Targeted is a highly entertaining action narrative with a retro 80’s vibe emanating from Stephen Hunter’s old school style while taking on a modern political theme.
Bob Lee Swagger is served a notice to attend a congressional hearing that aims to highlight the increased gun violence in America, using Swagger as a political scapegoat. What starts off as a courtroom drama quickly escalates into violence when a group of Chechen fighters invade the premises to gain hostages and strongarm the authorities into giving them transportation and money to safety. Swagger along with a mysterious delta operative on the outside must swiftly take out the threats before the bad guys can escape.
Stephen Hunter’s strong and attention-grabbing writing takes an unflinching stance on violence, creating a prolonged tense environment as Swagger is trapped with the hostages in close proximity to bloodthirsty villains. The weaponry details flow like descriptions of mythical tools, clear and imaginative to be understood by all readers regardless of their knowledge bases with the different types of ammunition and weapons. The action sequences develop smoothly with the cool precision of an expert marksman under the chaotic cloud of heavy fire. The shootouts and close quarter combat take Bob Lee’s age into consideration in order to present a realistic challenge for Swagger to overcome in practical fashion.
The villains bring the 80’s flavor to the narrative, with bad English and half-cocked plans that are ripe for imploding in their faces. Perhaps an intentional choice on the author’s part, but the bad guys felt like a weak match for Bob Lee Swagger.
Stephen Hunter’s prowess with historical fiction shines bright in Targeted with an insight into the 1700’s as Bob Lee Swagger’s heritage is traced back to an ancestor as part of a sub plotline that Swagger is imbued with a killer gene. The narrative jumps back and forth between the two timelines, subtly complimenting each other with similar situations that pave the way for a fulfilling resolution.
Targeted is a hard-boiled all-killer narrative that tackles multiple fronts of storytelling using a well-handled mesh of action, drama, and suspense.
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