In a case of murder by an expert sniper, this thriller featuring Lee Child's ace Jack Reacher takes crack aim. It's loaded with unusual events and suspects and rich knowledge of sniper training and Gulag survivors. The rest is capable psychology, criminal dynamics and devious twists and turns.

The ball gets rolling when a superb marksman takes up a position in a public garage overlooking a busy downtown business area. When people leaving work come pouring out of the buildings, he empties his sniper rifle with six shots and kills five people. The sixth shot goes wild, into a public fountain, and the gunman easily gets away.

There's only one guy in town who can do anything like this, and not only is ex-army sniper James Barr accused, he has no alibi and doesn't deny that the crime was his. Police chief Emerson's exultations over nailing the suspect so quickly is exceeded only by D.A. Rodin who thinks he's got a slam dunk conviction. Easy. Too easy?

Barr's sister Rosemary, a secretary in a small law firm, can't believe it, but then she wouldn't. The litigator of the firm agrees to represent her brother and, together, they have their first interview with the accused, which they tape. Only Barr is less than forthcoming in his own defense, tight as a clam. Except for one thing. "Get Jack Reacher for me," he says.

Nobody knows the name, but we who read Child novels recognize him as author Child's main man, a fearsomely powerful, ex-major in the Army MPs, prize-winning marksman, justice-seeking vigilante out in the wild. So, no one know how to find him. Only Reacher, having watched local TV reporter Ann Yanni's reports, shows up on his own, even without knowing that the accused had asked for him. When Barr gets his request filled, however, the reason for the request is even more baffling because Reacher hasn't shown up with any idea of helping Barr's case.

"I came here to bury him," he declares to Barr's new lawyer who is also the DA's daughter. "But why?" asks Rosemary. "Because he's done this before. And, once was enough." And, as though that weren't enough, Barr is by this time in a coma after a beating by a prison inmate and unable to defend himself or explain why he asked for Reacher.

Reacher's knowledge of snipers and crime scenes quickly turns up some doubts about the investigation and, before it's over, he teams up with all the key people involved on the good side to uncover a unique Russian crime net feeding on the town's corruption whose level of evil is only matched with Reacher's superior cunning.

Child writes at his highly adrenalized best, keeping his storyline spare and well plotted. A clue here and there might be a bit too obvious as a device to obscure predictability (not immediately identifying and investigating the sniper's victims which he holds back until p.213 as though mystery readers weren't wondering), but the plot is well structured for maximum suspense and admiration for his straight thinking hero. It's kind of a pleasure to be in his company, and the uniqueness of the tale makes for a mighty good read in the annals of macho thrillers with some fascinating dimension.