Die Trying (Jack Reacher, #2)

Title: Die Trying (Jack Reacher, #2)

Author: Lee Child

Published in: 1998

Date read: 30th January 2016

Score: 4/5

Genre: Thriller, Fiction, Crime

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Die Trying" is the second novel in Lee Child's Jack Reacher series, sending the nomadic former military policeman into an unexpected and high-stakes kidnapping.

The story begins in Chicago where Jack Reacher, minding his own business, is walking down a street when he chivalrously helps a woman struggling with crutches. In a sudden, shocking turn of events, they are both violently abducted at gunpoint and thrown into the back of a van.

Reacher's fellow captive is Holly Johnson, a beautiful and highly intelligent FBI agent who also happens to be the daughter of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and goddaughter to the President of the United States. Their kidnappers are a ruthless and highly organized group, and it quickly becomes apparent that Holly is their primary target.

The abductors transport Reacher and Holly across several states, eventually bringing them to a remote, heavily fortified compound deep in the Montana wilderness, controlled by a fanatical militia. The leader of this group is Beau Geste, a charismatic but dangerous extremist who believes in a separate, sovereign nation for his followers. Geste intends to use Holly as a pawn in a larger political game, hoping to leverage her connections to gain recognition and concessions for his movement.

Trapped in the remote compound, Reacher must use all his formidable skills – his sharp intellect, his military training, and his brutal combat abilities – to protect Holly and devise a plan for their escape. He faces not only the heavily armed and ideologically driven militia members but also the increasingly unstable and desperate Geste.

As the authorities, including the FBI and the military, launch a massive search operation, Reacher and Holly are forced to rely on each other. The novel features Reacher in a confined, high-pressure environment, where his usual solitary nature is tested by the need for cooperation. "Die Trying" is a tense thriller that pits Reacher's individual prowess against a large, organized threat, showcasing his determination and resourcefulness in the face of overwhelming odds.

Comments:
Great follow up to the first book. An interesting insight to off-grid compound life.

Books that we've read by Lee Child (4):
Killing Floor (Jack Reacher #1) (1997), Die Trying (Jack Reacher, #2) (1998), Tripwire (Jack Reacher, #3) (1999), Running Blind (Jack Reacher, #4) (2000)