For Stephen Hunter/Bob Lee Swagger fans, this 6th installment is closer to original Bob Lee Swagger novel in the page-turning plot. There has never been any absence of action with Swagger novels, but this one kept me turning the page wanting to know what was at the core of setting up the sniper hits that has occurred to 4 ex-hippies who were the epitome of anti-Nam.
With heavy overtones of characters based on Jane Fonda and Ted Turner, this novel has an excellent main plot and sub plot (involving Nick Memphis). A sniper who has been credited with the most sniper hits in Vietnam has apparently lost it and has hit 4 ex-hippies. However, the evidence and the hits look too perfect and there are no inconsistencies. As a result, Nick Memphis asks Swagger to apply his experience as a sniper by looking at the details. As a result, the sniper hits are not what they appear to be on the surface and it's up to Swagger to do "his thing" and right a wrong, even against public and political pressure to wrap the case up quickly.
This novel is much more indicative of Hunter being at the top of his game again.
With heavy overtones of characters based on Jane Fonda and Ted Turner, this novel has an excellent main plot and sub plot (involving Nick Memphis). A sniper who has been credited with the most sniper hits in Vietnam has apparently lost it and has hit 4 ex-hippies. However, the evidence and the hits look too perfect and there are no inconsistencies. As a result, Nick Memphis asks Swagger to apply his experience as a sniper by looking at the details. As a result, the sniper hits are not what they appear to be on the surface and it's up to Swagger to do "his thing" and right a wrong, even against public and political pressure to wrap the case up quickly.
This novel is much more indicative of Hunter being at the top of his game again.
Not one of Stephen's better Bob Lee episodes
Good interesting read. Pretty intense. Swagger is a super hero type of character.
Great book, amazing descriptions of weapons, and use. Sniper techiques were fantastic knowledge. A grear MACHO book for men !. ..BoB Lee! What a guy !Hunter can write em! I have read all of his books, all time well spent!
Stephen Hunter is still the best when it concerns a "shooting" story. He not only tells a good story but all of the gun model numbers are correct, his ballistics and ammunition components are correct, and he describes long distance shots that are possible. If you remember that particular period in history you will recognize the real characters (with fictitious names) that are part of the story.
The ending of the story is somewhat unusual and thoroughly delightful. I will let the reader discover that for themselves.
The ending of the story is somewhat unusual and thoroughly delightful. I will let the reader discover that for themselves.
Another super entry in the Bob Lee Swagger series by Hunter! In this one, four famous radicals from the 1960's are killed by a sniper at long-range (including a thinly-disguised Jane Fonda). All the evidence points to a former Vietnam sniper named Carl Hitchcock. But is the case against Hitchcock too cut and dried? Swagger is called in by the FBI to re-examine the evidence and of course, it's not as clear as the evidence would seem. Swagger is pulled into the world of the latest sniper technology and is able to unravel a conspiracy that was meant to cover an old crime from the 60s. I would give this one a very high recommendation and feel that it is the best Swagger since "Black Light."
If Jack Reacher had a home address he would be called Bob Lee Swagger. Swagger has a home, a job, a wife; but, like Reacher, he is a driven loner when solving involved mysteries, chasing the bad guys, and protecting himself and those he trusts. And he uses his brains and much as his fists and his guns, in this case to find out if a much lauded sharpshooter from Swagger's military days was really the serial killer of four Vietnam era radicals. In the process he encounters the latest high-tech sniper equipment and a deadly crew of ex-soldiers who challenge his skills to the max. Stephen Hunter may be picking up where Lee Child began to fade.
This book was amazing. Hunter writes extremely well has his facts in order. I couldn't put it down. One of the best books I have read. EXCEPT, for the ending. It was dumb. I thought someone else wrote the final end. Definetly, not in keeping with the great writing and accuracy in the rest of the book. Mr. Hunter, you ruined a great book by the way you ended it. The book is worth reading and I would reccomend it and read it again, skipping the end.
I enjoy Stephen Hunter's books, although Bob Lee Swagger as a superhero is getting stale. This one was OK as far as the story went, but the paper thin veiling of the characters was almost embarrassing to read. If Mr Hunter thinks he can slightly change a group of famous peoples names, but then describe them as if he is talking about the real people counts as writing, he is mistaken. Describing the late GySGT Carlos Hathcock as Carl Hitchcock, does a disservice to a great warrior.
Bob Lee Swagger is slowing evolving into Jason Bourne which is not a good thing. I realize that to keep this franchise character interesting that some exaggerations of abilities needs to be included. However, for Swagger to endure the torture that he does in this book is just pure nonsense and unbelievable. And the escape from capture is beyond believable. The first 3/4 of the book was vintage Bob Lee and the last 1/4 was someone else entirely. I'm not saying I was disappointed in the book because it is a fun read, just saying that when reading future Swagger books I'll have to accept the fact that Bob Lee Swagger is a FBI asset that is above the law and possesses the knowledge of all things firearms related that surpasses the best criminal labs in the country.
One last bit of info....if you are familiar with and like the Marty Robbins song "Big Iron" you will definitely like the final showdown.
One last bit of info....if you are familiar with and like the Marty Robbins song "Big Iron" you will definitely like the final showdown.
