Status
Available
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
Jove (2006), 567 pages
Description
Fiction. Mystery. Suspense. Thriller. HTML:Jack Reacher finds himself in bad company in the second novel in Lee Child�??s New York Times bestselling series. Jack Reacher is an innocent bystander when he witnesses a woman kidnapped off a Chicago street in broad daylight. In the wrong place at the wrong time, he�??s kidnapped with her. Chained together, locked in the back of a stifling van, and racing across America to an unknown destination for an unknown purpose, they�??re at the mercy of a group of men demanding an impossible ransom. Because this mysterious woman is worth more than Reacher ever suspected. Now he has to save them both�??from the inside out�??o
User reviews
LibraryThing member magnumpigg
Okay, so yes it was a fun read...overall ... but believe me, there was an awful lot of "overall." This is what bothers me about this book and what I find in so many other thrillers out there: they are just over-burdened with detail...excruciating detail ... much of it not pertinent to the plot or
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character development. Just read the first 5 paras of chapter 5. Are they really necessary, revealing, insightful? And there are tons of nitty-gritty about weapons, and helicopters and planes and all other types of military hardware. If I wanted to read a spec book, I'd pick one up and read it. But I don't really need to know the history and ins and outs of the Glock to know that the character carries one. And whenever the "Government scene" evolves, there is the detailed org chart of what character reports to whom and to this one and that one and half the time the mopes never show up again. Drop the org charts and keep it simple. I think these guys want us to think they have done a lot of research, which may lend some verisimilitude to the story. Naw, it's just minutiae....and minutiae is mind-numbing. Ahhhh! Show Less
LibraryThing member Smiler69
While Reacher is passing through Chicago, walking on a busy street, he gives a helping hand to a beautiful woman saddled with a crutch trying to make her way out of a dry cleaners with an armful of clean clothes. In the same moment, Reacher and the woman are accosted by two thugs with guns drawn
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who force them into a vehicle and take the duo on a cross-country drive. Reacher has never seen these men before, and he rightly assumes that the woman, Holy, was the target and that he just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. Sure enough, it just so happens that Holy, and newly recruited FBI agent, is the daughter of an Army general who is current head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The goons are rough and mean and make the trip unpleasant for their charge, and Reacher finds plenty of opportunities to defend the dame, but what awaits them when they arrive at their destination is pure madness. Action-packed with clearly defined roles where the good guys are practically saints and the bad guys are rotten to the core, I listened to this audiobook in just two long sessions. While Child was still obviously trying to find his stride with this second Jack Reacher book, it certainly filled the need for action-packed, larger than life drama. Looking forward to the next one. Show Less
LibraryThing member jeremytaylor
Review by Jeremy Taylor
Lee Child took the world of literary thrillers by surprise—and by storm—with his excellent debut novel, Killing Floor. Child’s first book introduced readers to Jack Reacher, ex–military cop turned rugged-individualist vigilante. Written in first person and featuring
In a market that more often than not sees second books that fail to live up to the standard set by the author’s first work, Die Trying is a surprising deviation from the norm. Even better, Child’s second book is not in any way a carbon copy of his first. For one thing, the author proves himself quite capable of writing from multiple points of view, switching to the more familiar (and simpler) third person narrative. But beyond the writing style, the story is quite different from the first book as well.
Die Trying opens with Jack Reacher and a woman he doesn’t know being hustled off the street and into a cargo truck by an unknown assailant. As Reacher and the woman, who turns out to be a fairly high-profile FBI agent named Holly Johnson, brainstorm theories about the motivation behind their kidnapping and strategize about how they might escape, they gradually learn more about each other and about the bizarre and frightening situation in which they find themselves. As the story unfolds, Reacher proves to be every bit the chivalrous and ingenious nonconformist he was in Killing Floor, refusing escape on numerous occasions in order to provide whatever assistance he can to Holly.
Die Trying has both a more convincing central premise and a more compelling eventual setting than Child’s first book as well, as Reacher and Holly end up deep in the Montana wilderness, held captive by a renegade militiaman intent on using them as the impetus for his war with the federal government. Child builds the suspense throughout, climaxing in a literally explosive finale that leaves the reader cheering exhaustedly while finally climbing into bed (or eating a late dinner, or returning to work, or doing whatever was neglected during however long it took to finish reading the book).
