“The Affair” by Lee Child
It seems that every story is sparked by a seemingly routine and banal event, and in The Affair by Lee Child, that something is the murder of a woman on a train track. Elite military cop Jack Reacher is called in for the investigation, and quite quickly he manages to put together the pieces of the puzzle, and they all point to a soldier on a nearby military base.
Unfortunately for Jack, said soldier has some of the country’s most powerful people on his side. Reacher decides to join forces with Elizabeth Deveraux, a local sheriff, and together they unravel a vast conspiracy.
To be honest, I was pleasantly surprised by The Affair after the last Jack Reacher novel left me a bit disappointed. It seems that Lee Child has taken extra care to develop characters, scenes and events, and it shows in many ways.
For starters, each of the main characters feels unique, believable, and adds a new and interesting dimension to the story. Second, this isn't your typical good guy vs. bad guy battle… the line between good evil gets somewhat blurred, with there not being a real villain ready to take the entire blame.
Third of all, from a technical point of view, this novel is simply superb; the events take place at a very brisk pace without feeling rushed or incomplete. Even the longer descriptions have a sort of restlessness to them that just makes you want to read on and on.
Story-wise, while The Affair sounds like it’s a stereotypical conspiracy story, it is actually one that is done pretty well. You’ll be dying to know where the next clue takes you and how many lies there are to unravel.
Naturally, there are certain clichés and moments that feel familiar, but without them I guess it wouldn't be a Jack Reacher novel. In the end, this book made for a very enjoyable read, and I’ll probably re-visit it in a couple of years or so.
I recommend it to anyone who likes political thrillers or simply Jack Reacher novels in general.
Unfortunately for Jack, said soldier has some of the country’s most powerful people on his side. Reacher decides to join forces with Elizabeth Deveraux, a local sheriff, and together they unravel a vast conspiracy.
To be honest, I was pleasantly surprised by The Affair after the last Jack Reacher novel left me a bit disappointed. It seems that Lee Child has taken extra care to develop characters, scenes and events, and it shows in many ways.
For starters, each of the main characters feels unique, believable, and adds a new and interesting dimension to the story. Second, this isn't your typical good guy vs. bad guy battle… the line between good evil gets somewhat blurred, with there not being a real villain ready to take the entire blame.
Story-wise, while The Affair sounds like it’s a stereotypical conspiracy story, it is actually one that is done pretty well. You’ll be dying to know where the next clue takes you and how many lies there are to unravel.
Naturally, there are certain clichés and moments that feel familiar, but without them I guess it wouldn't be a Jack Reacher novel. In the end, this book made for a very enjoyable read, and I’ll probably re-visit it in a couple of years or so.
I recommend it to anyone who likes political thrillers or simply Jack Reacher novels in general.
 | Lee ChildPersonal site Lee Child is actually Jim Grant’s pen name, but at this point, it is the one by which most people recognize him. Ever since his first novel, Killing Floor, Child has been sending giant ripples across the world of literature, amongst other things creating the formidable Jack Reacher. |
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