The Terminal List by Jack Carr
A Mystery/Thriller, 2018 by Atria, 408 Pages
What I Didn’t Like:
- Very detailed descriptions. This isn’t a negative for everyone, I know. But if you don’t like very wordy paragraphs packed with tons of details, consider this a content warning.
- Torture, which is a content warning of sorts. It was heavy handed, I think.
- Vigilante in the worst way. I’m not arguing that these weren’t bad people. BUT, this is a highly trained military character acting as a vigilante. Something about that just rubbed me the wrong way.
- The storyline doesn’t feel unique. You’ve definitely heard this basic story before.
What I Did Like:
- Accurate military writing. There’s a whole preface to explain the author’s background and process, which is cool. I can appreciate the accuracy in this one, which is really what sets it apart from the other stories like this that you’ve inevitably heard.
- There are surprises. People who make the list, ways they connect, and how deep this goes are the first things that come to mind.
- Action driven. This one follows a clear path and is packed with events. There are no slow spots in the plot.
Who Should Read This One:
- Fans of military stories may like the accurate language in this one and the experience of the main character.
- If you’re in the niche where military fiction meets vigilante stories, this’ll be exactly what you’re craving.