Nothing to Lose by Lee Child was one of the first books I reviewed on this blog back in 2011. It was a fun book to read, despite a few issues I had with the main character. Still the idea behind the story, this Wild West cowboy of modern days traveling all over America solving cases appealed to me, and that is why when author Scott Blade emailed me and asked if I would like to read his novel I was curious enough to say yes.
First of all, I must say I was relieved to see the story is about Jack Reacher’s son and not about Reacher himself. That was a bonus point. I’m not sure I would have liked to read about a known character from another author’s point of view.
Cameron Reacher is Jack Reacher’s son. His mother, a small town sheriff, dies when Cameron is eighteen, leaving clear instructions as to what path her son must follow. He, like an obedient son, does as he is told, leaving behind the town he grew up in, on a quest to find his father. Just like his father, he walks and occasionally hitchhikes until he reaches a small town where a man is desperately looking for his missing wife. The only problem is, nobody seems to remember her and someone in the town wants the husband gone or dead. Cameron decides to help and in the process he survives some pretty impressive life threatening situations. One in a jail cell involving a rope was my favorite because I did not see how he could get out of it which obviously he had to otherwise the book would just end with the main character dead. In fact, this is the appeal of this story, the ability to surprise. The writing is straightforward, and at times becomes technical, with a lot of information about guns that I wasn’t particularly interested in but other readers who know a lot more on the subject will probably appreciate. Detail is one thing this book abounds in. At times it felt like Cameron was a little too fixated on things – like how many minutes and even seconds it took him to do certain things, how he could tell the time without looking at a watch, and how he was always keeping his calm and never got beaten up by anybody. Sure, he was a massive guy, with long black hair and hands like a “human gorilla”, something Blade insisted on a little too much (I got the point early on) and everybody was afraid of him except the people who gave him a ride.
Also, I got a chuckle out of seeing that he named one of the characters Ann Gables.
Overall this was a good thriller with plenty of action and an interesting character. The author did a good job of creating a background that was believable, and in this way tying the story back to Jack Reacher. I’m curious to see if Cameron finds his father and what happens when he does. I just hope it won’t take ten novels to find out.
Many thanks to the author who provided me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
My rating: 3.5/5 stars
Read in June 2015
Sounds like you had a fun read. Do you have feelings one way or another about authors using other authors’ characters or story ideas? My book group raved about March by Geraldine Brooks, and although I love this author’s works (Year of Wonders, People of the Book), I couldn’t bring myself to read March.
I hear what you’re saying regarding too much information. Sometimes it’s hard for authors to follow Hemingway’s iceberg rule.
Hi Deb,
It was a fun and fast read, a beach novel if you like.
I think every author should invent their own character(s). Sure, imitation is a form of flattery (I can’t remember who said that) but why write something that will forever be compared with the original?
As for story ideas, most of them have been done countless of times but the fun is in seeing the little twists and following the characters who will hopefully offer something new to the reader. So I guess I’m more tolerant in this aspect. :P)
Yes, it’s hard to know when to stop and it’s understandable to a point – you want the reader to know all the little things but it depends on individual taste. I just read a less than glowing review of The Shining on Goodreads and I was surprised because I absolutely loved the book.
We are all so different as readers and that’s a good thing.
Even though this is the main character of the series’s son, I think it is odd when another writer takes on a series that is ongoing.
Based on your commentary however, it sounds as if this one is a decent book.
Hi Brian,
I thought it odd too, so I was curious to read it. I was surprised to discover there are other authors who wrote about Jack Reacher apart from Lee Child and Scott Blade.
The good thing is that you know what to expect from this so if you want something familiar you know you’ll get it. I’ve only read one Jack Reacher novel, the one I mentioned at the beginning of this post, and this one is quite similar to that. No surprises here. 🙂
It’s a good book if you want something with a quick pace and no fancy turn of phrase. 🙂
I have only read Killing Floor by Lee Child, the first in the Jack Reacher novels. The all-action, no-character style really did not appeal to me then – maybe I was quick to judge. I don’t know if I’ll ever read that series, but this seems like a good alternative. You have certainly piqued my curiosity, I want to know what happens in the jail cell with the rope. 😉
Hi Priya,
There are novels to be read for the characters and novels to be read for the story. And some just for the pure joy of the amazing writing. This is the equivalent of a thriller movie so “action” is the main word.
Ah, should I tell you about that scene? 🙂 Let’s say it’s a complicated scheme of getting out of a hanging. 😉
I’ve been hearing lots of positive things about this author and especially from those who like myself aren’t fans of Lee Child. Great review, thank you for sharing your thoughts. Perhaps I’ll give Scott Blade a go.
Hi Tracy,
Well, that’s a surprise, because this book comes quite close to Lee Child’s style. I’m not sure it would appeal to people who are not that into his books. If you do get to read it I’ll be interested in seeing your review.
Nice review, Delia! I can’t believe that someone else wrote a novel about Jack Reacher – or rather about his son! I didn’t know that Jack Reacher had a son or he was married. I thought he was a loner without an ID who just walked from one small town to another solving cases. I have read a couple of Reacher novels and liked both of them – the first one ‘Killing Floor’ is my favourite. It is a book I would love to read again. When I read it, I wanted to read all the novels in the series, but I haven’t been able to do that. Scott Blade’s book looks like an interesting novel about Reacher’s son. Glad to know that you liked it.
Hi Vishy,
That was a surprise for me too. And he’s not the only one!
I didn’t know he had a son either but considering his lifestyle that sounds plausible. He wasn’t married. 😉
Glad to hear you liked the novels, I keep hearing about Killing Floor, I would like to read it at some point. I have a couple of his novels, Gone Tomorrow and Worth Dying For, so I will definitely renew my acquaintance with Reacher in the future.
Funny, I haven’t read any Lee Childs yet, and now I’m getting behind on books that use his characters. I’ll never catch up!
You still have time, TB, they’re not going anywhere. 🙂