Review: Night School

Night School by Lee Child
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Back in time we go, to Reacher's army days, when he packs more than a toothbrush and actually has a couple of friends. The real question is: does he kick ass? (Duh.)

We feel no qualms about his violence this time because he's punching neo-Nazis and terrorists from the Middle East before they can get their hands on - gasp! - the McGuffin. Reacher's part of a team, which is a little out of the ordinary, but twenty-one books into the series it's understandable to want some fresh blood.

Co-starring with Reacher is Sgt. Neagley, who is Reacher's perfect foil. She's beautiful, but dresses plainly. (Reacher has no time for vanity.) She's brilliant, but still asks him obvious questions. (Reacher loves explaining his logic.) She's dangerous, but hangs back until she's needed. (Reacher gets to inflict most of the damage.) She's desperately attracted to him, but she has a phobia of physical contact. (Reacher loves a woman so unattainable that he can still hook up with the second-tier love interest.)

The books are self-aware of their hypermasculinity, in the same vein as a Schwarzenegger flick, and they provide the same popcorn excitement. No danger or stakes are real, but it's well written and engaging.

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