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Ray Cruz #2
Soft Target
New York Times bestselling author Stephen Hunter is back with a breakneck thriller brimming with his trademark action and masterful plotting, as ex-Marine sniper Ray Cruz confronts a group of murderous terrorists who’ve laid siege to the Mall of America. It starts out as a simple shopping trip with his fiancø‰e. But suddenly, retired marine sergeant Ray Cruz, whom we met in Hunter’s last bestseller, Dead Zero, is in the middle of the softest target of all, a huge emporium outside Minneapolis where a self-styled ";Mumbai Brigade"; has come to bring massive death to the heartland. Hunter flashes over the events as if in real the assembly of the killer team composed of terrorists from one of the world’s hellholes, but led by a nihilistic insider who knows the mall backwards and forwards and has taken over the security software as well as the vast building and 1,000 hostages; the politics of SWAT as officials argue over tactics o
256 pages, Hardcover
First published December 6, 2011
300 people are currently reading
1200 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Hunter
107 books1,977 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Stephen Hunter is the author of fourteen novels, and a chief film critic at The Washington Post, where he won the 2003 Pulitzer Prize. He lives in Baltimore, Maryland.
Stephen Hunter is the author of fourteen novels, and a chief film critic at The Washington Post, where he won the 2003 Pulitzer Prize. He lives in Baltimore, Maryland.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 316 reviews
September 12, 2013
This book is the "logical continuation" of the Bob Lee Swagger series of books...but it's not a Bob Lee book. Bob you see has gotten a little...long in the tooth. He was 64 years old in his last outing. Luckily for us however Bob discovered a long lost son! In this book the "saga" continues with Bob Lee's son, Ray Cruz.
The plot is one that I've been sort of dreading hearing of in real life... Terrorists decide to hit one of America's largest malls on "Black Friday".
Of course things aren't that simple...no, no, there's more to it than a simple terrorist attack. And of course in the best tradition of John McClane, Ray Cruz has agreed to go shopping with his finance and "happens to be" in the mall when things go down.
Let the fireworks begin.
This is a good book with action like a flash bang grenade in a fireworks factory, not to mention a twisty/twisted villain, incompetent officials, bureaucratic plotting and a** covering, a kick butt female sidekick...what more could you want.
Good book and a nice recovery from the last book which I didn't like as much as I have some others.
Recommended.
***Note on Stephen Hunter's books.***
I have reviewed several of his books and have liked some more than others. I have a concern and I'd like to put this out for what it's worth. The books are sort of a mixed bag. There are two that I rated 3 stars but one I rated 5 and put on my favorites list. That one is I, Sniper which is book #6 in the Bob Lee Swagger series. It occurs to me that if someone is less than thrilled with one of the books in the series before #6 they might never move on to that novel.
Let me suggest that even if you have been less than thrilled with one of the other books and have pulled away from the series, you give I, Sniper a try. With lots of action, a good cast and some great humor I think it's (so far) the best...though the jury is still out on Time To Hunt #3 as I skipped it and am about halfway through...so far it's excellent.
The plot is one that I've been sort of dreading hearing of in real life... Terrorists decide to hit one of America's largest malls on "Black Friday".
Of course things aren't that simple...no, no, there's more to it than a simple terrorist attack. And of course in the best tradition of John McClane, Ray Cruz has agreed to go shopping with his finance and "happens to be" in the mall when things go down.
Let the fireworks begin.
This is a good book with action like a flash bang grenade in a fireworks factory, not to mention a twisty/twisted villain, incompetent officials, bureaucratic plotting and a** covering, a kick butt female sidekick...what more could you want.
Good book and a nice recovery from the last book which I didn't like as much as I have some others.
Recommended.
***Note on Stephen Hunter's books.***
I have reviewed several of his books and have liked some more than others. I have a concern and I'd like to put this out for what it's worth. The books are sort of a mixed bag. There are two that I rated 3 stars but one I rated 5 and put on my favorites list. That one is I, Sniper which is book #6 in the Bob Lee Swagger series. It occurs to me that if someone is less than thrilled with one of the books in the series before #6 they might never move on to that novel.
Let me suggest that even if you have been less than thrilled with one of the other books and have pulled away from the series, you give I, Sniper a try. With lots of action, a good cast and some great humor I think it's (so far) the best...though the jury is still out on Time To Hunt #3 as I skipped it and am about halfway through...so far it's excellent.
May 20, 2012
Ray Cruz was a Marine. He is trying to adjust to cilivan life. It is Christmas time. Ray and his friend, Molly are shopping. So are tons of other people on this day. People ae in a jolly mood and children are having fun sitting n Santa's lap, telling him their wish list. Suddenly, a shot is fired. Santa's brains go splattering. Soon people start to realize what has happened and panic arupts. People go screaming. More shots are fired. Terrorists come out from every direction. They gather people up as hostages. Ray, Molly and several others are hiding in a store on one of the upper levels. Ray knows that he must do something to try and stop the terrorists before the mall ends up a slaughter house.
Soft Target is book one of the Ray Cruz novels. Ray was a stand out in this book. His military back ground helped him in this situation. He was cool under pressure. While, I did like Ray, it was not enough to sustain me into really liking this book. The opening scene of this book when the first shot was fired and panic ensued had my attention and I could feel the intensity levels get high. Although, they were short lived. The terrorists were alright. I kind of grew tried of all of the polictics that were brought into the story. There was a lot more dialogue than there was action. The ending I felt was a bit of a let down. There was suppose to be all this built up hype about why the terrorists invaded the amll and killed all these people and when the reveal was made and the master mind behind it all was uncovered, the big climax moment was over fairly quickly. This book is a quick read.
