Targeted (12) (Bob Lee Swagger Novel) - book cover
Thrillers & Suspense
  • Publisher : Atria/Emily Bestler Books
  • Published : 18 Jan 2022
  • Pages : 384
  • ISBN-10 : 1982169796
  • ISBN-13 : 9781982169794
  • Language : English

Targeted (12) (Bob Lee Swagger Novel)

Pulitzer Prize winner and New York Times bestselling author Stephen Hunter returns with a taut, white-knuckled thriller featuring master sniper Bob Lee Swagger as he protects a group of political hostages during a perilous standoff and once again proves his title of "true American literary icon" (Mark Greaney, author of Mission Critical).

After his successful takedown of a dangerous terrorist, Bob Lee Swagger learns that no good deed goes unpunished. Summoned to court by the United States Congress, Swagger is accused of reckless endangerment by a hardheaded anti-gun congresswoman. But what begins as political posturing soon turns deadly when the auditorium where the committee is being held is attacked.

Swagger, the congresswoman, and numerous bystanders and reporters are taken hostage by a group of violent operatives. Soon, the very people who had accused him are depending on him to save their lives. Trapped in the auditorium and still struggling with injuries from his last assignment, Swagger must rely on his instincts, his shooting skills, and the help of a mysterious rogue sniper on the outside in order to ensure that everyone makes it out alive.

A heart-pounding and crackling action-packed novel, Targeted proves that Stephen Hunter is "a true master at the pinnacle of his craft. No one does it better" (Jack Carr, Former Navy SEAL Sniper and author of The Terminal List).

Editorial Reviews

"With this inventive nail-biter, Hunter sets a new bar for both himself and the genre. " ― Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Ingenious…Swagger's adventures are escapist fun." ― Kirkus Reviews

"Hunter writes action scenes as well as anyone in the genre…tremendous suspense and a great sense of timing." ― Booklist (starred review)

"Entertaining…Swagger, that old dog, battered and bruised beyond mere mortal possibility, still has a few more tricks left in him." ― The New York Times Book Review

"Hunter is an American treasure." -- Newt Gingrich

"Another stunning story from a thriller writer without peer." ― Men Reading Books

"Totally shocking and totally surprising and totally captivating." -- John Gibson

Readers Top Reviews

Kindle jeffrey n mo
A good read but kind of lacking the punch his previous books had. Maybe it’s time for The Nailer to retire gracefully.
Alexander BogicevicJ
Stephen Hunter has long been a master writer in his own class. This combination of following a warrior as he ages while maintaining his legend just does not work. He has tired to go back in time, often with his family's adventures at the forefront and Bob Lee less present, and it has worked to some extent. While Bob Lee carries his stoicism and dry wit well into age, his body and his actions do not. Mr. Hunter prematurely aged Bob Lee and thereby condemned him to a sad state of affairs compared to the early books. He may want to take a point from Lee Child and Nelson Demille and bounce back in time and/or involve any offspring he may have in continuing to carry the torch. It is sad for true Swagger followers to see this somewhat self-indulging untenable combination of heroicism and aging as anything but a bleak shadow of past writing.
Stephen Coonts
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.
J. RobbinsS. Gibbs
First Reacher, now Swagger. Both these series have become unreadable, though for different reasons. Reacher was handed over to someone who can't write. Swagger is now a vehicle for expression of right wing political views. Too bad, I loved them both. I wont be back.

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