Reacher novels mainline on ‘Smash, Bang, Wallop’. The Visitor is subtle, nuanced and very, very clever. It is the fourth novel in this book-a-year series and appeared before Lee Child transitioned into formulaic sado-porn. There are only two examples of what would become characteristic mega-violence. And by the standards of later novels that is hardly trying.

The driving force is the plot. The most subtle of subtle of serial killings driven by the oldest of motives: jealousy, money and entitlement. The perpetrator however knows how to conceal the motivation. This plot twist is so clever that a plot-spoiler would be cruel and heartless. Which I’m not.

I read the 510 pages in a day. So, yes it is a page turner. And a big shout out for physical books. I bought this after a casual visit to a charity shop and was richly rewarded. They got £2 making ‘Joy and Happiness’ all round.