Tag Archives: Lee Child Jack Reacher

My favorite books of 2012

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gone girl

I really, really did read something other than mysteries and crime novels in 2012. Let’s see, I read the … hmmm. I read the oral history of MTV. I’m reading that new history of Marvel Comics right now.

But most of my reading has, in recent years, revolved around the murder and mayhem genres. That’s after a lifetime of reading science fiction and fantasy, a genre I still like to explore once in a while.

So this list skews heavily to crime novels and mysteries. But if you’re looking for a good read, you’ll find a few here.

My favorite book I read in 2012 was undoubtedly Gillian Flynn’s “Gone Girl.” The story of a seriously screwed up marriage and what happens after the wife goes missing, “Gone Girl” was a huge hit and is being made into a movie. You’ve probably read it by now, but if you haven’t, it’s worth seeking out. Be aware: There’s a twist in the middle. And if you’re married, it will have you seriously examining your relationship.

the last kind words

One of the best surprises of the year for me was “The Last Kind Words” by Thomas Piccirilli. The story revolves around three generations of a family that’s always been on the shady side of the law. What happens when one brother comes home just before the other is due to be executed makes for a gripping read.

Families and crime are also the stuff of “The Prophet,” Michael Koryta’s mix of “Friday Night Lights” and a murder mystery and “Live By Night,” Dennis Lehane’s continuing exploration of a mid-20th century Boston family whose members straddle both sides of the law.

Lehane’s early works are among my favorite books of all time, and 2012 featured new work by some of my other favorite crime fiction authors, including “As the Crow Flies,” Craig Johnson’s latest tale of Wyoming sheriff Walt Longmire; Lee Child’s “A Wanted Man” and other Jack Reacher tales; “Spilled Blood” by Brian Freeman; “The Drop,” the latest Mickey Haller/Harry Bosch story from Michael Connelly; and “Taken,” another story about L.A. private eyes Elvis Cole and Joe Pike, from Robert Crais.

If you haven’t read anything by Josh Bazell, I highly recommend “Beat the Reaper” and his newest, “Wild Thing,” two books that follow a former mob doctor in hiding. The latest features a story about a search for a Bigfoot/Loch Ness-type creature as well as a guest appearance by political pin-up girl Sarah Palin. Seriously.

Ben H. Winters gave us the first of three books set in the waning days of the Earth. “The Last Policeman” features a cop trying to solve a homicide at a time when the world is going to hell and nobody else cares. I’m looking forward to the rest of the trilogy.

And we’ve noted the passing of legendary crime fiction writer Robert H. Parker. His estate has chosen a couple of writers to continue some of his series and Ace Atkins did an admirable job with a new Spenser story, “Lullaby.” Atkins’ tale was the equal of later-day Parker and that’s a good thing.

Tom Cruise makes a good ‘Jack Reacher’

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jack-reacher-tom-cruise

I noted yesterday I hoped to see “Jack Reacher,” the movie adaptation of Lee Child’s wandering troubleshooter character. I did see it and wanted to share a few thoughts.

I was as skeptical as anyone when Paramount announced that Tom Cruise would be playing Reacher. He’s nearly a foot shorter than Child’s ex-MP, maybe 80 pounds lighter and not nearly as ape-ishly ugly as Reacher in the books.

But Cruise does a good job of essaying the terse confidence and quiet physicality of Reacher in the movie. Although I thought a few times about the difference in appearance, I was pleased overall with Cruise’s presence and performance.

As fans of the book “One Shot,” from which the plot of “Jack Reacher” was taken, know, director Christopher McQuarrie is fairly faithful to the book. After former Army sniper James Barr is arrested for killing several people with a high-powered rifle, he asks for Jack Reacher. The police are stumped, however: Reacher has no home, no ID, no good way of being tracked.

At about that time, Reacher shows up, unannounced, having seen news accounts of the killing spree. The cops think he’s there to defend his former military cohort. But Reacher, convinced that Barr killed several civilians in the Middle East, believes the man is guilty.

Reacher is persuaded to work as an investigator for Barr’s defense attorney (Rosamund Pike) and slowly begins to unravel a plot that ensnared Barr.

Fans of the book will notice a few characters are missing. Happily, one of the best characters from the book, a shooting range owner and Reacher ally named Cash, is in the movie and is played by a wry Robert Duvall. He’s good and adds a bit of humanity to Reacher, who as a character can be so superhuman he can be, well, unreachable.

That’s part of the fun of Child’s books, however. Reacher is such a capable, lethal, smart soldier that it’s fun to watch him tear his way through opponents.

Random observations:

Lee Child has a cameo in the movie. He’s the desk sergeant giving Reacher back his passport, toothbrush and cash – familiar to fans of the books as pretty much all Reacher carries with him – when Reacher is released from jail.

Although the book is set in Indiana – in a made-up city – the movie’s setting is Pittsburgh. Wonder why the change?

The movie is true to the tradition of Reacher taking a bit of punishment. And of people being horrified by his wounds. What Reacher doesn’t say, however: “You should have seen the other guy.”