OH BROTHER!

 Imagine if Richard gave over the writing of his posts to his brother Robert!

That would be a disaster. Richard's current posts are at least well constructed, have good grammar and generally make sense. If Robert was to take over?

• ANGRY JESUS would become CALM JESUS
• DIFFERENT TIME ZONE BILL would be permanently stuck in the Dark Ages
• BIN'S BASS BAG  would become FATHER CHRISTIANGUY'S VIOLIN CASE

It's just too horrible to consider. Robert's religious posts on his own blog would be supported by religious nonsense he'd write on Richard's blog.

Uuuurgh!

****************

Anyway, what is this post about?

I'm reading, against my better judgement, the second to latest 'Jack Reacher' book. This is the first one fully written by Lee Child's brother Andrew Child' even though the front cover states the writer as Lee Child with the assistance of Andrew Child.

 This really is misrepresentation. Lee Child's real name is James Grant and his brother's name is Andrew Grant. In order to pass over the mantle and to try and hoodwink readers, Lee Child got his brother to change his pen name to Andrew Child. Pathetic? Yes but the target market isn't exactly made up of  serious literature readers.

I'm about a sixth of the way through the book - it isn't very long - and already the deficiency is showing. Lee Child writes well and carries the reader along at a cracking pace. 'Andrew Child' writes a bit more in a cumbersome way and is clearly struggling to get the narrative flowing. He throws in 'Reacher ' sayings like: 

“Never forgive, never forget. Do it once and do it right. You reap what you sow. Plans go to hell as soon as the first shot is fired. Protect and serve. Never off duty.”

but these don't come naturally.

I looked up reviews on-line of the book and, while the earlier novels received ratings of four and five stars out of five this has an average of one and a half stars.

I then looked up a review of the latest 'Andrew Child' novel and this one has a one star average in the reviews.

I don't think I'll bother.