Personal

Lee Child has been trying to adjust the formula for Jack Reacher, and after eighteen novels, that’s a welcome change. Personal works really well but the stakes are much higher than Reacher’s usual “small town avenger” role — instead, this is a Hollywood style thriller where the hero is effectively saving the world.

I find that Reacher’s chaotic brand of justice works better with small stakes, and the characters constantly lampshade that a retired MP isn’t really going to contribute anything that highly resourced departments in three-letter-agencies couldn’t already figure out. That’s fine, and yet Reacher continues to unveil mysteries that stump folks dedicated to the job. It’s a confusing bit of world-building and reinforces a certain stereotype that I don’t care for: that of a “rugged worldly soul” having better insights than intellectuals.

Aside from that, the mystery is interesting and I’m happy to say that I figured out the twist before Reacher explains it. The action is excellent, and the supporting cast doesn’t irritate so that’s a win. Decidedly above-average for a Reacher novel.

I did find it incredibly odd that no one else in Britain’s security apparatus could figure out where the sniper was hiding. Then again, the SAS did decide to use Reacher as bait explicitly, so perhaps that covers for the ridiculous second half of the novel where Reacher shows up in London and starts taking apart a major criminal gang.

The second half of the novel also gave me whiplash because you go from flying around the world puzzling out mysteries and presidential assassinations, to Jack kicking thugs in the balls. The mix of high and low stakes wasn’t great. Combine that with the CIA/State sidekick being thoroughly useless (ie. standard Lee Child female character) and Personal just can’t stand up there with the better Reacher novels.