Black Light

Stephan Hunter is at the top of his form with this book and series. The book starts off fast and just keeps going. Lots of interesting details and a good story drive the book. There is always the interesting character of the story lead for you to fall back on and become comfortable with. This is a very smart book, the pieces fit together and you never think the author is forcing the items - they work like you are being told a true story. I have always been surprised that this author has not become a bigger name. This is a quality book that you will be glad you invested the time to explore.

Stephen Hunter's final novel in his "Bob Swagger" series is a riveting and satisfying finale that gives the avid fan a sense of closure. It is action-packed with the added gem of a last-minute surprise. Hunter alters his writing style subtly with each series installment: "Point of Impact" is a real page-turner that hooked me on the Bob Lee Swagger character; "Black Light" was told with a few flashbacks to the past; and "Time to Hunt" has MAJOR flashbacks to the Vietnam Era that occupy hundreds of pages! At first, I thought the lengthy flashbacks disrupted the pace of "Time to Hunt", but I soon found that they provided necessary information in order to appreciate Swagger's present-day predicament, and gave this reader a hearty dose of suspenseful sniper warfare. All the flashback information doesn't take away from the action, and it helps tie everything together and doesn't leave the reader wanting more answers. A VERY satisfying ending to a great series!!

This is the only book I have read (or rather listened to) by this author, and I loved it. It changed my opinion of murder mysteries entirely. I have read a few, from such authors as Michael Connelly, Johnathon Kellerman and Patricia Cornwell, and this was easily the best, especially in terms of believable plot twists and fast-paced action. The story takes place in a small town in Arkansas, jumping seamlessly between the 50's and the 90's, focusing on the plights of a state trooper and his son, a highly-decorated marine sniper. The characters are realistic and engrossing. The best thing Steven Hunter brings to this book are the seemingly effortless twists throughout. He frequently adds a twist to the plot not by introducing new evidence, but through a subtle change to the view on existing elements. Beau Bridges read this story, and did an excellent job supplying the wide range of voices.

Stephen Hunter has done it again. He has brought back Bob Lee Swagger. A sniper who can be a killing machine. Black Light and Point of Impact are my two favorites of his books. I did not want to put the book down. Bob Lee goes back to Blue Eye, Arkansas to find out about the death of his daddy. His dad, Earl, was a state trooper and killed in the line of duty or was he murdered????? When Bob starts asking questions people come after him and his friends. A lot of action and an ending that will surprise you. A great finish!!!!!!! If you like a lot of action and suspense you will like this book.

With the recent publication and release of "Hot Springs", a story about Earl Swagger in his early years of law enforcement, I thought I would reread "Black light" to reacquaint myself with him in the time leading up to his death. I'm glad I did."Black Light" is the powerful, hard-hitting story of Bob Swagger's investigation into the death of his father, Earl. As he investigates the murder of his father, Bob becomes a target himself as he uncovers the secret past of some powerful men.As I read this book with the knowledge of the specifics of why and how Earl was killed, I still was held in the grip of this action-packed, cleverly written suspense novel. I continue to be impressed with the breadth of knowledge Mr. Hunter possesses and with the writing style he uses to convey it. Especially effective is the way Earl and Bob ask themselves questions and the reader follows their thought processes until they come to a solution. Hunter also has a talent for develping real-life and believable characters that the reader develops a strong feeling for. One character I hope will move within "Hot Springs" is a younger Sam Vincent, the Polk County prosecutor who helped Bob as an absent-minded but intelligent 80 year old.I strongly endorse all of Stephen Hunter's books. He is the best kept secret of action and suspense fiction.