Although I have not read nearly all of the Jack Reacher novels, I've gone through over a half dozen of them. Persuader, was my least favorite. Probably because it is NOT a Jack Reacher solo story. He always seems to be working for some other motivation than "Reacher justice." (ie., for the DEA or his new-found family, etc). The layers of distrust, conspiracy, obligations to others that the reader cannot align himself with (and the conflicts from these relationships) are overly convoluted. At times, you literally hate him and the things he is doing. He becomes a freak.
It's one thing to be a hulking force of nature enforcing his own rules; there's a vengeful justice in that. In Persuader, he and some of the side characters are so amoral and brutal that it is hard to stomach.
It's not one of the simplest stories, for certain. But it is also way over the top (even for Reacher). It is definitely NOT a feel-good tale or anything akin to "Die Hard" / "Under Siege" 80's action films.
It is the DARKEST of the Reacher novels I read and that is why it was the last one I read as well.