Lee Child really did something clever with the countdown structure in 61 Hours. At the end of each chapter, we got an update: 59 hours to go... 52 hours... 42 hours... It built tension like nobody’s business and made it nearly impossible to put the book down. Every chapter was like a ticking clock daring me to stop reading.
But we must talk about the elephant in the snowstorm: that ending.
I hated it. I wanted to see Reacher dust himself off (metaphorically, but I’d also take literally), give a final smirk, and head off to catch his next bus out of town. Instead, we’re just left hanging. Sure, we know he survives (he’s got more books to star in) but still. Closure, Lee. Closure. Just a little! And since the next book doesn’t pick up where this one left off (at least, not in the ones I’ve read), I’m left grumbling.
That said, Jack Reacher continues to be one of my favorite characters of all time. The man is voluntarily homeless. He travels light with just a toothbrush and whatever clothes he's wearing. Who does that? But it makes sense when you realize he grew up on military bases, always on the move. He’s used to it. There’s a certain freedom in not being tied down. No stuff, no strings.
Also, he does the right thing. Not always the legal thing, but the right thing. And let’s be honest: we’ve all met people who needed a good butt-kicking. Reacher just goes ahead and handles it. Swiftly. Efficiently. Sometimes permanently.
The supporting cast in 61 Hours was great:
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The bus driver? Certified whiner. Let's call a waaaambulance for him. I wanted to hand him a pacifier and a job application.
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Anderson, the next-in-line police chief, actually tried. I respected that. He was competent and decent.
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The current Chief? An HR disaster. He had one job. Reacher should’ve added him to the butt-kicking list.
The South Dakota winter setting made me cold, literally. I was curled up under blankets while reading—in July. I can barely handle New York winters; there’s no way I’d survive an icy Reacher-style showdown in the Dakotas.
The military drug angle was shocking to me. I actually looked it up, and it’s true! Disturbing and fascinating all at once. The idea that they'd store the leftovers the way they did? Let’s just say I did a lot of “what the heck” blinking while shaking my head and whispering, "Idiots!"
So where does that leave me?
I can’t give 61 Hours a perfect score because of the ending. But I can give it a solid 5/5 for suspense, pacing, and classic Reacher justice. Just know going in you won’t get that final “Reacher walks into the sunset” moment. You’ll have to supply that part with your imagination.
I would not recommend this one as an intro to the series. You need some Reacher backstory to fully appreciate it. Start earlier in the series, or at least with one that wraps up a little cleaner.
Final thought: If I were trapped in a South Dakota blizzard, would I rather have Jack Reacher or a space heater?
Easy. Reacher is the space heater.
