Dead Zero: A Bob Lee Swagger Novel

Much of the action that takes place near Camp Lejeune is described as taking place in SOUTH CAROLINA!??? What's up with that Mr. Hunter? ---

As Marine centric as all your stories are I would have thought you'd get that right. Glaring error. Camp Lejune and Jacksonville not "Jackson" is in North Carolina on the coast. Just north of Wilmington. Some other place names are referred to as in SC also although they are only a few miles off base. ---

You also refer to former Marines as "ex-Marines", a big no no as you should know. ---

The antagonists in this story are cartoon clowns and not the professional hitman one would expect Bob Lee to have to overcome and defeat. Seems like you're just pumping out BLS stories for the heck of it without any real attempt at a good story. ---

Also tell Buck Schirner to cut back to a pack a day. He often runs out of breath trying to finish sentences or say certain words and sounds like a smoker who doesn't have full lung capacity. ---

Hate to do this because I'm a fan of all your previous stories, but only 3 stars for this one. ---

- Jesse in Virginia.

Like Jesse I enjoyed Hunter's previous work but this one wasn't up to par. The characters were obscured by a storm of details that read like a military training manual. As Jesse pointed out not all the details were fact. The 6th Air Force operated in the Panama Canal Zone and South America during WWII and not Europe. A Marine would NEVER refer to a Gunnery Sergeant as simply sergeant it would be Gunny or Gunnery Sergeant .. aqnything else would be a demotion. I'll admit these are trivial objections but it does make me wonder about all the other esoteric facts in the book.

While no marine, I agree with the other reviewers; this novel just isn't up to par. Lots of attempts at humor were lame and the story line just doesn't work. I didn't even finish this one. If someone were to suggest that Mr Hunter didn't write this I wouldn't necessarily disagree (and would actually be pleased to know it wasn't Mr Hunter's work). Kind of seems as though the point was to churn out another novel regardless of quality. I'll be back for the next novel, hoping that it mirrors earlier efforts.

I liked Hunter's earlier Bob Lee books, but the past couple have been disappointing. There's something I just can't put my finger on when it comes to the dialogue, but it doesn't come across as real. Some of it's sing-songy, and some of it is just inserted to wet the whistles of the gear nuts. Real operators don't talk to each other about the way Hunter has them talking. Another example is the way Hunter has Swagger talking about himself. (Clint Eastwood voice) "I'm just a loner.", "I'm a simple man." Blah, blah. It's contrived and sounds fake. Maybe it's just the way the narrator is reading it, but I don't think so. Basically, I think Hunter has just run out of ways to come up with a story that can include a sniper and his gear and so we've ended up with these past couple of books. Give it a pass.

Hunter still has the touch and proves it in the first chapter. Then he needlessly brings back Bob Lee Swagger, hero of earlier novels, turns him into a hillbilly detective, bores the reader to tears with gumshoe work, and finally ends with an implausible conspiracy and shoot-out. This book is all over the board, some good, some dull. Bob Lee Swagger is dead-weight. I am worried that revelations about Bob's previously unmentioned career in SOG may portend future books about the young Swagger in Vietnam. I say let Bob retire and give us more "Cruz Missile"!

There are a doen authors who can catpure your attention far more effective than Hunter.
The storyline has potential, but seems very contrived and unnatrual. Character development lacks setup and its like watching a quicky TV show than a real novel.
The story is superficial at best, I'm afraid.
The reader just doesn't have that interesting voice to capture my attention.

This was a recommended read, but I say stick with the real writers.

This is a typical Stephen Hunter/Bob Lee Swagger story with plenty of twists and turns. And like the other stories of the series it is peppered liberally with unnecessary detail about the firearms and ammunition while getting some basic facts wrong. Others have noted the South Carolina/North Carolina problem; let me remind Mr. Hunter that a brick wall does not provide cover from a .50 cal round. The bigger problem, though, is Buck Schirner's narration. Schirner has the perfect gravel voice for Bob Lee Swagger. But that's the extent of his value. He can't do accents or dialects well or consistently but he constantly tries to do them, and he has problems pronouncing some less common words in the English language. He also has a problem with phrases that break across lines, leading to odd inflections in many cases. He needs an editor or producer to smooth over these issues with his delivery, and Mr. Hunter needs to focus on telling the story and not on educating his readers - many of whom are probably more familiar with firearms than he is -- about guns and ammo.

It is a good story, from what I could stand to listen to. I couldn't finish the book, the cussing and swearing got unbearable to continue

dissapointment with the language!

I have not read the print version of this story, but cannot imagine it could be better than the audible version. My reason behind this is the narrator, Buck Schirner. He is absolutely the best narrator I have ever heard. I could just see him, dressed in khakis, a cigar clenched in his teeth, he just sounds like I imagine Bob Lee would sound!

I liked the new, older version of Bob Lee. Just as tough and wiry as ever, but now he is acting as more of a consultant, someone who has been there, and done that many times and as such is a great help to all the agencies with which he deals.

Well, I guess I already answered that question. He really brings the military aspect of Bob Lee out. He also sounds older than the previous narrators, so he really fits the part.

No, it was a little more multi-layered, so I prefered listening for 45 to 60 minutes, and then thinking about what I heard and letting it sink in.

A great book! Keep them coming Mr. Hunter