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Without Fail (A Jack Reacher novel)
 
 

Without Fail (A Jack Reacher novel) (Hardcover)

by Lee Child (Author)
3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (26 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Hardcover: 398 pages
  • Publisher: Bantam Press; First Edition edition (1 April 2002)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0593046862
  • ISBN-13: 978-0593046869
  • Product Dimensions: 22.8 x 15.8 x 4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 168,411 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #32 in  Books > Crime, Thrillers & Mystery > Authors, A-Z > C > Child, Lee
  • See Complete Table of Contents

Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review
Lee Child has inexorably pulled himself into the upper echelons of thriller writing with a series of tough, lean and perfectly crafted novels featuring ex-US military cop Jack Reacher. Without Fail is the sixth outing for the resourceful Reacher, and far from showing any signs of incipient fatigue, the series just goes from strength to strength as Child hones his abilities.

As in such previous books as Die Trying and The Killing Floor, Jack Reacher is a maverick. He carries no ID, and any place he hangs his hat is home. And while he's more than capable of dealing out massive violence to the bad guys who take him on, he's a sucker for a plea for help--particularly from a woman. This time, he's asked by the persuasive Ms Froelich to help her protect the Vice-President of the United States from an assassination attempt that's on the cards. So Reacher, with only the clothes he stands up in, finds himself deep in the rarefied world of the United States Secret Service in Washington, where his problems come from the stiff-necked bureaucrats as much as from the utterly ruthless killer who soon has Reacher in his sights as much as the Vice-President.

If the plot here is a tad reminiscent of the Clint Eastwood movie In the Line of Fire, that's no coincidence--Child has his characters discuss the echoes of their situation with that film at length. But, boy, does Child ring some powerful variations of his own on the theme: this the most kinetic Reacher novel yet, full of the brilliantly orchestrated set-pieces that are a specialité de la maison with the author (the final climax in a snowy ravine is a pip). The action here is relentless, but never at the expense of character--Child is canny enough to keep dark shadows from Reacher's past a key part of his motivation. And the skill that the British-born Child is so proud of--his faultless evocation of the American landscape--is the final icing on a very tempting cake. --Barry Forshaw

Review
Over the course of five books in just five years, this former (British) TV exec has won a devoted following - readers who warm to his PI, former US military cop Jack Reacher, good-looking and a loner by choice who has none of the hang-ups displayed in abundance by his dysfunctional confr res. This one finds him called in by the Secret Service over a series of threats they've received against the Vice President-elect. Each contains a single line of type, 'signed' with an untraceable thumbprint. There's no DNA either - all of which leaves the glamorous M E Froelich, in charge of the Veep's security detail, with one hell of a problem. Maybe someone wants to discredit her, show that women aren't up to such jobs? Enter Reacher, whose late brother had an affair with Froelich. Taut, tense and so authentic even Bill Clinton's a fan.

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Without Fail (A Jack Reacher novel)
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Customer Reviews

26 Reviews
5 star:
 (10)
4 star:
 (3)
3 star:
 (7)
2 star:
 (5)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.6 out of 5 stars (26 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Darn good read, 9 May 2005
By A Customer
I have to disagree with previous reviewers - this is one of my favourite Reacher novels. I, too, enjoy those moments when some thug goes after our hero and Reacher smacks him down without breaking a sweat. But what I really enjoyed about this adventure was the twists and turns in the plot - the drip drip of clues and the puzzling them out angle. I also found the personal elements of Reacher's complex and rather unhealthy relationship with his brother's ex-girlfriend very poignant and absorbing.

A plus for me, too, was that the reason for the vendetta against the VP wasn't the usual political theme of most other novels of this type. I found that very refreshing. Neither did I find it unbelievable as another reviewer suggests. People can be petty and revenge is a powerful motivator - especially when coupled with personal humilation. I had no trouble believing that someone would bear a grudge under the circumstances outlined.

All in all, this adventure didn't let me down or disappoint. I haven't read a Reacher novel yet that didn't entertain, delight and fascinate me from page one to page end and this one was no exception. I like that sometimes Reacher uses brawn in a novel and sometimes his heart and head. This novel was in the latter mold - but there are plenty of Reacher adventures that encompass the former elements, too.

