Soft Target

Ray Cruz, Book 1

By: Stephen Hunter

Narrated by: Phil Gigante

Length: 4 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times best-selling author Stephen Hunter is back with another breakneck thriller, in which ex-Marine sniper, Ray Kruz, must outwit a group of murderous Somali terrorists who’ve laid siege to the Mall of America.

Recently retired marine sergeant Ray Kruz has been talked into a mall trip by his fiancé, the beautiful Molly Chan. For Ray, Molly represents a way to reconnect with normal life, something his 20 years in the service and five tours in two combat zones have prevented. But now he finds himself in the middle of the softest target of all, a huge consumer mall where a self-styled “Mumbai Brigade” has come to bring massive death to the heartland. They just didn’t know Ray Cruz was in the building….

©2011 Stephen Hunter (P)2011 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Quick! Get out of the mall before you can't!!

What disappointed you about Soft Target?

The story dragged through unnecessary dialogue between the wife and Ray Cruz. I squirmed as I listened. Being in security, circumstances were in place that kept me listening. If I had been doing anything else, I would probably have put it down. I expected more "adventure" and "edge of seat" action.

What was most disappointing about Stephen Hunter’s story?

Mr. Hunter should have created more of a feel of what the hostages were thinking. What was the inner turmoil going on inside their head? Ray Cruz's perspective was not as engaging as it should have or could have been. The wife should have been omitted or just adhered to in the beginning, or have her as a hostage, this would have been the "magic bullet" Mr. Hunter needed. Or pardon the gruesome thought, the wife could have been a fatality early on. Killing the wife would have made the story engaging and "tone setting" right off the bat.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Phil Gigante?

The narrator was monotone and not right for this piece. His voice was unlistenable when mimicing the wife's voice. Come on! The narrator could have used his own voice and listeners would still have known the wife was speaking. SCOTT BRICK would have been brilliant in this piece! Mr. Brick's voice effortlessly seams through ALL characters! The story then becomes a movie of the mind.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Yes! With the escalating fear of terrorism, why would it be impossible for a mall to be a target?? In WEB Griffin's "By Order of the President", the Liberty Bell is a target. Terrorists who have an agenda are not stupid. They know most government buildings would present too much challenge. This story should have been a force to make the public recognize and be aware of this threat.

Any additional comments?

I LOVE AUDIBLE!!!!!!!!!
SINCE FINDING AUDIBLE NEARLY 8 YEARS AGO, I HAVE EXPERIENCED SO MANY BOOKS!
IF THIS TECHNOLOGY DID NOT EXIST, I WOULD NEVER HAVE HAD THE MOTIVATION, EFFORT AND/OR TIME TO READ!
THANK YOU AUDIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What do you mean “abridged”

Reading is great, story, great but what happened to the rest of the story? For what these books cost, I want the full story.