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The Affair (with bonus short story Second Son): A Jack Reacher Novel (Jack Reacher Novels) [Kindle Edition]

Lee Child
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (728 customer reviews)

Kindle Price: $9.99 includes free wireless delivery via Amazon Whispernet
Sold by: Random House Digital, Inc.
This price was set by the publisher

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Book Description

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Everything starts somewhere. For elite military cop Jack Reacher, that somewhere was Carter Crossing, Mississippi, way back in 1997.
 
A lonely railroad track. A crime scene. A cover-up. A young woman is dead, and solid evidence points to a soldier at a nearby military base. But that soldier has powerful friends in Washington.
 
Reacher is ordered undercover to find out everything he can and then to vanish. But when he gets to Carter Crossing, Reacher meets local sheriff Elizabeth Deveraux, who has a thirst for justice and an appetite for secrets. Uncertain they can trust each other, they reluctantly join forces. Finding unexpected layers to the case, Reacher works to uncover the truth, while others try to bury it forever. The conspiracy threatens to shatter his faith in his mission—and turn him into a man to be feared.

Don’t miss Lee Child’s short story “Second Son” and a sneak peek of his new novel, A Wanted Man, in the back of the book.


Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for #1 bestselling author Lee Child and his Reacher series
 
“Child is a superb craftsman of suspense.”—Entertainment Weekly
 
“The truth about Reacher gets better and better.”—Janet Maslin, The New York Times
 
“Implausible, irresistible Reacher remains just about the best butt-kicker in thriller-lit.”—Kirkus Reviews
 
“Like his hero Jack Reacher, Lee Child seems to make no wrong steps.”—Associated Press
 
“Lee Child [is] the current poster-boy of American crime fiction.”—Los Angeles Times
 
“Indisputably the best escape artist in this escapist genre.”—Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times
 
“Jack Reacher is much more like the heir to the Op and Marlowe than Spenser ever was.”—Esquire


From the Hardcover edition.

Review

Praise for #1 bestselling author Lee Child and his Reacher series
 
“Child is a superb craftsman of suspense.”—Entertainment Weekly
 
“The truth about Reacher gets better and better.”—Janet Maslin, The New York Times
 
“Implausible, irresistible Reacher remains just about the best butt-kicker in thriller-lit.”—Kirkus Reviews
 
“Like his hero Jack Reacher, Lee Child seems to make no wrong steps.”—Associated Press
 
“Lee Child [is] the current poster-boy of American crime fiction.”—Los Angeles Times
 
“Indisputably the best escape artist in this escapist genre.”—Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times
 
“Jack Reacher is much more like the heir to the Op and Marlowe than Spenser ever was.”—Esquire

Product Details

  • File Size: 2068 KB
  • Print Length: 416 pages
  • Publisher: Delacorte Press (September 27, 2011)
  • Sold by: Random House Digital, Inc.
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B004P8JPS6
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • X-Ray: Enabled
  • Lending: Not Enabled
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #815 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • Would you like to give feedback on images?

Customer Reviews

If you are a Lee Child--Jack Reacher series fan, this book will not disappoint. G. Hect  |  214 reviewers made a similar statement
Plenty of action and thrills, some intriguing characters; it's a very good read. Craig Sisterson  |  97 reviewers made a similar statement
Far too much repetitive detail and a weak story line. S. Pierce  |  71 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
483 of 503 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Definitely One of the Best Reachers September 27, 2011
By Barney
Format:Kindle Edition
If you're a fan of the Jack Reacher series, you already know that Lee Child is currently the undisputed master of the unputdownable thriller. When it comes to narrative momentum and expertly wrought tension, his only rival is the late, great Dick Francis.

However, the last two Reachers - though good - left me a bit cold because I was getting tired of the "Reacher stumbles into small-town corruption" formula. Fortunately, THE AFFAIR flashes back to his army career, where he faces his true arch-nemesis, the military bureaucracy, and we learn why he decided to drop out and become a toothbrush-packing drifter. Even though the novel is mainly set in yet another bleak small town, I'm happy to report that Reacher is back to form. This latest adventure delivers the expected page-turning excitement, plus a few other bonuses:

* Both the beginning and the end are better than usual. Child tends to be too abrupt for my taste. Here he takes the time to set the scene at the Pentagon and ease past the climax in a very satisfying way.

* The love interest, the ex-marine sheriff Elizabeth Deveraux, is Child's most entertaining female character so far. She's not just there to be Reacher's girl. She has an extra dimension and is important to the story.

* The "midnight special" train that roars past Carter Crossing every night is an ingenious device Child uses to ratchet up the suspense, provide a menacing undercurrent, and structure the complicated action in a clear way. It's the most impressive example yet of Child's narrative skill. Plus, choo-choos are just plain cool.

