The Affair by Lee Child

Child takes us back to Reacher's life as a military policeman. He is sent to Carter Crossing, Mississippi undercover to ferret out the facts of a murder that may be connected to the military base nearby. His cover blown by sheriff Elizabeth Deveraux, ex-marine, they join forces to solve the murders of three women in the last nine months. This tale probably explains why Reacher is footloose and a loner in Child's earlier stories. A great read. Totally believable. Bureaucrats are in charge.