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  • The Hard Way

  • Jack Reacher, Book 10
  • By: Lee Child
  • Narrated by: Jeff Harding
  • Length: 11 hrs and 50 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (2,957 ratings)
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The Hard Way cover art

The Hard Way

By: Lee Child
Narrated by: Jeff Harding
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Editor reviews

The irresistible Jack Reacher faces his most puzzling case yet in Book 10, The Hard Way written by award-winning author Lee Child in a complete and unabridged audiobook, expertly narrated by American actor Jeff Harding. This is a classic Jack Reacher mystery drenched in tormenting suspense. Spanning across the Atlantic, Reacher must hunt for the kidnapped family of a powerful military director. Aided with the help of a temptingly beautiful private investigator, together they must carry out the most dangerous search and rescue mission of their careers. Available now from Audible.

Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

Jack Reacher is alone, the way he likes it.

He watches a man cross a New York street and drive away in a Mercedes. The car contains $1 million of ransom money. Reacher's job is to make sure it all turns out right - money paid, family safely returned.

But Reacher is in the middle of a nasty little war where nothing is simple.
What started on a busy New York street explodes three thousand miles away, in the sleepy English countryside.

Reacher's going to have to do this one the hard way.

Although the Jack Reacher novels can be listened to in any order, The Hard Way is 10th in the series.

©2006 Lee Child (P)2009 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"This is storytelling of the highest order: lean, laconic, laced with tension." (Evening Standard)

What listeners say about The Hard Way

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Story
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Classic Reacher

I came across this series a while ago and have spent a fortune buying all the unabridged titles. This one is a good as the rest and although I guessed the central premise early on, that didn't make it less enjoyable.

The Reacher books are basically adventure mysteries with ex American military policeman, Jack Reacher, at their core. He is big and hard and very violent but always with right on his side. Jeff Harding as narrator is by far the best.

Well worth a listen.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Still my favorite Jack Reacher book

I've read all of the Jack Reacher books and this is still my favorite. If your thinking of reading one of Lee Childs Jack Reacher books then you couldn't pick a better first read than this one!

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

In amongst the big boys

Having read a review saying this book is predictable and 'clunking' I have to say it is just that and that is its charm. You know you're going to get Reacher at his uncompromising unforgiving best. Jeff Harding's delivery has been compared with John Wayne without his charm now exchange that for Bogart's Sam Spade's drawl, menacing no nonsense voice over and you have a triumph of character formation over anything as trite as the rambling 'Duke'. The Hard Way is where Reacher mingles with other special forces personale but second leaguer and those with fists but no brains. It's a good yarn and one with twists in unexpected directions.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

The Hard Way

Brilliant! Love Reacher - the narrator Jeff Harding is excellent. A real story intricate and exciting runs and runs couldn't stop listening.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Not the usual Jack Reacher tale

This was different to the other JR stories I've listened to. I got a bit bored mid way, but wanted to know the ending so carried on. The action of other books was missing from this story, but I still enjoyed it.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A tale too true


There are still wars around, there are still arms dealers - legal or clandestine - therefore there are still mercenaries.
These are credible characters, likeable characters, truly hateful and despicable characters, all in a tale that rings too true to be just writer's imagination!
And if it's not read by Jeff Harding, it's not Reacher!!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

'Breathtaking!'

Breathtaking from one page to the next!

I got the hardback copy of this book from

my local library and was following the great

narration by Jeff Harding with the book. I travel

on public transport to and from work, and have

missed my stop quite a few times as I've been so

engrossed in the book! Absolutely Fantastic, I need more

Jack Reacher, and I'm gonna get it!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Grating and repetitive

This was my first Jack Reacher listen, and was on recommendation, but sadly will also be my last. The narration was grating - the characterisation reminded me of an old John Wayne movie, but without the charm. I realise that Jack Reacher isn't meant to be charming, but it also lacked the charisma that is intended in the character. The female characterisations were weak and sounded on the verge of lisping, with little emotional contrast to the main character.
Aside from a predictable story line, the constant repetition of cheesy catch phrases through the novel, "Jack Reacher. In the dark. Armed and dangerous", not to mention the "mirror on a stick" which is even more frequently used, become more than irksome when they completely destroy any tension that might have built in the story by being clunky and ineffective - it was more like a really poor attempt at NLP by constant repetition of key phrases.
Very disappointing!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

totally spellbinding

a really first class story, fast paced , consistent and really believable. it was impossible to leave alone and I have never walked my dog so much!
Jeff Harding did a superlative job. Each voice was very distinctive and the accents incredible. he is definitely the best reader I have come across.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Good book

Good book and I normally like the narrator but seriously what is he eating and why can I hear it, so annoying and rude!!

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1 person found this helpful