January 13, 2012
Man, this was a real let down. Let me first state that I am a huge Stephen Hunter fan. After reading my first Hunter book a couple of years ago I have devoured all he has written. I anxiously await when I new one comes out. I was on a waiting list to get this book from the library and was excited when it came in for me. Quickly I felt the disappointment in this story. Way too much going on, too many semi main characters, little side stories that didn't pan out worthwhile at the end and the uneventful tie in mention of Bob Lee Swagger and using Nikki Swagger in a helicopter the whole time for little purpose. My main issue was Hunter didn't really let our hero be a hero and mostly he was one of many semi heroes. I just do not get Ray Cruz like I have other characters of Hunter. Way more gung-ho dialogue and thought balloons and not as much substance. I'll give Stephen Hunter another chance on his next book based on his terrific body of work but to me to me, this was a the frantic mess.
January 18, 2020
Terrific
Stephen Hunter is the master of the thriller genre. This one features Ray Cruz as the main character. Cruz is Bob Lee Swagger ' son, and while he is not Swagger (no one is) Hunter writes a non-stop thriller featuring Cruz that never lets up, honors heroes and gives no quarter to hypocrisy. Enjoy!
Stephen Hunter is the master of the thriller genre. This one features Ray Cruz as the main character. Cruz is Bob Lee Swagger ' son, and while he is not Swagger (no one is) Hunter writes a non-stop thriller featuring Cruz that never lets up, honors heroes and gives no quarter to hypocrisy. Enjoy!
May 13, 2025
Riveting story of Ray Cruz, Bob Lee Swagger's son, facing a terrorist takeover in the Mall of America
April 3, 2015
True Confessions: I love Stephen Hunter. While I'm a gun control advocate (and Canadian, big surprise), his books are basically modern Westerns, with good guys, bad guys and shootouts. I don't know why I like reading about this, but I do. He's a terrific thriller writer. His better novels are ver tightly written. And while not all are that good (the last few before this one have been quite so-so), Pale Horse Coming is perhaps one of the finest thrillers I've ever read: it's about retribution, good and evil. Reading it, you can hear Johnny Cash singing The Man Comes Around on the soundtrack. It's chilling. In a good way.
It should be of no surprise, then, that Stephen Hunter is also a gun enthusiast, and likely a card carrying member of the NRA. His politics, however, rarely bleed directly over into his novels, other than in the use of guns to resolve conflict.
But he makes up for lost time in this one. Honestly. Much of this book is offensive. There is a half-Kenyan police chief named Obobo who is written as a platitude spouting ineffective buffoon. I don't think I need to spell out the parallels to a certain half-Kenyan president.
The plot, such as it is, is recycled Die Hard: during what appears to be a terrorist takeover of a thinly disguised Mall of America (called America, the Mall in the novel), one of Hunter's recurring characters gets trapped in the mall, and hunts the bad guys. Obobo, on the outside, makes every decision on dealing with the bad guys based solely on how it might affect his political image and career, while the guys with the guns save the day. I suppose that's a minor spoiler, but not really as, c'mon, whaddya think is going to happen in a novel like this? I expected it, but there was no need to so openly mock the current President.
Anyhow, the whole thing is offensive from start to finish, though reasonably well written, and it's sad to see a fine genre novelist get on a small-minded high horse.
I finished it, but felt unclean.
It should be of no surprise, then, that Stephen Hunter is also a gun enthusiast, and likely a card carrying member of the NRA. His politics, however, rarely bleed directly over into his novels, other than in the use of guns to resolve conflict.
But he makes up for lost time in this one. Honestly. Much of this book is offensive. There is a half-Kenyan police chief named Obobo who is written as a platitude spouting ineffective buffoon. I don't think I need to spell out the parallels to a certain half-Kenyan president.
The plot, such as it is, is recycled Die Hard: during what appears to be a terrorist takeover of a thinly disguised Mall of America (called America, the Mall in the novel), one of Hunter's recurring characters gets trapped in the mall, and hunts the bad guys. Obobo, on the outside, makes every decision on dealing with the bad guys based solely on how it might affect his political image and career, while the guys with the guns save the day. I suppose that's a minor spoiler, but not really as, c'mon, whaddya think is going to happen in a novel like this? I expected it, but there was no need to so openly mock the current President.
Anyhow, the whole thing is offensive from start to finish, though reasonably well written, and it's sad to see a fine genre novelist get on a small-minded high horse.
I finished it, but felt unclean.
January 23, 2013
I have enjoyed most of the author’s books to varying degrees, but this is without doubt the worst of his output.
The flaws and problems are many, in what is basically Die Hard in a shopping mall and Ray Cruz being the man in the spotlight to stop an attack. There is very little that is ‘right’ with it, so let me focus on the downside: It’s short, about 250 pages so quite expensive for a slim volume, it has an observational style of narrative that is annoying, the dialogue is utterly woeful and there are considerable logic gaps in the rather bizarre plot I detected a slight sense of smugness in the writing which I have not noticed before, maybe this is a political nod to officials that say a lot and do a little but it didn’t really work and started to grate somewhat. It’s all a bit strange, as I really enjoyed the previous Ray Cruz story and bought this on the back of it.
If this had been published as a fit of fun e-book for a couple of quid then it might have worked, but as a ‘proper’ published novel it most certainly doesn’t.
The flaws and problems are many, in what is basically Die Hard in a shopping mall and Ray Cruz being the man in the spotlight to stop an attack. There is very little that is ‘right’ with it, so let me focus on the downside: It’s short, about 250 pages so quite expensive for a slim volume, it has an observational style of narrative that is annoying, the dialogue is utterly woeful and there are considerable logic gaps in the rather bizarre plot I detected a slight sense of smugness in the writing which I have not noticed before, maybe this is a political nod to officials that say a lot and do a little but it didn’t really work and started to grate somewhat. It’s all a bit strange, as I really enjoyed the previous Ray Cruz story and bought this on the back of it.
If this had been published as a fit of fun e-book for a couple of quid then it might have worked, but as a ‘proper’ published novel it most certainly doesn’t.
