The Swagger family through three generations of law enforcement and military service. A wonderful trilogy and a must read. ( )

I'm a huge fan of the author's "Swagger" books. I've enjoyed them all. In this latest effort, Hunter has included all three of the Swagger men, Charles, Earl, and Bob Lee. A story about each of them. Yet pulling all three stories together so they are interconnected through time. I am left amazed at the talent Hunter has. Not content with simply building on the same tried and true formulas, this time he branches out and writes in a different style for each story.
The first story, featuring Charles, is a throwback to the 1930's genre of the "message picture". What he calls clever, quick-thinking pulse-readers. Showing the common man in his struggles, trying to overcome the system. He does this well. It reads like an old movie, showing the dirt, grit, determination, and violence many faced. It's great!
The second story, featuring Earl, utilizes the American "film noir" technique of the 1940's. With it's cynical attitudes and motivations. I think this was my favorite of the three.
The third story, featuring Bob Lee, was written in a style that I was completely unfamiliar with. Hunter calls it "Giallo" the genre of bloody Italian mystery-horror films of the seventies. And wow, did he ever! Perhaps this one is the horror we've never experienced in a Swagger novel. Bloody, gritty, raw. Psycho. Wanted to take a shower after reading it. But, it's also great.
I can't imagine how the author keeps coming up with new angles. His mind must never sleep. I hope he can continue it for many more years! ( )