Sniper Elite: One Way Trip

By: Scott McEwen, Thomas Koloniar

Narrated by: Brian Hutchison

From the coauthor of the #1 New York Times bestseller American Sniper comes a gripping military action thriller, inspired by true events, about a Navy SEAL sniper leading a daring special ops rescue mission to save a downed female pilot from Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan.

ONE TEAM. ONE SHOT. ONE WAY.

In direct defiance of the president’s orders, Navy Master Chief Gil Shannon, one of America’s most lethal SEAL snipers, launches his own bold mission comprised of SEAL Team Six and Delta Force fighters to free a female helicopter pilot being held and brutally mistreated by Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan.

The president fears a botched rescue would be a foreign policy disaster—and the end of his term. But once the special ops community learns that one of their own has been taken hostage, there is no executive order strong enough to stop them from going in—whatever the risks.

One of the best book I have encountered this year.

This book kept me engaged from start to finish. Some may be turned off by the level of violence depicted, but none of it was inappropriate given the book largely follows the adventure of a navy seal sniper.

The book is quite a trip, I must disagree with a few of the other reviewers when they say the author is nearly as good a Clancy. In my opinion he is far better.

If the publisher is monitoring these reviews, please note I am keen for more audio books from these authors. I will be checking back periodically to see if they have any new books.

The narrator Brian Hutchison, is quite good. He has a pleasant voice and if he worked a little more on his pacing and character voices he could be one of the very best. I would be happy to hear him again.

Hard to categorize in the genre.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This is an odd book, although a familiar genre. It deals with many of the same subjects as novels by Coes, and Flynn, and others but not from the POV of an necessarily heroic character. Yes, it's about a Navy Seal, but not a Ramboesque muscles bulging superman. It's the first I've read that described them as they really are, efficient, ruthless, focused to an inhuman degree, and rather taciturn about what it is they do. Not a Charlie Sheen fool. The concept of 'the hero' is almost a joke to them, although they do things civilians would label heroic almost as a matter of course, daily.The story has a lot of common elements seen in other 'sniper tales', but related as it might happen. You get a real sense of the sense of dread they have about some things they are asked to do, and yet do anyway. It reveals to me at least, some insight to the behavior, personal discipline and outlook of Seals I've known in civilian life over the years. Remarkable men, but men nonetheless.Spectacular and interesting book, read extremely well.

Top Special Ops story. 5x5 on stars!

Where does Sniper Elite: One Way Trip rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

SE is one of the best special ops book that I have heard, so far. Scott McEwen and Thomas Kolonair tell the story so realistically that I could easily visualize every pulse-pounding fighting scene as though I was there (but, glad that I wasn't!). The language is perfect - just how I imagine warriors speaking to one another. EXCELLENT LISTEN!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Master Chief Steelyard. Gritty old warrior with a good heart.

What does Brian Hutchison bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Brian did an excellent job of narrating this story. The mastery that he had over the personalities of the various characters made this story very believable and exceptionally enjoyable.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When the President declared Winchester. No spoiler. You'll have to listen to understand.

Hard to stop listening to

What about Brian Hutchison’s performance did you like?

I had read a few reviews that he possibly "over-acted", but I strongly disagree. He was great and had various voices down pat. One of the better narrators

Any additional comments?

If you like this kind of genre, then you will like this.Personally I usually stick to true military audiobooks, especially WW2. But this book was very entertaining. If I wouldn't have already known, I would have thought this was a true story. Very realistic. The author definitely did his homework. Enjoy

The best!

This is one of those books or you just can't put down. One that will take you until two or 3 o'clock in the morning!