Killing Floor

Regret buying this edition. Binding is okay, but no dust jacket. Large print edition all but eliminates and margins. Looks “okay” on the bookshelf with the rest of my collection. Recommend buying paperback if you are interested in reading the story, but this particular hardcover edition wasn’t what I was expecting or hoping for.

I looked forward to reading this, my first of his books, by the good reports, but was very off-put early on by a completely unnecessary , really sickening description of prison violence (not related to the plot at all)., so if you like that sort of thing, fine, but it's not for me.

I am genuinely rather taken aback since considering the very positive reviews, I must be missing something.I was drawn to reading the book after watching the films and rather enjoying them but wound up sadly disappointed. The book, in my opinion, starts okay but over time, I genuinely grew rather bored and, this feels completely blasphemous and not at all something I normally do, I could not even bring myself to finish it. Really, I did not care about what happened to the characters.Put simply, I was sadly disappointed by this book and probably will not pursue reading further Reacher books. I think I’ll stick to the Strike series, which I find considerably more exciting and enjoyable.

It was actually seeing the film of Jack Reacher that tempted me to start with the books, and I decided to start at the beginning as logic dictated. Usually coming at things the other way round (having read the book first), I was surprised from the set-go about how different the book and character felt to what I had seen on the screen. And I mean for the better. From the first-person narrative, to the harder, sterner character of jack Reacher himself, the book as seems to always be the case, was better than the film.Killing Floor starts with a nomadic former military cop walking through the rain to a diner in the southern state of Georgia. In the quiet town of Margrave he intends to find out what happened to the blues guitarist Blind Blake, who disappeared round there some time in the 30s. It soon turns out to be the wrong place at the wrong time, and he finds himself arrested and accused of a far more recent murder. Margrave is a perfect little town, with immaculate shop fronts, trimmed lawns and gleaming statues. Jack Reacher doesn't fit in there, but something far more unkempt is hiding beneath the glossy surface.Jack Reacher was by far my favourite character in the book. From his interest in the blues to his sharp, no nonsense intelligence, he's hard not to like. He also isn't a typical hero. His justice can be ugly and savage. His response is about right and wrong, not the right thing to do.The other characters also feel real and gritty enough to engage with.The finale is a riveting set piece and will have you turning the pages with gusto. Like most of the action scenes, it is excitingly written with vivid descriptions and well executed.My only slight grumble with the story was that I was able to guess most of the twists and plot turns along the way. It was an enjoyable read, but it certainly never had me guessing as to where it was going or how things would end, or who might turn up even. I also didn't feel especially enamoured with Roscoe, Reacher's love interest in the book. But these are very mild grumbles, it is a very enjoyable read.If you like classic action adventure thrillers, this is definitely a book for you. It deals with some pretty heavy scenes of murder and threat, so is certainly a book for adults. But I for one will certainly happily go on another adventure with Jack Reacher as a reader.

I loved the recent films and decided to try the books. Not impressed. Graphically violent, with lots of shock value, but a pretty thin plot. It is written from the first person perspective which I don't much care for, as it limits the plot and action.Not recommended. Childs may be considered a top author, and is vastly more successful than me, but I won't be buying any more. I did buy the second book in the series and will read it eventually, but am not optimistic.

Was too sure of how this would go, thinking just another set of books about one person's crusade etc etc. How wrong I was. I was hooked the story line was perfect and character building was great in fact you came to believe in them. To be honest I think once people start at the beginning of these adventures let's call them that, you'll want more of them. As to date these 24 of them so far I'm on number 4 and I can't wait to move on to number 5