"The Midnight Line" by Lee Child

Above: "The Midnight Line." Lee Child. 365 pages.

I liked the setting. In and around Laramie, WY. Good descriptions of western distances, western scenes, and taciturn western people. Child's description of the setting sun, minute by minute, changing the colors of the vast, Wyoming landscape is great writing.

I completed reading this book today.

Look. I admit to having been a Child fan. I've read all of the Reacher books.

But, truth is, the Reacher books are getting a little tedious with their formulaic structure.

To wit:
Tall, tough, smart, unattached Jack Reacher.

Army Major MP retired. Sterling, medal studded...and, controversial...military record.

Unrooted. Have tooth brush, bank card, and club like fists, will travel.
Enter midwestern town on a dingy, intercity bus, or shotgun in the cab of a Peterbilt as a hitch hiker.

Beat the crap out of 6 or 7 belligerent doofii in a bar within the first 25 pages.

Drink strong, hot, coffee and eat a burger in an overnight diner.
Walk ten miles someplace.

Buy new clothes at Wal-Mart twice a week.

Run into a sexy female character who reduces the sting of Reacher's politically incorrect, toxic masculinity with her own hyper masculine ability (bring willing suspension of disbelief). Have "Wonder Woman" beat the bejesus out of some tough guys....or in the case of this book, take out a bad guy with a sniper rifle.

Have three page long tryst with "Wonder Woman." Note: When this meme gets too routine, pep it up by imbuing "Wonder Woman" with a mutilated face.

This book, in particular...

Despite the formulaic plot:
I liked the setting. In and around Larimie, WY. Good descriptions of western distances, western scenes, and taciturn western people. Child's description of the setting sun, minute by minute, changing the colors of the vast, Wyoming landscape is great writing.

Lot of good info on opiods, a current worry in America today. Plot revolves around a drug ring run out of Rapid City, SD.

Note: Took oxycotin for a while after breaking my leg last August. Experienced no highs...only constipation, so stopped using.

Interesting discussion about value of being good looking (female), or tall (male). Hot twin of mutilated protagonist sister says, "it may be unfair (to be hot), but it helps, and I'll take it."

Recent reading tells me there's a lot of better material around than the recycled Reacher meme (Tana French, anyone?). Need to up the quality of literature as my own mortality looms greater than during erstwhile more frivolous periods.

Plus, Child's agreement to let diminutive Tom Cruise play 6 foot 5 inch Reacher in the movies is unconscionable. Lee Child is a sell out.
It was good while it lasted, but, enough Reacher is enough.