structure.. Rating would be five for the story.Won't buy future books

When I find an author that I like, I like to read all their books. This author has a way to pull you into his world. I find myself saying “just one more page” before I put it down for the night

Good book

Great Should be a movie great plat fast paced. Reacher at his best cool. Cool cool cool cool cool cool

Another good read about jack Reacher I tried to stay 1 step ahead but I usually don't manage to !

One Shot is a fast read with enough curves to keep you guessing till the end. I'm ready to check out another Reacher story.

Way too much repeated lines. Too much talk not enough action. I switched from Patterson. Because of the fill. Sad to see it happen with Child.

Like most books, it's much better and complex than the movie. It won't be the last "Reacher" book I read.

ok

You can't stop reading it. A little too much "one man kills them all", but it is still ok.It was my first "Reacher". Now I'll go for the others.

I am truly addicted to Jack Reacher, and this one is an other non putdownable one 🙂

Like all the novels where Reacher is the main character, this one is also excellent. What I can't understand yet as the director of the film of the same name, had chosen Tom Cruise to personify it ... Cruise is good for other things, but it is absolutely out of context for Reacher. He is strong, tall, with a personality that is difficult to capture on the scene. This movie does not even give for two stars.

All his books are great you have to read them in the day and can't wait to read the next in any order