Book review: Lee Child's 'The Affair' is a Reacher back-in-time story

"THE AFFAIR," by Lee Child, Delacorte Press, $28, 405 pages (f)

Jack Reacher is quick, tough and tenacious as he takes on the task of trying to find who has butchered three beautiful women in Carter Crossing, Miss., a small town just outside a large Army base.

He takes on bullies and puts away his enemies with dispatch. He travels with only a toothbrush in his pocket and purchases a set of clothes as he wears out the one he's wearing.

Other than the fact that he's gone back in time, "The Affair" is pretty much a typical Reacher book full of action and intrigue and common-sense crime puzzle solving.

But it answers some questions for Reacher fans and fills in some blanks. He's often referred back to the days when he was an MP in the Army but he's never explained why he left the only home he'd ever known.

This book helps the reader understand some of what went on.

At the same time, it's a story in itself that includes danger, romance and sex and a train that plays a significant role as it rumbles through town every night at midnight.

Reacher is already into the tale as he tries to get himself arrested on his way into the Pentagon, but he doesn't explain anything without raising more questions.

Who killed the pretty women? Why isn't anyone allowed close to the Army base? Can Reacher trust the female sheriff who apparently has some mysteries of her own? Was she involved with the soldier suspected of the murders?

The story moves solidly on as Reacher moves from person to motive to evidence on instinct. He never operates on simple impulse and even then, he's aware of everything around him.

He stays a jump ahead of those who decide he is learning too much and a beat ahead of the reader, no foregone conclusions here.

It works as a novel without disturbing everything one has learned about Jack Reacher or his brother or his history.

Take this along for a good read on a vacation.

Sharon Haddock is a professional writer with 30 years experience, 17 at the Deseret News. Her personal blog is at sharonhaddock.blogspot.com.

Email: haddoc@desnews.com