September 24, 2019
Got the feeling Hunter was struggling to empathize with his lead character, Ray Cruz. Maybe that's why he didn't write any more in the series. He certainly compensated by making the smarmy, super-PC head of the Minnesota State Police who commands the response to an attack on a Mall of America look-alike, as unlikeable as possible.
It's still a Stephen Hunter book and well worth a read.
It's still a Stephen Hunter book and well worth a read.
April 18, 2014
I suddenly wanted mind candy, I suddenly got mind candy. In this terrorism, malcontent against the world thriller, former Washington Post film critic Stephen Hunter creates a massive hostage incident at the Mall of America in Minnesota.
One day, Somali gunmen emerge in the mall, start firing and killing shoppers and herd them toward the amusement park in the center. In the meantime, Ray Cruz (hereinafter, Our Hero), former Marine sniper, happens to be in the mall, and is of course destined to be a primary savior.
Behind the assault is a local imam, but the real brains of the operation is a genius boy obsessed with shooter video games, who of course had figured out how to order weapons, enlist the imam, take over the mall's security and even attach tiny cameras to the muzzles of the semiautomatics wielded by the gunmen.
Want stereotypes? Hunter has them all. Besides the simple minded (yet handsome) Somali gunmen, we have intrepid Our Hero, the fatuous p.r.-oriented Minnesota Police commander, a smooth talking African American named Obobo (really? could you be any more obvious?), his cynical p.r. sidekick, the staunch sniper on the roof (Our Hero No. 2), the African American woman from the streets who helps defeat the bad guys, the uber-ambitious TV newswoman, and on and on, all larded up with lots of technical weaponry language about bullets and clips and models of guns and speeds and trajectories.
Did I keep turning the pages? Of course. Did the whole thing leave a slightly bad taste in my mouth as I realized I had just read a thriller crafted with a Fox News mentality? Ditto.
So, I'll probably not return to Mr. Hunter again, and if this novel was meant to spoof the genre, well, it was lost on me.
February 20, 2012
Taut short thriller.
When terrorists take over the America Mall and hold 1000 hostages, what will the police and FBI do to stop the carnage.
Ray Cruz, a former marine sniper, and his girlfriend are in the Mall shopping for gifts for Christmas when the action starts.
The police are led by a bureaucrat more interested in spin then dealing with the terrorists, who seem to have only one demand before they free the hostages.
Cruz goes on the hunt for terrorists in the Mall with the help of one of the snipers locked out of the plexiglass ceiling, who acts as a spotter, and another hero in the mall.
Meanwhile, the leader of the terrorists has a particularly vicious agenda all his own.
A short 256 pages, I still found myself skimming a little of the dialogue especially involving the bureaucrat and his inept handling of the debacle.
Although the action scenes were well done (except involving a couple of deaths at the end of the book), I thought the overall setup of the book was better than the conclusion.
I think you can do better.
When terrorists take over the America Mall and hold 1000 hostages, what will the police and FBI do to stop the carnage.
Ray Cruz, a former marine sniper, and his girlfriend are in the Mall shopping for gifts for Christmas when the action starts.
The police are led by a bureaucrat more interested in spin then dealing with the terrorists, who seem to have only one demand before they free the hostages.
Cruz goes on the hunt for terrorists in the Mall with the help of one of the snipers locked out of the plexiglass ceiling, who acts as a spotter, and another hero in the mall.
Meanwhile, the leader of the terrorists has a particularly vicious agenda all his own.
A short 256 pages, I still found myself skimming a little of the dialogue especially involving the bureaucrat and his inept handling of the debacle.
Although the action scenes were well done (except involving a couple of deaths at the end of the book), I thought the overall setup of the book was better than the conclusion.
I think you can do better.
April 29, 2022
MY RATING GUIDE: 3 Stars. This was okay.
1= dnf/What was that?; 2= Nope, not for me; 3= THIS WAS OKAY; 3.5= I enjoyed it; 4= I liked it a lot; 5= I Loved it, it was great! (I seldom give 5 Stars).
My husband (a man of science, history, and mechanics) and I listened to the audio version together (several chapters a day). This was our first Steven Hunter novel and our first audio listen by Phil Gigante. SOFT TARGET kept our attention but this wasn’t among our favorite “reads.”
An urban center’s busy Black Friday shopping day erupts into chaos and terror when a unknown terrorist group seemingly unleashes indiscriminate shots into a crowd of shoppers. Outside the mall, the authorities discuss and hedge between possible plans and strategies. But as the death count climbs, the citiy’s incompetent and “air-brushed” leaders hesitate to take action.
Will the government officials’ lack of action ultimately lead to the deaths of a thousand American civilians or will the victims somehow be spared?
What We Didn’t Like ~
1) The setting is an actual location; I would have preferred a fictional setting (which seems more responsible, JMO).
2) SOFT TARGET includes politics which I can barely tolerate in my fiction. The highest level of government officials were inept, arrogant and pompous characters - SPOILER - I would have found it more palatable if they had earned their comeuppance in the end. As it was, I found each section including the (highest) officials and the final conclusion/promotion utterly frustrating.
END SPOILER.
On the flip side, readers who prefer realism in their reading will perhaps be satisfied with the obvious internal struggle for political power, press time and prestige. Sigh.
3) Occasionally more graphic images and thoughts were portrayed than I prefer.
4) Not a big deal but SOFT TARGET switches between settings and characters frequently. At times it was difficult to know who was speaking. Occasionally, I needed to hit “pause” and “rewind” to better understand the context. For this reason SOFT TARGET might be a book that is better read than heard or used on a 2+person road trip where the passenger can hit “rewind” as needed.
What We Liked ~
1) A lot of details, viewpoints and emotions were provided with various perspectives of secondary characters. The settings switched back and forth providing the sense of a clock ticking down.
