Lee Child

Lee Child opts for villains over Villans in latest Jack Reacher novel

Best-selling author Lee Child has opted for villains over Villans in his latest Jack Reacher thriller.



The lifelong Villa supporter, whose books have sold over 100 million copies, regularly features claret-and-blue characters in his gripping stories.

But for his 21st Reacher novel "Night School", due out in November, Lee has decided to focus on the opposition.

"I don't like using Villa names for the bad guys," he said.

"So I've used four from the Bayern Munich side from the 1982 European Cup final - Durnberger, Augenthaler, Muller, and Dremmler. The book is a prequel, set in 1996 in Hamburg."

Villa names feature in 15 of 20 of the previous books, ranging from players like Withe, McGrath and Yorke to managers Graham Taylor and John Gregory.

In the latest novel "Make Me", Ashley Westwood is a science editor based in Los Angeles.

And although the Bayern quartet from the 1982 final will dominate "Night School", the author has still found room for a current Villan.

"I used only one Villa name," he said.

"Sinclair - but for a woman. I hope Scott doesn't mind!"

Cheers for putting this this article up for us Trotters mate, how many bloody famous fans does our club have, its like having an embarrassment of riches such is it seems everybody famous supports Villa

Great legendary author is Child but i do think he should have sneaked in N'Zogbia and Lescott as the baddies, then he could have had Bacuna as the double agent.

I loved Child's earlier books.
From 'The Killing Floor' onwards ....

Because he explained the logic of investigation and the logic behind unravelling cul-de-sacs and dead-ends. Brilliant imo.

Since Tom Cruise bought "One Shot" and impersonated a 6'5" Reacher - an ex-MP - at barely 5' 6" himself, the credibilty was gone. That film lost a packet and I lost my interest.

Lee Childs now writes fodder imo ~ every woman is a "babe" like McNab novels, and women are now always in peril and have to be saved by Reacher. They are no longer more intelligent nor savvy as in the earlier books. That was part of the attraction to me, the logic and dismantling of conundrums, and strong female characters.

The post number 8/9 Reacher books I've read since have come from my partner picking them up in a Charity shop, where she goes to get bag-lady clothes to go to Scum .

Nick Hornsby included Gooner player names in his "From About a Boy" onwards..he referenced them directly in his first novel, because the main charcter was a Gooner.
J K Rowling auctioned off - for CHARITY - people to have their names as characters, in the last 3/4 'Harry Potter' books.

Sorry, I've gone off Lee a fair bit in recent years.

I hope he uses this current Villa PR to return something to the club "he loves" ..but I doubt it.
With his "Cruse Millions" and residuals, which he will still get from a failed movie,he could sponsor a few STs for those that can't afford them... he would get better PR to sell his books if he did ~ imo

I've just counted, got 10 toes and fingers.... NOT A WUM

Is there no aspect of Aston Villa and things linked to it that you like Alf. I'm just pleased you're not a WUM.

Honestly never heard of him and not read any of the Reacher books. Not my bag.

But always nice to hear about positive Villa PR

I'm think about writing a novel............

Working title - The Alf T mysteries

It all murder and mayhem and the hunt for a missing truck load of Norwegian Beer during Villa's champions league final win.

DaveAV1 wrote:Is there no aspect of Aston Villa and things linked to it that you like Alf. I'm just pleased you're not a WUM.

Yes.... I was at Villa v Athitco Madrid, and tears were in my eyes that our winger (you know who I hope)... got chopped down, hacked and almost disabled, but he carried on. The Villa way.

That convinced me that I would never leave Villa.

For the Players, their bond and belief reigned. imo..THEN

Since then, I have unfortunately been party to Ellis' attempts at illegal 'entrapments' .
Will do that in a PM, not in public.

Then MON and his reservations and run-away. PM also. I won't say that in public.

Yes...been a beliver in us for 'donkey's years'...more fool me.

I just wish I could say something positive...MORE POSIVITIVE..

BUT...I CAN'T DAVE.
So I found this Forum where people atually discuss things.
Posted my...long standing fears about the snouts-in-the-trough...

You will never read a post from me that is anti-player
Nor anti-fan.(Though I detest many of the former)

This is a transition period, OK..?

My fears, funded from elsewhere, are that Mr Xia has contradictied himslf, his own naive PR and Villa's PR have left him exposed. IF

IF he ever does an open Presser, the guy will be ripped to bits. He has no ability in English, so far...and he has lived with his 'English speaking' tutor for 4/5 years at Harvard. Then Cambridge etc..he says...

DAVE...I'm anti-"snoughts-in-the-trough"....I'm basiscally a Union man.

Sorry if that doesn't fit..... So it goes.

:)

Alf me old China - who would ever need convincing never to leave Villa?
As if the question of undying support - through times good and bad - would ever or should ever be brought into question.

Supporting Villa is a calling, a privilege, it's our birthright.

Consideration of leaving Villa? No, we might as well consider whether or not to take our next breath......

It's such a shame that it will only register one of those....

Agreed DK. For me Villa are like a family. I don't mean that as individuals whether that's players, fans or whoever, it's a feeling something that is often intangible. I'm sometimes critical, often disappointed but the love is unconditional. That illogical loyalty is what it is all about, especially when times are tough. As Villa fans we don't choose, we are chosen. I often see the club through claret and blue glasses. Perhaps that makes me a fool, but at least I'm a romantic old fool, still in love after all these years.