Book 1: Dead Ringer

Sort of a fan-fiction offshoot of the Jack Reacher novels, The Jack Reacher Experiment is a series following the future adventures (these books take place in 2057) of Rock Wahlman, who turns out to be a genetic clone of Jack Reacher, a fact that now has him being hunted by some very dangerous people.

This first book in the series hits the ground running in both the action and homage departments, as an incredible coincidence mirroring the first Jack Reacher novel's equally impossible plot device has the retired Navy Master of Arms nearly run over by a truck whose stabbed-to-death driver looks exactly like him. A lot happens in a short time after that, sort of a refreshing change of pace reminiscent of the days when men's adventure novels clocked in at under two hundred pages. I've only read a couple of Jack Reacher novels, so there might be more allusions and nods to other aspects of the series that I didn't recognize, but even without them this is a tight action novel that does a great job at setting up what promises to be an interesting - and fun - series.

Book 2 - Moving Target

Moving Target is the second book in the Jack Reacher Experiment series, following the adventures of Jack Reacher clone Rock Wahlman in the year 2098. Yes, you read that correctly.

The first book in the series, Dead Ringer, had given me some hope that this would be an above average fan fiction series, but Moving Target has me feeling far less optimistic. The first warning sign is that while Dead Ringer is a lean but respectful 150 pages of fast-paced action and mystery, Moving Target clocks in under 90 pages, far too many of which are wasted on a Rock's speedy romance and his participation in a college sleep study. Yes, you read that correctly.

Spoilers ahead.

Still on the run three months after the events of Dead Ringer, Jack Reacher clone Rock Wahlman (Rock Wall Man. Get it?) wanders into a diner whose name nobody seems to know the origin of - yes, this is discussed - where he bumps into the divorced waitress he will shortly bed and fall in love with after she recommends him to a sleep study, the hit man who will later kill the the ex husband of the waitress while negotiating a contract to kill Rock, and three local guys who decide to make running Rock out of town their life mission because he got off a bus carrying a backpack. That's all you need to know. Move along.

The playful level of circumstance and coincidence that Dead Ringer seemed to play with as an homage to the Reacher series is cranked to eleven and condensed into half the page count, which could be forgiven if the dialogue wasn't completely wooden and exposition heavy. A huge let down from the first book. Let's hope that this isn't the beginning of a trend in declining quality.

Book 3 - No Escape

No Escape is the third book in the Jack Reacher Experiment series, following the adventures of Jack Reacher clone Rock Wahlman in the year 2098. Because why not.

This third entry in the series is much better than the previous one, taking place two months after the rushed and monumentally coincidental events of Moving Target. The story-line is much more streamlines and gets back on track as Rock and Kasey reunite, with the deadly Mr. Tyler.

The most disappointing thing about this book in the series is Mr. Tracy. For am action novel villain that identifies himself as "the greatest hit man in the world," he never manages to display an interesting personality, other than his willingness to threaten and/or kill his employers. The potential was there, but in the end this major foil to Rock ends up almost as flat and dull as his name.

But still, much better than the last book, faith is now restored in this possibly ending up a good series overall. We'll see. ( )