Child has stated publicly that he intentionally writes “clean” thrillers—books that contain no graphic sexuality and little language. This is true for the most part, though it should be pointed out that Child’s idea of “clean” will undoubtedly differ from the definition of that concept held by some of his potential readers (Child began his career as a television writer, and in typical Hollywood fashion, Reacher and Holly do have a sexual encounter, though the scene is not graphic). Sensitive or younger readers should also be aware that frequent and often brutal violence is a trademark of Jack Reacher as well.
Die Trying is a fun book to read—engrossing, entertaining, and hard to put down. Readers who enjoy fast-paced action novels with a moral rooted in traditional (and even, to a certain extent, biblical) literary principles like “you reap what you sow” and “what goes around comes around” will enjoy Child’s writing. Highly recommended for fans of the action-thriller genre.
Lee Child took the world of literary thrillers by surprise—and by storm—with his excellent debut novel, Killing Floor. Child’s first book introduced readers to Jack Reacher, ex–military cop turned rugged-individualist vigilante. Written in first person and featuring
Show More
nonstop action, Killing Floor delighted readers and created new Lee Child fans in the U.S. and around the world.In a market that more often than not sees second books that fail to live up to the standard set by the author’s first work, Die Trying is a surprising deviation from the norm. Even better, Child’s second book is not in any way a carbon copy of his first. For one thing, the author proves himself quite capable of writing from multiple points of view, switching to the more familiar (and simpler) third person narrative. But beyond the writing style, the story is quite different from the first book as well.
Die Trying opens with Jack Reacher and a woman he doesn’t know being hustled off the street and into a cargo truck by an unknown assailant. As Reacher and the woman, who turns out to be a fairly high-profile FBI agent named Holly Johnson, brainstorm theories about the motivation behind their kidnapping and strategize about how they might escape, they gradually learn more about each other and about the bizarre and frightening situation in which they find themselves. As the story unfolds, Reacher proves to be every bit the chivalrous and ingenious nonconformist he was in Killing Floor, refusing escape on numerous occasions in order to provide whatever assistance he can to Holly.
Die Trying has both a more convincing central premise and a more compelling eventual setting than Child’s first book as well, as Reacher and Holly end up deep in the Montana wilderness, held captive by a renegade militiaman intent on using them as the impetus for his war with the federal government. Child builds the suspense throughout, climaxing in a literally explosive finale that leaves the reader cheering exhaustedly while finally climbing into bed (or eating a late dinner, or returning to work, or doing whatever was neglected during however long it took to finish reading the book).
Child has stated publicly that he intentionally writes “clean” thrillers—books that contain no graphic sexuality and little language. This is true for the most part, though it should be pointed out that Child’s idea of “clean” will undoubtedly differ from the definition of that concept held by some of his potential readers (Child began his career as a television writer, and in typical Hollywood fashion, Reacher and Holly do have a sexual encounter, though the scene is not graphic). Sensitive or younger readers should also be aware that frequent and often brutal violence is a trademark of Jack Reacher as well.
Die Trying is a fun book to read—engrossing, entertaining, and hard to put down. Readers who enjoy fast-paced action novels with a moral rooted in traditional (and even, to a certain extent, biblical) literary principles like “you reap what you sow” and “what goes around comes around” will enjoy Child’s writing. Highly recommended for fans of the action-thriller genre.
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LibraryThing member Kingray
Nail bitter until the end! Jack almost gave up, but stayed true to form.
LibraryThing member christinelstanley
This is a good read, not exceptional, but interesting enough, with good characterisation (love Jack Reacher), good plot and reasonable pace. The story stalled in a few places, getting bogged down in too much technical detail, and the book could have been edited down by 80 - 100 pages. A satisfying
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end. Show Less
LibraryThing member edwardsgt
Usual high octane Jack Reacher which keeps you reading to the end, even though you know he survives, just a question of how and who with! This time he is kidnapped with an injured FBI agent who he was helping carry her cleaning.
