Running Blind

Jack Reacher, Book 4

By: Lee Child

Narrated by: Johnathan McClain

Length: 13 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

Across the country women are being murdered by a killer who leaves no evidence, no fatal wounds, no signs of struggle, and no clues to a motive. They are, truly, perfect crimes. In fact, the only thing that links the victims is the man they all knew: Jack Reacher.

©2005 Lee Child (P)2012 Peunguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Reacher is one of the more interesting suspense heroes to come along in a while.” (San Antonio Express News)

“Jack Reacher, the wandering folk hero of Child’s superb line of thrillers faces a baffling puzzle in his latest adventure…a brain-teasing puzzle that gets put together piece by fascinating piece...and a central character with Robin Hood-like integrity and an engagingly eccentric approach to life.” (Publishers Weekly)

“Deeply satisfying...plan to stay up long past bedtime and do some serious hyperventilating toward the end.” (Kirkus Reviews)

great book,

great characters and . excellent story. very entertaining. you wont be disappointed. only negative is some of the character voices are a little cheesy. would prefer multiple voice overs from different people, but that's just me.

Jack Reacher

Lee Child never fails to entertain! Even though this storyline is a little week I thoroughly enjoyed the characters as Mr. McClain portrayed them. Simply wonderful.

Good pace, solid story, weak villain. (SPOILERS)

This is a solid story. Plenty plot twists and, unfortunately, not as many action ones considering this is Reacher and not Hercule Poirot. I appreciated the homage to Sherlock Holmes in the novel. The Villain is a weak one (and not because of the gender) and her motivations and crime executions are way over the top for what she is trying to accomplish to be honest. Additionally, while Child does an excellent job in masking the identity of said villain, the narrator has a difficult time in occulting it himself since the intonation chosen for the character highly resembles that of Lamar. However, The story itself unfolds in a way where the reader can deduce almost immediately who the killer is. First, Hypnosis is introduced, then the crimes don't have an explanation and the victims seem to open the door willingly and no evidence is left behind. Additionally, the method of their death can't be established. As a result, it becomes obvious very early on that either someone that can control these victims or Lamar herself is behind it. Her hate of Reacher at the outset is also a red flag, as it is her change of approach towards the 3/4 of the novel. Good job on Child's part on throwing the reader off with the Padre throughout. Kudos.

The narrator does an okay job. However, I can't seem to get used to his Reacher interpretation. IT needs to be colder, more calculated and firmer. For the rest he did good.

Worth the Money

I enjoyed the book. The book would have been better with a different narrator. But all in all reading was acceptable.

Pleasant Surprise

I have jumped all around the Reacher series. Most books are okay to be read independently of the others. But some books in the series, more the earlier books are connected in some way - like books 2, 3 & 4. This has been a refreshing three book sequence for me because it gives more of a Reacher background for those of us that jump around. This book has a great plot, great story. Most of the main characters were okay, but some were overreaching I felt like Lamar and Blake - but there was a great deal of realism there. too. Reacher finds himself in this book, I think. This book sets the base for how he develops as a person throughout the rest of the books - and having jumped around, it's easier to see.

I do have to say that I thought I had the answer to who the killer was mid way through the book, then Child throws a few different curveballs and some high and inside fastballs to knock you away from what seems somewhat obvious. GREAT job and deflecting you back to the story instead of spending your time focusing on who you think did the killing!!!

Running Blind

Very slow moving, very boring at times. It keep you from figuring out who the killer was.

Stellar!!

Suspenseful and exciting story. I think that this story was up there with all the other Jack reacher books that I've read. I really enjoy this narrator. He does a very good job. They're always twist and turns. These are exciting books that my husband and I both enjoy.

LOL at the ethics reviews.

First and foremost, Jonathan McClain, besides having one of the coolest possible names, has a decent voice. He does not however have decent character voices. I had a hard enough time seeing Reacher the first time I heard McClain read him. EVERY. SINGLE. side character's voice is over the top and terrible. Blake sounds like a pre-television radio news anchor delivering breaking news. The women are either represented as ineffectual or like a 5 year old making fun of their little siblings. I'm looking forward to Dick Hill's return. I enjoyed his Harry Bosch narrations, can't wait for his Reacher narrations.

Regarding my title. The reviews claiming inability to suspend disbelief due to the glaring ethics violations on part of the feds are hilarious. Even in stories where a federal agent is the protagonist do federal agents commit similar glaring ethics violations. Are those violations infuriating? Yes. Does it make you want to punch them all right in the nose? Absolutely, But that's the device. It's unfair. It's always unfair.

The story is what you'd expect for a Reacher yarn. I suspect it could be half as long. My usual complaint for Child's way of writing. Altogether decent.

gets better each time I listen

never get tired of the jack reacher series. listening to it again! love it this is my 3rd time

terrible narration

I like Jake Reacher series but this one is the first I had trouble sticking with due to the awful voices of narration. lack of inflection, flat affect. portrays EVERY ONE as a stupid idiot, which isn't very interesting. I do not recommend this one.