All things for all readers. What more can you ask for?

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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Jack and Lee stumble (It had too happen sometime), 10 April 2003
It had too happen. It could not last. Having written excellent and very high quality action thrillers featuring the supremely self-confident and capable Jack Reacher, Mr Lee Child fails to deliver in 'Without Fail'. Oh, don't get me wrong, it is still an enjoyable read, but slower than previous novels and somehow slightly less captivating. Maybe because the theme, protecting a politician, in this case the up-and-coming future Vice-President is something that has been done many times before.

But I think the biggest problem is that Jack Reacher seems out of his depth. Yes, Jack Reacher falters and stumbles and makes a mistake in this book. And that I think is the books main problem. Jack is not supposed to be fallable. He is not supposed to get it wrong. Jack is invincible! Or at least that was the way he was in previous books. Also, the bad guys in this novel are, in my humble opinion, not very strongly written. Surely these are characters that Jack Reacher would have for breakfast.And their motivation for trying to assasinate the VP is very weak to say the least.

All in all, not the best Reacher/Lee (or is that Lee/Reacher) novel. But read it anyway, it is still good.

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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as his previous books, 4 April 2002
By A Customer
This latest Jack Reacher story is a bit of a departure for the author, and not a successful one. Reacher is embroiled in a 'save the Vice President' operation, and instead of doing what he does best - which is playing Clint Eastwood and the Man with No Name in small towns across America - he becomes a type of FBI/Special Agent.
This is a story I've read many times in other formats by other authors, and it's a shame that Child decided to set his plot in Washington this time around. The secondary character, who plays both the device to involve him, and a link to his past, is a rather unlikeable and thinly drawn fmale agent, and Reacher himself seems rather flat and uninteresting.
My advice to the author - go back to what you do best, and give us back the Reacher we all know and
love.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars shame..
I have to agree with the more negative reviews here. You read on and on in hope, but nothing really exciting happens. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Stella

4.0 out of 5 stars WITHOUT FAIL
Another 'Lee Child' in much the same mould as the other 'Jack Reacher' books, very interesting and worth a read for all his ardent followers.
Published 5 months ago by Mrs. J. A. Barnett

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing
Reading this book is an odd experience. You keep turning the pages, but you're not always quite sure why. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Rearsandvices

4.0 out of 5 stars Never Fails to Hit the Spot...
Another gripping Jack Reacher novel. Lee Childs has expertly managed, yet again, to thrill the reader with every twist and turn of this very well written story. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Sarah Gooding

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read
Like all Child's books, its a gripping read and would highly recommend it to anyone. Reacher is a legend and you can;t help but want to be him!
Read it!
Published 19 months ago by Lucy Parks

5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping
Contrary to what many reader's believe Lee Child is British, but moved with his family from Cumbria to the United States to begin a new career as an American thriller writer. Read more
Published on 8 Feb 2007 by J. Chippindale

5.0 out of 5 stars Never mind Batman returns - Reacher is back
I must admit I'm a fan of Lee Child and Jack Reacher. I have one question about this story ie how does someone who is unemployed,no home address and no ID get a job protecting the... Read more
Published on 22 Aug 2006 by G. M. Buchanan

5.0 out of 5 stars Jack Reacher - One Man Army
Lee Child never fails to thrill with his Jack Reacher novels and this one is no exception. Reacher - every womans dream man every mans boyhood hero. Read more
Published on 16 Aug 2006 by G. M. Buchanan

3.0 out of 5 stars Not Lee Child's best thriller
Lee Child is an expert craftsman and this is a solidly constructed thriller. Enigmatic tough-guy drifter Jack Reacher is once again called in, this time to prevent unknown... Read more
Published on 23 Nov 2005 by 100wordreviewer

1.0 out of 5 stars Very Dull
I have read several of Lee Child's books and found each of them to be good; fast paced edgy thrillers with a likeable main character, well worked plots. Read more
Published on 24 Feb 2004 by Hargsoft

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