Once again Crime Fiction Lover steps into the big Reacher debate. ‘He ain’t what he used to be’ versus ‘Reacher is still Reacher.’ The controversy that surrounds Lee Child’s brother taking over the writing began with book 25 in the series, The Sentinel, and has continued across six further novels including the newest, Chain Reaction, as the series gradually develops towards what we now call continuation novels. So how good is this latest collaboration by the brothers – is Reacher still Reacher?
Well, first up, Susan Turner is back. She was first heard at the end of a telephone in 61 Hours and then appeared in Never Go Back. When Reacher went to meet the major she had been arrested and Reacher helped get her out of a frame-up. Now, 13 books later, it’s General Turner and she has a new job managing a special investigators unit for the military, a bit like the FBI, or similar to Reacher’s old outfit but bigger. The problem is there is a traitor in the ranks and one of her team is dead because of that. So she tracks down Reacher to do some digging for her.
When CID agent Bisley, a cyber specialist, disappears his body turns up in a rundown district of Summertown in Colorado, stabbed to death in an apparent mugging. Turner does not believe it’s just bad luck. As she can’t trust her own people she sends Reacher to take a look.
Reacher isn’t in town five minutes before he attracts the attention of some unsavoury types. He is soon onto Bisley’s killers but it’s a much more complicated question about who they work for and, as ever, who is behind the whole conspiracy. While hunting his prey Reacher brings Turner into the field and the two are soon looking over their shoulder too. Clearly someone does not mind commissioning murder.
Summertown doesn’t have much, except five data centres, one of which is getting a massive upgrade. To say much more would give too much away but this is about new technologies in processing, data storage and energy. If that doesn’t sound sexy, the financial stakes run to the billions. Meanwhile, there is plenty of action as Reacher connect the dots and moves from one villainous layer to the next.
Andrew Child has taken the blame for Reacher not making the grade after he began co-writing the novels but that is a little too simplistic. Reacher was getting a little tired anyway and needed some freshening up. It’s natural for such a long running series. The first five Lee and Andrew Child novels have been debated plenty, so what about this latest offering?
The dialogue and style are Reacher-esque and he is as efficient and deadly as ever. We have a small town with a USP, the data centres, local villains, hidden puppet masters and dark connections to the wider world. Computer nerds don’t make for great villains, they are sensibly kept in the background. As we all know money and tech, fraud and scam and crypto are all zeitgeist issues and this plot is right there. It’s a competent and engaging one too. The return of Susan Turner is welcome. This is not exceptional but it never sags.
Reacher has faced better villains than in Chain Reaction but he is doing his thing and most readers, we think, will get their money’s worth.
Some might say the success of these bestsellers is due to their political neutrality. I do not think they should be pro or anti Trump, but the America here bears little resemblance to the reality of the country today, despite its current themes. Many will be happy with that but it does mean the only focus for each new book is how well it replicates the last. That is why Reacher is so heavily scrutinised and compared to the past; he has arc to buy into. That might mean the ongoing debate will continue. For me this is Reacher, not the best but still good, a proper beach read
Bantam
Print/Kindle/iBook
£11.00
CFL Rating: 4 Stars
