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Could any Lee Child readers out there give me some back round on the type of reads they are

John are you looking for recommendations for authors like Lee Child?

I have only read Killing Floor, but I was recommended him by someone I worked with when I said I liked action. I can't say that Matthew Reilly writes like Lee Child, but I love his books.

I would start with Ice Station.

I've read "The killing floor" and the next book in the series by Lee Child. He comes highly recommended (my mother.)

His main character is sort of a paladin like guy with an edge. He's a big athletic guy capable of muscling things his way, but he usually uses his head. He had a habit of handing out justice the hard way.

Jack Reacher is a lot like Robert Crais's big tough guy "Joe Pike" whom I think is the bomb when it comes to strong silent types. The diference is, that Joe Pike is usually called into a hotbed of trouble and Jack Reacher tends to stumble onto it. THe pace of the books are different. Lee Childs likes to let the tension build up like a mystery/thrilller, and Crais tends to start off going grat guns.

Jack reacher stories read like police procedurals (more or less). I'd recomend both the Joe Pike stories (Robert Crais) and the Lee Childs tories (Jack reacher)

And I'm a fan of Mathew Rielly too. At least the first book.

I'm a massive Lee Child and have read all of them except the most recent one. A great character :)

Dee wrote: "I'm a massive Lee Child and have read all of them except the most recent one. A great character :)"

Yes, I agree, Dee. Jack Reacher is a really fun character. I liked him early in the first book when he deduced the best way to keep himslef, and they guy they put in jail with him, safe from the other inmates. (I'm trying to avoid spoilers)

It reminded me of a conversation me and my stepfather had when my mother asked how to help one of the younger of the Curmudgeon Generation with bully type things in school. My step father is a decepively intelligent country gentleman. I'm not so much country as country town. I couldn't fault his reasoning.

"The First day in a new school. You find the biggest toughest guy in school and get in a fight with him. After that, you and he will probably work things out, and nobody else will know where you stand in the physical hiearchy of things even if you loose the fight (which is likely). If you think your a good enough fighter to take 'that guy on' then you are probably tougher than I am, because I'm (secretly) afraid ot fight him."

Of coarse this is where my mother leans over and goes "if you survive." (Damn the common sense thing.)
I digress... I've got spillage of the fingers today (Typing too much. it's like over-talking on your fourth cup of coffee.)

I read a book last month with a kid who followed that philosophy He fought the worst bullies and made sure he won, so they would leave him alone. Great book!

That's cool, Lady D. Is that a good Y.A. read or is it for generally mature audiences? (Coming of age is not always appropriate for youth, though more often than not it is the theme for many Y.A. Books) The Description looked very interesting.

It's YA but it has violence and language. I would say it's okay for a kid who is 14 or older. If I was a concerned parent, I might read it first though. I think an older audience can enjoy it very much.

Cool, it's on my TBR. It sounds good.

I think you will like it, Hugh.

Thanks for bringing it to my attention. I'm always up for something new and that seems outside of my normal reading material... and good, so there's an enlightenment opportunity for me.

I think the writing is really fresh and interesting. And I love the sense of humor.

Have you read The Magicians? Zero Sight reminded me of The Magicians, but I like it a lot more. I think Dieter is a good protagonist to root for.

I'm reading The Magicians now. Really not what I expected and I'm not sure if I like it. Although kudos for the main female character's name being Alice.

Haha. I didn't even catch that until now. I didn't like the characters much in The Magicians? The biggest issue I had. I did like Alice, though. :)

Lady Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "Haha. I didn't even catch that until now. I didn't like the characters much in The Magicians? The biggest issue I had. I did like Alice, though. :)"

Well any character named Alice automatically has a cool factor. Its living up to that awesome that seems to be the issue.

They almost never name a good guy "Hugh"

Hugh (A.K.A. Hermit the Curmudgeon) wrote: "They almost never name a good guy "Hugh""

or a girl hero "Eileen" : )

There's a Heroe Girl named Eileen in The List of Seven

(P-{D> You might want to look at the spoiler I put on the November read thread. It's not my review.

and even though she doesn't really show up until halfway through, she's one of the cooler heroine's I've read. Especially from that era!

I've read nearly all of them, and recommend them. Reacher is a very sharply defined character, better defined as they are written with first person POV. It would be best to read them in chronological (life story) order, though I'm not sure whether they were written in that order.

Lee Child is a British author (lives in US), so he's had to work very hard to get inside the US military psyche, particularly that of the MPs, who have their own culture. What I find scary is the sheer size, anonymity and impersonal nature of the US Army. Child/Reacher gets that across very well.

Another poster mentioned 'procedural' - yes, but that applies mainly in the US Army context, but that's not all. He has a whole new life after the army too, when he is a figure almost like Clint Eastwood plays in the Hang 'em High western series. Singular, mobile and sweeping up s**t wherever he goes, with little mercy.

Plots are tight, credible and inventive (I'm a bit of a nut about loose ends and holes). You will not find a tougher character in this genre.

I envy you the opportunity to have this great vein of entertainment ahead of you!

I'm with you, but I wonder if you've read about "Joe Pike" (Robert Crais). He's pretty tough and if not in the same genre, a very similar one.

