Jack jumps the next bus going anywhere, gets off at one of the stops in Wisconsin, and notices a West Point class ring in the window of a pawn shop. It is obviously a woman’s ring, and when he asks to see it he reads the initials S.R.S. 2005. Of course the chapter ends with him telling the bus driver to move on without him, he is here to stay for awhile. He is determined to return the ring to the woman who had to give it up.
In case you don’t know Reacher, or worse, only know the movie version, you must picture a mountain of a man, well over six foot, who tips the scale around 250. He spends his life defending or saving those who need defending or saving, and he has a good heart and an often gruff manner. This novel, like many of those before it, does a good job highlighting topical issues of the day.
Child intertwines two issues in the book, one being the plight of veterans and the other being our opioid epidemic. Where once legally made and prescribed opioids helped those in pain, in Reacher’s newest surroundings legalities take a step back and corruption abounds. His simple search for a woman whom he imagines had a difficult time giving up her ring, turns into a most dangerous mission.
Lee Child always tells a good story. He always does a great job building characters, and this book was no exception. Reacher felt a little different to me here, and he did a few things I might call suspect, but he was still someone I would want in my corner in most situations. Child also did an admirable job describing the various settings. Wyoming became a little bit more vivid in my mind as Reacher traveled through it in his search for the truth.
The Midnight Line: A Jack Reacher Novel should make Child’s fans happy, and I imagine it will make a great holiday gift this season.
- Beverly
Publisher - Dell
Date of Publication - November 7, 2017