A new reader to the series may find the staccato rhythm of the sentences a bit off-putting at first, and Reacher's tough-guy terseness here and there verging on self-parody. But they're essential ingredients in Child's hugely enjoyable, impressively consistent franchise. Overall, I rank THE AFFAIR with the best of the series, up there with PERSUADER, ONE SHOT, and THE ENEMY.
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125 of 141 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars How Reacher became the nomadic hero that we love September 27, 2011
Format:Hardcover
I loved this book! As a rule, I will read anything that Lee Child writes, anything that Lee Child recommends, and anything that Lee Child might even use as a coaster- he's just that good. This book is probably my favorite of his (It's just SO hard to pick one). Lee introduces us to Jack Reacher when he was still an MP. Reacher is sent on a mission to help find a murderer in a small town, and potentially cover up any army scandal. Lee, as always fills the book with visually pleasing descriptions, strong character development, and helps us see into Reacher's oh so interesting past. I read this in one sitting- a tough task as a working mom of 5- but it can be done!
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93 of 112 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars Mediocre Reacher is Still Good September 29, 2011
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
For Reacher fans, this flashback novel on Reacher's last days in the Army is historically interesting because it fills gaps in his resume. It provides a different reason for why he left the Army than given in earlier novels. It also shows how Reacher's "no suitcase, will travel" ethos got started. Unfortunately, the novel is marred by excessive violence than exceeds the violence of any previous Reacher book and the aftermath is simply not credible. It's been a long series and Childs has done a good job in keeping the quality level up, but we may look at this novel as the beginning of a marked decline in the series. However, having said that, even a mediocre Reacher is still a good read. But you would not want to recommend this book to your friends for their first Reacher novel.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars The Affair
This is not the best Jack Reacher story I have read, it's a good page turner like all of these books. Read more
Published 16 hours ago by Julie L. Byrnes
4.0 out of 5 stars Reacher is my favorite character
Another great book by Lee Child. You can't go wrong with Lee or Jack Reacher. I will be getting the next one soon.
Published 17 hours ago by William Elliott
4.0 out of 5 stars Love Them
Great read, i enjoy all of the books. will order some more after the summer is over. Thanks again Jack
Published 2 days ago by John Martel
5.0 out of 5 stars A great story of the beginning of Reacher's journey
Childs is back at the top of his game after a couple of disappointments. Reacher is perfect as the avenging angel.
Published 5 days ago by Jerry A. Gerelick
5.0 out of 5 stars One of Reachers best adventures
If you've read one of the Jack Reacher stories and liked it, then prepare to become an addict. I like the common thread to the stories of who Jack Reacher is but happily they are... Read more
Published 5 days ago by Brian W Clymer
5.0 out of 5 stars Jack reacher is awesome.
Before the movies read the books. These are a fantastic series of books and a must read for anyone who likes action and adventure.
Published 7 days ago by David
5.0 out of 5 stars This was one of my favorite Reacher books!
There was more mystery and tough guy problem solving but still a bit of a love story. I like Reacher when he is in the army!
Published 8 days ago by Griffin
4.0 out of 5 stars The Affair
My first Jack Reacher book...fun fast ride. Reacher is maybe a little too big and burly a character for my taste but I like the way his mind works. Read more
Published 9 days ago by Kate
4.0 out of 5 stars rat-a-tat-tat
Or so go the pounding sentences in this 16th iteration of the Jack Reacher saga, my first exposure. Lee Childs has a huge fan base in a series dominated by the indomitable perfect... Read more
Published 11 days ago by Billy Boy
3.0 out of 5 stars Another Jack Reacher
Standard Jack Reacher. I have been trying to read all Jack Reacher stories. I have one to go. It is $15. Waiting for $9.99
Published 11 days ago by daniel barr
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More About the Author

Lee Child is the #1 internationally bestselling author of the Jack Reacher thrillers. His debut, Killing Floor, won both the Anthony and the Barry awards for Best First Mystery, and The Enemy won both the Barry and the Nero awards for Best Novel. "Jack Reacher", the film based on the 9th novel, One Shot, stars Tom Cruise, Robert Duvall, Rosamund Pike, Jai Courtney, and David Oyelowo and debuted in December 2012. Child, a native of England and a former television director, lives in New York City and the south of France with his wife and daughter. Find out more about Lee Child and the Reacher novels on his official website: LeeChild.com, on Facebook LeeChildOfficial, on Twitter #LeeChildReacher, and YouTube leechildjackreacher.

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tom cruise to play Jack Reacher?
Exactly my thought. I am hard pressed to think of someone LESS suited for this role. This has got to be a joke... NO way!
Aug 1, 2011 by J. Compton |  See all 95 posts
Kindle Book Prices
I think there is a BIG problem when the traditional book prices are less than Kindle prices. Today, I wanted to purchase a book and it was $12.99 for the Kindle, and $10.50 for the print version. Part of the allure was convenience and lower book costs. Up until now, I was satisfied with the cost... Read more
Jun 4, 2011 by D. Hill |  See all 32 posts
Pre-orders vs. Orders
Absolutely, if I was to add to the it would be nice column - it would be nice if when you do pre-order Amazon would quit putting the books into the recommended list.

That any given purchaser could add Authors to a watch list and as soon as a new book becomes available they would show up on... Read more
Apr 30, 2011 by Brenda Kasztelan |  See all 6 posts
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