Last year I read Andy Martin’s Reacher Said Nothing: Lee Child and the Making of MAKE ME (2015) where Martin played Boswell to Lee Child’s Samuel Johnson (you can read my review here). If you’re interested in the writing process, you’ll find plenty of details about Lee Child’s method of writing novels in this book.
In With Child (2019) Andy Martin follows Lee Child around on a book tour and then chronicles the writing of Night School (2016). As a bonus, we get Lee Child’s reaction to the Jack Reacher movie, Never Go Back (2016). Needless to say, Child is not happy with Tom Cruise’s “interpretation” of Jack Reacher…but he did take the money. Yes, With Child is a step up from fan writing, but I found the chemistry between Martin and Child delightful! Are you a Jack Reacher fan? GRADE: B+
Only read one Reacher novel. The first, about 6 years ago. Found it just okay. The character just seemed too good to be true. I stopped reading Robert Crais once Joe Pike seemed to get a bigger role. I have the same problem with him.
Steve, I know what you mean with Joe Pike and Jack Reacher. Supermen can become tedious.
It would be hard to say I’m not a fan since I’ve read all the books, but I used to look forward to them and now I just read them out of habit. It’ll be interesting to see how the series changes when Child’s brother takes over with the next book.
Michael, I’ll be reviewing a book that someone recommended to me with the words, “Better than Jack Reacher.” We’ll see.
I agree with Michael. The last few have been weak. The current one was my last, as I will not read the books by his brother. I read the first Andrew Grant book and thought it was OK. Then I read the second, and if I had owned it rather than borrowed it from the library, I would have thrown it across the room. Anyone who has read the number of mysteries that most readers of this blog have read over the years should have the same reaction I did. I read CHAPTER ONE and immediately knew who the murderer was. I read the rest of the book thinking this had to be some elaborate twist, but no, his series character was really that stupid and had NO CLUE as to even considering this person was the murderer.
Much like STAR WARS Episode I, I said never again would I like this guy do that to me.
Jeff, I agree with you that the last few Jack Reacher novels have been weak. I’ll reserve judgement on Child’s brother’s work.
I read the first book with Andy Martin. I thought it was OK but was hoping for more insight.
I liked the Reacher prequels and I liked the ones where he reconnected with the former members of his Army team better than the other recent ones.
Jeff, WITH CHILD pretty much exhausts any insights into Lee Child and his writing process for me.
I’m a reacher/child fan and was pleased to hear Lee is now a CBE. Not so thrilled about his retirement. I am behind on the series, but am probably more tolerant than others about super heroes in books.
I enjoyed the first Andrew grant book, but there was a glaring issue, but overall I enjoyed the book. Not so much the next one.
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when the protagonist was held in a cage adjoining another cage with a woman in it, who had been held there for several days, he mentioned the fragrance in her hair.
Trust me, no shampoo fragrance lasts anywhere near that long.
I hope Lee will continue to come to conventions. At Tampa, the valet that parked our car was asking about the authors there, and we mentioned Lee, who the guy read and enjoyed. When we got to the lobby, Lee was there and I mentioned it to him, and he asked me to go out with him so he could meet the guy and say thanks.
He also used to put on a party for his fans, reacher creatures, the last one was in SF where he was GOH and it was open to the entire convention. Many people abused it and IIRC the cost was $60k.
Maggie, I think Cap’n Bob enjoyed drinks at Lee Child’s expense.
A lot of other people also abused his hospitality
Barbara really disliked the last one, and has quit the Reacher books. I have yet to read one.
Rick, I thought BLUE MOON was sub-par.
I read one years ago and didn’t like it, so that’s it for me and Reacher/Child!
Maggie: I had two drinks on Child! Hardly an abuse of his hospitality! I’m not even sure it was possible to buy one’s own drink in SF!