Deep Down by Lee Child


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Transworld Digital, 2012. Kindle edition. 306 KB. ASIN: B008DVVLYW.

Deep Down is the second short story by Lee Child after Second Son. It is available in electronic format and it was published on 16 July 2012. The action takes place during the years when Reacher was still in the army. It includes a preview of Lee Child’s next Jack Reacher novel, A Wanted Man.

Summary: Reacher is called to Washington, D.C. to investigate who is leaking key arms data. The suspects are four women on a fast track up the military chain of command. Real Type-A personalities: smart, busy, focused—not the type to waste time on a hulk, no matter how hunky. How’s Reacher going to charm secrets out of anyone and catch the culprit when there’s no time to waste? (At Lee Child official site)

I must admit I made a mistake by downloading this short novel into my Kindle. It is too short, less than 100 pages, and doesn’t provide any information about Jack Reacher’s character. It is an easy read, though not the best way to start reading this series, as in my case. You can read it in one sitting, Lee Child knows perfectly well his craft and how to keep the reader’s attention, but only for his die-hard fans, in my view.

My rating: 3/5.

Jim Grant (born 1954), better known by his pen name Lee Child, is a British thriller writer. His wife Jane is a New Yorker. His first novel, Killing Floor (1997), won the Anthony Award for Best First Novel. Each of Child’s novels follows the adventures of a former American Military Policeman, Jack Reacher, who wanders the United States. Child was elected president of the Mystery Writers of America in 2009.

The Official Lee Child & Jack Reacher website

Reacher across America: Author Lee Child on why the US is an ideal crime tale setting

Lee Child by Ali Karim at January Magazine (An interview)


Deep Down de Lee Child

Deep Down es el segundo cuento que publica Lee Child después de Second Son. Está disponible sólo en formato electrónico y se publicó el 16 de julio de 2012. La acción tiene lugar durante los años en que Reacher todavía estaba en el ejército. Incluye una vista previa de su próxima novela A Wanted Man.

Resumen: Reacher ha sido llamado a Washington, DC para investigar quién puede estar filtrando datos clave sobre armamento militar. Los sospechosos son cuatro oficiales, los cuatro son mujeres ambiciosas que quieren escalar los puestos más elevados en la cadena de mando. Verdaderas personalidades del tipo A: inteligentes, ocupadas y centradas, no de las que van a perder su tiempo con un tipo grande, sin importarles lo guapo que sea. ¿Cómo va a poder Reacher utilizar sus encantos para descubrir su secreto y atrapar a la culpable cuando no hay tiempo que perder? (De la página oficial de Lee Child).

Debo admitir que he cometido un error al descargar este cuento en mi Kindle. Es excesivamente breve, no llega a 100 páginas, y no proporciona información alguna sobre el personaje de Jack Reacher. Es una lectura fácil. Es una lectura fácil, aunque no la mejor manera de empezar a leer esta serie, como en mi caso. Se puede leer de una sentada, Lee Child conoce perfectamente su oficio y cómo mantener la atención del lector, pero sólo para sus fanáticos, en mi opinión.

Mi valoración: 3/5.

Jim Grant (nacido en 1954), más conocido por su seudónimo de Lee Child, es un escritor británico de misterio. Su mujer Jane es de Nueva York. Con su primera novela, Killing Floor (1997), ganó el Premio Anthony a la Mejor Primera Novela. Cada una de las novelas de Lee Child cuenta las aventuras de Jack Reacher un ex-policía militar estadounidense, que recorre errante los Estados Unidos. Lee Child fue elegido presidente de los Escritores de Misterio de América en el 2009.

10 thoughts on “Deep Down by Lee Child”

  1. Thanks, Jose Ignacio. I think it is a pity that the series has become so mechanical, and in this case, short, but the first couple of books are well worth reading (The Killing Floor is the first I think). I remember reading them in a double edition at first publication, and thinking “wow, this is a bit different”. Very exciting. But unfortunately, after loyally reading the next 14 or so, I have parted company with these (now) lazy books full of unbelievable things eg Jack in a cellar with lots of baddies with guns, who oddly do not shoot him, but leave him there so he can escape, return, and……etc.

    1. Thanks for your comment and for your information Maxine. I guess my point is that even at less than € 2,00 this short story is not worth it. It’s promotion material for his next instalment and in that sense I found myself cheated.

      1. It is a good point, that it is rather cheeky to charge money for a promotion, in effect. It isn’t as if he needs the money.

  2. José Ignacio – Thanks for this review. It is a pity that the story felt more like an advertisement for another novel than an actual story in and of itself. I think I’ll probably give this one a miss.

  3. Nice to see a short story reviewed Jose. I haven’t read the latest Lee Child but would be happy to read this story is I saw it in an anthology.

    1. I read that his first short story, Second Son, was much better, but I would rather by a book now after this experience or an anthology as you suggested

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