LibraryThing member Bookmarque
Reacher is growing on me. I like the guy. His adventures are a stretch, but hugely entertaining. Like one of those big, action adventure box-office smashes that makes no sense, but has great special effects and one-liners.
Once again, complete and utter happenstance puts Reacher in the thick of
This time we’ve got a bunch of amped-up segregationists hid out in (surprise!) Montana with lots of guns, money and crazy talk. They’re nuts, but well organized and deadly serious. It’s almost too delicious watching and waiting for Reacher to bring it all down and kick some serious ass. That being said, I do wish one particular bad guy got more of a drawn out awakening of his failure before he met his final end. Child pulled the punch when it came to it and it was my only disappointment in an otherwise excellent Reacher adventure.
Once again, complete and utter happenstance puts Reacher in the thick of
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things. Signals are misread, motives assumed, mistakes made and he’s in for the long haul. His innate and dominant sense of right and wrong keeps him involved when he had opportunity to leave; he’s a hero and he can’t walk away from someone in distress. Plus we learn a bit more about his past and what we learn makes us like him more. I love Child’s decision to not give us the whole story, but instead to draw it out with small nuggets of info in each book. It keeps the readers engaged and interested in his character. Other authors would do well to learn this (I’m looking at you Jeff Lindsay).This time we’ve got a bunch of amped-up segregationists hid out in (surprise!) Montana with lots of guns, money and crazy talk. They’re nuts, but well organized and deadly serious. It’s almost too delicious watching and waiting for Reacher to bring it all down and kick some serious ass. That being said, I do wish one particular bad guy got more of a drawn out awakening of his failure before he met his final end. Child pulled the punch when it came to it and it was my only disappointment in an otherwise excellent Reacher adventure.
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LibraryThing member miyurose
An excellent book in an excellent (so far) series. Child really knows how to grab your attention from the start and keep it throughout the whole book. The conspiracy theories were even believable as conspiracy theories. I actually think this one was better than his first, Killing Floor.
LibraryThing member harpua
This is my second Lee Child book (and the second Jack Reacher novel). I liked this one so much better than the first book. I can see now why so many have recommend Child to me. While the whole premise of Reacher just being in the wrong place at the wrong time seems a bit of a stretch, man does it
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make for an exciting and interesting ride. I really like the way it seems that Reacher can extract himself and solve the situation at a moment of his choosing. I also enjoyed seeing a bit of weakness in Reacher in one point and later overcoming this fear and using it too his advantage. Excellent book and can't wait to start book 3. Show Less
LibraryThing member Shari13
A woman on crutches stumbles out of a dry cleaner’s store, and Reacher stops to help her - and gets kidnapped with her moments later. Transported to a Montana militia base camp, FBI Agent Holly Johnson and Reacher soon find themselves in a world of crazy anti-world government extremists, in a
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political Catch-22 bringing the Armed Forces, FBI, and President’s Office official decrees into conflict with each person’s personal desires. Show Less
LibraryThing member crazybatcow
It started off very much like the first book in the series (Killing Floor) - Reacher finds himself dropped into the middle of some serious criminal event occurrence and we know he'll figure a way out of it all.
So... it's pretty good for about 2/3 of the book because you're waiting for Reacher to
Then the story turns and there's a lot of information about a right-wing military group who want to secede from the U.S., complete with "discussions" of their political views and how "it's not like it used to be".
I don't want to read politics in a Reacher novel, I want to read about Reacher saving the day.
So... it's pretty good for about 2/3 of the book because you're waiting for Reacher to
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escape and thinking that the next scene will have him bursting free and giving everyone involved a good kicking.Then the story turns and there's a lot of information about a right-wing military group who want to secede from the U.S., complete with "discussions" of their political views and how "it's not like it used to be".
I don't want to read politics in a Reacher novel, I want to read about Reacher saving the day.
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LibraryThing member mikedraper
Reacher helps a woman with a cane, as she struggles with putting her dry cleaning into her car. Three men approach and abduct Reacher and the girl. They are taken to the men's land in Montana. The girl, FBI agent, Holly Johnson, is to be a bargaining tool for what they are planning with the
Reacher shows his many talents in this, the second installment of the Jack Reacher stories. He's strong, intelligent and analytical. He often knows what the captors are planning before the captors do. He also shows that he's normal in that he develops feelings for Holly. His compassion and strength are two of the reasons the readers enjoy him as a character and are able to sympathise with him.
