Better than previous Reacher adventures

This book takes us back to early in Reacher's career. He's send undercover to a small Mississippi town to investigate an unsolved murder, primarily because the townfolk suspect that someone on the nearby military installation is the culprit. I found this adventure better than the last couple of Reacher adventures and hope future installments are as good or better. The narration was good (as usual). This download has a bonus book which really adds to the value. The bonus book "Second Son" is about a much younger Reacher (just a kid) and his family in Okinawa, Japan. I really enjoyed this short story about one of Reacher's first adventures. If you are a Reacher fan you will enjoy this book.

42 people found this helpful

Premature review?

I am a rabid Reacher fan and was SO looking forward to The Affair. I've still got 3 hours of listening left but so far I'm a little disappointed. It's as though Mr. Child is just phoning it in. I can't quite put my finger on what's missing. It's not the same high quality, edge-of-your-seat story that we've seen in all the previous Reacher books (all of which I've listened to twice). I keep waiting for.... more... but more what, I can't say.

I DO know I wasn't waiting for more sexuality- even as mildly graphic as it was. Where did THAT come from? Did the publisher say "C'mon Lee, you need to sex it up!" I've thought of Reacher as a private guy and now he's describing his sexual events to me. Too much information, Jack! I guess I was expecting a military type affair, (requiring Class A uniform) rather than one conducted (entirely out of uniform) beside the railroad tracks at midnight. (was that a spoiler?) sorry.

The fact that everyone is raising hell with the casting of Cruise as Reacher should tell Mr. Child -and his publishers- that the previous 15 books strongly established Reacher in the readers' minds as the epitome of the strong, silent type ("I said nothing") and we can't easily accept or adjust to radical changes in his physical appearance or personality.

Having said that, I'll listen to the end with the hope that I'll be pleasantly surprised and will have to eat my words.

As for Dick Hill... I'd listen to him read the back of a cereal box. He's simply the best narrator out there, period...and I'd be willing to bet the farm that NO ONE thinks of Tom Cruise when they hear Dick Hill's voice.

15 people found this helpful

"All Aboard!"

"Let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start..." Say you've seen those books over the years, the ones with the little subtitle, "A Jack Reacher Novel", seen they were the 8th in a series, the 12th in a series, and now here comes the 16th, and you've passed them by because who wants to start in the middle? Here is the perfect chance to come on board! With 15 previous novels inspired by this Jack Reacher, you know this has got to be one interesting guy. Why now? Because The Affair is how it all got started (why nomad Jack likes his toothbrush). A brilliant idea by multi award winning author Lee Child; show the reader the etiology of the coffee guzzling, rapier witted, ex-military sleuth as he himself recalls,"I remember the date...the 11th of March 1997..." and thus begins the legend of Jack Reacher as he walks away from the Pentagon. As usual, lots of action, sharp humor, a colorful cast of characters, and a train that speeds through the one-diner town rattling more than the tracks. Dick Hill has been narrating Reacher books for a while and seems to have a great time with this one, particularly some of the scenes involving the train--talk about gusto! Childs has it down to a formula, churning out consistently top rated mystery thrillers, and while it may be predictable--it's never boring to travel along with Reacher. Reacher fans will love this one--newcomers will be jumping on the band wagon--or the train. [Next stop for newbies...#1 in the series, Killing Floor, *Now in movie production: Tom Cruise playing Reacher (some fans are up in arms) #9 in the series, One Shot.]

163 people found this helpful

Great!

Really entertaining… listened to it in two days… couldn’t put it down (or away)…

I especially enjoyed the short story of the Reacher brothers in their teens included at the end.

Dick Hill is Jack Reacher!

Whoever decided to cast Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher in the upcoming movie obviously has not read the series… He does not fit my mental image at all.

40 people found this helpful

After 19 Reacher books, I still want more!

Where does The Affair rank among all the audiobooks you???ve listened to so far?

It's as good as the best and better than many.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Reacher, as always, is my favorite super hero.

What about Dick Hill???s performance did you like?

Since I have listened to Dick Hill perform this character through 19 books, I just like everything about his reading. I cannot see anyone else as Reacher.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I tried to do this, but it was too long for that. Anyway, I would have been disappointed if I didn't hae it to look forward to listening to again.

Any additional comments?

Yes, I would like to say that whoever chose Tom Cruise to play Reacher, must not have read the books. Reacher is supper tall, blond and blue eyed and very big. Does this author's description at all resemble Tom Cruise? What a colossal mistake. I hope something prevents Cruise from doing this movie. Only a type such as Dolph Lundgren could possibly be Reacher.

23 people found this helpful

Really, really, really great!

Whew... I read it like I was on the midnight train at 60 mph.... I tried to turn it off, to make the pleasure last, but, could not stop. Was surprised by the almost-graphic sexual content, but thrilled by the perfectly placed metaphor. Some stuff got hazy for me.. I may have lost track of who's who, but in the end, it all made sense. I had not read that there was a bonus book, so at the end, I'm thinking there's another hour .. though I couldn't imagine what else Reacher could do in this story.... I am saving "Second Son" for later... to prolong the ride... The best of all the ones I've read. Now that it's over, how long will be the wait for another "hit." Patricia

PS: Tom Cruise had better have blond hair and extra inches in height and girth. If I see him do his cartoon running with those stupid splayed fingers I might gag. Arnold is too old, but Arnold had the look of a Reacher. Tom, please back out... you'll make lots more money on this movie if you make JR authentic -- and you won't make a fool of yourself.

31 people found this helpful

Vintage Reacher

Great literature, it isn't, but it's Reacher, and I keep coming back for more of him. While I can easily put down other audio books, I can't so easily put down Reacher. I finished the book in two days. Child keeps me engaged. I have to find out what's happening next.

Dick Hill is the perfect narrator for Reacher. I can't imagine anyone else doing him.

Tom Cruise playing Reacher? You have got to be kidding me? Haven't they read any of the Reacher books? Tom Cruise is 5'7" and weighs 160 lbs. Does that sound like Reacher to anyone that's read the books?

9 people found this helpful

Winning Reacher story

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes! I loved this plot. One of the best Reacher mysteries in a while.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me laugh in a few places. Loved the narration.

8 people found this helpful

I Love Reacher

I've read all Reacher books at least twice. Thank you Lee Child and Dick Hill for another great Reacher. This book, as well as all others, is done well with enough "who done it" mystery, well thought out with great detective work, and good character building. I think Lee Child is a GREAT writer. Added: Tom Cruise as Reacher is LUDICROUS (and I've said so at Lee Child FB). My vote for movie portrayal of Reacher is Jim Caviezel. If you like Reacher, you should check out the new TV show Person of Interest.

25 people found this helpful

another stong reacher

I was a little surprised at this being more raunchy and graphic than previous books. But the strong writing that we all love is still in there. Dick Hill is perfection when he does Lee Child books. Well worth the credit!

14 people found this helpful