I didn't know Childs is Brittish, that's pretty cool and, since he lives in the US, that probably helps that sense of Aloofness I get about Reacher. Able to connect, but not connected. (if that makes sense.

Hugh (A.K.A. Hermit the Curmudgeon) wrote: "There's a Heroe Girl named Eileen in The List of Seven

(P-{D> You might want to look at the spoiler I put on the November read thread. It's not my review."

I had no idea, I will go and check out your review.

I'm going to have to move up my Lee Child books on my tbr list.

I think you'll like them, Eileen. I enjoyed Killing Floor. I like that Jack is a dude who doesn't take crap. He's very expedient in dealing with bad guys. He tries to help those in need. He's more conversational than Pike, but they have a similar 'guy you don't mess with' vibe to them.

Especially in "The Killing Floor." More like a "mess with me and they'll sweep you up off the floor when it's safe to come back" vibe. He's less compassionate (which I thought was the most wonderful thing about Pike, the cold exterior, but the ability to truly "See" (as he'd put it) or understand somone inside) but, in other ways, more human-more able to make human connections and work the room.

I agree with you about Pike being a little more compassionate, Hugh, and very well said about the consequences of messing with both dudes!

Yep, where I come from, we'd call guys like those some bad (sensored)- (sensored). if you know what I mean.

Bad in a good way.

I know I'll like "The Killer Floor". I think anyone is more talkative then Pike. I think I can only remember him saying two word sentences. Picturing him saying, "You good", a man of few words and all action.

That's why I'm really liking the book "Blood Soaked" I'm reading now. It's centered around zombies but Frank is a take charge kind of guy, doesn't take any crap either. A very Pike kind of guy. The book is full of action, weapons and they blow up things. With a little romance thrown in and a lot of humor.

The Killing Floor has more action midway or later in the book. Where the Watchman (Joe the destroyer Pike) had that wonderful, exciting opening scene in the supposedly "safe" house.

Jack Reacher is one of my all time favorite characters and I think Child is a wonderful writer- both the 'mystery' and action parts. His characters are more than cliches as well.

Hugh (A.K.A. Hermit the Curmudgeon) wrote: "I'm with you, but I wonder if you've read about "Joe Pike" (Robert Crais). He's pretty tough and if not in the same genre, a very similar one.

I didn't know Childs is Brittish, that's pretty ..."

James wrote: "I've read nearly all of them, and recommend them. Reacher is a very sharply defined character, better defined as they are written with first person POV. It would be best to read them in chronologic..."

Great! It's always good to find out about another author one hasn't come across, and looking forward to working through their books. Thanks.

Love Jack Reacher and have read all of Lee Child's books. Some can be hit or miss for me. If you are from Texas, don't read Echo Burning, the research was so badly done on that one. Some of my favs are Killing Floor, One Shot, Persuarder and Trip Wire.

I really liked "The Killing Floor"

Thanks for the warning, Keri. I know what you mean when you read or watch a book/movie/tv show and they don't really know that location. I thought it was hilarious in the first X-Files movie when they had north of Dallas looking like West Texas (desert).

Hugh that was a good one, but my absolute fave remains Tripwire. Hobie was such a very bad guy and Mrs. Stone practically took the book over. I wanted her to get her own action series.

Lady D, usually it doesn't bother me, but this was so overt that I just couldn't ignore it. LoL I remember that.

I haven't read that one, but I guess it's like Randi Russel in the Code One series (ludlum). She's more intersting than Jon Smith. (He doesn't even have an h in his name.)

Hugh you should read it, awesome book!

I have it (actually) and it's in the cue to read. My mother likes Jack Reacher. Have you read any Joe Pike stories?(Joe Pike and Elvis Cole?)

No, haven't ready any Robert Crais yet. I know they have a huge fan base. I just recently found Stephen Booth, Steve Hamilton, Colin Cotterill and Cody McFayden.

I highly recommend The Watchman it's Elvis Cole 11 (or something like that) but Joe Pike #1. You don't need to read the Elvis Cole books to start this one and, Joe Pike is Da-Man!

Ain't that right Lady D?

Yes, indeed. I love me some Joe Pike!

Which books do you recommend by those authors you mentioned, Keri?

Shadowman by Cody McFayden, The Cororner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill, Black Dog by Booth and A Cold Day in Paradise by Hamilton. Although these might not meet the a/a format. More of mystery. What about Lincoln Rhyme mysteries by Jeff Deaver or Thomas Perry's Jane Whitefield mysteries?

Cool! Adding them to my list!

I'm makin' notes too!

How do ya'll feel about Brad Thor's Scot Harvath. Did I just miss him on the author's list?

I haven't read anything by him. I'd appreciate any recommendations. I don't know if we have a thread for him, but feel free to start one.

For anybody interested, here is an article where Lee chronicles the ups and downs of getting Reacher to the big screen. *sob* and Tom Cruise will never be able to fill those big shoes.

The Tom Cruise casting...Just not right!!!

For sure!!

Isn't Reacher supposed to over 6 feet tall? Tom Cruise.. isn't that like Dr. Evil's Mini me, without the me?