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  • Running Blind

  • Jack Reacher, Book 4
  • Written by: Lee Child
  • Narrated by: Johnathan McClain
  • Length: 13 hrs and 45 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (104 ratings)

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Running Blind cover art

Running Blind

Written by: Lee Child
Narrated by: Johnathan McClain
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Publisher's Summary

Across the country women are being murdered by a killer who leaves no evidence, no fatal wounds, no signs of struggle, and no clues to a motive. They are, truly, perfect crimes. In fact, the only thing that links the victims is the man they all knew: Jack Reacher.

©2005 Lee Child (P)2012 Peunguin Audio

What the critics say

“Reacher is one of the more interesting suspense heroes to come along in a while.” (San Antonio Express News)

“Jack Reacher, the wandering folk hero of Child’s superb line of thrillers faces a baffling puzzle in his latest adventure…a brain-teasing puzzle that gets put together piece by fascinating piece...and a central character with Robin Hood-like integrity and an engagingly eccentric approach to life.” (Publishers Weekly)

“Deeply satisfying...plan to stay up long past bedtime and do some serious hyperventilating toward the end.” (Kirkus Reviews)

What listeners say about Running Blind

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great Series

If you plan on listening to this book, I strongly suggest you read/listen to the earlier books in the series to get some background. otherwise I would recommend this to anyone looking for a thrilling read/listen.

3 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Awesome Story Terrible Narration

High recommend read this book yourself as it would be worth every minute. The audible book needs to be re-recorded as the inflections used for the FBI agents and the women are totally wrong.

2 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Running Blind

Terrible narration. Could not wait to finish this book and not in a good way. The story itself was interesting but every time the narrator had to read the part of a woman it was grating on the ears. Also the writing could have been better.

2 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Not very believable

The way the FBI talk to Reacher is totally unbelievable and their childlike attitude distracted from the story. The narrator was OK but not great.

1 person found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Good Read/Listen

These books follow a formula, but at least the formula is pretty unique. I find myself constantly caught between loving Reacher and having a healthy fear of his capacity to hurt people. You never know quite what to expect. Regarding the performance - Jonathan McClain does a great job. I wish he had continued the series, because I bought the next three books in the series and am listening to the first of them and the reader is not nearly as good. So, overall, good book, excellent performance!

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Unpleasant narration

I was interested in the book as I enjoyed the As m Amazon Prime series. The narrators interpretation of the female character was treating to ones ears. Would have been better had he not attempted different voices for each character

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  • Debbie
  • 2013-02-20

Not My Favorite Reacher...

It seems like the story was weak and fluffed up . The plot wasn't that great and the punchline was weaker. Seems to be something that was written without much thought. Dissappointed....hope the next is better.

28 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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  • GyAzJRD
  • 2013-01-12

Could have been much better

What would have made Running Blind better?

Not as enjoyable as the other Jack Reacher Series books that I've heard. Main story idea was fine. The FBI characters were written and portraied as obnoxious and stupid. That, and the overall narration, were strong distraction as I lisened.

What do you think your next listen will be?

I'll probably continue with the Jack Reacher Series until I tire.

Have you listened to any of Jonathan McClain’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is a McClain narration. I did not care for his performance.

What character would you cut from Running Blind?

Make the law enforcement characters seem more professional.

Any additional comments?

No.

24 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • grdynamite
  • 2013-11-13

narrative distracting

If you could sum up Running Blind in three words, what would they be?

good,smart, story

What was one of the most memorable moments of Running Blind?

When they discovered what the appliance boxes actually contained.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Jonathan McClain?

maybe

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Jack Reacher races to save the painted ladies...

Any additional comments?

I love Jack Reacher books, and this one delivers.

22 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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  • JackMargo
  • 2012-11-14

Good Story But Surprise Narrator

The narrator, to be fair, did a good job. To me, however, Jack Reacher IS narrator Dick Hill. Therefore I was a little disappointed. It is an exciting story and I recommend it.

21 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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  • Randy
  • 2018-07-01

Poor narration

I usually listen to audiobooks during long drives for my job. I’ve listened to all the Reacher books that Audible has except those narrated by Johnathan McClain... I believe books #2-4 in the series. Usually when I listen to an audiobook I get lost in the story not paying any particular attention to the performance. With McClain’s books, I’ve started them but can’t get past the poor narration... makes it difficult to follow the characters and stay engaged while driving.

16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Carilyn
  • Carilyn
  • 2013-06-01

My eyes hurt from rolling

I am a huge fan of the character Jack Reacher, but the books can be a hit or miss. Lee Child tends to walk a tightrope of "plausible" vs. "everyone but Jack is a drooling idiot." He didn't do so well in the first book, did very well in the second two and then tipped off the later edge into abject crap in this one. Seriously, the FBI are a bunch of lying, rights-violating, vicious morons. Jack is kind of being an ass himself and the story is painfully lackluster. I had to force myself to finish it, because I paid for it, but I am going to be very selective about reading all reviews and not reading the JR series in order anymore - rather reading the books where people aren't suffering from the same "this is so stupid" eye rolling headaches I did during this book.

13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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  • Jan
  • 2012-12-30

Where is Dick Hill?

Is there anything you would change about this book?

This narrator is okay, but he IS NOT Jack Reacher. Please bring Dick Hill back.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Okay.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

As I said, the narrator is okay, but not as Jack Reacher. There's only one voice for Jack Reacher and that voice is Dick Hill.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No, especially with Tom Cruise in the role of Jack Reacher. Are you kidding me? He no longer has respect as a actor, and he is about as opposite to Jack Reacher as he can be.

Any additional comments?

Bring back Dick Hill.

11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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  • William
  • 2014-03-21

Buy the other version

The reader for this book is just awful, but Audible also has this book with Dick Hill reading. I only made it about 30 minutes, but realized that I had heard it already (the other version).

10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars
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  • Hagatha
  • 2013-11-17

Not Lee Child's best

What would have made Running Blind better?

Take out the annoying nasal narration for some of the characters.

Has Running Blind turned you off from other books in this genre?

No. I think just a one off for Child. Maybe he had a balloon mortgage payment coming up and dashed this one out.

Which character – as performed by Jonathan McClain – was your favorite?

Reacher - but he was overly sarcastic at times.

Any additional comments?

**SPOILER ALERT!!!** **SPOILER ALERT!!!****SPOILER ALERT!!!** Too easy to solve. Got it in the first 3rd. I think I may have liked better if I had read it instead of listening. The narrator's soft voice and genderless personal pronouns gave away that the killer was a woman. The robotic responses of the victims responses indicated that they were hypnotized.

10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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  • Bob Irwin
  • 2013-08-19

Dissapointing

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Only if you are die hard to read the series then you need to read all.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

The story line was good but falls completely apart a the end.

Any additional comments?

I feel like this book had a good story line and some surprises that I didn't see coming. I was very disappointed by the ending. I don't know who this Reacher guy is at the end of the book. For a tough know it all he just rolls over.

10 people found this helpful