The plot is original and logically laid out. Lee Child adds a number of surprises and plot twists that add to the interest and fun of reading the story.
The author's theme seems to be that when oppressed, do not give in. Even one person can do great things against insurmountable odds.
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government.Reacher shows his many talents in this, the second installment of the Jack Reacher stories. He's strong, intelligent and analytical. He often knows what the captors are planning before the captors do. He also shows that he's normal in that he develops feelings for Holly. His compassion and strength are two of the reasons the readers enjoy him as a character and are able to sympathise with him.
The plot is original and logically laid out. Lee Child adds a number of surprises and plot twists that add to the interest and fun of reading the story.
The author's theme seems to be that when oppressed, do not give in. Even one person can do great things against insurmountable odds.
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LibraryThing member TadAD
The second Jack Reacher story continues the roller-coaster action of Killing Floor as Jack get sucked into a confrontation with a militia group that fails to realize that they're pissing off the wrong guy. It's fun in that slightly over-the-top fashion. The ending on the action side was fine,
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though maybe just a little bit anticlimactic after the build-up that seemed headed at a mano-a-mano between Jack's and Borken's shooting abilities. However, the ending on the romance side was completely ham-fisted—the characters other than Jack were too hollow to make how it happened (not what happened) convincing. Show Less
LibraryThing member TheoClarke
Engrossing sequel to KIlling Floor that could stand alone. It is ingenious that Reacher gets involved in a crime as an innocent bystander but is mistaken for a perp by law enforcement. The depiction of the independent militia and their conspiracy theories manages to be alarming and funny without
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making them ridiculous. Show Less
LibraryThing member ConnieJackson
An exciting and entertaining read.
This author is one of my favorite mystery authors and he sure knows how to capture my attention..I couldn't put "Die Trying" down once I started reading it. The story is exciting and entertaining. It's a great book, and I love the Jack Reacher character. The nice
This author is one of my favorite mystery authors and he sure knows how to capture my attention..I couldn't put "Die Trying" down once I started reading it. The story is exciting and entertaining. It's a great book, and I love the Jack Reacher character. The nice
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guy, who's not like the guy next door. Highly recommend this one. Show Less
LibraryThing member pat1eiu
This series is awesome!! I am very late coming to the Jack Reacher series, but am very glad that I have found it.
LibraryThing member debavp
Your learn absolutely nothing new about Reacher, well, other than he's human and as such has human fears and feelings. What scares him scares you too. Your heart will break a little, right along with his. The scene with the dogs could not have been any better written, another moment where Child
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took Reacher to an unpredictable place with an unpredictable outcome thus making him even more interesting. Yes, it's still early days for Reacher and I'm certainly looking forward to getting to know him better. Show Less
LibraryThing member cathymoore
I was convinced to try Lee Child by my mother-in-law, and I'm very greatful to her for the recommendation. Jack Reacher is an ace hero, even though this is Child's second Reacher novel I didn't feel I'd lost anything in not having read the first one. I get the feeling that we will never know enough
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about Reacher for him to ever have much of a back story. It is obvious after the first chapter or two that this was written prior to 9/11. It feels almost strange reading a thriller set in the US that makes no mention at all of the twin towers or Islamic terrorism, there almost feels like there is an innocence or naivety about the writing. This novel features right-wing American extremist and their attempt to create their own independent state while simultaneously committing a terrorist atrocity. They hadn't reckoned on a certain Jack Reacher getting in their way - he seems to have skills and infallibilty bordering on superheroism. I hope it doesn't becomer unbelievable as I progress through the series, as I surely shall. Show Less
LibraryThing member vivela
I enjoyed it, somewhat suspenseful
LibraryThing member Reacherfan
This is the follow up to Killing Floor staring Jack Reacher. Man, this is such a great read!!
