bThe Barnes Noble Review/bbrThe tenth installment of Lee Child's Jack Reacher saga (iOne Shot, The Enemy, Persuader,/i et al.) is quite possibly one of the best thrillers ever written. Featuring a hard-nosed hero that women want to be with and men want to be -- the 6'5", 250-pound former Army M.P. who "casts a small shadow and leaves very little in his wake" -- the plotline of iThe Hard Way/i is pure, unadulterated action, adventure, and attitude. brbrWhile waiting for an espresso at a New York City caf�, Jack Reacher watches a nondescript man get into a silver Mercedes-Benz and drive away. Reacher is unaware that he's just witnessed a perfectly executed ransom scheme that has netted a group of kidnappers a cool million dollars. The next day, Reacher is approached by the kidnappers' mark -- Edward Lane, the leader of a band of combat-hardened mercenaries -- who persuades Jack to help find Lane's abducted wife and daughter. Before he knows it, Reacher is thrust into a dangerous drama where no one is as they seem brbrWritten in short, emotionally charged chapters that all end with some kind of cliffhanger or plot twist, iThe Hard Way/i is virtually possible to put down. It's one of the most perfectly crafted thrillers genre fans will ever read. Brilliant characterization, impeccable pacing, and a masterfully intricate and flawlessly crafted story make this an absolute must-read. iPaul Goat Allen/i