From Publishers WeeklyNear the start of Hunter's cartoonish fifth Bob Lee Swagger thriller (after The 47th Samurai), Nikki Swagger, the series hero's journalist daughter, is seriously injured when a hit man runs her car off the road in Tennessee hill country. Despite Swagger's fears that the legion of enemies he's made over the years are responsible for the attack, the former marine leaves Nikki vulnerable to another attempt on her life in the hospital where she's being treatedan attempt foiled only by chance in the nick of time. Such plot-driven implausibilities are rampant as Swagger investigates his daughter's recent assignments, which lead him to drug-running along the Tennessee-Virginia border and to a NASCAR event. At the violence-filled conclusion, one of the supporting characters, in keeping with the book's overall arms-length relationship with realism, says, In some perverted way, I think everybody who didn't die or lose their business kind of enjoyed it. Hunter fans may feel similarly. (Sept.) Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.From BooklistBob Lee Swagger is back, but hes hurting. That last scrape he got into with the samurai (The 47th Samurai, 2007) left him with bum legs, nightmares, and white hair.But its no country for old men when Bobs daughter, Nikki, now an investigative reporter in Tennessee, is nearly killed by a psycho called Sinnerman, whose weapon of choice is his car. Hunters premise this time encompasses not only the inevitable showdown between Bob and a purely evil adversary (think Gary Busey as Sinnerman), but also the wacky world of NASCAR. Its race week in Bristol, Tennessee, and as Bob attempts to figure out who attacked Nikki, hesmells a plot afoot to disrupt theevent. All the story lines come together around a degenerate evangelist who doubles as the patriarch of a legendary redneck crime family, the Grumleys (a wildly bent version of Grandpappy Amos and the Real McCoys). Hunter comes close to going over the top this time (the inevitable cataclysm at the NASCAR event is a pyrotechnical extravaganza as campy as it is violent), but he grounds the craziness with his characteristically precise prose, detailing not only the firepower used by Bob and his adversaries but also the cars they drive. NASCAR fans are sure to have a high old time with this novel, and if longtime Swagger followers feel a bit uncomfortable with the cartoony element here, there are more than enough signature Bob Lee momentsa hard man forced to be hardto keep their blood roiling. --Bill OttAbout the AuthorStephen Hunter has writteneighteen novels. The retired chief film critic for The Washington Post, where he won the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Distinguished Criticism, he has also published two collections of film criticism and a nonfiction work, American Gunfight. He lives in Baltimore, Maryland. what is a modern fantasy book Night of Thunder: A Bob Lee Swagger Novel
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Great WorkBy Robert Michael CollinsThis book is one of those that is hard to put down once you start reading. I like Mr. Hunter's way of having two or more things going on at once, then bouncing back and forth between them until he reaches a point where he brings everything together. In order to get the most out of his books the reader must read each word clear to the end because Mr.Hunter likes to put twists and turns in the last few pages that explain things that may otherwise have left some open ends or questions in the mind of the reader. At least that's my take on it. This was a great novel. I'm just getting into Mr. Hunter's series, and I plan to read them all. I feel like I am right there with Bob Lee Swagger. Super exciting.Before my wife was kind enough to buy a Kindle Fire for me for Christmas, I read I Snipper which was my intro into Mr. Hunter's work. It too was a great book full of suspense which I feel is a key word for Mr. Hunter's series. I'm now about half way through Dead Zero. This is a little different setting but filled with suspense all the way. I really don't think a person needs to read the series in order because each of the books has it's own personality, and when I know Bob Lee is involved, I'm really not concerned with the order as I know it's going to be good.That'a another of Mr. Hunter's many talents. Since I have my Kindle and can order most anything under the sun from , I don't even have to leave the comfort of my home. I just make a selection and there it is. As for Mr. Hunter, I hope he doesn't come down with writer's cramp as I'm looking forward to reading everything he writes.Thank You0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Glad I finally read this oneBy Chris DawkinsDidn't read this one when it first came out because of several reviews and frankly it's price. But after its price dropped I bought it. I would have enjoyed it at full price.I've never been a NASCAR fan even though I grew up in it. But while it's interwoven into the story it isn't all of the story. Slightly less gunplay than other Swagger novels but as usual good story and well written. Thanks again Mr Hunter.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Great Read. Hunter Does It Yet AgainBy Bill KAs a big fan of Stephen Hunter and his earlier Bob Lee Swagger books, I often wonder if the next book will measure up. So far they all have. I thought this one constructed around driving and NASCAR was especially good. If you like fast moving action, read it - you won't be disappointed.