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agentnk_'s review against another edition
4.0
i like the way Hunter has aged his character. The violence is well written. Not many authors can combine extreme violence and humor into a novel as effectively as Stephen. but ill take a break from spy novels :)
stevem0214's review against another edition
5.0
Great!! I've read a couple of this series, but I've got to go back and catch up! What a good book...didn't figure it out until the last few pages!
papidoc's review against another edition
4.0
Stephen Hunter returns to the Bob Lee Swagger, with a big surprise at the end. I won’t reveal what it is (I hate to be the guy who ruins the surprise for others). But it’s a whopper, and yet, it somehow fits with the Bob Lee Swagger saga. Hunter shows his trademark knowledge of the details of hoplophilia in this latest novel, one of the reasons I keep coming back to his books. One of my pet peeves is when authors pretend to know and understand gun craft, but really don’t. I suppose anyone who knows a bit about something has a similar reaction – my cop friends tell me this is why they don’t watch cop shows on TV, and my doctor friends say the same thing about doctor shows. There is a new show about a mediator on TV, and I haven’t watched it for fear that it will simply annoy me (after twenty years mediating disputes).
Anyway, back to Dead Zero. Pretty good, suspenseful right to the end, but all the pieces were wrapped up nicely by the time it finished. As satisfying as a fictional story of this sort can be, though fairly violent, as Hunter’s novels tend to be. Certainly not for the squeamish.
Anyway, back to Dead Zero. Pretty good, suspenseful right to the end, but all the pieces were wrapped up nicely by the time it finished. As satisfying as a fictional story of this sort can be, though fairly violent, as Hunter’s novels tend to be. Certainly not for the squeamish.
marshaskrypuch's review against another edition
2.0
I had hopes that this writer would tide me over until another Lee Child came out. Didn't happen. Stephen Hunter doesn't quite have the formula worked out. Jack Reacher novels entertain not only because they have intriguing scenarios, action, blood and humour. They work because Jack Reacher is an interesting character. Ditto for the other people Child creates. Stephen Hunter has the gizmos and the guns, and there's some humour as well, but the characters are pretty much all connect-the-dots. Maybe it's because I came in midway on a series, but that's a lame excuse and we all know it.
jebersviller's review against another edition
3.0
A typical Swagger adventure in most respects. Nicely brings in some of the modern aspects of war with his tie in of the US drone program. Ludicris twist about 2/3 of the way through felt like a bad soap opera.
claudetteb's review against another edition
5.0
I love Ray Cruz! The last couple of books (the Samurai one and the one with his daughter and racing) were totally forgettable, and very disappointing, so I'm glad to see Bob Lee back in this Marine environment, and very happy to see the torch will be passed on to another very quick, very confused, and somewhat flawed sniper.
Unlike other reviewers, I love the detail even though I know nothing of guns - it makes me slow down when I'm reading and allows me to absorb the feel of the book, as well as the story.
Can't wait for Hunter's new book coming out in December!
Unlike other reviewers, I love the detail even though I know nothing of guns - it makes me slow down when I'm reading and allows me to absorb the feel of the book, as well as the story.
Can't wait for Hunter's new book coming out in December!
dburley37's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
The first section of the book was a little confusing to me. When it brought Bob Lee Swagger into the story it picked up. It did not have the same suspence and excitement as some of his other books. I still would recommend it.
jfranco77's review against another edition
3.0
Bob the Nailer is back, but he's getting on in years, and it's good to see Hunter treating him that way instead of asking a 60-something veteran who is admittedly beaten up to keep acting like a superhero. It's still good to see him back, and this was a fast read focusing on Ray Cruz, a new generation of sniper with some surprising history.
At the start of the book, Cruz is on a mission in Afghanistan. It goes south, he's presumed dead, but he isn't. He returns to the states to find that his target has turned into a good guy, and Cruz teams with Swagger and his team to get to the truth. I'm not sure Cruz is as well developed as he should be, and the same could probably be said for some of the other characters, but the book has a lot of action and keeps you occupied until the last page.
At the start of the book, Cruz is on a mission in Afghanistan. It goes south, he's presumed dead, but he isn't. He returns to the states to find that his target has turned into a good guy, and Cruz teams with Swagger and his team to get to the truth. I'm not sure Cruz is as well developed as he should be, and the same could probably be said for some of the other characters, but the book has a lot of action and keeps you occupied until the last page.
wisdomnugget's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
papi's review against another edition
4.0
Stephen Hunter returns to the Bob Lee Swagger, with a big surprise at the end. I won’t reveal what it is (I hate to be the guy who ruins the surprise for others). But it’s a whopper, and yet, it somehow fits with the Bob Lee Swagger saga. Hunter shows his trademark knowledge of the details of hoplophilia in this latest novel, one of the reasons I keep coming back to his books. One of my pet peeves is when authors pretend to know and understand gun craft, but really don’t. I suppose anyone who knows a bit about something has a similar reaction – my cop friends tell me this is why they don’t watch cop shows on TV, and my doctor friends say the same thing about doctor shows. There is a new show about a mediator on TV, and I haven’t watched it for fear that it will simply annoy me (after twenty years mediating disputes).
Anyway, back to Dead Zero. Pretty good, suspenseful right to the end, but all the pieces were wrapped up nicely by the time it finished. As satisfying as a fictional story of this sort can be, though fairly violent, as Hunter’s novels tend to be. Certainly not for the squeamish.
Anyway, back to Dead Zero. Pretty good, suspenseful right to the end, but all the pieces were wrapped up nicely by the time it finished. As satisfying as a fictional story of this sort can be, though fairly violent, as Hunter’s novels tend to be. Certainly not for the squeamish.