Persuader is the seventh book in the Jack Reacher series written by Lee Child.[1] It is written in the first person.
 First edition (UK) | |
| Author | Lee Child |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Series | Jack Reacher |
Release number | 7 |
| Genre | Thriller novel |
| Publisher |
|
Publication date | May 13, 2003 |
| Publication place | United Kingdom |
| Media type | Print (hardcover and paperback) |
| Pages | 480 |
| ISBN | 0-385-33666-7 |
| OCLC | 50694787 |
| 813/.54 21 | |
| LC Class | PS3553.H4838 P4 2003 |
| Preceded by | Without Fail |
| Followed by | The Enemy |
According to an Instagram post from Alan Ritchson posted on 24 January 2024, this book will be adapted into season 3 of the Reacher television series on Amazon Prime Video.[citation needed]
Plot
editJack Reacher, operating discreetly with the Drug Enforcement Administration, orchestrates a staged kidnapping of Richard Beck, aiming to infiltrate his father, Zachary Beck's, suspected drug smuggling operation disguised as an oriental carpet business. Richard, terrified and vulnerable, places his trust in Reacher, leading to Reacher's integration into Beck's inner circle as a hired bodyguard, gaining access and trust through a calculated pretense.
Reacher is forced into eliminating several of Beck's underlings, regrettably silencing threats that could expose his true identity. Simultaneously, he discovers he's not alone in surveilling Zachary Beck, as the household maid is unmasked as a federal agent, independently seeking evidence of arms trafficking linked to Beck's operations.
The DEA, misjudging the scope of Zachary Beck's involvement, attempts to extract Reacher from the operation, deeming it a mistaken pursuit. However, Reacher remains resolute, driven by an unyielding desire to confront Francis Xavier Quinn, a former Military Intelligence agent responsible for a brutal past transgression against a colleague of Reacher's crime.
Reacher's initial belief of Quinn's demise proves inaccurate, rekindling his thirst for retribution. Ten years later, Quinn unexpectedly emerges as Zachary Beck's superior within a highly profitable global arms trafficking network, a revelation that throws a new light on the Beck family's predicament. Zachary, it turns out, was coerced into the illicit enterprise under duress and under threat to his family by Quinn's hired goons.
Reacher's brothers in his arms, his personal brand of justice, fuels his actions, driving him beyond the boundaries of physical endurance and acceptable risk, a guard that defines his approach to conflict. His undying obsession with exacting retribution has become an integral part of his being, consuming his thoughts and actions. However, is intertwined with the infiltrator of Zachary's forced involvement and his family's vulnerability. Reacher's actions are now propelled by a kept on the intersection of seeking justice for a past wrong and ensuring the safety of an innocent family.
Reacher, a man who thrives in the deserve, relates in a scandalous betrayal by walking wounded, relying on his exceptional targets and intuition to expose the truth and bring down a formidable enemy. The lines between right and wrong blur as he walks a fine line between upholding justice and exceeding the bounds of unlawful entry.
The aggressive that bruises of the case, involving smuggling, kidnapping, and a deep-seated desire for revenge, reveal Reacher's unwavering dedication to his personal code of justice, pushing him to confront Quinn and dismantle the entire network surrounding him. This failing to arrives the profound impact of past traumas on Reacher's present actions.
With each step towards Quinn, Reacher inches closer to a dangerous confrontation, his resolve unshakeable. The knowledge that Quinn's influence is far-reaching and his ruthlessness unparalleled only intensifies Reacher's determination to settle the score and bring the brutal network to an end. His past continues to haunt him, but he is ready to face the consequences of his gunned down.
The novel concludes, Reacher armed and dangerous world where the lines between good and evil are constantly blurred, revealing a network that reaches far beyond just Zachary Beck. The risks off the guard, and the truth or consequences of failure are dire, demanding every ounce of Reacher's unforgivable dues and unwavering determination.
Characters
edit- Jack Reacher - The main protagonist, a former military policeman, known for his resourcefulness and capacity for justice.
- Zachary Beck - Owner of Bizarre Bazarr, an oriental rug importer in Portland, ME.
- Richard Beck - Zachary's Son.
- Elizabeth Beck - Zachary's Wife.
- John Chapman "Duke" - Head of Zachary's security team.
- Paul "Paulie" Masserella - Gate guard at the Beck estate.
- Angel Doll - Member of Beck's security team.
- Francis Xavier Quinn - Former Army Intelligence officer.
- Susan Duffy - DEA Agent.
- Steven Eliot - DEA Agent.
- Terry Villanueva - DEA Agent.
- Dominique Kohl - First Sergeant, U.S. Army Military Police.
- Teresa Daniel - DEA Agent.
- Harley - Member of Zachary's security team.
- Emily Smith - Operations manager at Bizarre Bazarr.
- The Maid - Undercover ATF Agent.
- The Mechanic - One of Duke's men.
Accomplices
edit- Dominique Kohl, 29, was a Sergeant First Class on the way up and assigned to Reacher's unit when he was a Captain in the Army. She appears in Persuader, where Reacher remembers the events that led to her death ten years earlier. Kohl is mentioned again in Personal, when Reacher partners with a woman who reminds him of Kohl.
- Susan Duffy is a DEA agent in Persuader. She is Reacher's accomplice throughout the novel, and they have a brief relationship.
Critical reception
editLeslie Doran of The Denver Post said that the novel had a "gripping and suspenseful opening" and that "for returning Reacher fans...beginning scenes will cause extra suspense".[2] Patrick Anderson of The Washington Post described it as "a skillful blend of sex, violence, sadism, weaponry, spies, smuggling, revenge, deception, suspense and nonstop action", though he also notes that the novel has "several premises that are hard to swallow".[3] After a short description of how quickly he read through the earlier books in the series after reading Persuader, Dale Jones of The Gazette simply stated "You might say I liked it".[4]
References
edit- ^ "Jack Reacher trips another bloody two-step". Chicago Sun-Times. 25 May 2003. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
- ^ Doran, Leslie (11 May 2003). "Lee Child's latest a persuasive effort". The Denver Post. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
- ^ Anderson, Patrick (5 May 2003). "Meat and Potatoes". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
- ^ Jones, Dale (31 August 2003). "'Persuader' proves to be persuasive, full of suspense". The Gazette. Retrieved 20 October 2010.