Killing Floor by Lee Child

c Waterloo Public Library 2008

I found the first book in the Jack Reacher series, Killing Floor (1997).
It introduces us to Reacher, a former military policeman, who has become a drifter after peace time leads to the military downsizing. Early in the story, he drifts into the wrong town down south--Margrave, Georgia--and within the hour gets arrested for murder. Before long, it becomes clear that this town is no ordinary town: a large foundation appears to be paying bribes to local businesses, for no visible reason. The chief of police and mayor are working with the foundation, and have become corrupt.

Jack gets held in jail in spite of the fact that he has an alibi; however, the police need to time to verify it. He meets another prisoner, who seems terrified of something that he cannot talk about, and who comes to trust Reacher when the two prisoners are transferred to a larger jail. They are processed and put on the wrong floor--and it is only by Jack's experience dealing with tough guys that they survive.

Later, his alibi is confirmed and Reacher is released. He discovers that at least a few of the town cops are clean, and works with them to unravel the murder that happened shortly before his arrival. When the body of the victim turns out to be his older brother Joe, who worked for the Treasury Department in busting counterfeit money schemes, Reacher decides he cannot walk away from this situation. He will finish Joe's investigation and avenge his brother's brutal murder.

Along the way, he gets romantically involved with a female police officer named Roscoe. He makes friends with a pair of elderly African American barbers, who don't appear to have much business. He gets hired by a frantic wife to find her missing husband -- the prisoner Jack had saved earlier, Hubble.

This book has all of the elements that keep my interest, with well developed characters, dialogue, description, and action. Just don't plan on getting all of your chores done on your "To Do" list until you've turned that last page.

You can find Killing Floor in the adult fiction area of the Waterloo Public Library. You might want to check out the author's website for more details on the series.