Second Son: (Jack Reacher Short Story) (Kindle Single) (Jack Reacher Short Stories Book 1)

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Milan Novak erwartet von seinem zweiten Sohn Johnny, den vermutlichen Mörder zu richten. Obwohl der Täter noch nicht gefunden & überführt wurde, vermuten Milan und seine Clanmitglieder, dass die Tat durch ein Mitglied eines verfeindeten serbischen Clans, erfolgte. That's what my good friend Gavin said in our long-assed conversation--or should I say conversations since we talked on numerous threads at once. It took a while for this book to grab me. The beginning seemed bog-standard fantasy; a young boy raised in obscurity who suddenly learns he's the son of a king? Yawn. I cannot say, for certain, that this book would have the same effect on me now as it had then, when I originally read it. In fact, I can almost guarantee you that it wouldn't. I am worlds and decades away from the person I was then, and influence -- particularly marrow-deep influence -- is a specific synergy of the person you are as introduced to the catalyst of change that will make of you who you become. Many of the usual elements are present. Reacher lays a whuppin’ on his tormentors, consorts with a love interest, and solves the crime. Readers will also find some not so usual elements: a more fleshed-out elder brother – Joe and snapshots of mother Joesephine and Major Reacher – a career Marine, born during the Great Depression with thrift in his bones.

This book blew my mind, broke my heart and scared the hell out of me. I can't wait to read the sequel.’The book's great strength is a fascinating, dynamic plot. A little slow at the beginning, once it gets going it never lets up. And it has something to SAY about religion versus spirituality and organized religion's failures to live up to it's goals. (Had it been written 30 years later, I'm pretty sure it would have been Evangelical Christianity that would have taken the most hits, but here it's the Catholic Church hierarchy). Where do I even start? Every character is a caricature of a single trait brought to the extreme to make sure that you know that they're unique. Dirk is smart. He's super duper smart. He's the smartest person who ever lived. He's so smart he can do square roots. And play chess really well. Those are classic smart person things, right? Also note how many times I told you how smart he is? Well, if you decide to read this book, be prepared to be reminded every time he shows up in a scene. He's super smart. Remember it. Or don't, because you'll be reminded. Ihrem Leben innerhalb der australischen Gesellschaft. Die serbischen & kroatischen mafiösen Clanmitglieder, welche nur ihre eigene Statuten anerkennen & ausleben wollen. Der Graben zwischen dem Patriachat und dem Leben mit Werten der Gleichberechtigung. The story unfolds from the dual perspectives of Johnny and his Anglo-Australian wife, Amy, mother of their 10-year-old son, Sasha. Up until now, Amy's been able to turn a blind eye to the reality of her husband's "business" activities and live happily on the proceeds, albeit resenting the unreserved disdain of her father-in-law, who still can't understand why Johnny wouldn't have married a nice Croatian girl instead. Now that Johnny's role in the gang has become more active, Amy starts becoming genuinely frightened for their family's future - what if he ends up in prison, or worse? Amy issues an ultimatum - leave the family business behind or she will take Sasha and leave, and she does, in fact, temporarily relocate with her son to her conservative parents' gated community. Johnny, understandably, is torn - he feels loyalty to his Croatian family and wants his brother's death appropriately avenged, but he's also a reluctant gangster and deeply loves his wife and child. Johnny’s loyalties are torn: he loves his wife and son, but he also knows that he can’t risk the wrath of his father, nor the gangland criminals in his orbit. Whatever decision he makes will have far-reaching, perhaps even deadly, consequences…

In this multiple crisis, the young Reacher already displays both the sharp detective ability and the fighting prowess which will characterise him as a grown-up. Moreover, while just 13 years old, he displays enough self-confidence and force of personality to make a detail of grown-up military policemen follow through on the leads he offers them. Within a few hours, all problems are neatly tied up: the bully is sent to hospital with several broken ribs, his reign of terror at a definite end; Joe is completely cleared of the charge of cheating; the missing code book is duly recovered, with Stan cleared of any responsibility for its having gone astray; and Reacher is rewarded by getting to kiss Helen.The story seems to be your basic, typical coming of age tale at first. Which is pretty scary, I have to admit. I mean, coming of age stories are terrifying enough, but the standard kind is particularly ghastly. And a little abhorrent, too. Belagren the head of the religious sect has some very dark secrets in her past indeed. It was amazing the choices she made and the reasons she made them. I thought Cersei Lanister was bad but Belagren might give her a run for her money. Kirshov a second son of the prince comes off as a fun loving playboy most of the time but in his ignorance he hurts others often. Political maneuvering and machinations and scheming galore! Treacherous religious freaks aplenty! Theology vs. science, yay! I thought it was all gloriously stupendous stuff, but it might explain why some People of the Erroneous Opinion (PofEO™) thought the book was tedious as fish. Plus, there is nada zilch zip and absolutely no magic whatsoever in this world, which might have put some PofEO™ off, too. Which might in turn explain why they read the book wrong and stuff. But hey, their judgment is obviously inaccurate so it doesn't count and stuff. And the moral of this reread is: so many cunning, sadistic bastards and malignantly malevolent, scheming bitches in this book! So many characters to add to my Must Die NOW List (MDNL™)! It really is a dream come true.

I’ve been wanting to finish this one for ages due to my goal of reading more series from female fantasy authors and have finally completed my first Jennifer Fallon read. I was in two minds throughout my experience and this has not changed upon finishing the novel. This story showed how sometimes the people you thought you were the closest too can become your enemies while the people you thought were your enemies might be your best allies. It also shows that when people have chosen to put you into the game even by trying to not play you are playing.Turf wars across the streets of Sydney! When Ivan Novak was gunned down in his driveway, his father Milan declared war on the Serbians. The Croations and the Serbians had long been sworn enemies and with two others killed in the days prior to Ivan, Milan knew it was the Serbs to blame. He demanded his second son, Johnny be the one to take their revenge. Johnny’s wife Amy and ten-year-old son Sasha were his life – Amy’s ultimatum to put his wife and son first before his father and the gang should have made for an easy decision. But it didn’t. And try to stay out of trouble with the ladies. Remember, they all have fathers and brothers and some of them have armies. ”..." But as well as being a story about gangs, turf war, kidnap and drug dealing, at its core is a story about what being ‘a family’ really means – there is also plenty of mystery hidden in amongst the action. Something big is bothering Amy. And who actually did the assassinations – was it the Serbs, or is there something more sinister going on? I am so impressed with this book. Ryan Sallans begins his life as a female named Kim. Kim is labeled a tomboy. Kim never identifies with her female self. Even when her father calls Kim 'princess' it's more a slander than a term of endearment to her ears. Kim is the child who wants to BE Superman, and there is no room in Superman's life for frills and dresses.