Maybe it's a stretch to argue that Jack Reacher is a modern-day James Bond, but the literary heroes do have a few things in common. Like Bond, Reacher is a skilled fighter. Like Bond, he's also suave, and, most important, Reacher's got a way with the ladies. From Susan Duffy, the rogue agent with "great legs" in Persuader, to Lisa Harper, the FBI agent with "bright blue eyes" in Running Blind, there's no shortage of attractive women for Reacher to meet as he drifts from state to state, encountering suspense at each turn. In the 16th Reacher novel, The Affair, author Lee Child pairs his hero with Elizabeth Deveraux, a Mississippi sheriff who grudgingly partners up with the drifter hero to investigate the murder of a young woman. The book unfolds as Reacher has just left the Army in 1997, so true fans of the series will be eager to see the young hero after his military stint. Meet author Lee Child in person at the Authors Live! series at Highland Park United Methodist Church, 3300 Mockingbird Lane, on Thursday. The 7 p.m. discussion about The Affair is free, but for $30 you can meet the dreamy author in person at a special reception at 6 p.m. Call 214-523-2240 for tickets to the reception.
Thu., Sept. 29, 7 p.m., 2011