THE HARD WAY

Jack Reacher, the enigmatic crime crusader, loves to right a wrong and leaves a trail of defeated, and often destroyed, foes in his wake. Narrator Dick Hill is totally in sync with Reacher's modus operandi and delivers this latest episode, set in New York City, with his customary hard-driving pace and sharp dialogue. The kidnapping of Edward Lane's wife seems straightforward enough, but as the ransom demands escalate into the multiple millions, Lane's soldier-for-hire enterprise shows more than a few cracks. Conversations among a roomful of men present a definite challenge to any narrator, but Hill barely misses a beat. His British accents might give some momentary pause, but Hill delivers with spirit, pace, and suspense. What more could listeners ask for in this intriguing Reacher adventure? R.F.W. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/ SEP 06]