Targeted (12) (Bob Lee Swagger Novel)

Mr. Hunter, I still remember the young author's photo on "Master Sniper" at my college library forty years ago. You've given me a lot of good reads since then. Not only the entire Swagger family series, but "Day Before Midnight" (favorite... should be mandatory reading for National Guardsmen) and others. I even bought a Super .38 after reading Havana.

I enjoyed the new novel, "Targeted." It shows, realistically and in caricature, how politics and opinions have changed, how the country is sliding from rugged individualism to collectivism, and how heroics are no longer in fashion, at least with the MSM and politicians. There is a well-done historical element woven into the modern story, and there is still plenty of modern action. The criminals are interesting and not just cut-outs. I would say Mr. Hunter has upped his writing game as he gets older instead of riding on his laurels and letting lazy ghostwriters carry the load (as Lee Child has done).

Keep writing, sir, and I will keep pre-ordering. I live in North Carolina, so now I have to visit King's Mountain again. And I have to think Mr. Hunter was just goading us to flinch when he wrote about an M4 and it's "clip", because we all know that he knows better.

I also appreciated the extra effort that went into making a nice "3D" book jacket for the hardback.

Stephen Hunter has brought back his strongest character, Bob Lee Swagger, in his 12th novel. Honestly, this one is pure Swagger. Bob the Nailer outsmarts and outshoots all the bad guys, again. The fun of a Hunter tale about Swagger is trying to anticipate how Bob Lee is going to do it. You know he is the hunter, smarter and more savvy than the bad guys, and he is going to win in the end. But with the deck so carefully stacked against him, how?
Stephen Hunter is one of our premier thriller writers. He is still on top of his game. Enjoy.

Liberals will, in all likelihood, hate this book. Conservatives may like it. It contains several thinly disguised persona of contemporary politicians, mainly liberal, mainly made to look foolish. In any case, Bobby Lee Swagger comes through with normal heroism to save the day. Yes, he is getting somewhat old but he still has the wherewithal to outdo the bad guys. A good plot with a lot of puzzlement's to keep you reading. I definitely recommend this book to all Swagger fans.

If this is the end of the Swagger series then it ends with a whimper and not a bang. There's detailed descriptions of congressional hearings that are attempting to discredit the hero, for what political purpose I’m really not sure, but you’re tempted to just flip a few pages to get past them. Then there’s flashbacks to 1780 to show that swagger had an ancestor who was also a hero. All this interferes with the plot that involves some foreign gangsters who are trying to muscle in on the Mexican and Russian cartels and somehow manage to break out of prison and hold feckless liberal politicians in a hostage situation. All in all, most of the book is boring, fantastical, and not at all like Hunter’s previous novels.

So, so disappointed!! I sincerely wish I would have paid more attention to the negative reviews. I have read and thoroughly enjoyed every Bob Lee and Earl Swagger books. As others have said, the old books were apolitical but this one is not! I read fiction to be entertained and to escape from the every day partisan nonsense that constantly blankets the news and divides us. What an incredible disappointment to find it so largely blatant in this book.
I didn’t even bother donating the book. It went in my recycling bin. I agree with the others…. Time for Stephen Hunter to retire.

Fans of Bob Lee might be a little disappointed, but need to accept that people grow older, even fictional characters. Bob Lee does things differently but still works to his special code of ethics. One suspects he can still shoot but often leaves the killing shot to others.
Stephen Hunter writes with skill and the special insights that make this a great read.

Great Bob Lee novel. A great summer read. Bob Lee takes on the zeitgeist of the woke left wing who despises what Bob Lee has done as a sniper, but is protected by what these men do. Churchill said; "We sleep soundly in our beds because men of action do violence on our behalf". The quote is also in the novel but attributed to the wrong person. He also makes small mistakes such as "he WON the medal of honor". You receive the medal, its not a contest. The chairman of the committee also is a direct model of the current speaker of the house, a perfect hostage. All in all a great Bob Lee Swagger novel with an historical perspective of his lineage, and how he got his name.
Hunter also gives a glimpse of his next Earl Swagger novel set in WW 2; "with a lot of Tommy guns". Excellent!!

I kept reading thinking it would get better but almost believe it was written by someone other than Stephen Hunter. I have read every Swagger novel straight through in one sitting due to the excitement and thrill of the plot, but not so this last book. Very disappointed!!!

the worst Stephen Hunter is still near the top of his class.

Well I would of expected a better write from Stephen Hunter. This is all but disappointing. His earlier stuff was awesome, this not so much. I thought it was very hard read as some of the sentences made no sense. I am giving up on Stephen Hunter as he just isn't the same writer as we was.