Book Review: Echo Burning

Reviewed By: Luke Croll - RAM

Echo Burning     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon UK PB Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Lee Child
Class/Genre:   Mystery
Series: Jack Reacher # 5
Bantam; 2001; £9.99 (English pounds); 397pp
Classification: Adult fiction (thriller)

In Lee Child's fifth novel, his hero Jack Reacher is hitching rides in Texas. He is not bothered about who picks him up, as long as he can keep moving. However, when it is Carmen with a daughter who is being watched and a husband in jail, Reacher is thrown into another exciting tale, mixing lies, prejudice, hatred and murder.

With 'Echo Burning', Lee Child has another success on his hands. Jack Reacher has developed a lot since his first novel, 'Killing Floor', but even now, Child is still capable of adding more sides and actions to the character. Here, we learn more of his past and what makes him tick as a person.

The plot is skilfully constructed and it is a mystery all the way to the end. There were a couple of times when Reacher was solving the problem that it did not ring true, as he just seemed to know too much. Of course, he was a military cop, but he was able to bring the threads together too easily. However, the Agatha Christie-esque part of the denouement was interesting and in the end, the whole story made sense. The answer to the puzzle was certainly not something that I had been expecting, but Lee Child does give some small clues throughout the novel.

Overall, 'Echo Burning' is a good novel and it is doubtful that there are any Reacher fans out there who will not enjoy it. Is it the best novel yet? I do not think so, but it is still a most enjoyable crime thriller.

Luke Croll - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Luke Croll - RAM

Luke Croll - Conference interpreter and translator
http://lukecroll.translatorscafe.com

Please Note: Books reviewed are usually provided by the publisher, author, or an agent. Reviewers usually get to keep the book.