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Introducing Evan Smoak and author Gregg Hurwitz

It was one of those days, you know, you’ve had them before. You’ve finished your latest book series after the Christmas period, you’ve had a short gap of not reading anything for a couple of weeks. Then the cravings start hitting, I NEED to read a decent book, especially at night before bed, something to look forward to as the nights get dark so quickly.

The next day, into the bookshop I go, I have a quick flick through the usual authors I know of, nope nothing new there, I spot a few others on the discount shelf (always looking for a bargain), nope nothing there worthy of attention. Then I have a quick “click and check” of some books, you know the method, check the back of a book, google the title and see what some reviews say. This is such a painful process as I only have 30 minutes lunch break and I HAVE to do this method currently as there are not many websites like www.bookslikejackreacher.co.uk which help you quickly find something that is decent.

After 20 minutes of my lunch break gone, I stumble upon an author called “Greg Hurwitz”. I thought, I recognise that surname from a book I’d bought before, which I thought was okay when I had read it. The book in front of me was titled “Orphan X” and to be honest looked okay but the main thing that I noticed on the front of the book was a quote from LEE CHILD stating that the book was “Outstanding in every way”

What happened next?

Yes you guessed it, I went and bought the book. It was quite funny though, as when I got home I realised that the author who I thought sounded the same, was in fact someone else entirely called Anthony Horowitz and the book was called “Trigger Mortis” which you could BUY HERE!

“Oh no” I thought had it all gone wrong, got the wrong author, perhaps read the wrong reviews, it’s probably not a book like Jack Reacher surely. Have I wasted my hard-earned cash??

Go on tell us….

I was greatly surprised to find out that this book is one of the best books like Jack Reacher out there currently. I’ve been introduced to a totally refreshing character named “Evan Smoak” who like Jack Reacher is a loner but again has an amazing set of skills to combat the bad guys. The plot is brilliant, Evan Smoak is a person who senses great victory in helping people who are in danger. He does this by leaving people that he has saved from harm with a phone number that they can pass onto anyone (only one) person they meet who is also in desperate need.

What I love about this plot is that you sense something bad is going to happen all the way through, it’s much too easy for Evan to go through life and not have any harm come his way. What would be the point in that, him helping people and strolling around, no one wants to read this. As you read more about his background, you realise that not all is as it seems and Evan is in great, great danger.

Is this as good as a Lee Child book?

As with all comparisons, it is hard to compare the two characters Jack Reacher and Evan Smoak. I can only say that for me, Evan Smoak is like a younger brother to Jack Reacher. He can handle himself, has the usual eye for detail and investigative skills, the main difference is that he is up to date with the latest technology to aid him. Evan has such an amazing set of skills from, knowing all the time if something is wrong in a situation to checking online databases and hacking into various systems to help him in the search for people.

Greg Hurwitz has created a great character who interacts with other people in his apartment block, and again, the detail that goes into painting the picture about the protection Evan has installed into his own apartment is incredible.

Final thoughts

I included Evan Smoak in my characters in books like jack reacher as he is such a brilliant read and hero that I think people who read Lee Child novels will absolutely love. He always seems to be out of danger and then the plot is flipped so that you can’t see a way out for him. I really do like the idea of the interaction of a man made human weapon, engaging with the public in his apartment block. These scenes really give a sense of the caring side of an assassin and it does help the reader to relate to the story a lot more.

I say buy this book now, you will not be disappointed at all!

Let me know what you think, when you have read the book in the comments below.

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Lee Child Novel Rival – Latest book like Jack Reacher!

I think I have done it. I didn’t know if it was possible. I have finally found a crime thriller book with a fictional character that maybe as good as Jack Reacher. I say maybe as I’m scared. I’m scared that (whispers) it may be a little better. “No” I hear you cry, “shut up”, “stop talking rubbish”, I’m sorry so so sorry but listen up, there could be every possibility that I could be right. After finishing the latest Lee Child novel, I went away on holiday and bought a book to take with me. I had scanned the web (painful) to find anything that could be good and find it I did!

Did you say “Like Jack Reacher”

In our previous post we looked at the books you should read, if you love the Jack Reacher Series. Well, we have found a new series of novels by author Tom Wood which are going to be added to this list. The main character is an assassin known as Victor. A cool, calm and collected person who is a master of his craft. He is again a loner, doesn’t trust anyone and is paid to kill people that have been order to be hit. He operates using a typical skill set of counter surveillance and plastic surgery to make sure he is not known, just in case he is spotted in a CCTV camera. This latest book has Victor working for the British and also being targeted at the same time by bad guys who would do anything to stop him.

Good things in this book?

One of the first things in this book like Jack Reacher is the way that Victor isn’t your typical hero. He like to fight for the underdog as per Reacher, but this is not really a priority for him. He is selfish, really making sure he doesn’t die is his main priority, he will kill anyone if the circumstances dictate. In this book we see how vulnerable he is, as the group who are trying to kill him are every bit as good as he is. This requires Victor to really think at least two steps ahead of them and plan every single move that he makes.

Why is this book like Jack Reacher novels?

The author Tom Wood writes really descriptive plots and provides lots of detail which is just like Lee Child. When you start to read the book you really do immerse yourself into the story line and are left wanting Victor to survive even though in reality he is not a good guy. The fight sequences are absolutely amazing, from bullets through arms to biting off noses (literally), you can imagine every punch, kick and block happening right in front of you. Like Jack Reacher, Victor gets injured, has to think on his feet when things go wrong, always gets the girl and has a sense of justice to his work.

What is the book and where can I get it?

BUY THE BOOK NOW HERE!

