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Jack Reacher Cases #4

The Last Man to Murder

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WHAT IS OPERATION REACHER?Book 4 in the USA TODAY bestselling series THE JACK REACHER CASESSet in the Reacher universe by permission of Lee Child.A man, barely alive and beaten within an inch of his life, collapses at Michael Tallon's door.He dies before Tallon has a chance to learn anything from him.The only clue? A crumpled piece of paper, covered in the dead man's blood, with two Operation Reacher.Intrigued, Tallon searches his memory and soon realizes he knew the man.His investigation leads him to the Outer Banks of North Carolina where it's clear the people responsible for his friend's death want the case to go away, and Tallon with it.Forever.“Fast-paced, engaging, original.” –New York Times bestselling author Thomas Perry“Furiously paced. Great action.” –New York Times bestselling author Ben Lieberman“Engrossing!” –USA Today bestselling author Rick Murcer“Swept me along for the ride.” –Edgar-nominated author Craig McDonald“Ames is a sensation among readers who love fast-paced thrillers.” -MysteryTribune

188 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 4, 2018

627 people are currently reading
241 people want to read

About the author

Dan Ames

209 books486 followers
Dan Ames is an international bestselling author and winner of the Independent Book Award for Crime Fiction. He is the author of The JACK REACHER Cases. You can learn more about him at authordanames.com

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5 stars
288 (40%)
4 stars
261 (36%)
3 stars
130 (18%)
2 stars
27 (3%)
1 star
8 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
12.6k reviews189 followers
April 19, 2018
Wow, as always, any story by Dan Ames pulls you into the story and doesn’t let go until the end. PI Pallen searches for Reacher and an almost dead man lands on his doorstep. Unfortunately he dies before questioning. From then on the suspense doesn’t stop.
Profile Image for Will Decker.
Author 23 books17 followers
July 21, 2019
I was really liking it right out of the gate when there was a lot of mystery and the plot seemed larger than life. But then about 80% in it began to unravel. The love scenes were referenced, but without reader participation and the ending was very anti-climatic, more rushed than really evolved. A mad psychopath suddenly becomes a spineless twerp when the world closes in on him? Professional assassins making amateurish mistakes. The ending was way too contrived just to wrap it up. I've read other books by this author and they were much better. This one just deflated.
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews132 followers
Want to read
July 15, 2019
🎁 FREE on iBooks today (7/15/2019)! 🎁
Profile Image for Rosemary.
3,866 reviews69 followers
April 5, 2018
The Last Man to Murder - a review by Rosemary Kenny

Master of Mystery and Deception Dan Ames does it again, in The Last Man to Murder, latest and best in the superb homage series/tribute to Lee Childs' epic character), Jack Reacher, so far.
.
Ex- FBI Special Agent Lauren Pauling, (now a PI), is still on the trail of the elusive Reacher when she's lured into investigating a case of 'husband' and 'wife', Lloyd and Gina, who claim that each is about to kill the other. If it weren't for the connection to Reacher [and another former lover], Lauren would have passed these clients to other investigators. But before she can do so, things escalate out of control, giving her the incentive to proceed.

What are Lloyd and Gina's real identities and occupation? Who do they work for? How is their case connected to Jack Reacher?
Why do Kate and William go to visit an isolated cabin in Death Valley? What dramatic incident took place before their arrival?
Who is the man who stays in the background and manipulates the situation? Who is his hero and what deadly agenda does he want to fulfill?
What is Michael Tallon's background and how is he connected to Pauling? How do the pair interact with Charlie June - and how does he die?

Move over James Bond and Jason Bourne, Michael Tallon has blown in on an action-packed mission - and this town ain't big enough for the three of you!
Profile Image for M.
1,576 reviews
August 16, 2018
I Like This Better Than Newer Reacher Books

Warning: the character Jack Reacher appears only in name and reminisces.

This short but fast-paced and action-oriented book has two powerful protagonists—Michael Tallon and Lauren Pauling—who move the complex storyline through the many twists to the denouement. I’m a big mystery/suspense fan who loves figuring out plot direction. We know the WHOdunnit but the how, what, why and where are what keeps this book moving.
The main characters, plus the antagonists and many secondary characters, are well developed with personality quirks that make them interesting.
NOTE for the faint-hearted: There are many murders, so expect descriptions of blood, gore, killing and maiming throughout this book.
Some profanity is inevitable in this type of book, but I can’t recall the big F or characters taking names in vain.

