Killing Floor by Lee Child

Killing Floor is the first Lee Child thriller, introducing the roaming Jack Reacher.

I had previously read One Shot and thought it would be good to see where the character originated.

Jack Reacher has no car, house, or TV.

He's a former military policeman who lives life off the grid.

On the night he arrives in a sleepy Georgia town, two men are killed, and he is seen walking along the deserted road nearby. He is taken in for questioning, and sees a pattern of police corruption and odd behavior in the town itself. It's discovered that one of the men killed was Reacher's brother, working undercover with the FBI. Reacher's skills in observation and deduction quickly begin to win over the head detective and a talented lady cop. Although he offers them new leads and insight into the killings, there is an exciting segment where he is thrown in prison overnight. Once out, he continues his quest to expose the corruption and free the town from the clutch of an evil enterprise, solve his brother's murder, fall in love, expose a counterfeit ring, kill four or five assassins at once, free some hostages, rescue some old black barbers, and clean out whatever else is in the kitchen sink.

This is an action-packed and solid thriller for a first novel. Lee Child used to write for television. Lots of action, over-the-top characters, explosive violence, the stranger who comes to clean up the sleepy main street - everything you want in a thriller, without a lot of warmth, humor, or emotion.

Tom Cruise plays Jack Reacher in the films, although Jack is taller, better built, and blond. Once I got into the mood of an action movie, I felt free to enjoy it, complete with eye-rolling.

Jack Reacher is a unique character in thrillers, which is an accomplishment. Killing Floor is an exciting introduction to Lee Child. He has many fans, and I will continue to read Reacher novels.

2006 / Paperback / 544 pages