Rating: Summary: One of the best adventure books you will ever read. Review: "The Day Before Midnight" is one of the best books I have read. It rates up there with "Day Of The Jackel" and "First Blood" (not the 'Rambo' version of the movie, but the original book). This is my first, and probably only book review, but this book deserves my recommendation. I have read this book so often, it fell apart. I had to buy another copy, that is when I saw the chance to review it. Well worth your reading time.
Rating: Summary: Go Hunter Go. Review: A great read. Stephen Hunter has done it again. I really enjoyed this book. It is a thriller from the first page to the cliff hanger at the end. The Delta Force, the National Guard, the Inf. all trying to stop a rocket from going up. And the tunnel rats, boy I could not do that. I would die of fright. But, you can really feel what they are going through. Throw in a couple of spies and you have a great book. I really did not want to put the book down. It is a race against time and you are held in suspense until the very end. Would recommend for any who likes a lot of excitement.
Rating: Summary: A first-rate "familiar" thriller! Review: A previous reviewer refers to the fact that the plot elements of "The Day Before Midnight" have been done before. Those of us who are thriller devotees have realized this already; the trick is to find a writer who can take these familiarities and still keep you interested. The time-running-out-to-avoid-a-nuclear-catastrophe storyline has indeed been used, but, even though I was confident things would work out in the end, I still was glued to the pages. This was my first Stephen Hunter novel, but certainly not my last. I can't say enough about the characterizations (I loved Walls!), the storyline, and the finale, literally a last-second cliffhanger. I can't read Clancy; he has the attitude every word he writes is precious. Hunter can tell the same type of story far, far better. He has taken his place with Sandford, Ridley Pearson, Joseph Finder, et al. Now that it seems Ludlum may be done, and DeMille writing infrequently, it is wonderful to know such talents as Hunter are out there! This is one of the best books I have read in ages.
Rating: Summary: A first-rate "familiar" thriller! Review: A previous reviewer refers to the fact that the plot elements of "The Day Before Midnight" have been done before. Those of us who are thriller devotees have realized this already; the trick is to find a writer who can take these familiarities and still keep you interested. The time-running-out-to-avoid-a-nuclear-catastrophe storyline has indeed been used, but, even though I was confident things would work out in the end, I still was glued to the pages. This was my first Stephen Hunter novel, but certainly not my last. I can't say enough about the characterizations (I loved Walls!), the storyline, and the finale, literally a last-second cliffhanger. I can't read Clancy; he has the attitude every word he writes is precious. Hunter can tell the same type of story far, far better. He has taken his place with Sandford, Ridley Pearson, Joseph Finder, et al. Now that it seems Ludlum may be done, and DeMille writing infrequently, it is wonderful to know such talents as Hunter are out there! This is one of the best books I have read in ages.
Rating: Summary: Hunter is Top Notch Review: After reading The Master Sniper, I took me a while to get back to reading Stephen Hunter. I wish it hadn't. Upon finishing the last Bob Lee Swagger novel, I was leary about reading The Day Before Midnight since I loved the Swagger character so much. WOW - was I wrong. Let's just say this - NOBODY can develop a character like Stephen Hunter. While reading his books, you feel connected to the people he is writing about. Regardless of the number of central characters (in this book, there were at least 9), he is able to make every one seem lifelike and important. You remember his characters and you root hard for them or against them. As far as the plot goes, yes, it has been done before. None have done it as well as Hunter. Period.
Rating: Summary: Hunter is Top Notch Review: After reading The Master Sniper, I took me a while to get back to reading Stephen Hunter. I wish it hadn't. Upon finishing the last Bob Lee Swagger novel, I was leary about reading The Day Before Midnight since I loved the Swagger character so much. WOW - was I wrong. Let's just say this - NOBODY can develop a character like Stephen Hunter. While reading his books, you feel connected to the people he is writing about. Regardless of the number of central characters (in this book, there were at least 9), he is able to make every one seem lifelike and important. You remember his characters and you root hard for them or against them. As far as the plot goes, yes, it has been done before. None have done it as well as Hunter. Period.
Rating: Summary: um... jeez, am I the only guy who noticed? Review: An excellent thriller, more modern and techno than I usually prefer, but fun, a la movies like Broken Arrow or Peacemaker. Stephen Hunter's no Robert Harris, Alan Furst, or Robert Cruz Smith, much less a Le Carre, but it's enjoyable, a good beach read. And even more so because of the unintended irony (how could he miss it! ) of his hero being named Dick Puller. Hee hee.
Rating: Summary: One implausibility after another Review: Full of stereotypes, stock characters, mindless violence, and worst--a plot that turns on really stupid decisions by the major players. A big disappointment. Not in the same class as Point of Impact which has a riviting plot, great characters, believable dialogue, and violence that moves the story forward--not just violence for the sake of blowing stuff up and people away.
Rating: Summary: Too Much Review: I always read the reviews before buying a book. I have read all of the Hunter novels and have liked all of them. This book just had too much going on. I found it hard to follow. As I have finished it and think back on it, I enjoyed the parts I did understand. I think it will be a re-read for me in the future.
Rating: Summary: Fake, but good. Review: I find this book difficult to rate, as it is incredibly fake. The way the military acted and reacted in this book is so over militarized and cheesy, it is not even funny. However, the story is very good. The characters are magnetically interesting, and, as you read along, it gets harder and harder to stop. The plot develops quickly and winds up with an incredibly tense ending. If you are current or ex-military, expect a good laugh, and a good read. If you are not, expect a good read anyway
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