7,761 reviews50 followers
April 6, 2018
THE LAST MAN TO MURDER by Dan Ames “Jack Reacher” book 4
A man looking at his blood, a hospital meant death he was better on his own. Talon spotted the truck, and the man on the ground, he must of been desperate to have come any distance. A blood stained message “Operation Reacher”. Tallon searched his past, and found a name for the man, he knew, and was one you could have trusted. For Pauling, a job request from a man who carried a gun, he follows her, and now someone been in her home. What is the connections, strange uninvited visitors, the same message, they wanted Tallon dead, but why was she drawn in. Fascinating plot, of revenge, the navy is also involved. Readers won’t want to miss reading this tension filled story, and how it comes out.
Profile Image for Barbara.
756 reviews6 followers
June 21, 2018
This was another great mystery/thriller by author Dan Ames. He gets you hooked right away and you want to continue reading to find out the ending after all the twist and turns. The characters are all written with their own personality and the book switches nicely between the scenes.

The storyline is about a man shot several times who gets himself to the house of the only person he wants his information to be with, Michael Tallon Only problem the man dies in front of his house with nothing but a note in his hand stating Operation Reacher. So the mystery begins as to why this man wanted to reach Tallon with this message. As he begins to search what this was all about he finds himself with people after him as well.

1,732 reviews13 followers
July 19, 2019
This book like all of the others that I have read from Dan Ames have kept me reading right to the end.

The way that this book started with the man driving to Mike Talon's place while dying just to be able to leave a paper that said "Operation Reacher". This was enough to get Mike's attention and attempt to find what this was all about. Meanwhile in NYC, Lauren his met with a man who wanted to hire her services, but this all is associated with the incident that started the story.

Mike follows the clues and Laureen also learns about the word "Operation Reacher" and winds up meeting Mike at the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The conclusion of the story occurs at Kitty Hawk.

To find out what "Operation Reacher" was all about, then you need to read this book which I highly recommend.
Profile Image for Joan.
2,797 reviews101 followers
September 15, 2019
This short novel was one of a large group of freebies that I downloaded en masse. I almost didn't even look at it, since it's use of another author's main character in its title rubbed me the wrong way. It was a fairly interesting novel, but it got lost in unnecessary and confusing detail at times. The confusing and incorrect sentence structure also bothered me. The author sprinkled commas around like he was salting the pages - most often with no logic or purpose. This sentence structure was common: "Then her loft is broken into, and then winds up in a run-down motel in the Outer Banks of North Carolina." The author also frequently misused the objective/nominative indefinite pronouns who/whom.
Profile Image for Skip.
3,845 reviews585 followers
August 7, 2025
A dying man expires at the hideaway home of Michael Tallon, with a piece of paper in his hand on which is written: Operation Reacher. Meanwhile, in NY City, Lauren Pauling has two random walk-ins (husband and wife), each claiming the other is trying to kill them. Behind the scenes, someone is manipulating a pair of killers to keep a deep secret buried about an operation in Kitty Hawk, NC. Michael finally remembers the dead man's name, and goes off to find out what bad decisions he had made, but not before putting one of the killers in the dirt, enraging the survivor. Lauren and Tallon end up in Kitty Hawk, facing grave hostilities, both against themselves and the United States more generally.
1,477 reviews25 followers
June 2, 2018
The Last Man to Murder. Dan Ames

Reacher had shut the operation down in Montana a long time ago. Also took down their leader. Revenge is put in place. Payback against Reacher is in place. The operators and their assassin's are highly skilled. Throw an armed hellfire missile into the equation. It's target.... The White House and Wall Street. Private detective, former FBI special agent Pauling and her partner ex special forces Tallon have their hands full. They are the only two people who can shut this operation down. Extreme action, suspense from the very first to the last page. Enjoyed immensely!
2,029 reviews8 followers
April 3, 2018
The suspense starts right from the beginning with the bloody man who passes by the hospital to deliver a message to Michael Tallon, even though he knows it will likely mean he will die. It was great to see Tallon be a little more involved in the storyline, although Lauren Pauling also gets dragged into the mystery by a couple who don't exist. Once I started reading this story, I couldn't put the book down. This is a must read.
911 reviews15 followers
July 4, 2018
This a another good action packed thriller from Dan Ames. The book starts off with a bang and you do not want to put it down. I read it in one sitting. Michael Tallon and Lauren Pauling have teamed up and at it again because of the name Jack Reacher. Why does his name keep coming up? Is he involved? Why is he involved? To find the answers to these questions and more read this book. You will enjoy this book.
I am part of an advanced readers team and have given an honest review.
Profile Image for Ilene.
75 reviews
May 17, 2019
Not as thrilling as I expected, but a good read nonetheless.

