After trying, over the course of several novels, to get to Virginia, Jack Reacher finally makes it there in Never Go Back, the 18th installment in Lee Child's popular series. Reacher had long conversations with Major Susan Turner in 2010's 61 Hours, and, liking her voice, decided to hitch his way to the D.C. area to meet her.
When he gets there, however, Turner is missing, with a shifty colonel in her place. The colonel gives Reacher a surprising order, along with news about two serious charges that could get Reacher arrested. The cases supposedly involve people from his military past, but Reacher can't remember them. Someone powerful is out to get him, but who, why--and what does Turner have to do with it?
But when Jack Reacher is involved, does the plot really matter? Child is a reliable storyteller and Reacher's latest adventure contains the elements fans like best, as Reacher takes on corrupt, powerful people, gets into bone-crushing fights and meets a hot, smart female protagonist who's very good at her job.
There's a small downside to being reliable, though. One subplot suggests Reacher's life might change drastically, but longtime fans will probably guess the outcome--and the coincidence of that subplot is too farfetched. This is the beloved tough guy doing what he does best, though, and fans will probably go anywhere with him. --Elyse Dinh-McCrilllis, freelance writer and editor, blogging at Pop Culture Nerd