general

Here's a quick plug for the PERSUADER. Though I didn't write a review on that particular book, I considered it to be a solid 6-Star novel (a 5-Star rating being the highest that can be given on Amazon.com) and wondered if Lee Child would be able to top it. I now have my answer with THE ENEMY. In the newest "Jack Reacher" novel (think Nelson DeMille's THE GENERAL'S DAUGHTER), the author takes our famous ex-MP back to 1990 when Reacher was still a Major in the Army and what led to his dissatisfaction with the Military. Suddenly transferred without any warning from the hot action of Panama to the quiet life of Fort Bird Army Base in North Carolina (I'm from N.C. and I've never heard of Fort Bird, which makes me think that it's actually supposed to be Fort Bragg-the home of U.S. Army Special Forces and Delta Force), Reacher finds himself immediately caught up the unexpected death of a visiting U.S. General from Germany. Though deemed "death by natural causes," the late General's briefcase turns up missing, which sets up a series of future murders that may, or may not, be connected. There's a military agenda in the General's missing briefcase, dealing with a huge transformation that the military is about to go through with the downfall of Soviet Russia. Everybody seems to be secretly trying to get their hands on the agenda, while at the same time blocking Reacher's investigation. When the deaths of two Delta Force soldiers occur and the rumor starts flowing around that Reacher killed them, our hero finds himself combating not only a hidden enemy within the higher Army's echelon, but also being placed at the top of Delta Force's hit list. The only person who believes in him is a black, female officer in the MPs named Summer, and she's more than willing to tangle with whomever gets in her way. Reacher only has a short amount of time to find the answers before the members of Delta Force decide to take matters into their own hands to get revenge for their dead comrades. THE ENEMY had me staying up way past my bedtime, trying to figure out what was really happening, asking myself who the villains actually were, and questioning whether or not Reacher was tough enough to take on the members of Delta Force (yes, he is!). As usual, Lee Child is at the top of his form in writing and plot development and creating enough suspense to keep the reader hanging on for dear life. You're with Reacher every step of the way as he plows ahead with clear intelligence and brute force, defying direct orders from superior officers and death threats from the country's most highly trained killers. The author makes you cheer out loud for Reacher and his code of honor, realizing that this is the type of man you would want covering your back in a fox hole. Read THE ENEMY and you'll become an instant fan of Jack Reacher. No brag, just fact!!!

Lee Child writes books the way Miles Davis played music. Every composition contains recognizable elements, and yet every composition is completely different.

In a Lee Child composition, some of the recognizable elements are: clean, elegant prose; a tight plot; abundant twists and turns; and more than one heart stopping surprise. An added element in "The Enemy" is that this book not only stops the heart, but tugs at the heartstrings.

The eighth Jack Reacher novel, "The Enemy" takes place in 1990, as the Berlin Wall is coming down and the world is drastically changing. In the Army, Jack Reacher's life-long home, change is not good. It's an enemy to be defeated by any means necessary. Reacher is a man who has dedicated his life to doing the right thing, to protecting the Army. Now he's faced with an awful task: he must protect the Army from itself.

In seven previous Jack Reacher novels, we've come to know him as a loner, a man who cannot and will not end his chosen life of wandering isolation. In "The Enemy" we meet a younger Reacher, not yet hardened by the choices this case will force upon him. This Reacher is just a bit warmer, just a bit more accessible, with an easier sense of humor.

When he's inexplicably transferred from Panama to Fort Bird, North Carolina, Reacher doesn't think much of it - hey, it's the Army - but he soon discovers that this is no ordinary assignment. A heart attack victim at the local no-tell motel is a two-star general. The general's wife is found murdered. Reacher's commanding officer is replaced, suspiciously, by a vicious idiot who wants nothing more than to make Reacher the fall guy for the entire mess. And in Paris, Reacher's mother is very, very ill.

Partnering with a young, female lieutenant, Reacher sets out to solve the mystery in spite of the roadblocks in his path. And, typically, he refuses to let anything or anyone stop him. Just as typically, Reacher is determined to do the right thing, no matter what the personal cost may be. In this case, the personal cost will be high - maybe more than Reacher can afford.

The question at the heart of the book is, who or what really is the enemy that Reacher has to fight? And does he have any hope at all of winning the battle? Lee Child has written another gripping novel, one with heart and soul, suspense and passion - a masterwork from a master craftsman.

Superman lives!!! Trying to ignore the glaring mistakes of our military in all Lee Child's adventure stories, I have read every one of them and enjoyed them all. Being British, Lee prefers writing about U.S. military but that's OK and I can forgive the booboo's because the story is quick moving and he paints Reacher as quite a hunk! He's invincible and heals quickly! :D

This prequel explains a lot about Reacher's motives and background. His family situation is so sad! And Joe is somewhere deep in the Killing Floor.

If you take this book as gospel, you will be disappointed. Just be glad you can recognize the miliary errors and just enjoy it as a good exciting read.