Book Review-Newer Books 12

Review—Bad Luck and Trouble

Lee Child wrote the novel Bad Luck and Trouble. Delacourte Press published the book in May 2007; the novel has 384 pages.

          Deserts are vast and often ominous places. The birds flying overhead usually mean death lies below. More than two vultures and the chances are great that it is something more than an animal lying in the desert sands. Reacher is a man down on his luck and when checking his dwindling bank account, he finds he has received a message.

          After leaving the military, for years, Reacher has just drifted through life. Now, a member of his old unit has reached out to him. Their unit was elite and secret. Now one and maybe more members are dead and being loyal, Reacher and the members left will search and find the answers to why at least one member was found dead in the desert after being thrown from a helicopter. They meet in southern California and begin the mission to seek and destroy any and all who are involved in the deaths. Pentagon money, potential terrorist threats, and secret weapons plans increase the dangers they may face. Through it all, their fallen comrades lay out hidden meanings and clues for them. The dead that lead them to more answers leave behind families. Money, power, and intrigue lay behind the deaths of the other members of Reacher’s team.

          Lee Child writes with wit and depth. The characters bring to life the meaning of loyalty and patriotism as the team races the clock to save not only each other but possibly the country too. The novel moves at a facts pace from beginning to end with irony and action in the search for answers. Twists and turns lead them through the west where gambling, money, and silicon technology rule. It may be time to go and find more books by this author, because this one wins.