Make Me

Jack Reacher, Book 20

De: Lee Child

Narrado por: Dick Hill

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Don’t miss the hit streaming series Reacher!

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, Suspense magazine • Stephen King calls Jack Reacher “the coolest continuing series character”—and now he’s back in this masterly new thriller from Lee Child.

“Why is this town called Mother’s Rest?” That’s all Reacher wants to know. But no one will tell him. It’s a tiny place hidden in a thousand square miles of wheat fields, with a railroad stop, and sullen and watchful people, and a worried woman named Michelle Chang, who mistakes him for someone else: her missing partner in a private investigation she thinks must have started small and then turned lethal.

Reacher has no particular place to go, and all the time in the world to get there, and there’s something about Chang . . . so he teams up with her and starts to ask around. He thinks: How bad can this thing be? But before long he’s plunged into a desperate race through LA, Chicago, Phoenix, and San Francisco, and through the hidden parts of the internet, up against thugs and assassins every step of the way—right back to where he started, in Mother’s Rest, where he must confront the worst nightmare he could imagine.

Walking away would have been easier. But as always, Reacher’s rule is: If you want me to stop, you’re going to have to make me.

Who is Mother and why does she need a rest?

I am a dedicated Jack Reacher fan. That said, I have mixed feelings about this entry. On the plus side, we get to see Reacher in some interesting and different predicaments, which is always fun. Some of the bit-part supporting characters are a real hoot. The inevitable girl sidekick has her moments but is pretty one-dimensional. The problem of "how to get in" (always a question in Reacher books) is a real puzzler and the eventual strategy is laugh-out-loud cool. And welcome to the 21st Century, Reacher actually uses some modern technology. Sort of.

But.... huge negative: new depths of gruesomeness. No spoilers here, but you'll figure out what's coming well before you get to that point.

I am continued to be amazed at what a good job Lee Child has done in keeping this series going. There's basically one plot: Reacher wanders into town, stumbles into a heinous criminal conspiracy , starts figuring out what's going on, has to "get in" (often to save a hostage), huge action scene, ride off into the sunset. (Does anyone else keep visualizing Reacher as Clint Eastwood's man with no name?)

Narration: It's hard to imagine anyone but Dick Hill reading a Reacher, but the drawn out laconic drawl tempts me to listen at 1.25x. Tempts, I say, but I remain strong and resist.

So, somewhere around 3.75 stars. Not my favorite Reacher, I'll probably skip this one when I get around to starting over and listening to the Reachers again, but all of us true fans will continue to look forward to every new addition to the series.

He's back

While the last Reacher novel was disappointing, Lee Child has returned to basics with this latest entry in the Jack Reacher saga. This was an entertaining novel which I listened to in one uninterrupted reading.

There is a lot of action, a lot of travel, a fair number of bad guys and, of course, a woman. Dick Hill is back to his usual energetic rendition of Reacher.

Like most of the books, this one follows a formula. Like most of the books, this one portrays Reacher as a larger-than-life character and some things are, to say the least, improbable. He is an archetypal Hero. This is pure escapist fiction, so don't expect complete plausibility in all things, just run with it.

I am reminded of the Bonnie Tyler song, "I'm holding out for a Hero". Well, Reacher's back.

Meh - pretty bland for Reacher

What did you like best about Make Me? What did you like least?

Dick Hill is a great narrator - the story line was weak.

What could Lee Child have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Who knows - they are all sounding the same. Read one book you have read them all.

How could the performance have been better?

Pull this book for the shelf?

Could you see Make Me being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Oh heck no

Any additional comments?

Someone needs help, Jack jumps in, changes clothing, gets the girl and fixes the problem - Look, I wrote a Reacher novel!!!! Just need Dick Hill to narrate this - hmmmm.............

good, yet disappointing

I was excited to continue my journey of reading Reacher and dove into the book. Hill's classic style of delivery was again a pleasant addition to the story, bring his own special ability to read life into the characters. I really enjoyed how it unfolded in Child's delightful style, leaving may question marks/clues to ponder, up to the surprising end. That being said, I was also disappointed. I like the idea that Reacher can over come anything, but he seems to be aging quickly in the books. I definitely was disappointed how Reacher, one who seeks to do the right thing regardless of personal cost, is used as a mouth piece for assisted suicide, or euthanasia. The silly idea that mercy killing is a morally neutral issue is ridiculous, along with pondering if this would be normal in 100 years due to food and water shortages - please stop passing the kool-aide around. All life is a gift, even the ones with the heavy burden of emotional or physical pain, a gift that calls us to put ourselves aside and suffer with them. Yes, Reacher is independent, doesn't want to be tied down, takes life when needed, but he also still mourns the death of his mother and brother. He has a moral compass and to me this twist just doesn't align with that compass. As someone left behind by a friend that killed himself, this was just so wrong and the reason I couldn't give this book 5 stars. If the next one has Reacher fighting global warming and supporting same sex marriage, then this will probably be the last Jack Reacher book I listen to. I want to be entertained, not spoon fed the latest politically correct tangent.

A bit disappointed

I was looking forward to this book because I have listened to them all and was ready for my Reacher fix. But the story was a bit weak, and what bothered me most was Dick Hill's performance. I have come to expect Dick's voices for the story, but this time I really felt like he made the story seem old. I know Reacher's character is in his
50's but I felt like I was listening to a 70 year old. And not that that is a bad thing completely, but I imagine Reacher with mote of a younger sound. And, the women sounded like weak old women.

The story line is flimsy, but I kind of expect that now- so please give me the performance at least! Sorry Dick!