Book Review: Past Tense by Lee Child

Past Tense by Lee Child

Jack Reacher has decided to head south for the coming winter, crossing America from New England to San Diego. Since he walks everywhere (until he can hitch a ride, though a big, tough guy like him an intimidating stranger to pick up from the side of the road), his start is slow, winding him up in Laconia, New Hampshire, the town where his father was from. Curious, he goes to town and does a little investigating. He's in no rush. But he winds up in trouble when he wakes at 3 a.m. one night. He investigates the noise he heard and discovers a man trying to force himself on a woman. Naturally, Reacher intervenes. The young man is laid out cold but he's a rich kid from a shady family, bringing trouble to the town where Reacher just wanted to do research.

Reacher's problems aren't half of Canadian couple Shorty and Patty's troubles. They are heading south to New York to sell some valuables and then go on to Florida to set up an oceanside business. They have car trouble and are forced to stop off at an isolated motel some miles outside Laconia. The helpful people at the hotel, all young men, are a bit weird and keep stringing the Canadians along for some mysterious reason. Shorty and Patty don't know what the deal is, but they suspect it is a raw deal.

The two stories eventually collide with the usual action and suspense a reader expects from a Reacher book. The motel mystery is more interesting than Reacher's family research, just because it is less obvious what is going on and Reacher's storyline is a bit haphazard, relying a lot on coincidence to move the narrative forward. The action scenes are exciting and fun, Child is a master at action narrative. Things resolve about as fans would expect, so a very satisfying ending.

Recommended for Reacher fans.