My Washington Times On Crime Column's Roundup Of Crime, Spy And Military Thrillers

The Washington Times published my On Crime column’s round up of crime, spy and military thrillers. 

You can read the column via the below link or the below text: 

A roundup of crime, spy and military thrillers - Washington Times

I recall Otto Penzler, editor of numerous mystery, crime fiction and thriller anthologies and owner of The Mysterious Bookshop in New York, telling me that mystery, crime fiction and thrillers were the bestselling genres of books today — and that business was good.

Below are the best crime, spy and military thrillers that I’ve read recently:

"Front Sight: Three Swagger Novellas":

 

I enjoyed Stephen Hunter’s “Front Sight,” three interconnected novellas that follow each generation of the Swagger family, from Bob Lee Swagger, the Vietnam Marine sniper known as “Bob the Nailer,” to his grandfather Charles Swagger, an Arkansas sheriff and gunslinger attached to the FBI to take out the notorious gangsters in the 1930s, and his father, Earl Swagger, a World War II Marine Medal of Honor recipient who takes on postwar criminals.

 

The Swaggers are rugged individuals who are good with guns and possess a strong sense of justice and honor.

 

In “City of Meat,” Charles Swagger is hunting for the notorious bank robber Baby Face Nelson when he traces a tip to the Chicago stockyards. While there, he is assaulted by a madman involved in a narcotics ring. The ring plans to spread its new drug, which makes users insane and kills others.

 

Earl Swagger investigates a bank robbery that left two dead and a fortune missing in small-town Maryland in “Johnny Tuesday.” He uncovers municipal corruption, gang politics, jaded aristocrats, scheming gamblers and a hit man who matches wits and guns with him.

 

In “Five Dolls for the Gut Hook,” Bob Lee Swagger accepts an assignment from the Arkansas police to investigate a serial killer. The three novellas are superb thrillers with action, suspense, notable bad guys who fight the Swaggers and accurate descriptions of guns, as Mr. Hunter is a well-known gun enthusiast.

 

 

"Phantom Orbit"

Many military analysts believe the next big war will be fought in space. David Ignatius’ latest thriller takes the reader into the world of satellites and missiles.

In “Phantom Orbit,” Ivan Volkov, a budding Russian scientist studying in Beijing, begins to unravel a scientific puzzle that will affect satellites and the future of space warfare. He returns to Russia and works for the government.

After enduring years of corruption in his field and everyday life, plus the murder of his prosecutor son and the invasion of Ukraine, the Russian scientist decides to defect to America. Mr. Ignatius’ well-written and well-researched spy thriller is fascinating and, for most of us, educational.

"Sharpe's Command"

 

In Bernard Cornwell’s 23rd Richard Sharpe thriller, “Sharpe’s Command,” a Napoleonic-era British captain is ordered behind enemy lines in Spain.

Sharpe and his small, elite riflemen unit enter a remote village near the Almaraz Bridge. Two French armies are marching toward the bridge to meet Napoleon. If the French armies can meet, the war may be over for the British.

 

Sharpe, the rugged son of a London prostitute and former soldier, must prevent the armies from forming a coalition.

 

This well-written and well-researched historical novel offers accurate and brutal battle scenes along with suspense and romance. Sharpe, whom Bernard Cornwell has described as “a villain, but our villain,’ is a fascinating character, and fans of the series, like me, are glad to have him back.

 

"Clete"

In James Lee Burke’s Dave Robicheaux crime novels, Clete Purcell is a supporting player. Purcell, a huge man and struggling alcoholic, was Robicheaux’s partner when they were with the New Orleans Police Department. Robicheaux later became a detective in New Iberia, Louisiana, and Purcell became a private detective, but the two friends often fought crooks and killers together.

 

In his loud shirts and porkpie hat, Purcell is a troubled Marine Corps veteran of Vietnam, hopeless romantic and violent avenger of helpless victims. Purcell is a fascinating character in his own right, and I have often thought that James Lee Burke should write a novel with Purcell as the lead character.

In “Clete,” Mr. Burke does that. Still, I was somewhat disappointed that Mr. Burke changed the first-person narration from Robicheaux to Purcell as the two men take on the usual suspects in a Dave Robicheaux novel, such as rich, powerful and corrupt men and poor, violent and sociopathic criminals.

 

Although there are flashes of Purcell’s terrible past, I would have liked to read more about him. Still, I enjoyed the well-written crime novel.

• • •

Front Sight
Stephen Hunter
Atria/Emily Bestler Books, 480 pages, $28.99

 

Phantom Orbit
David Ignatius
Norton, 384 pages, $29.99

 

Sharpe’s Command
Bernard Cornwell
Harper, 320 pages, $24

 

Clete
James Lee Burke
Atlantic Monthly, 336 pages, $28

 

• Paul Davis’ On Crime column covers true crime, crime fiction and thrillers.