The Case for Jack Reacher: Lee Child's Amazing Protagonist

While down and out recently due to illness, I discovered the mystery/thriller novels of Lee Child. Known as the Jack Reacher series, Child's novels hooked me from the start. Densely plotted, beautifully written, with more twist and turns than an intricate maze, these books are fast becoming an addiction. After reading a few in paperback, I ordered all the rest from my local library and am eagerly reading one after another.

What makes these books so compelling? Jack Reacher. Imagine the stranger who comes to a lawless town in a classic western and all-by-his-lonesome establishes law and order. Or Jack Bauer in 24, a guy who will do anything to save the good guys from evil forces. That's Jack Reacher. The son of a military family, he went to West Point and had a career as a member of the Military Police, reaching the rank of Major. Now he's a drifter, traveling from town to town with the clothes on his back and a toothbrush in his pocket. He likes it that way. He has no one to answer to, no clock to punch. Jack has his own moral code: protect those who need protection, take down the bad guys, use whatever means are necessary to do what is right. Oh, and don't mess with him or you'll be in for a heap of trouble.

In a world where the bad guys often win, there is something so satisfying about Jack Reacher. No one is smarter than Jack. In the end, he always wins. It can be messy and violent, but he wins. Right is restored. And then he moves on.

Child is a masterful storyteller. His details about the military, the government, the look and feel of each setting, whether a major city or a small Texas town, create a world in which we willingly lose ourselves. He has written 15 Jack Reacher novels. His 16th is due out this fall. If you like suspense and a fascinating antihero protagonist, you'll love these books.