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Summary: Came to Hot Springs for the Waters but stayed for the Action
Review: Few writers can take you to a place and make you feel like a native. For Stephen Hunter, whether it's the steamy jungles of Japan's islands or the even steamier Hot Springs, Arkansas, everywhere Earl Swagger goes, we go right along. Hunter's characters come alive. We hate them, love them, fear them or pity them -- sometimes all at the same time. But most importantly we care about them. I think Hunter's greatest attribute is that he is not afraid to mix fact and fiction in any way he sees fit in order to tell his story. Purists may have fits over the anachronisms, but lovers of the genre can forgive anything if it makes the story better. And Hunter is among the best!
Rating: 
Summary: Readable, but not for the reasons you'd think.
Review: After World War II, Hot Springs, Arkansas was the place where movie stars and the guys on the Ten Most Wanted list went to chill out in warm thermal waters, gamble, and take in Perry Como or Abbott and Costello's show at one of the big hotels. It was mob-run, and touted as one of the few places on earth where gangland-types could go for a cop-free vacation. In "Hot Springs,"a new, crusading DA brings in a specially-trained squad of police to wrestle the town out of mob hands. The resulting splatter-fest is like something from those 1950s 25 cent "men's" paperbacks with the cheesy covers.The main character, Earl Swagger, is pretty wooden. He's a Medal of Honor winner who leaves his pregnant wife in crummy military housing so he can pretend the war isn't over and he can keep doing what he does best - killing. Very surprisingly, given the time and place, he likes black people. The reason for this is disposed of in a few offhanded sentences, but acting so much against the way his background conditioned him might have made his character more interesting if fleshed out. There's a turncoat (no surprise about who that is), a noble young Oklahoman, and a crusty oldster who supposedly brought John Dillinger down. There are lots of descriptions of what sound like large and unwieldy weapons. So why did I keep going with this thing? Well, Stephen Hunter has a fine sense of dialogue. I loved the way he caught Arkansas speech of the time and place, and although the main cast of characters is a bit leaden, there are others who aren't. Ben "Bugsy" Siegel and the gorgeous, smart, viper-tongued Virginia Hill make several star turns. The mob boss who runs Hot Springs, Owney Madden, flips from a phoney-Brit accent to Hell's Kitchen growl in a way that almost makes you like him. His henchmen are the Grumleys, a psychopathic hillbilly tribe who speak mayhem in seventeenth century English. The black Arkansans are the most rooted people in town, and their recognition of their precarious position in the society is shown, not told. This is not quite enough to recommend "Hot Springs," but it did get me to the last page.
Rating: 
Summary: Hot Springs
Review: This book is hot hot hot from the get go. You will not put it down.
Rating:
Summary: Pastiche fest - Hunter needs to move on.
Review: Having just read the views of everyone else, I have to agree that this is not Hunter's finest hour. This book lives like a Russian doll inside the others of the Swagger saga. I was initially suspicious of Hunter's work and when my dad offered me "Dirty White Boys" I turned it down because of the title. I suspected Hunter of perpetuating a Soldier of Fortune worldview. When I discovered Bill Clinton was reading him I changed my mind (choose Clinton's taste over my father's - sorry pops). It is the father and son dynamic which interests Hunter (I suspect he has a lot of unrealised issues). He uses these novels to explore the differences in generations - how people born in the 70's like me cannot comprehend the sacrifices our grand parents made against the 20th Century's greatest evil. Hunter laments the softness and lack of discipline of the youth of today who appear only concerned with personal acquisition. This is a Peckinpath novel where the elder generation fails to come to terms with the new zeitgeist. Even the Marine Corps encourage more questioning minds, rather than blind loyalty. Woody Haut described Hunter's earlier work "Black Light" as pastiche. When it comes to this novel this applies in spades. Scenes where all of Hollywood makes guest appearances, are as lame as using images of Martin Luther King to come back to life and advertise mobile telephony. The supporting cast are sketched in like crewmen in "Star Trek" who turn up to be killed off. I questioned why Frenchy Short was so obviously sign posted until I remembered his role in later stories (earlier books). Hunter again gives us a Swagger man who is the best shot in the world, and has to have a mano a mano confrontation for the climax. His weapon scenes are exciting to the toy soldier fan in everyone - but even NRA poster boys will say "Hunter give us something new".