This was a consummate thrill ride, but I found that the story line, although intriguing, was far too neat and puzzle pieces fit together in a way that left very little room for suspicion and problem solving. The ending I found much too clean and completely unrealistic.
248 reviews1 follower
June 27, 2019
Quick read

I really enjoyed this high action thriller. The two main characters were pulled into a scheme to send a Hellfire into two strategic American institutions. The bad guys greatly underestimated the skills of the main characters and ended up dying trying to complete their mission. A quick read , I greatly enjoyed.
Profile Image for John Mahan.
105 reviews1 follower
May 3, 2022
Long time Jack Reacher fan. While this story does not have Jack as an active participant in the story line, Dan Ames has done a good job of telling a tale on the periphery of Jack involving characters who have personally interacted in Jack's past in various ways. The story is interesting and was an enjoyable read.
Profile Image for Carol Thomas.
68 reviews1 follower
August 16, 2018
Good summer read!

Nice to read this author while waiting for the next Lee Child Teacher book. Two well defined characters who are quick to put all of the loose pieces together in the end.
179 reviews15 followers
July 20, 2019
Surprisingly Good

I am a big Jack Reacher and have read all of the books so when I saw this I almost didn't read it but I'm so glad I did. Good story, good plot, and great characters. Highly recommend.
224 reviews2 followers
August 28, 2019
Ames has another 'Reacher' hit.

The two main characters, Pauling & Tallon, know Reacher and are tricked into thinking he is in danger. Good paced action and minor character development. Ending is a surprise.
4 reviews
February 3, 2020
Fast resolution

Fast paced resolution to an impending national domestic terrorist attack. Would have been much better with greater story development. Doesn't measure up to actual Jack Reacher stories. Having read only two Dan Ames stories I may be being too quick to criticize.
61 reviews3 followers
November 19, 2020
Great thrill

Thus was a good read. I enjoyed the fast pace, action, and everything else that makes a good thriller. Thank you for the free copy I received so I could try a book by Dan Ames.
23 reviews
December 3, 2020
Great read. Still love Jack Reacher but never see the films. Can't picture in my mind little Tom Cruise portraying huge, masculine, scary, wonderful Reacher. Looking forward to more Michael Tallon.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
141 reviews2 followers
January 16, 2021
Hot Action!

I've always loved the Jack Reacher stories. Learning more about ancillary characters is a real treat! Fast paced and readable style sucks you into how the guys with bad intentions get caught operating a drone for nefarious purposes
1 review
February 18, 2021
Graphic novel lacking both pictures and depth

I do not recommend this "book".

It is a fair outline for an acceptable, maybe even good book. It is just too undeveloped to be called one. One star for spelling and sentence structure.
Profile Image for Patty.
676 reviews2 followers
June 12, 2021
Both brutal and bloody, this is a quick read about a vigilante anti-American group and what they call “Operation Reacher”. Key characters include Michael Fallon and Lauren Pauling, former FBI agent turned PI, who team up to foil the bad guys.
Profile Image for Don.
1,027 reviews5 followers
October 23, 2021
Good Read done all in one seating. Because Ames writes nice concise chapters and his plot keeps unfolding you go on and on wanting to see what’s next. It is a compelling read. Nicely done. Michael Tallon is a great character and so is Lauren Pauling. I recommend it. 5
Profile Image for Alabama Anthony.
703 reviews4 followers
August 13, 2024
A man with a plan to overthrow the government.
Along comes Jack Reacher and changes his mind, forcefully.
Another man steps forward to fill the void and vows revenge.

Now it is up to Tallon and Pauling to thwart this threat.
Profile Image for Connie Hamby.
1,009 reviews9 followers
April 6, 2018
A good book

This was a good book but I knew it would be all of Dan Ames books are where good books are Dan Ames rocks
Profile Image for Bill.
120 reviews9 followers
July 7, 2018
Fast-paced with lots of action. Started reading it this morning and finished it this afternoon. My first Dan Ames book and definitely not my last.
80 reviews1 follower
July 22, 2018
Book Four

Another Great read as once again Pauling and Tallon work together to keep a twisted scheme from becoming a catastrophe. Buy it and enjoy!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews

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