Last week Lee Child’s latest book, Gone Tomorrow, entered the NY Times bestseller list in the number one position. The most recent in the Jack Reacher series of thrillers will not disappoint Child’s fans. Lee Child is known for his intelligent, plot filled suspense stories. Jack Reacher is a former US army military policeman and Child has made him the centerpiece of thirteen action packed novels. The creator of this very American character was born and raised in England, but is currently living in New York and married to an American. But did you know that Child has a younger brother, Andrew Grant, who has just published his own first novel, Even?
Lee (his real name is Jim Grant) and baby brother Andrew have been showing up together recently at book signings and other appearances across the country. The brothers are separated by fourteen years and as a result grew up apart from each other. But there seems to be a tremendous similarity in their writing styles. Even follows Royal Navy intelligence officer David Trevellyan in a fast paced thriller which also takes place in New York City. Some have compared Trevellyan to Reacher, but Jim Grant has created a character that is intelligent, witty and intriguing, similar to the English spy James Bond, although some reviewers have likened him to the American character Jason Bourne. Although both books are set in New York, Jack Reacher is comfortable and knowledgeable in his surroundings, while Trevallyan acts more like a tourist. Grant claims that when he decided he wanted to be a writer he stopped reading his brother’s work because he didn’t want to be influenced by his style. But the brothers acknowledge that they have done similar things in their lives and as a result you may notice parallels in their work. They both wrote their first books after having been laid off from their corporate jobs.
So if you’re a fan of Lee Child, put your name on the hold list for Gone Tomorrow. But while you’re waiting, try Even, the wait list is a lot shorter, and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. The many fans of sophisticated thrillers will be anxiously awaiting the next books from both these siblings, and for those of you new to Mr. Child, try one of the earlier Jack Reacher novels - The Hard Way or The Enemy, and you'll be hooked.