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Summary: Stephen Hunter is back with another great story
Review: I enjoy Stephen Hunter's novels as much as anyone writing today. I recommend his 3 previous Swagger novels plus this one. He lays it on thick, but is always in control of his narrative line and his character development. Hat's off to annother great novel.
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Summary: Another Swagger page turner.
Review: Hunter provides a gritty, personal glimpse into the adjustments people had to make after coming home from the Pacific war. Earl Swagger struggles between adjusting to civilian life and thrill of battle. Having read most of Hunter's other books, I enjoyed another tale in the Swagger saga. If you look closely, you'll see characters from earlier books popping up. The only thing I thought off was the Frenchy character. It seems to me somebody should have whacked him along the way. Perhaps, Mr. Hunter is saving that story for a future book where Frenchy settles up with one of the Swaggers in the future.
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Summary: Hunter does it again
Review: I have become a big fan of Stephen Hunter due to his Bob Lee Swagger books and I looked forward to this one with great anticipation. While not great, it is a compelling page-turner with lots of actions and characters drawn in broad strokes. For those like me who have enjoyed the earlier books, this one is almost a must. It provides some critical backstory for Bob Lee and the irony of the last two pages is unmistakable. The book has passages that are hard to buy - Swagger simply is too good with a gun and no man could do what he does, there is a mob scene near the end that is brushed off much too easily, and Swagger is sometimes painted a little saintly (his attitude towards Blacks isn't always believable given the times) - but the story grabs you and the book literally becomes difficult to put down. It is a worthwhile read and Hunter deserves a bigger audience than he is getting.
Rating:
Summary: I actually give it 3.5 stars.
Review: This is the fifth story in the Bob-Lee-Swagger series. It is actually a preguel to the first four because it takes place before Bob Lee was ever born. I usually give descriptions of the book but I'll skip it this time because there are already so many. This book was okay. It might seem good to some people but after reading the first 4 books in the series it's hard for it to measure up. The characters are very well developed. However, I wish he would have spent more time on Frenchy Short, the young, cocky member of the "clean-up" team who was annoying but very interesting all the same. The plot is excellent and the action scenes are well described. The only problem is that some of the action scenes were a bit hard to believe. Hunter makes Swagger a one-man army who is almost impossible to hit, yet seems to never miss what he aims for. He is always one step ahead of his enemies as if he can pick their thoughts out of clean air and figure out everything they're going to do. He foils almost every plan they think up. I don't want to completely turn anyone away from reading this book. It's worth reading but Hunter needs to stop with the one-man armies, which he also did in his other books like Time to Hunt, inwhich Bob Lee Swagger killed 87 men in one battle; and The Master Sniper, inwhich the antagonist killed 345 men in one battle. That would never happen in real life. But despite the unrealistic super soldiers, I'd still recommend reading the entire series. PS. Please read my other reviews.
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Summary: Great Background for the Swagger-line
Review: As much as I love Stephen Hunter's work, I would vote this as being my least favorite of the Swagger series. The book started well and built on great action sequences and a magnetic storyline. Its a cliche' to say "I couldn't put it down" but for the first 3/4's of the book it was true. Unfotunately, it finished weak when compared to the rest of the series and left me feeling dissappointed that such a great start had almost a dud for a finish. I still suggest you read the book to get a backround on Bob Lee's father, Earl Swagger. If for nothing more than a deeper understanding of the family history, this is a good continuance of a great series. And for most of the book you will be taken on an exciting ride into Hot Springs in the 40's with its corruption, violence and mafia drama. Don't leave this out if you are a Hunter fan as I am.
Rating:
Summary: Hot Story....(4 and 1/2 stars)
Review: I have seen this book reviewed as a man's version of an action movie on a Saturday afternoon....not even close, to say that would minimize this novel!!! This was a fast paced, gripping, roller-coaster of a story that is full of heart. Earl Swagger, married with a baby on the way, is a Medal of Honor war hero, returning to a life where alcohol dulls his painful memories of the War and of his childhood. He is given an opportunity to use his skills in helping to drive organized crime out of Hot Springs, Arkansas, where they have turned it into the gambling and prostitution vacation spot. The story also deals with racism, using terms that while not "politically correct", give a vivid portrayal of what was going on during this time period and what people fought against when they defied racial prejudices. This book did not immediately pull me in, but once it did, I absolutely could not put it down. This was a great book by Stephen Hunter, it keeps you guessing the whole way through, and as a prequel to the Swagger family story was outstanding. This is not just a book for men!!! It is for anyone who enjoys action, adventure and a well written story.
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