Night of Thunder

Another fine Bob Lee Swagger story. I do not have any idea why I am so drawn to this series. On the surface, I do not approve of Swagger or what he does or has done or how he thinks and yet, I'm drawn to him and his macho adventures like a bee to the hive. This one was no different. Can't wait for the next.

Night of Thunder, a Bob Lee Swagger Novel. Stephen Hunter. 2008. Swagger’s daughter, a journalist in east Tennessee, is almost killed when a car runs her off the road. Swagger, a former Marine, FBI agent, and all around he-man, decides to poke around and see exactly why his daughter who was investigating meth labs in the mountains was almost killed. It is NASCAR race weekend in Bristol Virginia, as Swagger struggles to identify the villains. The redneck family is priceless: a mix of The Beans of Egypt Maine and the vile yokels in Deliverance. His descriptions of the NASCAR environment and its people are also peerless.

Synopsis: 'Woe unto he who crosses Bob Lee Swagger, especially when his daughter's life is at stake. Forced off the road and into a crash that leaves her in a coma, clinging to life, reporter Nikki Swagger had begun to peel back the onion of a Southernfried conspiracy bubbling with all the angst, resentment, and dysfunction that Dixie gangsters can muster. An ancient, violent crime clan, a possibly corrupt law enforcement structure, gunmen of all stripes and shapes, and deranged evangelicals rear their ugly heads and will live to rue the day they targeted the wrong man's daughter. It's what you call your big-time bad career move. All of it is set against the backdrop of excitement and insanity that only a weeklong NASCAR event can bring show more to the backwoods of a town as seemingly sleepy as Bristol, Tennessee.' From Northern Waters Library Network
Review: Reading this book was like wading through syrup. The dialog is so think with dialect that it's very slow reading. The story is barely plausible, but at least it is has a decent plot with a twisted ending. show less

Stephen Hunter had passed away. I came to his books late and must say that he was a terrific writer, and had been a worthy reviewer for The Washington Post. "Night of Thunder" captivated me.

Introduction to the crazy hillbilly family that also shows up in some of the earl stories. Doesn't tie together all that cleanly story wise, many of the connections are a stretch. Still entertaining.

I guess it was inevitable, but I was hoping that Swagger wouldn't roll around in his hick roots. Nascar.   A freaking bank truck robbery. With a HUGE gun and helicopters. Give me a break. (hide spoiler)   And the Pye in this story is just as evil as his relatives from previous stories.   No sniping. Speed drawing/shooting.   I wanted to read about sniping. "

Very fast paced and hard to put down. Save it for a time that you can do it in one reading.