Never Go Back, A Jack Reacher Novel, by Lee Child →

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Book Photo Disclaimer: I refuse to post any picture with Tom Cruise in it. How he got to play Jack Reacher in the movies is beyond logical understanding.

“Never Go Back” refers to Reacher’s former Northeastern Virginia headquarters, where he served as CO of an elite military police team. However, the real reason for going back started four books back, in “61 Hours,” with a flirtatious telephone call to the woman who currently has Reacher’s old job, Maj. Susan Turner.  

This book starts with his return, but it turns out to be a trap. Someone knew he was coming, and he was forced back into the military, arrested, and charged with homicide and even a paternity suit. At first, this seems to just be aimed at getting him to run and never go back. The message is delivered by a couple of tough guys who fail to intimidate Reacher—of course!

Major Turner is also arrested shortly after Reacher arrives. Her replacement seems unqualified and allows a soldier in Afghanistan to be killed.

Both Turner and Reacher find themselves locked up in adjacent cells and escape together. They quickly learn that they are both attracted to much more than just their phone voices. Turner's thoughts about Reacher seem to reveal a level of lust not seen before in the prior books.

Their escape sends them with little money fleeing West Virginia and going cross-country to Los Angeles, where they investigate the paternity charge. Reacher meets the child who has some striking similarities to him. She is very tall for a teenage girl. They meet in a diner, and her backtalk and way of thinking are very much in Reacher's style.

The plot is spread from a planned meeting with an Afghan tribal leader to LA neighborhoods and points between.

see Literary Favorites Section for Lee Child for more on this author and also links to all his books reviewed on this site

Quotes

• “If you can't acquaint an opponent with reason, you must acquaint his head with the sidewalk.” ...

• “How much do you work out?" ...

• “Like they were puppets, and the puppeteer had sneezed.” ...

• “A person either runs or he fights. ...