Nothing to Lose (Jack Reacher, No. 12)

I've just recenly gotten back to reading mysteries and had heard a lot about how great the Jack Reacher stories are. So I picked u this one and was absoutely overwhemed by the first half which I couldn't put down. I loved the character right off the bat. A loner who apparantly drifts into trouble where ever he goes is a character I can identify with. However around the midpoint, the story, for me, completely loses steam. I felt as if I was forcing myself to stay with it. The incidents began to seem repetitious and let downs.It's not bad enough a book to discourage me from reading earlier books in the series, but I sure don't recommend it as one to start with.I give it three stars because I definitely want to read more about the character. The first part really had me revved up. I liked the characters, but lost all interest before the ending.

This book is all about Child's world-view. He's an Athiest. He tells us often. He hates religion. He has several page long discussions with 'pastors' where he 'stumps them'.

Reacher is a military man but here he seems OK with deserters. He hates the government and the establishment. But he doesn't mind wiping out a town of several inhabitants. No-conscienceMan. Post modernist thinking is everywhere here. But, only Reacher's thoughts count. Everyone else is wrong PERIOD.

War is OUR fault after 9-11. Etc.Etc.Etc.

His mystery writing is good, but I couldn't stand all the other STUFF he is preaching about. Yes, preaching. Imagine that AthiestMan preaching!

This is by far the weakest novel in the Jack Reacher series. Across twelve novels, Reacher has proved to be an extraordinarily appealing action hero: he's beholden to no one, with a morality that is perfectly internalized, and he's big enough and strong enough to kick butt whenever and wherever he needs to. Sure, it's formula fiction, but when it works, it's a pleasure. Until now, it has worked reasonably well to exceptionally well for Lee Childs, with four or five novels (Killing Floor, Die Trying, Tripwire, Echo Burning, One Shot) that are as good as anything in the action genre and the rest have been acceptable diversions. In the latest installment, Jack Reacher is hitchhiking in Colorado when he lands in a town that just plain doesn't want him there. Cops, muscle men, they all try to take him on, but why? Jack is puzzled. Eventually he goes to war against the town. (He always goes to war against the bad guys who oppose him.) But this time, it just isn't interesting. I wish it were.

Um . . . I don't usually argue with everyday reviewers but have to say that I sincerely believe that anyone who says he or she doesn't like this book is totally wacked. It's a fantastic read. Not much more to say than that. I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys highly atmospheric intrigue.

This book wasn't quite as good as most of them. I think the political leanings of Lee Child got in the way of Jack Reachers character. I'll keep reading but hope Child gets back to the Reacher of previous books.