"Jack's back - caught between Hope and Despair..."

This makes it an even dozen adventures in the acclaimed Jack Reacher series. The ex-Army cop as sold over 20 million novels for his creator and when this title was released last year in hardback, it rocketed to the top of "New York Times" and "Wall Street Journal" best seller lists.

A moment of serendipitous curiosity makes Reacher decide to check out two little Colorado hamlets only 17 miles apart. Neither Hope nor Despair extend a welcoming hand when a stranger walks into town. But as Reacher quickly discovers, Despair is the more hostile of the two.

Looking for a cup of coffee and a meal, the interloper finds himself grabbed and hustled out of the off- the-beaten path community by some decidedly unfriendly folks. That's not the type of greeting Reacher appreciates and since he has a little free time on his hand, he's determined to figure why he got the bum's rush.

As he tangles with a group of religious extremists and a "gentleman" who operates an "interesting" metal recycling business, Reacher realizes he has stumbled into a rather nasty, explosive situation. Fortunately, in Hope Jack finds a female cop who will help him delve into Despair's deep, dark secrets. What follows is a white- knuckle, volatile thriller with a surprising resolution that not even Lee Child's most ardent fans will see coming.

If you have yet to read one of Jack Reacher adventures, perhaps it is time you did. You couldn't pick a better one to begin with than "Nothing to Lose"!

Reviewed by Bob Walch
Posted June 4, 2009