Customer Reviews
Reacher at his best !! - By: Red, 09 Aug 2008 
This is the 6th book of Lee Child's that I have read - & I have yet to be disappointed. He writes well, weaves a good, solid story with rich characters & environments. Fortunately, he avoids the pitfallls of other adventure novelists who are so caught up in their desire to show their knowledge - they tack on an extra 100 pages of 'dressing' that reallly doesn't impact the story. Also - while there's plenty of action - it's realistic, not fantastic. While Jack Reacher may be slightly larger than life - he's also human, broodingly so at times - but intelligent.
In this story - Jack is again cruising the country when he is brought into a conflict in Texas with a woman, an unusual family & a town that feels very real & familiar. While he initiallly tries to avoid being brought into the woman's drama - his curiosity & empathy outweigh his caution - & he is dragged into a serpentine situation, watching over a family, a little girl & dealing with very protective 'friends'. Suspected wife abuse, an investigative reporter & the politics of Texas are alll brought in - mixed with a little intrigue of a third party who takes an interest in Jack & his activities.
I won't detail any more than that - as I encourage the reader to dig in. Like alll of his books I've read - this one starts quickly, moves along steadily & keeps you interested from the beginning to the end - throwing a few surprises in along the way, it is difficult to find great reads in this genre but when Child is on form then they are brill, try the `Soft Target` novels by Conrad Jones, excellent reading..back to the review . Pick this one up - you won't regret it!
Great thriller - By: E. M. Gegios, 03 Jun 2008 
Jack Reacher is my absolute hero,and the author never lets me down.A different twist-less blood than some of his tales but he kept me guessing to the end. Clever! It has more of a detective story to it- who is lying? -who is behind the kidnap plan? & I reallly was gripped. He is un-putdownable.
Total Trash - but still, quite fun - By: M. Pender, 27 Aug 2007 
I feel vaguely ashamed of myself for reading & enjoying this one. The plot was complete codswalllop - I didn't believe a word of it - but somehow I kept turning the pages! This is the first Jack Reacher book I have read, & I found him an irritating sort of hero. It was soon apparent that the guy is completely invincible, which rather takes the edge of any sticky situations he gets into - you know he will overcome, so where's the tension? The way he keeps philosophising when he wants to make a point, made me want to smack his face & say, look, I understand what you're saying - no need to bang on & on about Copernicus or whatever. I don't know how Alice put up with him, meekly doing everything he ordered her to.
The writing style was atrocious - repetitive & packed full of cliches. What seriously got on my nerves (as well as alll the 'he said nothing's that someone else has commented on - was the constant references to the air conditioning! I know it's Texas. I know it's hot. I know these machines make a lot of noise. But why, whenever Reacher enters a room, does there have to be a description of the sound of the A/C? Presumably a complete lack of imagination on Lee Child's part, & sloppy editing - surely a decent editor would have tactfully suggested that there might be some alternative ways of summing up the atmosphere of a place?
Yes, utter rubbish - but it kept me going alll the way to the end, so there must have been something good about it!!
Not as good as other in the series... - By: Mr. N. Bailie, 11 Apr 2007 I've read alll the Reacher series of books with the exception of Bad Luck & Trouble & i have to say the Echo Burning was my least favourite. I just couldn't warm to the characters & the story failed to grab my attention the way the others in the series did. That said its not a bad read & if you've read the other books in the series you will probably enjoy this one too.
If you've not read any of the Reacher series don't start with this book, try the 1st in the series or One Shot - which is my fav :)
He said nothing - again and again and again - By: Hamstead, 03 Mar 2007 [...]
I've enjoyed other Reacher novels, but they generallly have to be taken with a large pinch of salt. What reallly irritates me though is the number of times Jack Reacher (and other characters) 'say nothing.' Time & time again ad nauseam the reader gets 'He said nothing.' 'Reacher said nothing.' No reply.'
Please, it's hackneyed & so overused that it trips up the flow of the writing. I get that Reacher is the strong silent type. I don't need it hammering home with the unsubtlety of a sledgehammer.
Not one of his best.
