I had listened to one other Lee Child novel and found it to be just OK, but I saw this book on sale and thought I would give it a try. Well, I guess I will have to chalk it up to one more regrettable decision.

The whole premise of the story was totally unbelievable. A beautiful woman picks up a hitch hiker, and within a few minutes decides she trusts him enough to ask him to kill her husband, and within a few hours wants to sleep with him. The hitchhiker is hired by the beautiful woman's inlaws to work as a ranch hand and within one day he is telling the boss what to do.....and the boss does it! Oooh....he's a real bad dude, that one. Give me a break! The story was so over the top and boring that I can't believe I even finished it. I just figured with that many people giving it four stars it had to get better...but unfortunately it never did. Most of the 13 hours plus was nothing but empty and boring dialog that was obviously just written as filler since the plot was so shallow the book could have been a five hour read easily.

The action scenes were typical tough/smart guy beating up the clumsy bad guys. Childs does do a good job with the action scenes, but it was still glaringly apparent that this book was written just to meet a publishing contract. Although Dick Hill is one of my favorite audio performers, I would have to agree with some of the other reviewers that in this case, his female voices were rather whiny and annoying.

In summary then......Don't Waste your Time and Money on this one.

I agree with other reviews. This one was a little implausible in terms of Reacher's skills of deduction and behavior throughout. He's billed as an astute tough guy but this one is a little rediculous. It also dragged a bit in the middle. But had some entertainment value, especially if you're not a fan of biggots.

I usually don't have a problem with getting through a book but this was tough. The Carmen character was so annoying that it was difficult to just listen to her and the narration made things work. Dick Hill's impersonation of female characters really grates on you. Both Carmen and her daughter always come across as whining and weak. Within a few hours of listening to their voices you really just want to turn off the book to end the misery.

I'm listening to the Reacher books in chronological order and find myself wanting more after each one. I usually listen to another author between Reacher stories. I'll probably be disappointed when I've listened to them all. Dick Hill is a great narrator and adds something extra to these books. The Reacher novels are pure escapism and the conquest of good over evil. These books aren't great literature but they are fantastic listens for those who like this genre. Bring on "Without Fail."

The dialogue and character development is superb. As a man, the issues addressed in this book such as physical and mental abuse and bigotry toward those of Hispanic origin really made me angry (but in a good way). I have never wanted to jump into the storyline and help the protagonist as much as with this story. I've listened to over 50 audible titles and probably 5 from Lee Child. This is my favorite. Dick Hill outdoes himself with his timing and inflection. Some might find so much dialogue with a desperate woman annoying. Stick with it though and you really want to take part in the investigation. This story will draw you in and not let go. Loved it.

Goodbye john d macdonald and travis mcgee. hello lee child and jack reacher. i could not shut this off. i screamed , cried, and jumped along with the characters.my first lee child book. im hooked

I've been listening to Reacher stories for a few weeks now. I love Reacher and am entranced by the plot of these stories. Dick Hill has been narrator on most of them. for the most part he is great but his women's voices seem to be a bit whiney on this recording. His Reacher voice is great.

This book is engaging, has a clean, direct style, and was not predictable. I've just downloaded another one. Reacher is a bit like the Lone Ranger, but, wouldn't it be wonderful if there was really a Reacher out there.

I have read all of the Jack Reacher novels by Lee Child and I will continue to wait for each one. Dick Hill is an incredible reader and the few times that the 6 year old needs to speak......deal with it. This is not a big issue and I have listened to about 100 books in the last year and sometimes the reader can make or break a book. Dick Hill will not break anything......he enhances it. These Jack Reacher books are riveting and sometimes I can't put it down and need to go to bed. In the world of murder myster......it simply doesn't get any better than this. Read every darn one of them. I have three left and excitedly wait for "Nothing to Lose" which is the 2008 book. Buy them all, read or listen to them all...that's my suggestion. Anyone concerned about a 6 year old's voice in audio books might as well wait for the movie. This is an audio book and Dick Hill is one of the best readers out there.

Reacher, hitchhiking and eager to get out of a town where he's just broken the nose of an officer of the law, eagerly jumps into the car of Carmen Greer, barely believing his luck that a beautiful lady in a fancy vehicle would dare pick up a huge, scary looking bum like him. But Carmen has an agenda of her own. She tells Reacher her sad story: cut off from her wealthy Mexican family after falling pregnant and marrying Texas-born Sloop Greer, she's been living in Sloop's family compound in a tiny out of the way town called Echo, where everyone despises her because of her brown skin and Mexican heritage, and Sloop's mother can't stand her own granddaughter because of her mixed blood. But worst of all is Sloop's violent temper and the harsh abuse he inflicts on Carmen on a daily basis, breaking bones and setting teeth loose. Sloop has been in jail for the past 18 months, but he's about to get out, and Carmen is desperate for protection. But is it protection she seeks, or is she actually looking for someone to kill her husband? And is she even telling the truth?

Something about this story didn't quite work for me. I didn't buy the fact that Reacher decides to go along with Carmen and involve himself in her scary family business with a bunch or rednecks. There were a lot of lectures about a lot of various topics along the way, lots and lots of statistics given, which all made it feel like Lee Child had fallen in love with his research and couldn't resist using it as filler for a story that didn't have all that much going for it. Still, I couldn't stop listening and had to hang in there till the end, so obviously Lee Child knows a thing or two about writing a gripping story. Something tells me the next one will be a lot better.