2) SOFT TARGET was suspenseful and kept our interest fairly well.
3) We listened to the audio version which was well narrated by Phil Gigante. The male female voices were believable and distinct.
4) I identified with a number of (the competent) protagonists and wanted to see them succeed. To some extent, SOFT TARGET reminded me of the escapism Die Hard franchise which I enjoy on occasion.
READER CAUTIONS - Not recommended for YA readers due to adult content.
VIOLENCE - Yes. This is a action-psychological thriller novel which involves a hostage situation with a potential for mass murder and the occasional perspective of the twisted killers.
PROFANITY - Yes. Strong language is frequently used.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - PG-13/R. Inclusion of occasional sexist, sadistic language and actions by the antagonists.
1= dnf/What was that?; 2= Nope, not for me; 3= THIS WAS OKAY; 3.5= I enjoyed it; 4= I liked it a lot; 5= I Loved it, it was great! (I seldom give 5 Stars).
My husband (a man of science, history, and mechanics) and I listened to the audio version together (several chapters a day). This was our first Steven Hunter novel and our first audio listen by Phil Gigante. SOFT TARGET kept our attention but this wasn’t among our favorite “reads.”
An urban center’s busy Black Friday shopping day erupts into chaos and terror when a unknown terrorist group seemingly unleashes indiscriminate shots into a crowd of shoppers. Outside the mall, the authorities discuss and hedge between possible plans and strategies. But as the death count climbs, the citiy’s incompetent and “air-brushed” leaders hesitate to take action.
Will the government officials’ lack of action ultimately lead to the deaths of a thousand American civilians or will the victims somehow be spared?
What We Didn’t Like ~
1) The setting is an actual location; I would have preferred a fictional setting (which seems more responsible, JMO).
2) SOFT TARGET includes politics which I can barely tolerate in my fiction. The highest level of government officials were inept, arrogant and pompous characters - SPOILER - I would have found it more palatable if they had earned their comeuppance in the end. As it was, I found each section including the (highest) officials and the final conclusion/promotion utterly frustrating.
END SPOILER.
On the flip side, readers who prefer realism in their reading will perhaps be satisfied with the obvious internal struggle for political power, press time and prestige. Sigh.
3) Occasionally more graphic images and thoughts were portrayed than I prefer.
4) Not a big deal but SOFT TARGET switches between settings and characters frequently. At times it was difficult to know who was speaking. Occasionally, I needed to hit “pause” and “rewind” to better understand the context. For this reason SOFT TARGET might be a book that is better read than heard or used on a 2+person road trip where the passenger can hit “rewind” as needed.
What We Liked ~
1) A lot of details, viewpoints and emotions were provided with various perspectives of secondary characters. The settings switched back and forth providing the sense of a clock ticking down.
2) SOFT TARGET was suspenseful and kept our interest fairly well.
3) We listened to the audio version which was well narrated by Phil Gigante. The male female voices were believable and distinct.
4) I identified with a number of (the competent) protagonists and wanted to see them succeed. To some extent, SOFT TARGET reminded me of the escapism Die Hard franchise which I enjoy on occasion.
READER CAUTIONS - Not recommended for YA readers due to adult content.
VIOLENCE - Yes. This is a action-psychological thriller novel which involves a hostage situation with a potential for mass murder and the occasional perspective of the twisted killers.
PROFANITY - Yes. Strong language is frequently used.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - PG-13/R. Inclusion of occasional sexist, sadistic language and actions by the antagonists.
December 26, 2019
I just enjoy Stephen Hunter’s writing. And even if this isn’t Bob Lee story its nice to see what happens with his children. This action packed Die Hard in a mall adventure was a bit different in style than the Bob Lee story but was well written and quick read with nothing but action all the way. Well written and again never gun porn over masculine characters but instead a story with driven characters I care about and an interesting villain who secret plans keep you guessing.
January 16, 2023
DNF'ed this book at page 9: "But Allah had kept him rigorously devoted to mission"
The two paragraph description of the shooters connection to Islam does nothing but fuel the fire of islamophobia by crediting their terrorism to "devotion to God" and perpetuating harmful stereotypes of Muslims and Somalians.
#1 reason why I hate reading thrillers/murder mysteries (my favorite genre)
#1 reason why publishers need to help BIPOC get their books out and push white racist people off the shelves
The two paragraph description of the shooters connection to Islam does nothing but fuel the fire of islamophobia by crediting their terrorism to "devotion to God" and perpetuating harmful stereotypes of Muslims and Somalians.
#1 reason why I hate reading thrillers/murder mysteries (my favorite genre)
#1 reason why publishers need to help BIPOC get their books out and push white racist people off the shelves
December 27, 2022
I enjoyed this book.
It has a lot of action.
Who is behind it?
Is he best solution the lay back political one or the aggressive go get them one?
It has a lot of action.
Who is behind it?
Is he best solution the lay back political one or the aggressive go get them one?
October 19, 2021
Extremely entertaining read and main character. Some profanity. We need this guy to visit Washington, D.C. Narrator is a fine performer.
May 29, 2012
While this is one book in a series involving ex-military sniper Cruz, it was the first I read, drawn to the plot of terrorists taking siege of the largest mall in the USA. Of the 3 books I read with this similar plot, I'd say it falls in between Ridley Pearson's 'Hidden Charges', by far the best, and Alex Kava's 'Black Friday'.
Hunter definitely pulls readers in right away by having the shooters kill the in-mall Santa Claus on Black Friday in the book's very first line. From there, Hunter covers a mere 4 hours in 200+ pages but packs a lot into those 4 hours, from the continued bloodshed inside the mall, to the strategic operations planned by various law enforcement agencies outside, to the masterminds behind the takeover and their continued execution of their grand plan.
