The Long Shot

Rating:
Summary: Jackal has had its day.
Review: A great read a believable hero and the action is very gritty. This book was such an incredible read I missed my train stop rather than close the book before the end.Great story and a great idea all come together wrapped around lots of additional intrigue action and suspense, a prime target for the old hollywood treatment.

Rating:
Summary: One of the very best thrillers
Review: I was surprised that this is to be the first of the reviews of this book. This is a really good thriller gentle reader, and very hard to put down.

The plot is basically this- the FBI stumble across what appears to be a training area for three snipers in the Arizona Desert. At the same time, a retired SAS Seargent is sent to the USA to track down a major IRA leader that he has a personal score to settle with. Needless to say the two plots rapidly intertwine.

For a thriller the characters are remarkably well sketched and lifelike. There is not the needless romance with the feisty partner/ lab technician/ victim that has become a cliche, and in fact the central character is happilly married, and has a fight with his wife. Both central characters have alcohol problems, but not in cliched way either- both are thoughtfully sketched out. Leathers style of writing is excellent. Although he jumps from character to character at no time does the plot lag. His writting is crisp, and reflects the pace in which the reader will enjoy the book.

The plot is nail biting, and realistic. Twists and turns abound, and frequently quite unexpected twists occur. The final few chapters are gripping, and almost impossible to put down.

Interestingly, with some knowledge of firearms, this is a technically correct book. A .50 Cal rifle can do a 2000 yard shot, with a good rifle and a great shooter,

Like I said, I am surprised that this has not been reviewed before, this is an excellent novel and most higly reccomended.

Grade: A+