REVIEW: The Hard Way. Lee Child

Lee Child’s reputation and that of his character Jack Reacher and the up and coming film Reacher gave me good reasons to pick up on of the many books available, that together with needing something to read on holiday and The Hard Way shouting at me from the supermarket shelf.
I also thought that it would make a change from the many authors I have recently added to my “To read list” as well as getting to see what it takes to be an “A” list author.
A plot that seemed a little unbelievable at times yet was strangely kept the interest going with a few twists and turns. I don’t know whether it was from reading it with a writer’s eye but at times the plot unfolded in my head well before it did on the paper. This can be frustrating at times as you need to be kept on your toes as to what may or may not happen but at the same time having a punt at what the direction of the plot will goes and then finding out you were spot on can almost be as rewarding so long as it doesn’t happen in the first few pages.
Overall the plot moved at a reasonable pace and the characters and the setting on the scene was done expertly enough to give you a good picture of the events people and places yet leaving enough to the imagination to fill in the finer detail. Vivid and robust characters gave the plot its depth and a reason to follow the plot and to keep the reader wanting to know more, wanting a conclusion if not a little unbelievable in places.
What I did find a little disappointing was the main protagonist Jack Reacher, and a connection to him. I have read many novels where you feel for the main character you get under their skin and into their psyche into their head knowing what makes them tick giving you a sense of caring a connection a need to see them succeed and to survive the most arduous and challenging predicaments that they encounter. I found Reacher a little cold and difficult to connect with, very little back story came to light apart from being alone in the world yet I couldn’t help thinking why didn’t he just walk away from the situations in front of him without knowing what motivates him why get involved why be a maverick. The plot tried to address this through the connection of a military background, money and a child’s life at stake but for me there was still something missing it was as if justification was being pushed onto him rather than from coming from within.
The success of characters like James bond and Jason Bourne where again the characters background and back story are not fully revealed yet you still fight with them and will them to succeed so why shouldn’t it be the same for Jack Reacher, maybe I need to read more of his exploits and just go with the flow.