Despite the author's note at the end of the book that he only loosely based the mall, called America, the Mall, in the book on the Mall of America actually located in Minnesota, I found the similarities to be many. America, the Mall is also located in Minnesota, has an amusement park in the center like MoA, and many of the stores are the same in both malls. The structure does differ, as Hunter calls AtM an exxagerated pentagon loosly based on a map of the United States, with the central skylights being in the shape of the 5 Great Lakes, the main corridors named for 4 of America's biggest rivers, and the shops in each wing of the mall representing the culture and lifestyle of the geographic region for which the wing is named. However, even when Hunter describes the shape of the mall early on, I could not draw it to look like a pentagon.
Much of the early action occurs in the central amusement park but as the book progresses and the good guys begin to move in on the terrorists, the various structural elements begin to play a larger role. While Cruz does play a big role by the end of the book, it took a little while to get him in on the action, and he was already in the mall and therefore not involved in the planning outside. Likewise, I felt a lot of time was spent on the law enforcement teams on the outside and not so much on the hostages and shooters inside. For a book set in the largest mall in the country, the mall element didn't seem to play that big a role except as a space where there would be a lot of innocent, naive people gathered in a small space.
I also detected a bit of satire in this book, as leader of the state police, a black man named Obobo, seemed to be a spoof of President Obama. Obobo was depicted to be a young guy being fast-tracked to a high government role despite not showing great moments of leadership, who was a smooth talker and looked good on camera, winning him over with the public. All of these have been things I've hear about Obama before and during his presidency. Plus, Obobo wants to talk down the terrorists instead of sending in the armed highly-trained personnel stationed outside the mall, perhaps a nod to President Bush's declaration of war in Iraq and Afghanistan and Obama's withdrawl of the troops. There were other moments that had me laughing, namely the scene involving potatoes, but that might just be me.
Overall, I'm not sure I will necessarily read another of the books in this series unless the plot sounds appealing. The lead character of Cruz wasn't very strong, and military/government intelligence books aren't usually my thing, so since it was the mall setting that drew me in, the others might not hold my interest.
Hunter definitely pulls readers in right away by having the shooters kill the in-mall Santa Claus on Black Friday in the book's very first line. From there, Hunter covers a mere 4 hours in 200+ pages but packs a lot into those 4 hours, from the continued bloodshed inside the mall, to the strategic operations planned by various law enforcement agencies outside, to the masterminds behind the takeover and their continued execution of their grand plan.
Despite the author's note at the end of the book that he only loosely based the mall, called America, the Mall, in the book on the Mall of America actually located in Minnesota, I found the similarities to be many. America, the Mall is also located in Minnesota, has an amusement park in the center like MoA, and many of the stores are the same in both malls. The structure does differ, as Hunter calls AtM an exxagerated pentagon loosly based on a map of the United States, with the central skylights being in the shape of the 5 Great Lakes, the main corridors named for 4 of America's biggest rivers, and the shops in each wing of the mall representing the culture and lifestyle of the geographic region for which the wing is named. However, even when Hunter describes the shape of the mall early on, I could not draw it to look like a pentagon.
Much of the early action occurs in the central amusement park but as the book progresses and the good guys begin to move in on the terrorists, the various structural elements begin to play a larger role. While Cruz does play a big role by the end of the book, it took a little while to get him in on the action, and he was already in the mall and therefore not involved in the planning outside. Likewise, I felt a lot of time was spent on the law enforcement teams on the outside and not so much on the hostages and shooters inside. For a book set in the largest mall in the country, the mall element didn't seem to play that big a role except as a space where there would be a lot of innocent, naive people gathered in a small space.
I also detected a bit of satire in this book, as leader of the state police, a black man named Obobo, seemed to be a spoof of President Obama. Obobo was depicted to be a young guy being fast-tracked to a high government role despite not showing great moments of leadership, who was a smooth talker and looked good on camera, winning him over with the public. All of these have been things I've hear about Obama before and during his presidency. Plus, Obobo wants to talk down the terrorists instead of sending in the armed highly-trained personnel stationed outside the mall, perhaps a nod to President Bush's declaration of war in Iraq and Afghanistan and Obama's withdrawl of the troops. There were other moments that had me laughing, namely the scene involving potatoes, but that might just be me.
Overall, I'm not sure I will necessarily read another of the books in this series unless the plot sounds appealing. The lead character of Cruz wasn't very strong, and military/government intelligence books aren't usually my thing, so since it was the mall setting that drew me in, the others might not hold my interest.
October 14, 2012
This novel grips the reader by the throat from the very first page and holds him on a mind bending razor’s edge until the final page is turned. We are asked to delve into the mind of the smart criminal, perhaps the most difficult assailant to predict and understand.
Disgruntled Andrew Nicks has been bailed out of school after school by his wealthy father. With his father’s prestige and power, young Nicks can have virtually anything he asks for - and they allow him his excesses. Despite their efforts, however, Nicks seems fascinated with violence. Somehow, he manages to get a job in a game store in America, the Mall, one of the largest collections of stores and shops under one roof. This puts him in contact with the Imam, a young man who dreams of the jihad, his one way ticket to Allah, where he will enjoy the ultimate pleasures of the universe, forever.
Together, Andrew and the Imam manage to smuggle twelve Somali warriors into the U.S. through Canada and equip them with enough weapons to begin a small war. They spring their trap on Black Friday, when the Mall is filled with bargain hungry shoppers. While Christmas music drifts delightfully in the festive air, the Somalis first kill Santa and then open fire on the shoppers. In panic, the crowds flee for the exits, but over a thousand people are still trapped inside the complex, being held at gunpoint.
One of the shoppers trapped on the upper level is retired Marine Sergeant Ray Cruz, one of the best snipers in his field. Bravely, Ray ventures out to assess the situation and finds an unlikely partner in Lavelva, a large African American woman used to dealing with street toughs in all shapes and sizes.
