Revenge and Justice
The one thing Reacher values more than anything is his anonymity wherever he chooses to settle for a while. Though he comes to Margrave for more information about the death of a musician, he hopes to conceal his identity. Things hardly go as planned when he is accused of murder by the chief of Police who is certain of his guilt. This is not enough for him to embark on a wild goose chase until he discovers the murder victim is Joe, his brother. The personal loss prompts Reacher to exert revenge on the killers and uncover the events that ensued before his brother died. Furthermore, he makes every effort to bring justice to this town by going after the bad guys involved in Joe’s murder. As the book introduced the franchise, it leans towards the theme of revenge that is a common motif in the subsequent installments.
Criminal Conspiracy
The more Reacher pursues the facts the more he realizes the giant conspiracy that the townsfolk are a part of. After his arrest, he quickly knows that Chief Morrison is involved in the scheme to set him up. Except for Finlay and Roscoe, he becomes skeptical of the police force, as they may be part of the criminal underworld. The investigation allows them to expose the corruption and conspiracy that the townspeople have been keeping under wraps. He learns that the criminal undertaking in the town is money counterfeiting that involves several parties. The operation turns out to be run by a connected network of individuals including the police department. The ideal community that runs seemingly legit businesses acts as the perfect front for illegal activities to take place in the background.
Violence and Death
His previous vocation as a military policeman equipped Reacher with combat and weapon techniques. He is a skilled killer with the ability to neutralize or kill a threat when the situation demands retaliation. His life has been defined by violence and the more he tries to escape it the more he finds it on his path. The narrative opens with the death of the protagonist's brother followed by a sequence of murders that raise suspicion. Reacher has a brush with death at every turn which requires him to either injure or kill the opponent to come out alive. This action thriller takes the protagonist through a violent journey that involves several people dying along the way. The title itself offers the reader a glimpse into the experience they are about to have with the story.
