Rating: 
Summary: Will need supernatural power for suspension of disbelief!
Review: Anytime you read Mr. Child you really have to work overtime to keep your disbelief under wraps. In his last novel he had the FBI breaking laws right and left and treating Reacher like he was a puppet at their mercy. This time it's the Secret Service but they treat Jack like he's the Second Coming and can't seem to come up with an idea or a move unless he suggests it. I mean they are hanging onto his every word. It's well known that neither of these organizations would happily work with civilians anyway but that's where that willing suspension of disbelief comes in. We want Jack to be appreciated by these people so we'll go along with them using his great talents.
But then there are such CLUNKERS that you get knocked right out of storyland and start shaking your head in wonder that Mr. Child makes such lame mistakes or that his editor doesn't catch them. For instance: Reacher is quite pleased that he wanders around the country with neither driver's license nor I.D. Yet he picks up a wad of cash at Western Union. Sorry folks, no I.D., no getting the moolah. Elementary.
And then we have the assassination attempt. The Secret Service boss calls one of their researchers to come in immediately. Anyone doubt that the researcher would be heading in immediately? Nope, he whines that he needs at least two more hours at his Thanksgiving dinner. Excuse me? Our V.P. has been shot at and two agents are dead, but this guy is going to continue eating turkey? Yeah, that was a turkey all right. Then the boss also says agents will be thin around there because he has given them 24 hours off and he's not calling them back in because the V.P. can't sleep. CLUNK! Can we suspend our disbelief that any agent would be taking off the day an assassination is foiled? I think not. I can't list any of the other clunkers without giving away too much of the action but there are far too many from such a talented writer.
Nevertheless, I keep reading his books because I really like Reacher. The business of him throwing away good clothes is getting a little old though but at least he wore clean clothes every day in this one. And his new sidekick was quite interesting and here's hoping we see her again in the future.
Rating: 
Summary: An excellent book. The first that I've read by this author..
Review: But not the last one I'll read by this author. Lee Child has set up a tight story with many twists and turns. The action is fast and the plot raises and barely gives you time to catch your breath before it raises again. The ending is superb and fascinating. This is absolutely well worth reading. Enjoy.
Rating: 
Summary: Cardboard characters and preposterous plotline
Review: Come on. Jack Reacher, hired by a top secret service field officer to "consult" and beef up the security afforded our vice-president, is given no ear piece with which to communicate with the other secret service agents he is ostensibly monitoring and spends over 90% of the book carrying around a ceramic knife rather than a gun. This leads to some really preposterous moments like when Jack, sensing someone is in a church belfry noisily climbs ladders pirate-like with his knife in his teeth and thinking thoughts of how surprised the bad guy's going to be when invincible Jack bursts through the trap door. Most of this book is concerned with letting us know that Jack is really a tough guy and his ex-military female side-kick is . . . my gosh, even TOUGHER. Disappointing.
Rating:
Summary: A COMPLEX THRILLER SURE TO PLEASE
Review: England born, New York based thriller writer Lee Child has made an impact on his chosen genre with his first five novels. Much of the acclaim he has received is undoubtedly due to the creation of his memorable protagonist, Jack Reacher. Jack is a cool, canny and collected former military cop who needs all his skills and know-how in "Without Fail." A female Secret Service agent comes to Reacher with an astounding request: "I want to hire you to assassinate the Vice President of the United States." According to her this is the only way to test the security system she has in place to protect the newly elected V.P. When she makes this request, she does leave out one significant detail: a team of accomplished killers have already drawn a bead on the Vice President. They, of course, are not aware of Reacher's involvement. Child has spun a complex, unsettling thriller that will satisfy the most ardent suspense fiction fan. - Gail Cooke
Rating: 
Summary: Lee Child keeps it up
Review: Having read Child's previous books, and loved them, I can only say that Without Fail didn't disappoint me - I couldn't put it down! I'm already looking forward to his next book. /M
Rating: 
Summary: 1 Star for Chapter 1 only
Review: I am a disappointed Reacher fan. I enjoyed all of the previous Reacher novels and they were one of the four or five books I bought in hardcover because I couldn't wait to read them. Without Fail failed with me. Too slow moving. Dozens of pages watching videotapes (might as well be paint drying). Chapter One was good old Reacher material. Then it died. Too much espionage and psychological stuff, not enough action.
Try a new author who knows how to give you what you want. Try Double Dealing.
Rating:
Summary: Another high octane Reacher novel
Review: I don't know that I read the Reacher novels as much as I am propelled thru them. "Without Fail" is no exception. Lee Child does more with a small cast than just about any writer I can think of. "Without Fail" has that austere, sparse feel that enables the reader to know all the principle characters quite well. Reacher is just a magnificent lead character...a loner, a superbly self-confident avenging arch angel, an idealist with an incorruptible set of ethics...more a presence than a character. With no fixed address and traveling lightly, he becomes a Lone Ranger transplanted in to the 21st century...riding off into the sunset when his mission is accomplished. In "Without Fail" he does (at least temporarily) acquire a couple of Tontos. Impossible to put down, a nifty insider's glimpse of the Secret Service, crisp action, high intensity plot...do not miss "Without Fail." It is Lee Child's best until the next one.
Rating:
Summary: Lee Child is a sure winner.
Review: I have read all of Lee Child's books dealing with Jack Reacher and they are all fabulous. Suspensful. Interesting. Compelling. Each has similar aspects but each is a different completely different story. I would definately recommend Lee Child!
Rating:
Summary: Both author and editor need to be beaten.
Review: I have to admit that this book starts off well and does a terrific job of sustaining its momentum throughout the first 80% of the book. Then something goes terribly wrong. The author hands over the writing of the book to a million monkeys pecking away at a million typewriters... Child resolves his mystery with the lamest excuse for wanting to kill a Vice-President ever. It would be like me getting caught knocking over your mailbox when I was a kid and carrying a grudge for thirty years and then deciding to kill your kids for it. It's just that implausible. Readers deserve better and both Child and his editor deserve to be smacked around for the last 20% of the book.
Rating:
Summary: Without Fail Succeeds
Review: I loved this book! I could not put it down. Jack Reacher is my hero, the guy is unbeatable and resourceful.
His brother Joe's former girlfriend, who is Secret Service guarding the Vice President Elect, induces Reacher to infiltrate her team to find holes in their security, and does he ever!
After the boring part in the beginning about questioning the cleaning crew, this book takes off. Reacher and his friend, Neagley are pros of the first order. This time Lee Child is a little easier on the FBI. He has a tendendcy toward FBI bashing. But the book was a mile a minute and an excellent read.
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