GONE TOMORROW: A Review

SYNOPSIS: When Jack Reacher witnesses a suicide on a Manhattan subway, he knows that there is more than meets the eye. Soon he's in deep, trying to unearth a dark secret for which both the feds and Al-Queda are willing to kill to keep from being revealed. Even in a city of eight million, a lone wolf like Reacher tends to stand out, and before long he is being hunted from all sides—which is exactly what Reacher wants.
If you're not familiar with Jack Reacher, here's what you need to know. Reacher is a six foot-five inch ex US Army Major who lives a nomadic life - restlessly drifting across America, drinking black coffee and eating diner food. He doesn't have a driver's license, doesn't claim federal benefits and he doesn't bother with tax returns since he doesn't have an income. He often finds himself in situations where he feels compelled to use his particular expertise to put a small section of the world to rights.
Reacher, who at best can be called taciturn, is more withdrawn in this book. Child spends a bit too much time reminding the reader that Al-Queda used to be our allies when the Russians were our common enemies. Okay, I got it, Mr. Child, move on to the story.

Child often allows Reacher to make amazing detective deductions and even more amazing physical feats, and in Gone Tomorrow, he has stretched these attributes as thin as Gov. Mark Sanford's (R-SC) excuses. The climactic and very predictable violent confrontation has no suspense at all, since we all know Reacher will kick ass. The biggest suspense is when and how Reacher will finally have sex with the female NY cop he is assisting. (I won a bet with myself that it would happen on the night BEFORE the climatic [hmm, pun intendned] scene.)

A quick and exciting read, but a bit sub-par compared to most Reacher books. If you are not familiar with Reacher, this is NOT the book to start the series. Go back to the beginning and read the first novel, Killing Floor.BIBLIO SAYS: Recommended with Reservations.

Companion Read: Flood by Andrew Vachss