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Killing Floor

Book 1 in the series:Jack Reacher

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"Killing Floor" by Lee Child follows the story of Jack Reacher, an ex-military police officer and drifter, who finds himself arrested for a murder he didn't commit in a small town in Georgia. As Reacher delves deeper into the mystery, he uncovers dark conspiracies and dangerous criminals hidden beneath the town's facade. The plot is fast-paced, filled with action, suspense, and unexpected twists, keeping readers engaged from start to finish. The writing style is described as crisp, spare, and filmic, with short sentences and complex plots that make it read like an action film.

The narrative voice of Reacher is highlighted as warm and intelligent, drawing readers into his character and making them eager to follow his adventures. introduces Reacher as a tough, resourceful hero who takes matters into his own hands, facing danger head-on and unraveling mysteries with his sharp instincts. The setting of the story in a small Southern town adds to the atmospheric and suspenseful nature of the plot, creating a compelling thriller that leaves readers wanting more.

Characters:

The characters range from a deeply complex hero in Reacher to supportive allies with evolving arcs, while the antagonists tend to be less nuanced.

Writing/Prose:

The prose is crisp and direct, marked by short sentences that create a fast-paced and engaging reading experience.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot features Jack Reacher, who faces wrongful arrest in a small town for a crime he didn't commit, unraveling a conspiracy while seeking justice for his brother.

Setting:

The setting is a seemingly perfect small town in Georgia that conceals a dark underbelly of crime and conspiracy.

Pacing:

The pacing is quick and engaging, though occasionally slowed by detailed descriptions; it maintains reader interest throughout.
I WAS ARRESTED IN ENO’S DINER. AT TWELVE O’CLOCK. I was eating eggs and drinking coffee. A late breakfast, not lunch. I was wet and tired after a long walk in heavy rain. All the way from the highway ...

Notes:

Killing Floor is the first book in the Jack Reacher series by Lee Child.
The main character, Jack Reacher, is a former military police officer.
Reacher travels across the U.S. living as a drifter after leaving the army.
The story begins with Reacher visiting the small town of Margrave, Georgia.
He is arrested shortly after arriving for a murder he did not commit.
The victim is later revealed to be his brother, which adds a personal motive to his investigation.
Reacher is depicted as a highly skilled fighter and strategist, often using his military training to solve problems.
The writing style includes short, punchy sentences that contribute to the story's pacing.
The narrative features a mix of action, mystery, and personal drama, focusing on Reacher's quest for justice.
The book explores themes of freedom and autonomy vs. societal constraints.
Lee Child received acclaim, including the Anthony Award for Best First Novel for Killing Floor.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include graphic violence and murder, possibly triggering for sensitive readers.

Has Romance?

There are romantic elements, particularly between Jack Reacher and a female police officer, but romance is not the primary focus of the story.

From The Publisher:

THE FIRST NOVEL IN LEE CHILD'S #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING JACK REACHER SERIES-SOON TO BE AN ORIGINAL SERIES ON PRIME VIDEO!

"From its jolting opening scene to its fiery final confrontation, Killing Floor is irresistible."-People

Ex-military policeman Jack Reacher is a drifter. He's just passing through Margrave, Georgia, and in less than an hour, he's arrested for murder. Not much of a welcome. All Reacher knows is that he didn't kill anybody. At least not here. Not lately. But he doesn't stand a chance of convincing anyone. Not in Margrave, Georgia. Not a chance in hell.

Ratings (110)

Incredible (17)
Loved It (46)
Liked It (28)
It Was OK (11)
Did Not Like (7)
Hated It (1)

Reader Stats (163):

Read It (118)
Want To Read (26)
Did Not Finish (1)
Not Interested (18)

5 comment(s)

Loved It
1 month

Child's language is nice and succinct and straight-forward add this to a decent amount of suspense, and a good plot and the book moves along nice and quick. A very solid first novel, but nothing ground-breaking.

 
2 months

Watched Amz Prime series // Feb 2022

Since finding out the TV series is different in tone than the book series, I’ll stick with the show.

 
Did Not Like
4 months

The best word to describe this book is masculine. And not in a nuanced way. More like a testosterone dripping off the pages way. The prose is hard and fast, almost staccato. I didn't mind it at first, but it started to wear me down after a hundred pages or so.

Child relies too much on exposition at the expense of dialogue - as a result there is quite a bit of showing versus telling. I didn't really get an idea of Jack as a person until well into the second half of the book. He starts off as a cardboard cut out of an ex-military badass turned drifter. The latter part of the book fleshes him out a bit.

The mystery is confusing and boring at first, but definitely picks up towards the end.

Here's my favorite part of the whole book, when Jack is preparing to take down five bad guys single-handedly (because of course he is):

"Loaded, cocked. Safety on. Spare shells in the outside top right pocket. Switchblade in the left side pocket. Blackjack in the right side pocket.

Shoes tightly laced." (emphasis mine)

I don't know why that's so hilarious to me, but it is. Shoes tightly laced. I kind of want to read the story where he forgets to tie his shoes.

 
Liked It
5 months

Kick ass hero. Army veteran like me.

 
Incredible
1 year

I loved the book! It took me a while to get into the main character but it’s worth the read. I love how it take you into a realm and you don’t want to leave. This was an awesome book and I am so happy I was able to read it.

 

About the Author:

Lee Child is #1 New York Times bestsellling author of the Jack Reacher thrillers and the complete Jack Reacher story collection, No Middle Name. All his novels have been optioned for major motion pictures-including Jack Reacher (based on One Shot) and Jack Reacher: Never Go Back. A native…

 
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