What can you say specifically about thrillers versus mysteries as a genre? More action and violence? All I know is that I am hooked.

Most admirers of the Jack (no middle initial and he is never called Jack) Reacher books rave about everything author Lee Childs seems to comes up with best contemporary thriller writing today, yada yada but not the one thing that particularly intrigues me about this character. That is: Reacher is a former military cop now living possessionless by choice.

According to A Wanted Man, he has survived both phases of his life by being appropriately cautious and staying alert. All five senses, all the time.

We could all be so alive.

Okay, he carries one possession a toothbrush. And since 9/11 has been forced to add a passport and an ATM card.

In this novel he is hitchhiking on a lonely road when he is picked up by a vehicle with two men and a woman. Not quite comfortable with the situation, he really finds it odd when the men prevail upon him to drive. (Right, no drivers license)

As they travel, the woman manages to communicate with our hero (by blinking) that she is a kidnap victim (and more worrying, a mother). It just keeps getting more interesting.

This is the 18th Reacher novel and fans have seldom been let down.

At the moment, A Wanted Man can be found in the Free Little Library at the Main Street stoplight, in front of the Corner Cup.

Reviewer Linda Driskill is a volunteer at the Grant County Library.