While the police and FBI battle for jurisdiction outside and politics war with Emmy award-driven press eager for a scoop, snipers take positions on the roof of the huge complex. What are the group’s demands? If they accede to their wishes, all will be well and the hostages might be freed without any further bloodshed. What a political coup that would be! The only trouble is, Andrew Nicks isn’t interested in having his demands met and freeing any hostages. He’s in it for the joy of the Game!
This is one of the most fast-paced and frightening books I’ve ever read. It’s also delightfully studded with great characters, the kind any reader can really sink his teeth into. Every twist and turn yields a new line of thinking, another aspect of the twisted mind of this killer. So come, open the cover and jump into the game.
Disgruntled Andrew Nicks has been bailed out of school after school by his wealthy father. With his father’s prestige and power, young Nicks can have virtually anything he asks for - and they allow him his excesses. Despite their efforts, however, Nicks seems fascinated with violence. Somehow, he manages to get a job in a game store in America, the Mall, one of the largest collections of stores and shops under one roof. This puts him in contact with the Imam, a young man who dreams of the jihad, his one way ticket to Allah, where he will enjoy the ultimate pleasures of the universe, forever.
Together, Andrew and the Imam manage to smuggle twelve Somali warriors into the U.S. through Canada and equip them with enough weapons to begin a small war. They spring their trap on Black Friday, when the Mall is filled with bargain hungry shoppers. While Christmas music drifts delightfully in the festive air, the Somalis first kill Santa and then open fire on the shoppers. In panic, the crowds flee for the exits, but over a thousand people are still trapped inside the complex, being held at gunpoint.
One of the shoppers trapped on the upper level is retired Marine Sergeant Ray Cruz, one of the best snipers in his field. Bravely, Ray ventures out to assess the situation and finds an unlikely partner in Lavelva, a large African American woman used to dealing with street toughs in all shapes and sizes.
While the police and FBI battle for jurisdiction outside and politics war with Emmy award-driven press eager for a scoop, snipers take positions on the roof of the huge complex. What are the group’s demands? If they accede to their wishes, all will be well and the hostages might be freed without any further bloodshed. What a political coup that would be! The only trouble is, Andrew Nicks isn’t interested in having his demands met and freeing any hostages. He’s in it for the joy of the Game!
This is one of the most fast-paced and frightening books I’ve ever read. It’s also delightfully studded with great characters, the kind any reader can really sink his teeth into. Every twist and turn yields a new line of thinking, another aspect of the twisted mind of this killer. So come, open the cover and jump into the game.
August 4, 2012
"Soft Target" by Stephen Hunter is a fun action yarn, that if you wanted to sum up in a few words, could be called, "Die Hard" in a mall. Something that Hunter himself, I believe, also thought, especially with the little tongue-in-cheek reference to the 1988 action movie starring Bruce Willis, that along with Lethal Weapon really set standards for action movies to follow.
I'll admit, I enjoyed Hunter's previous books about Bob Lee Swagger more than this one, even though this book featured Swagger's son, that he didn't know about until the previous book, and a couple references in regards to the famous sniper of Hunter's previous thrillers. It is not that I don't like Swagger's son, Ray Cruz, I do. I just liked the Bob Lee stories a bit more. However, I still had a fun time reading "Soft Target," and recommend it to all of Hunter's fans, and anyone else interested in a "Die Hard" like adventure story.
I also like that the tale focuses on snipers. Not just Ray Cruz, but there are parts about the other snipers that respond to the crisis. It's obvious that Hunter enjoys writing about these kinds of characters, just as I enjoy reading and writing about them too, so that made the book a bit more enjoyable for me than had the main character been a regular cop as in the movies this book resembles. So maybe I should have called it "'Die Hard' in a mall with a sniper."
The story has a few holes, and a few places that are a bit too convenient, but that's okay. You are not reading this kind of action thriller for precise technical accuracy or information. It's the reason action movies are not featured on the History or Discover channel. They have different purposes, and the purpose of this novel is fast entertainment, and for that, it delivers.
Even though the entire story takes place in a short amount of time, with a couple of flash backs, Hunter does a great job of keeping one's interest and describing the action. I like Hunter's writing, and even though the story had some predictability (Just like the "Die Hard" movies), and some things that were a bit formulaic and tidy to wrap things up (again, just like the movies), I had fun reading it, and that's what I read these kinds of thrillers for. It's escapism and enjoyment, just like the films on the silver screen. For that kind of light, enjoyable reading, Hunter's "Soft Target" hit the mark.
I'll admit, I enjoyed Hunter's previous books about Bob Lee Swagger more than this one, even though this book featured Swagger's son, that he didn't know about until the previous book, and a couple references in regards to the famous sniper of Hunter's previous thrillers. It is not that I don't like Swagger's son, Ray Cruz, I do. I just liked the Bob Lee stories a bit more. However, I still had a fun time reading "Soft Target," and recommend it to all of Hunter's fans, and anyone else interested in a "Die Hard" like adventure story.
I also like that the tale focuses on snipers. Not just Ray Cruz, but there are parts about the other snipers that respond to the crisis. It's obvious that Hunter enjoys writing about these kinds of characters, just as I enjoy reading and writing about them too, so that made the book a bit more enjoyable for me than had the main character been a regular cop as in the movies this book resembles. So maybe I should have called it "'Die Hard' in a mall with a sniper."
The story has a few holes, and a few places that are a bit too convenient, but that's okay. You are not reading this kind of action thriller for precise technical accuracy or information. It's the reason action movies are not featured on the History or Discover channel. They have different purposes, and the purpose of this novel is fast entertainment, and for that, it delivers.
Even though the entire story takes place in a short amount of time, with a couple of flash backs, Hunter does a great job of keeping one's interest and describing the action. I like Hunter's writing, and even though the story had some predictability (Just like the "Die Hard" movies), and some things that were a bit formulaic and tidy to wrap things up (again, just like the movies), I had fun reading it, and that's what I read these kinds of thrillers for. It's escapism and enjoyment, just like the films on the silver screen. For that kind of light, enjoyable reading, Hunter's "Soft Target" hit the mark.
