Thirty books later, Reacher still can't enjoy a cup of coffee without someone making a career-ending mistake.
Jack Reacher was minding his own business, enjoying a cup of coffee in Baltimore. Naturally, this couldn't last. Apparently, the man is constitutionally incapable of consuming caffeine without stumbling into a criminal conspiracy.
This time, trouble starts when Reacher witnesses a couple of grifters cheating an elderly couple out of their life savings. Reacher takes care of the situation in his usual efficient fashion, and you'd think he could finally get back to his coffee. You'd be wrong.
Someone bumps into him and slips a note into his pocket. A desperate plea for help. And if there's one thing we know about Jack Reacher after thirty books, it's that he doesn't ignore someone who needs rescuing. Especially when there are bad guys who could benefit from a little attitude adjustment.
And just like that, we're off on another adventure.
One of the things I particularly enjoyed about Exit Strategy was that I had absolutely no idea where the story was going. The people I thought were the good guys mostly weren't, and the people I thought were the bad guys mostly weren't. Every time I thought I had someone figured out, I had reason to reconsider. I knew Reacher would prevail in the end. But how he was going to untangle this particular mess was anybody's guess, and it certainly wasn't mine.
Reacher himself was everything I've come to expect and love. Wonderfully intimidating, ridiculously observant, and armed with the kind of dry sarcasm that really ought to have its own specialized font. Seriously. Someone needs to invent Reacher Sans. Bold, intimidating, and best used immediately before someone makes a very poor life decision. It would come in one size: Threatening.
The pacing was steady throughout, and I had no complaints about the storytelling. There was enough mystery to keep me interested, plenty of uncertainty about who could be trusted, and the satisfaction of watching Reacher do what Reacher does best: figure things out and dispense his own very particular brand of justice.
And let's talk about the audiobook!
Scott Brick, narrating for Random House Audio, was fantastic. I could listen to him read for hours. His delivery was excellent, his timing perfect, and he captured Reacher's personality beautifully. A good narrator can make an enjoyable book even better, and Brick certainly did that here.
The ending was satisfying, too. The pieces fell into place, the appropriate people got what was coming to them, and Reacher did what he always does. He simply walked away, heading off to the next town and the next adventure. Or the next coffee shop. You never know.
So why four stars instead of five?
Honestly, there's nothing I can point to that I particularly disliked. The story was interesting, the pacing was good, the twists kept me guessing, and the narration was excellent. But while I thoroughly enjoyed the book, it didn't have that irresistible one-more-chapter quality that makes me sacrifice sleep. It was a solid, entertaining Reacher adventure that I was happy to pick up again whenever I had the chance.
If you're already a Reacher fan, you'll find plenty to enjoy here. If you're looking for a mystery with shifting loyalties, a hero who doesn't tolerate bullies, and enough dry wit to make you chuckle while the bad guys reconsider their career choices, this one delivers. Thirty books into this series, Reacher is still wandering around the country, minding his own business until someone makes the unfortunate decision to involve him in theirs.
You'd think word would have gotten around by now.
