Monday, June 15, 2009

Gone Tomorrow - Lee Child


Gone Tomorrow is the latest from another one of my favourite authors - Lee Child. This is the 13th novel in the Jack Reacher series.

Jack is a former Army MP. He left service after 13 years and has criss crossed the country ever since. He has no home, but is not homeless. He chooses to live with the clothes on his back and his toothbrush in his pocket. On his travels, he runs into many people and many situations. Some of those situations make him stick around a little longer and have a closer look.

Such is the case with Gone Tomorrow. Jack is riding the subway late at night in New York City. He has a bad feeling about the woman who is extremely nervous across the aisle. He suspects she may be a suicide bomber.

The opening line of the book is a classic:

"Suicide bomber are easy to spot. They give out all kinds of tell-tale signs. Mostly because they're nervous. By definition they're all first-timers."

When the woman dies in front of him, he sticks around to be interviewed by the police. When he meets her brother and learns more about her, he decides to do a little investigation on his own. And it leads to a former war hero who's making a run for the U.S. Senate, some old world mobsters who really don't like Jack. And a whole lot more than he bargained for....

Reacher is such a great character. He has a firm moral compass, carefully delineated lines on what's right and wrong, but has no problem using questionable methods to get to the bottom of things. He's big, strong, smart and not afraid of too much at all. For many of the people whose lives intersect with his, he is an unexpected hero.

If you're looking for some great escapist reading with lots of action, intrigue, an intricate plot that could be taken from today's headline, this newly released page turner from Random House Canada is one to pick up. I'll be waiting for number 14!

5 comments:

bermudaonion said...

This sounds like a book I would like. I've never read any of Child's work but he sounds like an author I need to check out.

Cath said...

I'm so glad you posted this review. Judging the book by the cover, I would have assumed it to be the kind of brainless fluff that populates the bestseller list in summer, but this looks good and proves the old adage, I suppose.

Thanks!

-Connie

Missy B. said...

This one sounds great - it is already on my wish list. :)

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

Mmmm.... Lee Child. I've only read one so far, but am hooked. That's all it takes with Child, I'm told. Just one (sort of like potato chips!).

Patti V. said...

Not usually my sort of book, but you make this sound very interesting. I'll need to check this out!