September 11, 2014
If I wanted to read right wing politics, I'd pick up Bill O'Reilly or Glenn Beck, etc., but not Stephen Hunter. Yet under the guise of a "thriller," we have Hunter's view of Obama and the left and it's not pretty. Int his tale of a Somali terrorist takeover of the Mall of America in Minnesota, where they kill people at random and have about 1,000 hostages, we have the beginnings of an interesting story. Until we get to Colonel Douglas Obobo. I'm not making that last name up. He's a charismatic black man, who has risen to the top of the Minnesota State Police without ever having fired a shot, through his charisma, seemingly, as the press love him, as do the people. He always seems to know the right things to say. However, the men in the field can barely contain their hatred of him. The SWAT commander wants to go in firing, and Obobo will have none of that, so he sends him off to write reports. The FBI man wants action, but Obobo will have none of it and sends him off for logistical support. Here's a passage from the book that describes Obobo's mindset at work:
"Finally. He swaggered to the phone. This was his moment. His whole life he'd been able to synthesize arguments, turn them around instantly, and reiterate them in cajoling tones, until his opponent had agreed with him. It was his strength. He knew he could do it now, brilliant synopsizer, genius of empathy, purveyor of mega-earnestness. Colonel Obobo looked around, saw Renfro standing close by, giving him encouragement through sympathetic, even moist, eyes."
That was when the terrorists were about to talk to him for the first time, but they wouldn't play ball and it left him completely unnerved. He's viewed as a dunderhead by his all knowing staff, and his decisions get others in trouble.
Okay, enough! I realize not everyone out there likes Obama -- hell, I can barely tolerate him, even though I voted for him twice. I just think he's by far the lesser of two evils. But to rip the president like this under the guise of fiction, no of a thriller, is just too much to take and I gave up on page 178. I've read some Hunter before and enjoyed him in the past, so I *might* give him another chace, but if I see this crap again, he's gone, history, see ya. What an asshole. Not recommended, unless you're a right wing bigot.
"Finally. He swaggered to the phone. This was his moment. His whole life he'd been able to synthesize arguments, turn them around instantly, and reiterate them in cajoling tones, until his opponent had agreed with him. It was his strength. He knew he could do it now, brilliant synopsizer, genius of empathy, purveyor of mega-earnestness. Colonel Obobo looked around, saw Renfro standing close by, giving him encouragement through sympathetic, even moist, eyes."
That was when the terrorists were about to talk to him for the first time, but they wouldn't play ball and it left him completely unnerved. He's viewed as a dunderhead by his all knowing staff, and his decisions get others in trouble.
Okay, enough! I realize not everyone out there likes Obama -- hell, I can barely tolerate him, even though I voted for him twice. I just think he's by far the lesser of two evils. But to rip the president like this under the guise of fiction, no of a thriller, is just too much to take and I gave up on page 178. I've read some Hunter before and enjoyed him in the past, so I *might* give him another chace, but if I see this crap again, he's gone, history, see ya. What an asshole. Not recommended, unless you're a right wing bigot.
December 11, 2011
“Soft Target” by Stephen Hunter, published by Simon & Schuster.
Category – Mystery/Thriller
In Stephen Hunter’s last book we were introduced to Ray Cruz. Ray is an ex-Marine sniper who is the son of Bob Lee Swagger. Bob Lee is also an ex-Marine sniper and has appeared in most of Hunter’s other novels.
At 3pm on Black Friday in America’s largest shopping mall, America, the Mall in suburban Minneapolis (not to be confused with The Mall of America) a potential massacre is about to take place.
Ray and his girlfriend, who are shopping at the Mall, hear shots and shoppers being herded to the center of the Mall where a large amusement park is located. Ray and his girlfriend find refuge in a shop and see that over a thousand shoppers being held hostage by what looks like ten or more Muslim jihadists.
The entire Mall is surrounded by law enforcement and military waiting for the demands for the release of the hostages. The demands seem simple enough, just the release of three minor terrorists.
Ray, knowing he must do something, begins singlehandedly to take action. He finds help in a young day care center worker who becomes very instrumental in the attempt to overcome the terrorists.
The situation takes a nasty turn when the demands are met but the agreement to release the hostages may not be honored. It is also very possible that the terrorist act may be something more sinister, and although still a terrorist act there may be an alternative reason for the attack.
Great read for Stephen Hunter fans, military and ex-military personnel, and anyone who enjoys a lot of action and a plot within a plot. This book will definitely keep you turning the pages until the very end.
Category – Mystery/Thriller
In Stephen Hunter’s last book we were introduced to Ray Cruz. Ray is an ex-Marine sniper who is the son of Bob Lee Swagger. Bob Lee is also an ex-Marine sniper and has appeared in most of Hunter’s other novels.
At 3pm on Black Friday in America’s largest shopping mall, America, the Mall in suburban Minneapolis (not to be confused with The Mall of America) a potential massacre is about to take place.
Ray and his girlfriend, who are shopping at the Mall, hear shots and shoppers being herded to the center of the Mall where a large amusement park is located. Ray and his girlfriend find refuge in a shop and see that over a thousand shoppers being held hostage by what looks like ten or more Muslim jihadists.
The entire Mall is surrounded by law enforcement and military waiting for the demands for the release of the hostages. The demands seem simple enough, just the release of three minor terrorists.
Ray, knowing he must do something, begins singlehandedly to take action. He finds help in a young day care center worker who becomes very instrumental in the attempt to overcome the terrorists.
The situation takes a nasty turn when the demands are met but the agreement to release the hostages may not be honored. It is also very possible that the terrorist act may be something more sinister, and although still a terrorist act there may be an alternative reason for the attack.
