Book review: Die Trying by Lee Child

Buy from Amazon
Buy from B&N

Description:
When a woman is kidnapped off a Chicago street in broad daylight, Jack Reacher’s in the wrong place at the wrong time. He’s kidnapped with her. Chained together and racing across America toward an unknown destination, they’re at the mercy of a group of men demanding an impossible ransom. Because Reacher’s female companion is worth more than he imagines. Now he has to save them both—from the inside out—or die trying…

Rating: 5 stars (out of 5)

Review:
Last year, I read the first Jack Reacher novel, Killing Floor, and  thoroughly enjoyed it. It'd been a long time since I found a new thriller that I liked so much, and now I plan to read the rest of the books in the series. Die Trying is the second Jack Reacher book, and it's as good as the first.

As a protagonist, Jack Reacher reminds me a little of Dirk Pitt from the Clive Cussler novels, before Pitt became a caricature and Clive started adding himself to his books. He's infinitely capable but is low-key about it. He's like a bomb that's harmless if you leave alone but will do a lot of damage if you mess around with him.

Like Killing Floor, Die Trying is written concisely with short sentences, lending to the plot's already fast pace. I found myself absorbed in the book for long stretches at a time without being aware that an hour had passed. (Yes, reading uninterrupted for an hour is a long time for me, but that's another discussion.)

For those who are sensitive to violence, this book probably isn't for you. Or if you're the type who tends to criticize how unbelievable the things that a Dirk Pitt or a James Bond can do, then you'll find fault with this novel too. I, for one, am happy to suspend my belief for these types of stories, so I thought it was a very entertaining book.

I read this book as part of the Authors A to Z reading challenge. Next up: The Kill Order by James Dashner.