Will I love Killing Floor?

As I indicated earlier, I am a Lee Child superfan. I’ve read all his original books. A thick (and expensive) biography. A long essay he wrote on heroism. All his short stories. You get the idea. So it was fun to re-read this book, his first.

It wasn’t what I remembered, that’s for sure! Yes, the action scenes are vivid and instructive (Child writes about the utility of a headbutt versus the risk of breaking your hand with a punch), and the action is what I remember most. But there’s more to this book than fights: there’s a major romance,… show more.

This book is an intense game of cat-and-mouse with a protagonist initially an unwilling participant. What caught me by surprise was Reacher’s wit and humor in the midst of intense situations. He is essentially a more intelligent McGyver who can outmaneuver even the most formidable adversaries. The novel portrays Reacher as calm to the point of being detached, which is a rarely discussed symptom of PTSD. 

My wife and I enjoyed watching the TV series, so I thought it would be fun to read the books as a comparison. Enough things happen differently so that it did not feel like I was watching a rerun. The more I read, the more I realize how much I am drawn to the characters of a book. Other things are important in the story, like plot, action, emotions, etc., but it feels like the characters are the crux of the matter for me. With Jack Reacher having so many checkboxes ticked in the strengths list, it helps to see… show more.

I picked this book because it is the 1st Jack Reacher novel, but they are all great. They speak to me because they depict a very unusual guy. A tough guy with a brain and a strong sense of right and wrong. A vagrant who fixes problems wherever he goes.

I have been accused of having a white-knight syndrome all my life, so I find this character riveting. Action, plot twists usually a touch of romance. These are all things that speak to me and Jack Reacher novels are full of them.

Reacher is dedicated to his “family” 5000%. Nothing else matters. Nothing. He is an incredibly simple and driven character who cannot resonate with the world around him nor give a moment to care that he does not. He is. That is all. Family is his team and, in this case, one actual family member. All are on equal footing.

While most details from books fade from my memory, this book (read when it first came out and eons before the TV show) is etched into my memory completely. The characters, the places, the fights, the sights and smells. I fell… show more.

This was Lee Child’s first Jack Reacher novel written after leaving a lengthy career in television. I read it years before I got the writing bug. Along with the rest of the world, I loved Reacher from the outset, a no-nonsense ex-US Army military policeman. A loner who believes in justice, he freewheels around America, walking into trouble and bumping into people with problems that he helps to solve. He’s a big man you can’t forget or miss; Reacher is six feet five.

I knew the theme was familiar, but the character was original, exciting, and tough. Frequently called hardboiled,… show more.

Child has made a fortune with his stories featuring the imposing character Jack Reacher who, like the guys in that old TV series, Route 66, wanders aimlessly around the country, always looking for new experiences. But he stays off the grid while doing so. Reacher is a loner and wants to stay that way. He’s a man you don’t mess with if you want to stay healthy. Though no shrinking violet myself, I get a vicarious thrill when bad guys attack him, not realizing who they’re up against, and come out on the short end. I select this particular Reacher… show more.

This book introduced me to the world of Jack Reacher. His lifestyle fascinated me. The idea that he would simply hitchhike or ride public transport anywhere he fancied was so appealing. Add to that the intricate and multifaceted personality that Lee Child imbued him with and the intricate detail that was evident in all of the books and I was fascinated. I introduced my dad to the series and reading them together was a pleasure we enjoyed until he died.

The answer is simple. Jack Reacher. The depth of this character is phenomenal. After the first few pages I was hooked and have remained a fan of the series to this day. Since Child retired, the series had continued, but without the same connection that Lee Child had with his prime character.