Killing Floor (Jack Reacher, No. 1)
Ex-MP Jack Reacher goes into action to find his brother’s killers, after a series of brutal crimes terrorizes tiny Margrave, Georgia, only to uncover the dark and deadly conspiracy concealed behind the town’s peaceful facade. A first novel. 50,000 first printing. $50,000 ad/promo. BOMC Feat Alt.When Jack Reacher suddenly decides to ask a Greyhound bus driver to let him off near the town of Margrave, Georgia, he thinks it’s because his brother once mentioned that the famed blues guitarist Blind Blake died there. But it doesn’t take long for the footloose ex-military policeman to discover that there are plenty of strange–and very dangerous–things going on behind Margrave’s manicured lawns and clean streets that demand his attention. This first thriller by a former television writer features some of the best-written scenes of action in recent memory, a crash course in currency and counterfeiting, and a hero who is just begging to be called on for an encore.
Killing Floor gets 2 stars from me simply because I managed to make it the whole way through.
I have to say – I’m glad this wasn’t my first Reacher book – because I wouldn’t have picked up another. It’s clear that Jack Reacher’s character was in early development with this first book. The utter fawning over Roscoe. . . the speed (a week) at which their relationship progressed to a level where they couldn’t stand being apart for a couple days. . . the dancing and jumping around by the dumpster. . . these are just samples of many instances where the early Reacher didn’t align with the Reacher from later books. I found this Reacher quite difficult to stomach.
And the plot holes! One of the worst was a near psychic conclusion that Reacher came to when time was of the essence and he had to find someone quickly. . . . He called hotel after hotel asking for an alias he practically picked out of a hat, with no signs of doubt that he might be even slightly wrong about the name. And magically, he nailed it. (It’s comically more complex than this, but I don’t want to ruin the fun.)
There also seemed to be a lot of places in the book where Lee Child hadn’t perfected his American voice. I’ve only heard of bathroom stalls being called “cubicles” in the UK, for instance.
Finally, I’m sure there are opinions on both sides of this issue – but I’ve decided that I prefer Reacher stories written in 3rd person. I actually miss “Reacher said nothing.” And frankly, the way Reacher described things in this book often made me wish he’d said nothing. I’m about to crack the cover on Gone Tomorrow (another first person book) . . . so we’ll see if my opinion changes after that.
Bottom line – if you’re just getting started with Jack Reacher. . . don’t read this book first. The Enemy was where I started. . . and I’ve read many since then.
Very quick arrival ofnthis book. Seems to appear as it was never read. Like new condition.