Jack Reacher is just walking down the street, and he gets mixed up in a kidnapping of an FBI agent, as a result, he's taken hostage. That's a big mistake by the kidnappers. They have no idea what they are
This is such a wonderful read. What I liked is how Reacher was involved in the story. He's just waking down the road, and is in the wrong place at the wrong time. If he just waked two or three seconds faster, he'd have missed the entire thing. I also liked the mega plot twist on who these guys really are
This is a great installment to the Reacher series, If you start it, I know you won't be sorry, I sure wasn't.
Jack Reacher is just walking down the street, and he gets mixed up in a kidnapping of an FBI agent, as a result, he's taken hostage. That's a big mistake by the kidnappers. They have no idea what they are
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in for. They pushed the wrong man to far. Reacher had to figure out why they kidnapped Holly Johnson, the FBI agent, and how can he keep her alive. Also he has to figure out who had kidnapped them, and why? Who are these people? Reacher will get to the bottom of everything and get to the truth, or die trying.This is such a wonderful read. What I liked is how Reacher was involved in the story. He's just waking down the road, and is in the wrong place at the wrong time. If he just waked two or three seconds faster, he'd have missed the entire thing. I also liked the mega plot twist on who these guys really are
This is a great installment to the Reacher series, If you start it, I know you won't be sorry, I sure wasn't.
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LibraryThing member MSWallack
A successful follow-up to Killing Floor. I would have preferred that Child continued to write in first person (which I usually detest; few writers manage to write a good thriller in first person) as the scenes that did not feature Reacher were the weakest of the book.
LibraryThing member glade1
I enjoyed this one. It was fast paced with lots of twists, just like a thriller should be. I like Jack Reacher. Though of course he's too good to be true, he's still pretty believable.
LibraryThing member ashergabbay
“Die Trying” is Lee Child’s second novel in the Jack Reacher series, after “Killing Floor”. Whilst I enjoyed the first book, I found “Die Trying” much less enjoyable.
This time Jack Reacher finds himself involuntarily involved in a battle between the FBI and a Montana-based militia. He
The FBI and Holly’s father mount a semi-private rescue operation, as the White House prefers not to get involved. Needless to say, Jack is trying his best from the inside to get himself and Holly out. His shooting marksmanship enables him to create enough havoc inside the compound until him and Holly are rescued. He also manages to foil the bigger plan of the militia’s leader involving a bomb and many innocent civilians.
This is a classic Child novel, fast and with no unnecessary complications. An enjoyable read for a day at the beach or a long flight.
This time Jack Reacher finds himself involuntarily involved in a battle between the FBI and a Montana-based militia. He
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helps a woman struggling with her crutches outside a laundry shop and the next thing he knows he’s being kidnapped together with the woman, ending up in a white truck that drives for days into the militia’s hideout in the mountains. The woman, Holly Johnson, is an FBI agent who also happens to be the daughter of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the god-daughter of the President of the United States. She is kidnapped because of her PR value to the militia. Jack is kidnapped because he happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.The FBI and Holly’s father mount a semi-private rescue operation, as the White House prefers not to get involved. Needless to say, Jack is trying his best from the inside to get himself and Holly out. His shooting marksmanship enables him to create enough havoc inside the compound until him and Holly are rescued. He also manages to foil the bigger plan of the militia’s leader involving a bomb and many innocent civilians.
This is a classic Child novel, fast and with no unnecessary complications. An enjoyable read for a day at the beach or a long flight.
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LibraryThing member ecw0647
I'm not quite sure why I keep listening to these types of novels. I guess they are kind of mindless mind candy and good while mowing the lawn, shoveling snow, picking up trash; the kinds of activities that don't require much thinking. The hero is always smarter, shoots straighter, more macho (but
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in a sensitive way), and manages to wipe out half an army, pausing just ever-so-briefly to mull over and then discard any moral qualms. Because, after all, it's all for the greater good. Dick Hill just a great job narrating the Reacher series and I guess I'll listen to more of them next time I need to clean the garage. For all that they do entertain. Show Less
LibraryThing member gogglemiss
Hostage stories always make for gripping reading, and this was no exception. Tense, and very interesting as to how Jack Reacher observes and calculates everbody and every situation. with the odd misplaced and unnecessary sex thrown in., which is my only quibble.
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1998-07-20
Physical description
7.56 inches
ISBN
0515142247 / 9780515142242