A Wanted Man

A Jack Reacher Novel

By: Lee Child

Narrated by: Dick Hill

Length: 14 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

A masterpiece of suspense from #1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Child

Four people in a car, hoping to make Chicago by morning. One man driving, eyes on the road. Another man next to him, telling stories that don’t add up. A woman in the back, silent and worried. And next to her, a huge man with a broken nose, hitching a ride east to Virginia.

An hour behind them, a man lies stabbed to death in an old pumping station. He was seen going in with two others, but he never came out. He has been executed, the knife work professional, the killers vanished. Within minutes, the police are notified. Within hours, the FBI descends, laying claim to the victim without ever saying who he was or why he was there.

All Reacher wanted was a ride to Virginia. All he did was stick out his thumb. But he soon discovers he has hitched more than a ride. He has tied himself to a massive conspiracy that makes him a threat—to both sides at once.

In Lee Child’s white-hot thriller, nothing is what it seems, and nobody is telling the truth. As the tension rises, the twists come fast and furious, keeping readers guessing and gasping until the explosive finale.

Praise for #1 bestselling author Lee Child and his Reacher series

“Child is a superb craftsman of suspense.”—Entertainment Weekly

“The truth about Reacher gets better and better.”—Janet Maslin, The New York Times

“Implausible, irresistible Reacher remains just about the best butt-kicker in thriller-lit.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Like his hero Jack Reacher, Lee Child seems to make no wrong steps.”—Associated Press

“Lee Child [is] the current poster-boy of American crime fiction.”—Los Angeles Times

“Indisputably the best escape artist in this escapist genre.”—Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times

“Jack Reacher is much more like the heir to the Op and Marlowe than Spenser ever was.”—Esquire

©2012 Lee Child (P)2012 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Jack Reacher is much more like the heir to the Op and Marlowe than Spenser ever was." (Esquire)

"Indisputably the best escape artist in this escapist genre." (Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times)

"Lee Child [is] the current poster-boy of American crime fiction." (Los Angeles Times)

Reacher again and still worthy of a good read

Kept my attention with fast clear descriptions. Learned a little more than I would have liked about interstate driving, but that is in other books, too. I liked this.

A good listen

But the voice of Reacher with a broken nose is too much to bear for an entire book

Jack Fights the Cobwebs

Having the FBI as the antagonist in a Reacher novel gives us a very un-concrete un-villainous villain. Not one that inspires passionate hatred in Reacher. Although Mr. Child, being a Brit may see these agencies as being the ultimate 'dark side'. I'll have to wait and see.

Dick Hill brings his great gifts to a story without much momentum, and tries his level best to give it some of the old Reacher swagger, but I think the material fails him. There is only so much narration can do.

Others have thought that Lee Child's gifts may be dwindling, I ( hope) and say, nay, nay, in the last two novels he has had these U.S. governmental villains. He's done such great work before, with such believable villains. But if this is all we get in the next ones; it's so long Reacher, it's been really nice hanging out with you.

Jack Reacher, an intelligent thriller

Child employs feasible action, and Jack's amazing mental faculties to give a pleasing thriller without the corn other novel writers seem to love using

So so for Child..not his best Reacher

Not the action one has grown to expect from the infamous Jack Reacher and the story line gets a little fuzzy at the end as Child tries to tie it all together..

Not the greatest in this series

Would you listen to A Wanted Man again? Why?

No I've listened to it once. That's enough

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Actually a good ending, the middle bogged down and it was hard to keep interested.

Which scene was your favorite?

The scenes where Reacher is physical and intuitive.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

no

Terrible, horrible narration

Would you try another book from Lee Child and/or Dick Hill?

Lee Child, yes. Narrated by Dick Hill, no.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The storyline was intriguing and kept me listening despite the narration.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Dick Hill?

Almost anybody. I guess since Reacher has a nose injury, the intent was to have a nasal narration. Bad, bad idea.

Any additional comments?

The narration turned me off so much I almost didn't listen to the entire book. I love the Jack Reacher series, but the narration on this one was absolutely horrible!

Well done, as always.

Lee child consistently gives the reader a well thought out plot. I look forward to his next novel. Great job.

Gripping to the end

I’m going through the Jack Reacher series and this one I particularly enjoyed. I love the series, but this one had an edge.
For me, a really important piece of the puzzle is the way it’s told. Dick Hill is a genius and gives a great story that extra special touch.

another great reacher

couldn't stop listening. Hill does a great job with Child's books. Great plot with good twists