The book I took on holiday that got me into the series is called “A Time to Die” and can be bought on this site see bottom of page. This book is number 6 in the series and there are currently 7 Tom Wood books with another one on the way in July 2018.

Is this book better than Lee Child Jack Reacher Books?

I must admit, I read this book in 1 day on holiday. I was so intrigued to see if Victor would survive and who was actually trying to kill him. Even though Victor is slick, wears expensive clothing but still looks like an average guy, he seemed to have a much more raw character which is what Jack Reacher was like in the earlier series of Lee Child novels. Time will tell if Victor can continue to have the success of Lee Child books but from what I have read over the series so far he is on course to compete.

I can honestly say that the author Tom Wood has really hit the mark with his novels, I now rate him highly as someone who in between Lee Child writing a new Jack Reacher book and me reading the latest Jack Reacher book, I can slot the new Tom Wood book in between.

Buy it here!

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Favourite Jack Reacher Book

My all time Favourite Jack Reacher Book

There may be some of you thinking out of the 22 Lee Child Jack Reacher books, which one is your favourite?  For most of us die hard Jack Reacher fans, I think it would be hard to choose just one book that stands out from the rest as they are all so, so good in their own unique way.

With that said however, there is one book that for me, will always stand out in the series of Jack Reacher novels.  This is due to the fact that this was the book that got me hooked into the Lee Child Jack Reacher novels.  I got given it after Christmas by my father in law, kind of a flippant “here you go, have a read of this” comment as he hadn’t had a chance to read it.

Just the back page of the book got me intrigued, why had I never heard of this person before?  Why would no one mess with him?  Why did he leave the army?

What happened next?

I got the book and devoured it, reading it in the morning with breakfast, at night over tea, before bed, you name it.  Whenever I had the opportunity to read the book I did.  To me it was just an instant classic, Jack Reacher teaming up with four of his ex army colleagues as his old team are getting picked off, one by one.  The team are just so  cool, all with their own skill sets, and they have obviously got a  tight bond between them of loyalty from being in the army.

Why is this the Best?

Fight scenes – check

Third person writing – check

Lots of characters – check

Plot twists and turns – check

This book has got everything and more, it was the first time that I got to know the hero but not as a normal hero.  No Jack Reacher is an unconventional hero who walks close to the line with the law by protecting his team and the underdogs but also wants justice done by any means possible.

Once I had been gripped by this book, I decided to research and look at what else Lee Child had written – low and behold, there were another 10 books to read before this one.  I felt that I then had to read the Jack Reacher books in order, so that I could start to see where he had come from, and follow his fictional journey from the beginning.  I think being a kid in the 80’s the Jack Reacher books reminded me ever so slightly of David Banner, the end scenes of the hulk tv series.  David Banner, a loner, walking down a road, piano music playing in the background as he wanders off into the next location.

If like me you want a “do not put down book”, look no further than this Jack Reacher novel.

Remember, “You don’t mess with Jack Reacher” – Bad Luck and Trouble can be bought here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Stephen Leather – Takedown book review

Wow, just started reading this new book from Stephen Leather and already I’m hooked….

This time no Spider Shepherd but long term ally Lex Harper. This book is so far gritty, engaging and the plot is amazing. A British Special Forces operative goes rogue! Queue lots of action, double crossing, twists and turns plus lots of fights.

Just like Lee Child books where you start one page at 11pm, look again at the clock and its 1am and you have read 5 chapters. You just want to know whats going to happen after every page turned.

Books like Jack Reacher recommend this book

Synopsis

When a British Special Forces soldier goes rogue, carrying out an attack at a US army base in Syria leading to the death of two men, ex-MI5 controller Charlotte Button is hired to work out what his plan is and to take him down before he can carry it out.

Charlotte puts her best man on the case – hitman Lex Harper. It’s up to Lex to assemble a crack team and get to the soldier before he carries out what could be a massive terrorist attack. But Charlotte might require Lex’s help with a more personal problem too . . .

As ex-MI5, Charlotte holds information on thousands of the agency’s dirty operations, and keeps a store of those secrets in three flash drives hidden in separate safety deposit vaults. Now someone is taking extraordinary measures to recover the secrets through Hatton Garden-style robberies. So far two vaults have been raided, and two flash drives have gone. If the third is stolen, Charlotte’s life will be in jeopardy. While it’s down to Lex to prevent a potential terrorist attack on British soil, Charlotte must work out who is after her and what they want.

Just to update, finished the book and wow, loved it.  Really different style to Spider Shepherd as Lex Harper hasn’t got the same moral character but he gets the  job done more efficiently.  Would definitely read this if you have finished the last Lee Child book and are waiting for the latest Jack Reacher book.

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David Baldacci – The Fix book review

Jack Reacher Alternatives

Looking for a brilliant book like Lee Child?  Then look no further than this good read by well known author by David Baldacci.

The book titled “The Fix” is brilliant, even though I had lots of work on, I read this book within a week. The book really does draw you in with each page,  the main character is so intriguing that you are never sure how the plot is going to play out.

From the first few pages where a murder happens in front of both the FBI headquarters and main character Amos Decker, right until the end we wanted to know why, why, why and who, who, who!!

Like Jack Reacher – Amos Decker

Amos Decker is a complex character as we discussed on the previous post, he is always thinking ahead of the situation that he is in but also find himself quite disturbed due to his medical condition.  Not quite a male hero character who beats the bad guys physically, more of a geek who can look after himself, but will outwit anyone he comes up against.

Like Jack Reacher, Amos has a problem solving mind, such a great skill set when trying to solve murders.  How he solves this crime with all the twists and turns you wouldn’t even expect, make this book such a brilliant read.

We recommend this book for all who like Jack Reacher – Score 9/10.  BUY IT HERE!