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If you realize you're in for a macho action book, then you'll be pleasantly surprised that there's some nuance. (Of course, some not also.) These are a step above a pulp novel, and serve the same purpose.

I did realize what I like about these books though: Reacher comes up against a conspiracy, and Child is able to take us through the mystery without it getting too confusing with the complexity. (This is only the second one I've read though.)

Once at my parent's house when I couldn't sleep, I picked up a Reacher book. It was nice; consistent and simple. I'll try this series out, listening in the background in the evening.

Chapter - Rose 2

@trochee Yes, thank you. I didn't realize I'd completely felt this way also.

Wow. This is not a 'spy novel'. This is a novel about a much more realistic spy (as I'd heard le Carre writes); no 007. It's a fantastically deep character study; you feel like you know Pym better than he knows himself. There is some plot tension, but mostly it's this fascinating, dense story of a life, one spy's life.

As an American, the British colloquialisms coupled with the unreliable narrator (in one POV) got me quite confused. I sorted it out later in the book.

• The end of Chapter 1.

Trying another new (to me) genre, a spy novel.

I was a bit unsure as to why a prequel was needed. Viv's retirement was pretty straight-forward in 'Legends'.

This book ends well, but I expected an immaturity in the main character that wasn't really there. She seemed very similar to the first book (years and miles later).

A couple days of an Irish coal delivery man. This is like an extended short-story, a couple hours read time, but lively and earnest. Although it doesn't go into them, look up the Magdalene Laundries in Ireland before you read; I'm sure the tension I felt was designed.