Never Go Back is the eighteenth book in the Jack Reacher series written by Lee Child.
It was published on 3 September 2013 in the United States.
The book continues the storyline covered in the novels 61 Hours, Worth Dying For and A Wanted Man. The novel, like a majority of the Jack Reacher novels, is narrated in third-person point of view.
Never Go Back has a simpler conspiracy than the previous book, A Wanted Man, and it meant I could actually enjoy this one. The bad guys mess with Reacher, setting him up to take a fall for a murder he did not commit. This sets up a cat-and-mouse between Reacher and the baddies, as he escapes, dodges the fuzz & the henchmen, tries to rescue the girl, and gets down & dirty with the woman he decided he wanted to meet something like 4 books ago.
Review of 'Never Go Back (Jack Reacher, #18)' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
I’ve seen the movie, and I’ve spent the last three books anticipating Susan Turner showing up in this novel. As such, I am biased, but this is definitely one of the top-tier Jack Reacher novels and no fan will be disappointed. It has all the best parts of any Reacher novel - an intriguing over-arching mystery (multiple to be honest), and a number of direct attacks on Reacher that cannot be easily solved by kicking someone in the face. He’s dragged into the conspiracy almost the moment the novel begins, and the novel doesn’t slow down.
Where this takes a turn for the better is the inclusion of Susan Turner, who is that rare effective female character with an actual personality (instead of just being something for Reacher to save / conquer). She takes the standard “Reacher does everything” plot and helps push it forward, speeding up the thrills and …
I’ve seen the movie, and I’ve spent the last three books anticipating Susan Turner showing up in this novel. As such, I am biased, but this is definitely one of the top-tier Jack Reacher novels and no fan will be disappointed. It has all the best parts of any Reacher novel - an intriguing over-arching mystery (multiple to be honest), and a number of direct attacks on Reacher that cannot be easily solved by kicking someone in the face. He’s dragged into the conspiracy almost the moment the novel begins, and the novel doesn’t slow down.
Where this takes a turn for the better is the inclusion of Susan Turner, who is that rare effective female character with an actual personality (instead of just being something for Reacher to save / conquer). She takes the standard “Reacher does everything” plot and helps push it forward, speeding up the thrills and making the novel that much more enjoyable.
That said, this is a complex Reacher novel and you would be better served if you have read several previous novels, especially those about the 110th. There are a lot of callouts to his history and I don’t think the novel is a good place to start. This is quite different from the way Hollywood adapted it, so it’s a good thing for fans.
Jack Reacher travels across the country just so he can bang a woman, because he likes the sound of her voice. When he becomes embroiled in a comical frame-up, by two farcical villains, he realises that in order to bang this woman he must prove her innocence. Oh, and Jack might have a 14yo daughter, from a previous liaison.
You might enjoy this book if you think it’s okay for a 50+yo hobbo to fuck a 20-something professional. Personally I found the constant descriptions of her height, weight to be quite nauseating.
The movie that destroyed the film franchise was much better.
Review of 'Never Go Back (Jack Reacher, #18)' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
I don't enjoy the Reacher books as much as the earlier books. But I did really like the personal aspect of this where Reacher actually has a desire other than coffee (pursuing the woman he talked to on the phone in a previous book).
I don't enjoy the Reacher books as much as the earlier books. But I did really like the personal aspect of this where Reacher actually has a desire other than coffee (pursuing the woman he talked to on the phone in a previous book).
A fun read, but not quite as exciting as the best Reacher books.
Never Go Back finally resolves Reacher's long trek through the US, looking for the woman who once helped him and whose voice he liked.
He has to solve another crime, of course. But all in all it's a lot tamer than his usual adventures. Not bad, by no means. But I found that it was looking this certain pizzazz that other books had.