Great read for Stephen Hunter fans, military and ex-military personnel, and anyone who enjoys a lot of action and a plot within a plot. This book will definitely keep you turning the pages until the very end.
March 4, 2012
Stephen Hunter's "Soft Target" is a major disappointment that reads like a novelization of a superficial action film that includes sideline commentary on the state of America's politicians and lawyers. These latter elements make the book more of a satire than the type of action thriller that we have come to expect from Hunter. Yes, I know that characters like Howard "Howdy Duty" Utey from the Swagger series were also meant to personify the bureaucratic mindset in opposition to action men such as Bob Lee Swagger and Nick Memphis, but Colonel Douglas Obobo is an embarrassing right wing-nut/Tea Party inspired projection of, you guessed it, Barack Obama, as self-seeking bureaucrat personified. The hero this time is Ray Cruz who first appeared in Hunter's last book "Dead Zero". Journalist Nikki Swagger makes a cameo appearance and the iconic Bob Lee Swagger only appears via a brief recorded phone message. The villains are a pretty lame cardboard bunch of Somali Islamists some of whom who were coerced into joining the fight and they are led by, get this, a first-person-shooter video game obsessed American turncoat looking to direct and immortalize his own apocalyptic shoot-out. It all goes down in a Mall of America inspired location. Either Hunter has lost interest in writing the sort of thriller fiction that made for a solid core of fans from 1993's "Point of Impact" onwards or, like Tom Clancy, he has stopped writing his own books. I can't imagine that any long-term fans will find much to enjoy in this latest outing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 15, 2011
My first excursion into Stephen Hunter.
A fairly quick, fun read, and decent story, but did not manage to convince me that violent video games are what's wrong with America's youth... Fail!
Read like a "Die-Hard" re-write made-for-tv movie script.
Entertaining enough, but didn't live up to Mr. Hunter's reputation or potential.
I will give him another chance though, probably with an earlier book.
*** Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free through Goodreads. (Thank you Simon & Schuster, Inc. for the opportunity to read this book). I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
A fairly quick, fun read, and decent story, but did not manage to convince me that violent video games are what's wrong with America's youth... Fail!
Read like a "Die-Hard" re-write made-for-tv movie script.
Entertaining enough, but didn't live up to Mr. Hunter's reputation or potential.
I will give him another chance though, probably with an earlier book.
*** Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free through Goodreads. (Thank you Simon & Schuster, Inc. for the opportunity to read this book). I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
August 26, 2016
Gave this one 4 Stars, which is slightly generous. The situation of a huge mall undergoing a terrorist attack on Black Friday could be ripped from future headlines. Don't think Hunter really gave this one his normal full treatment. Plenty of gun action, with Ray Cruz, ex-Marine sniper and son of famous sniper Bob Lee Swagger, caught in the mall. Ray puts his unique skills to work and creates the same dynamics that Bob Lee would in the same situation. I upped the rating because some of the characters were just priceless. Especially the inept but media savvy State Police Chief and even better, Lavelva, the girl who has some "stones". She is great and hope to see her in action some day. Very quick but fun read.
December 2, 2011
Soft Target is definitely an exciting book. Set in a fictionalized Mall of America on Black Friday, the timing and location was perfect since my copy of the book which I won through Goodreads arrived in the mail on Black Friday and I live in Minnesota. Interesting characters and fast action. I'm not sure why the author chose to change the name of the mall after locating it in the Minneapolis metro area (like there is more than one???) but his description of the fictional 'America the Mall' was very creative. I would think the developers of MOA would wish they'd come up with that design idea. My only complaint: Minnesotans are 'melancholy'?--No we're not! We are Minnesota nice:)
December 11, 2015
While trying to finish the Stephen Hunter books this one happened to be next. Remarkably finishing it today was appropriate because the terrorist disasters in Paris and San Bernadino, California are fresh in our minds from the past several weeks. This book written four years ago evokes such a similar event that it is unreal. Without going into detail about the plot Hunter wrote this novel almost like these events had occured prior. In any case, a typical fast moving story combining a mixed cast of characters that include the intelligent, brave, stupid, fanatic, ordinary, political and every other genre of human characteristics all brought to life by the author.
January 11, 2012
Soft Target is the first book by Stephen Hunter I've read, and it certainly won't be the last -- definitely a fast-paced page-turner from the git-go! In part because the plot involves terrorists, I suppose, it reminded me of a cross between a Brad Thor novel (that's a good thing) without the political commentary and a "Die Hard" movie. Although it's tough for a non-computer gamer like me to believe what happens in the book could happen in the real world, Hunter makes it plausible enough to convince me it's possible - and for a novel, that, too, is a good thing!
December 30, 2011
Another technothriller time killer.
Not a bad premise, jihadis taking over the Mall of America in Minnesota.. but I think Hunter really shortchanged us readers. This story could have been so much more developed and he really blew the opportunity to develop some of the more interesting martyrs themselves, as well as our protaganist.
It killed a night drinking pinot noir in front of a nice fire, so I give it an extra star for that.
Not a bad premise, jihadis taking over the Mall of America in Minnesota.. but I think Hunter really shortchanged us readers. This story could have been so much more developed and he really blew the opportunity to develop some of the more interesting martyrs themselves, as well as our protaganist.
It killed a night drinking pinot noir in front of a nice fire, so I give it an extra star for that.
August 29, 2017
This was a pretty blah, bang-bang action story, with little depth or exploration of the characters. The premise wasn't bad, and the ending kind of clever, but overall, I felt it was a very lukewarm story with forgettable characters. If you're looking for a thriller/mystery I would look to Alex Berenson, Daniel Silva, or Ben Coes.
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Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
November 28, 2011
I won an advanced copy of this book for goodreads. This is the first book for Stephen Hunter that I have ever read it was pretty good and I really enjoyed Ray's charecter and I even liked Lavelva's charecter but I had a hard time with all the jumping around it did.
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