Amazon.com: Customer reviews: The Jack Reacher Cases (A Hard Man To Forget)

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Lee Child is a hard man to forget, but Dan Ames fills in admirably

Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2017

I had my doubts, as I always do, when a writer tries to fill the shoes of a world-class, established writer, whether it be Stieg Larsson, William Manchester or in this case, Lee Child. But Dan Ames is a veteran and up to the task of putting together a Child-like shortened novel under the Jack Reacher franchise. Once I got into it I no longer thought about a fill-in author behind the plot and narrative. Will look forward to another Ames/Child collaboration. I sent Dan an email and he graciously responded.

33 people found this helpful

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Richard

Has nothing to do with Jack Reacher

Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2018

I’m very familiar with Lee Child as a writer. I’ve read everything he has written at least twice. I even read the book somebody wrote about him. Unfortunately the writing of Dan Ames isn’t even in the same ballpark. One of the most compelling things about Lee Child is his writing detail through Reacher. And Reacher is a fanatic about reality. Anything that can be measured he has done it. These details, compellingly described, drive Child’s books. Not so with Ames. In his case the explanations are too obvious and take away from the story rather than add to it. This is a significant distinction making it very difficult to suspend disbelief. I don’t care for the Reacher tease aspect of the book either. We’re not going to meet Reacher on these pages no matter much they tease so what’s the point?

25 people found this helpful

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From the United States

G. D. Geiss

A Few Words of Caution

Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2017

Verified Purchase

I don't often write negative reviews on the theory that if you can't say something positive, keep quiet, nobody likes a drag down. But as a fan of Lee Child's Reacher books and of the supporting character, Lauren Pauling, he created for "The Hard Way", I feel compelled to offer at least a caution here. It's not that this is bad work. It won't do you any harm and the cost is limited, but there is simply no substance to it. You will know nothing more about Pauling after reading this than you knew going in if you've read "The Hard Way", and her "side-kick" here (the Reacher act alike - he leaves bodies all over the place), Michael Tallon,, is as shallow and surface a character as you'll encounter (other than he's ex-military, you're told absolutely nothing of his background or of his history with Pauling beyond the bare fact there is one). The plot is sophomoric and terribly implausible. I would recommend against it, but as others have observed, it moves quickly and is an easy, if unrewarding, read. If you're thinking about buying this because you love the Reacher stories, do yourself a favor, don't. If you're just looking for some easy diversion, I think you could do much better than this, but, like I said, it won't hurt you any.

32 people found this helpful

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Marcus Andrews

Delivers less than it promises

Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2018

Verified Purchase

"A Hard Man to Forget" falls well short of the bar set by the original novels. Those are marked by a wealth of detail and some fairly complex characterization. This short novel is lacking in both. Characterization is paper thin, with the protagonists having little complexity. The villain, too, feels like a stock character lifted straight out of a cartoon, and his motives are never fully established. Likewise, there is a dearth of detail, even though the story and setting provide ample opportunity for enrichment. Ames seems to favor brisk writing over detail, and the result is a more of a thin broth than a rich stew.

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Cat Man Do

NOT a Jack Reacher case

Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2017

Verified Purchase

The ONLY thing in this book that's related to Jack Reacher is that a character says his name a dozen times or so. The story was so-so, the deception is blatant. Wish I had passed this one.

4 people found this helpful

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